Now available at your local Barnes & Noble...

[Desdemona]

A pentacle. That you can wear. The box itself merely says "Wicca," with some appropriate Hallmark-card-type femine tribal art, and a window in the box shows a pentacle pendant on a cord. The back of the box only says something like, "tap into the powers of feminine wisdom, etc." This was merchandised on their self-help table, which I thought was interesting. When I can, I'll see if I can get the ISBN and get a picture or a link.

So what do you guys think? First, Fiona Horne, now Barnes & Noble is selling Wiccan pentacle jewelry in their self-help section. Is this the thin end of the wedge toward mainstream acceptance, or a toboggan ride right into McWicca? Has anyone else seen this?

[Mab]

oh don't freak out yet. Barnes & Noble has been carrying wicca books & stuff for years under the New Age section. They trot it all out for Halloween. It's just now come out less seasonally in the past year or so. But it was pretty much always there.

[Dorchadas Síofra]

A pentacle. That you can wear. The box itself merely says "Wicca," with some appropriate Hallmark-card-type femine tribal art, and a window in the box shows a pentacle pendant on a cord. The back of the box only says something like, "tap into the powers of feminine wisdom, etc." This was merchandised on their self-help table, which I thought was interesting. When I can, I'll see if I can get the ISBN and get a picture or a link.

So what do you guys think? First, Fiona Horne, now Barnes & Noble is selling Wiccan pentacle jewelry in their self-help section. Is this the thin end of the wedge toward mainstream acceptance, or a toboggan ride right into McWicca? Has anyone else seen this?

It could be a thin edge of acceptance, but i am kind of in doubt. I think it's mainly just a toboggan ride into McWicca..barnes and noble also has the tarot deck to turn your boyfriend into a toad (now i admit i haven't LOOKED at it...but the whole turn oyur bf into a toad seems kinda silly to me)...

[Desdemona]

oh don't freak out yet. Barnes & Noble has been carrying wicca books & stuff for years under the New Age section. They trot it all out for Halloween. It's just now come out less seasonally in the past year or so. But it was pretty much always there.
Yes, I know that, Aine. I work there. So that is why this is different, this particular piece of jewelry is not in the New Age section it's in Self Help. That is a huge change in classification, as far as book merchandising goes. I thought it was enough of a change to make note of it.

For a while people have complained that pagan literature isn't included under the classification of religion. Well, it has made it out of New Age, finally. If you stop and think about this, this is significant. This was not merchandised with Halloween stuff, this was not in New Age, this is on the first floor with the mainstream. That means, someone in New York at the main office has decided that this particular book/gift set with matching pentacle has a wider audience, a wider appeal. So don't poo poo it so quickly as more of the usual. ;)

[Mab]

Yes, I know that. I work there. So that is why this is different, this particular piece of jewelry is not in the New Age section, Aine, it's in Self Help. That is a huge change in classification, as far as book merchandising goes. I thought it was enough of a change to make note of it.

oops, sorry, didn't mean to ruffle your feathers.

well........um.......ok......I've not seen that in the Barnes & Nobles around me, so...could be just something a manager cooked up?

I have no idea, other than it's all just the rage now since MMH. It's a phase that will pass. Remember years ago when movies like The Craft came out & Charmed just started on tv? Every teeny-bopper with tv & a movie ticket wanted to be a witch. I think maybe the same thing's happenening again, just the cycle coming back around with Harry Potter & MMH. I don't think it will ever get to McWicca, b/c the ppl who are looking for that quick fix won't stick with it long enough....the get bored when they find they can't just yell "I'm a witch" & then orb through time & space...

just my opinion. I could be way wrong.

[midsummerdawn]

Curious... do they have like... crucifixes in the self-help section too?

[Desdemona]

Hey Aine, that's ok, you didn't ruffle my feathers! I just wanted to get my point across before it got unceremoniously dismissed right out of the gate. :thumbsup:

[Mab]

true. Ya just never can tell....

my gut reaction is just to go with it as a fad, but then....ppl turn around & surprise the heck outta ya sometimes!

[morrigen]

Not much surprises me, especially now that our local Borders Bookstore has regular stock of LaVey's Satanic Bible.

20 years ago it was damn near impossible to find *anything* esoteric/alternative religion in this country (australia). We had one esoteric bookstore-1000 kilometres away from where I lived, and they didn't do mail order :eek:

Now...I don't know if I resent the flood of pap onto the general market *cough* fionahorne *cough* as much as I enjoy having the good stuff readily available amongst it.

[Lilith79]

It could be a thin edge of acceptance, but i am kind of in doubt. I think it's mainly just a toboggan ride into McWicca..barnes and noble also has the tarot deck to turn your boyfriend into a toad (now i admit i haven't LOOKED at it...but the whole turn oyur bf into a toad seems kinda silly to me)...

Actually...I have that book "How To Turn Your Ex-Boyfriend Into A Toad" and it isn't that bad! http://www.parentcrew.com/forums/images/smilies/bag.gif It has a very useful protection oil spell in it that I have used with great sucess. As a whole, the book does look a bit 'fluffy' but there is some merit to it, no matter how small. The whole 'turn your ex into a toad' thing really is a spell to put on your ex to make him appear to others as repulsive as you find him. Quite cheesey, IMO, and not something I would ever do. There's a few other spells in there on how to draw money, or a lover..but none of it is forcing anything.

It's a neat read, all in all. Nothing to take too seriously. But, that is the problem with books like that. You and I may know that they are not serious-but that naive young one looking to do some 'magic' doesn't know that-and that doesn't help anyone out. The last thing this world needs is more fluffy bunnies!!!!

[Dorchadas Síofra]

Actually...I have that book "How To Turn Your Ex-Boyfriend Into A Toad" and it isn't that bad! http://www.parentcrew.com/forums/images/smilies/bag.gif It has a very useful protection oil spell in it that I have used with great sucess. As a whole, the book does look a bit 'fluffy' but there is some merit to it, no matter how small. The whole 'turn your ex into a toad' thing really is a spell to put on your ex to make him appear to others as repulsive as you find him. Quite cheesey, IMO, and not something I would ever do. There's a few other spells in there on how to draw money, or a lover..but none of it is forcing anything.

It's a neat read, all in all. Nothing to take too seriously. But, that is the problem with books like that. You and I may know that they are not serious-but that naive young one looking to do some 'magic' doesn't know that-and that doesn't help anyone out. The last thing this world needs is more fluffy bunnies!!!!

I didn't mean to diss on the book, I haven't read it myself, but that was my main point..someone who has NO idea what Wicca is will come across that and be like "ooohhh...revenge..." good to know that it isn't as "fluffy" as the cover seemed to me :)

[Felidae]

A pentacle. That you can wear. The box itself merely says "Wicca," with some appropriate Hallmark-card-type femine tribal art, and a window in the box shows a pentacle pendant on a cord. The back of the box only says something like, "tap into the powers of feminine wisdom, etc." This was merchandised on their self-help table, which I thought was interesting. When I can, I'll see if I can get the ISBN and get a picture or a link.

So what do you guys think? First, Fiona Horne, now Barnes & Noble is selling Wiccan pentacle jewelry in their self-help section. Is this the thin end of the wedge toward mainstream acceptance, or a toboggan ride right into McWicca? Has anyone else seen this?
Um... Is it part of the God in a Box line?

I'm serious! I heard an Aztec Reconstructionist complaining that they didn't have a God in a Box kit for her on another site (she was being sarcastic).

[banondraig]

Um... Is it part of the God in a Box line?

I'm serious! I heard an Aztec Reconstructionist complaining that they didn't have a God in a Box kit for her on another site (she was being sarcastic).

"God in a Box"?!!!

i've never heard of that before, it sounds really creepy! how long has that bit of capitalism been around?

[Desdemona]

Er, actually I just broke down and bought it. I can't really give a proper critique until I check it out for myself, right?
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=0740723286&userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&cds2Pid=946&pdf=y
Check out what the people who bought this book also bought. Wow.

The book is from "The Little Wisdom Series." The title is WICCA: Ancient Feminine Magic
The author is Priya Hemenway, and it reads on the back,
"Ancient Wiccans had great respect for the Earth. They knew the healing properties of plants and stones, the ways of the winds, and the powers of the stars. They learned their secrets from the elemental spirits that are the very essence of all Nature.

The pentacle in this box is an ancient Wiccan symbol. It will protect you and calm you and lead you toward a deep appreciation of magic."
I'm flipping through the book, and so far it is beautifully illustrated, intelligently written, and very concise. It explains Wicca in a calm, soothing, non-threatening way. :hmmmmm: I would have liked to have had this to give to my sister when I came out of the broom closet. The pentacle is nice, though the cord is cheap material. So far, a thumbs up. :thumbsup:

[Desdemona]

"God in a Box"?!!!

i've never heard of that before, it sounds really creepy! how long has that bit of capitalism been around?
The first one I saw:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=193141291X&itm=9
My personal favorite:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=0811834263&itm=3
Ganesha
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=0811826813&itm=1
Tara
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=1577314611&itm=5
There you have it!

[banondraig]

The first one I saw:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=193141291X&itm=9
My personal favorite:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=0811834263&itm=3
Ganesha
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=0811826813&itm=1
Tara
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=z0s1IlG0jJ&isbn=1577314611&itm=5
There you have it!

so it appeared while i was trapped in the army zone! that's a relief, i feel slightly less out-of-touch and clueless now.

[Mab]

glad to hear it's not totally empty fluff!

[Vanessa TPD]

..barnes and noble also has the tarot deck to turn your boyfriend into a toad (now i admit i haven't LOOKED at it...but the whole turn oyur bf into a toad seems kinda silly to me)...

Well, I don't know about you, but I've always had this toad fetish...;).

(She turned me into a newt! Well, I got better!)

But definitely McWicca. I've been turned off by pretty much everything B&N stocks on the subject.

[*GrumpButt*]

Is the pent silver or pewter?

[Desdemona]

WhiteEagle +++ and I were just trying to ascertain that. It isn't heavy like pewter, but it feels nice... Don't think it is silver, just because the whole kit retails for $3.98. So... I don't know. :eyez:

[Erebus]

Is this the thin end of the wedge toward mainstream acceptance, or a toboggan ride right into McWicca?

When you get right down to it, aren't those both really the same thing? Mainstream Acceptance of X = McX. Our culture just won't accept anything that's not mass-produced and supersizeable.

[celticfire]

i'll just add that yes, b&n is all about trends BUT...they are also very tolerant and encouraging of 'other faiths' for the past few years. and now borders and books a million are also jumping on that bandwagon and are carrying most books/tarots/etc on a regular basis instead of just 'seasonally'.;)

[Kadynas]

I think I actually bought that a long time ago! :lol: The only problem with the little book inside is that it tells the whole "Wicca is an ancient religion" line... Other than that it's a cute little book that I wouldn't mind showing to my mom someday. :)

[Vanessa TPD]

i'll just add that yes, b&n is all about trends BUT...they are also very tolerant and encouraging of 'other faiths' for the past few years. and now borders and books a million are also jumping on that bandwagon and are carrying most books/tarots/etc on a regular basis instead of just 'seasonally'.;)

It's a step in the right direction, but all the same I'd personally rather my religion not be represented by their selection of books.

Edit: 500th post! :fprtyman2

[SnowyMoon]

I bought that from a local book store. Very nice book. I lost that pentacle. :fpatricks