? about Wiccan Towns

[Prudence Rose]

I'd like to go to a college in a place with many Wiccan citizens and that has Wiccan and new age shops. Can anybody please tell me if they know any places like this. Blessed Be, PR

[Prudence Rose]

O yeh, and it needs to be in the U.S.A.

[Aine of the Fae]

Nope, don't know of a single one. Some towns might be more open than others but you're not likely to find anywhere that is mostly pagan.

[Sylvan]

If Salem, MA has a nearby college, that might be an idea. But beware the nitwitches who populate the area....

[Jenett]

I'd like to go to a college in a place with many Wiccan citizens and that has Wiccan and new age shops. Can anybody please tell me if they know any places like this. Blessed Be, PR

Many larger cities (especially in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and west coast) have pretty active Pagan populations and lots of opportunities. Boston, New York, Minneapolis/St. Paul, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and a bunch of others all have particularly active communities. All of these places also have a bunch of college options.

The best way to browse would be to take a look at Witchvox.com's networking pages for a specific area. That'll give you an idea what's around in that area. (I'm also glad to help out with stuff in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, and I know a bit about the Boston area (I grew up there). I'm not so familiar with specific groups there, but I do have a good idea how easy it would be to get from a given school to other parts of the metro, if you'd like to PM me)

[badkitty]

Amherst/Northampton, Mass is known as the 5 College area, U-Mass Amherst, Smith College, Amherst College, Mt Holyoke, and Hampshire College are all there. I know U-Mass, and Smith College both have active pagan groups and there are many shops and public rituals in the area.

[DebLipp]

Yeah, I'd agree with the 5 college area in Amherst/Northhampton. There are actually more than 5 colleges there; lots of opportunities.

Ithaca, NY (home of Cornell University) has a very New Agey populace.

New Paltz, NY (State University of NY at New Paltz) is very hippie/New Age.

Berkeley, California, home of UC Berkeley, is the hippiest of hippie towns, lots of Paganism there.

Minneapolis has a huge and thriving Pagan community.

[Convallaria]

I agree with Jenette, definately check out WitchVox. Thats where i go to get all of the information for shops, open circles, festivals, and even people for specific areas. They have a fabulous directory.

[SylverStar]

Anything on the west coast. Portland and Seattle are pretty open minded. Bellingham is a Hippie Town might be more up there. Only a couple of shops that I've found but I haven't searched yet. Western Washington is up there.

[asamananara]

You may want to look into New Paltz College, located in Ulster
County New York. The town is VERY liberal and bohemian, with
a high concentration of pagans. Some local shops boast names
such as: "The Owl and The Serpent Occult", "The Awareness Shop",
"Aphrodite's Antiques", "Medusa's Gallery", and "Enchanted Toys".
The town was founded more than 300 years ago, the main street
remaining unchanged since the early 1700's- in fact, it's been
declared the oldest street in america. It's a small community,
nestled at the base of the Shawanagunk Mountains- a unique
area of unequaled beauty and mystery. There is a LARGE open
circle hosted monthly by one of the local shops, outdoors and
in plain view from the main street. The town sponsors a very
popular Beltane festival each year, drawing people from all over
the state. The village is very small, great for strolling or
just lounging around the sidewalk. I don't know much about the
school itself, except that it's a well regarded liberal arts
college which attracts students from all over the world- so check
into it, and if it's not what you're looking for, then the
best of luck to you.

[Romani Vixen]

Anything on the west coast. Portland and Seattle are pretty open minded. Bellingham is a Hippie Town might be more up there. Only a couple of shops that I've found but I haven't searched yet. Western Washington is up there.
I used to live in Bellingham... it rocks, and WWU is a good school. Seattle and Portland metro area's are also very Pagan friendly. I soooo don't worry about wearing my Pent in the open. There are tons of cool shops, and a number of covens and very active Public rituals. Bellingham doesn't have as many covens that I could find here in Portland.

FalconSong

[Aylwyn]

Do you know what you would like to major in? If you don't, you may want to consider a larger institution. Going to a larger institution would enable you to explore the different educational paths available to you. Then when you've discovered your interests, the credits that you've earned from the large institution will most likely transfer to a more appealing venue.

Something to think about.

[Avalon]

Just a quick note about New Paltz...it's one of the colleges that I toured when I was applying, and it is a wonderful school...however, it is suited more to someone majoring in fine arts, creative writing, all those "right-brain" kind of subjects. Lovely town, too. :)

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Also, Asheville, NC is considered to very open and has a high concentration of pagans and new age type shops from what I understand. There is a college there as well.

~Saoirse Aiyana

[kewlhippiechick]

There's an entire, adorable little town in Central Florida called Cassadaga. It's a town filled completely with pagans, wiccans, readers, mediums, and open-minded folk of all ages and races! It's incrediblely peaceful there, and there's a college (tho I can't remember the name) just down the road from it. I'd check it out...good luck!

[Autumn]

A link to SUNY New Paltz http://www.newpaltz.edu/

A link for the SUNY home page http://www.suny.edu/

Oddly enough Buffalo NY also has a significant Pagan community with a raft of both public and private colleges that offer just about any major one could want. SUNY is a good deal for tuition compared to private schools and if you get a job and file a state tax return you will cut your tuition bill in half. although your parents need to stop claiming you on their fed taxes in NC.

The Buffalo area also is about 50 miles from a little hamlet known the world over for it's mediums and such...Lily Dale. I do not doubt that Cassadega Fl was insipired by Lily Dale seing as LilyDale is on the shores of Cassadega Lake. SUNY Fredonia is 20 miles from there and supports a notable music school (second only to the Crane school of Music at SUNY Potsdam) and all your basic college majors. I grew up in Fredonia and my dad taught English there until 1989. If you look on Witchvox you will find an astounding number of folks from Fredonia as well as from nearby Dunkirk.

List on witchvox of college pagan organizations
In NY http://www.witchvox.com/vn/gr/usny_grc.html
and in NC http://www.witchvox.com/vn/gr/usnc_grc.html

I would recomend Burlington VT but "out-of-state" tuition for UVM is high(it could be tough to get into as well) and St Mikes and Champlain college are private(expensive). I hope this info is helpful to you. Generally almost any medium or large town in NYS along the thruway will have what you are looking for as will the greater boston area. Good luck and have fun looking.

:graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate: :graduate:

[ladygwyn]

I agree with the suggestion of the Western MA/Northampton/Amherst area, and not just because I live and went to school here :) It's a very liberal area and has a lot of options for activities and shops. Lots of the colleges here have pagan groups, and although I don't personally know of any, I imagine there are other pagan and like-minded groups in the area. Plus, it's pretty in the autumn :) and you wouldn't be too far from Boston either.

[Romani Vixen]

For some bizare reason, every fall I have this urge to just pick up and move to New England. I have no idea why.....

[Autumn]

Probably because New England is presented as your"typical" american autumn scene...A white church in a valley surrounded by hills painted red , yellow and gold.....

Just don't forget the snow and "mud season" and the quadrenial invasion of presidential wannabees....

[Purrcatnip]

Ann Arbor in michigan is very openminded, along with grand rapids.

[materra]

If you can take the weather....The Minneapolis/St Paul area of Minnesota has many many fine schools, and lots of pagans, many liberals, and you will find many fine pagan shops there too.

[Arinya]

Grand Rapids? Open minded?!! Tibeten Buddhists who were invited to give a demonstration were booed and screamed at by Catholics a couple weeks ago. This is a church town. :( However, if you know the right places or the right people it can be a decent place.

[Kadynas]

I agree with the suggestion of the Western MA/Northampton/Amherst area, and not just because I live and went to school here :) It's a very liberal area and has a lot of options for activities and shops. Lots of the colleges here have pagan groups, and although I don't personally know of any, I imagine there are other pagan and like-minded groups in the area. Plus, it's pretty in the autumn :) and you wouldn't be too far from Boston either.
I'm in Western Mass. myself! :D Although if it's not on Route 7, I can't find it... I've only been here a few years. :)

A good rule of thumb is the more artsy the school, the more diverse the student body. I went to art school in Pittsburgh, PA and was totally accepted by my fellow students... of course the city is also full of Catholics holding picket signs around clinics and bookstores they don't like, so it's not the greatest. But the South Side has a lot of cool clubs and bookstores, though I think Eye of Horus (a "magick" shop) got closed down. Pratt in Brooklyn, NY is great for any of the arts, and quite a few Wiccans from my high school ended up there. Guess it depends on your major as much as the location...

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I'm in Western Mass. myself! :D Although if it's not on Route 7, I can't find it... I've only been here a few years. :)

A good rule of thumb is the more artsy the school, the more diverse the student body. I went to art school in Pittsburgh, PA and was totally accepted by my fellow students... of course the city is also full of Catholics holding picket signs around clinics and bookstores they don't like, so it's not the greatest. But the South Side has a lot of cool clubs and bookstores, though I think Eye of Horus (a "magick" shop) got closed down. Pratt in Brooklyn, NY is great for any of the arts, and quite a few Wiccans from my high school ended up there. Guess it depends on your major as much as the location...

Kadynas, the shop owner for Eye of Horus (easily the best pagan shop there was) closed down and moved to NYC. Apparently she got sick of the bubushka ladies holding exorcisms and all the other problems she had. It's a shame too, because it's the only shop here I found that I liked. The ones I found in Oakland are far to commercial for me. It's like they're only there for the money, not because they're that interested in actual paganism.

[Kadynas]

I'd agree with you there. :) I used to work a few doors down from Eye of Horus and was sad to see it go... They had a lot of interesting books and such. Into The Mystic isn't too bad either. You've definitely got a point about Oakland... :) But Oakland is like "college central" down there... anything to make a buck off the students! :lol:

[Rockprincess]

the quadrenial invasion of presidential wannabees....
:fofftopic You are the only person I have ever heard use the word quadrenial. :fpraise: :yourock:

:lol:

[Faeawyn]

Stetson University is a beautiful college in the quaint town of Deland Florida. Deland has a strong wiccan community :)
As well as Casadega...which is kind of famous for its almost completely pagan community. Its just a few exits up from Deland :)