(Laurie Cabot photo from www.lauriecabot.com)
I was thorougly enjoying one of my favorite books last night, by Laurie Cabot, and giving serious thought to how much Laurie has done for Witches in the United States. Laurie, below, could have easily lived the rest of her life as a high fashion glamour girl.
Instead, upon realizing her calling, Laurie made a personal vow to the Goddess to always present herself in public in ritual robes. In doing so she invited people to confront their own stereotypes of who and what a Witch is.
From Wikipedia: “Laurie Cabot is an American witchcraft high priestess, and was one of the first people to popularize witchcraft in the United States. She is the author of such books as The Power of the Witch, The Witch in Every Woman, Celebrate the Earth, while also founding the Cabot Tradition of the Science of Witchcraft and the Witches’ League for Public Awareness to defend the civil rights of witches everywhere. In the 1970s, Cabot was declared the “official witch of Salem, Massachusetts“, by then-Governor Michael Dukakis, to honor her work with special needs children.
She continues to reside in Salem, where she owns a shop called The Cat, the Crow, and the Crown. Cabot claims to be related to the prominent Boston Brahmin Cabot family. She is perhaps one the most high-profile witches in the world. She is a part of Salem lore, and a bona-fide local celebrity in that city and throughout Massachusetts’s North Shore.”
Laurie has famously pronounced that “thanks to all her years of being a Witch on the front lines” (a dangerous endeavor to be sure), the entire town of Salem, once known for its Witch trials, has been miraculously transformed. Now, Salem is not just a safe place for Witches, but also a revolutionary example of Witches triumphing over their historical pasts. Witches from other “unsafe” communities surely do not take this achievement for granted.
You can easily find out more about Laurie and the Witches of Salem by visiting her website, but wouldn’t it be more fun to visit Salem yourself this October? October 31st in Salem, also the Witches New Year is THE best time to visit Salem. Or so I hear…
I’ve started to plan my own itinerary and thought I’d let you in on some of the goodies I found:
1. Salem is under an hour’s travel time from Boston (approx. 25 miles). According to Travelocity, a flight from LAX to Boston plus hotel in Boston can easily be had for under $1000. There appears to be numerous scenic ways to get to Salem from Boston: rental car, train, bus, ferry… $1000 is the price I found for a stay from October 30th to November 2nd. You don’t want to miss the Witches New Years Ball on November 1st!: http://www.festivalofthedead.com/witchesball/index.htm This ball is commandeered by Christian Day, a gentleman said to be the NEW official witch of Salem… Intriguing!
2. Laurie’s shop is first on my list but I’m also looking forward to a walking tour of historic downtown Salem. The Annual Psychic Fair and Witchcraft Expo, also associated with Christian Day, runs every day in October at 176 Essex Street.
3. This myspace page for Hex: Old World Witchery http://www.myspace.com/salemhex made me want to visit this shop.
4. And so did the myspace page for this pub club, The Salem Witches Pub Crawl: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=289713892
From their About Us page:“There are many fine organizations and groups in Salem and beyond that are dedicated to finding solutions to the serious issues that face the Witch and Pagan community …
The Salem Witches’ Pub Crawl is NOT such a group!
While we honor the work that others do, we also know that Witches just want to have fun once in awhile! So let’s get out, meet one another, and enjoy one another’sz company! Our group is disorganized. We don’t have leaders. We don’t do public circles. We’re not battling for civil rights. And, we’re not interested in whether you have three degrees or for that fact three degrees of separation from someone somebody else doesn’t like. Nobody cares! Let’s live life to the fullest and enjoy ourselves!
Yeah, we meet in pubs but not every one of us drinks and we’re ok if you want to come and just relax. We feel this is a great way to build community and get to know one another and we’re excited to have you take part!
How It Works
Once a month, we pick a night that’s easy for a broad range of people and we pick a location in Salem and descend upon it like a flock of crows. You don’t have to be a Witch to participate. You just have to have an open mind. Best Witches“
5. Salem’s tourist board has done a very good job of promoting all of the October events – I leave it up to you to google your way through all the many calendars and recommendations of places to go and things to see.
6. This leaves me to describe the one event, next to meeting Laurie Cabot, that would really make my New Year: dinner reservations at STREGA.
Located at 94 Lafayette St, STREGA features an atmosphere and menu that lives up to its name.
From the Best of North Shore review on their web page: “The décor is decidedly sexy. Masculine woods are balanced with seductive ruby red draperies. Have fun choosing one of the martini’s that pay homage to the Witch city- Kitchen Witch, Strawberry Witch, or Love Potion”
Also on the drink menu is the Rude Witch, the Ruby Slipper and the Sea Witch. Indeed I have studied their enticing web offerings so much that I can hardly wait to get my flight booked!!!
You can see how much fun you can have partying with the Witches on New Year’s, even if you’re not a Witch.
Real Witches however, owe it to themselves to check out Salem during October, if only for the hard-won safety factor. Have besom, will travel. Blessed be!!!
http://www.stregasalem.com
