One of my colleagues recently asked me to spread the word on a topic involving two well-known names in the online occult community. The post I had written up was going to get preachy and I wanted to make it convincing enough and with enough evidence to be worth the pontification, but I didn’t like how it turned out. So, I tried writing this post one way, then another, then yet another. I wasn’t comfortable with how I wrote any of those. Either the argument I was making wasn’t solid enough for me to post publicly, or the evidence I needed simply didn’t exist, or I just felt uncomfortable spreading what can only legally and externally be treated as judgmental rumors. On the other hand, the better evidence I had to share against them, I felt, should not be spread any further than they already have (DIY guides to suicide, death curses, etc.), since that’d only feed fires I want to die out. I cannot in good conscience pass judgment on others based on pleas of emotion or histrionics involving biased news articles that are over six years old. Besides, with a few minutes’ worth of googling, I’m sure you can find what I’m referencing with ease.
Still, there is something I wanted to share with my readers: you should buy occult goods and supplies from other people and other dealers besides Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
Lucky Mojo, with its amazingly long list of supplies, is not the only online occult supplier you can buy from. I’ve made the choice to never buy from them again, as have a growing number of my friends who have stopped buying from them or are actively boycotting them. A number of my friends have stopped buying from them, some only recently due to the stuff being dug up on the blogosphere, some having boycotted them for years due to their lack of comfort in working with Lucky Mojo; many people don’t feel that the owners of Lucky Mojo walk in good character, which is as good a reason as any to not give them your money. I’ve made that choice for myself based on their input, as well as my own distaste with the quality of their products (though the quantity of supplies makes an earnest attempt to overcome the lack of quality). I hope you make the same choice and resolve to not support Lucky Mojo in the future.
However, being the big name they are, it’s difficult for people to figure out who else to buy from, especially if they’ve been weaned on Lucky Mojo supplies from the start. What with more people resolving to not buy from Lucky Mojo when that’s all they’ve known or heard about, this can be hard on one’s practice. To help with that, I asked around and got a list of online occult goods and supply shops who deal excellent, high-quality, and authentic goods, many of whom are more than happy to take custom work or commissions. I list only a few online occult suppliers here, some of which I’ve personally dealt with before and have only good things to speak of.
Oils, botanicas, and ATR supplies:
- Quadrivium Supplies
- Candlesmoke Chapel
- The Vodou Store
- Wolf and Goat
- Alchemy Works
- Original Products
- Folk Cuba
- Grandma’s Candle Shop
- Familiar Spirits
- Ancient Road Hoodoo Botanica
Neopagan and Western occult supplies:
Specific supplies:
Heck, you can even just search on Facebook (like the Doc Firment’s Georgia Conjure page) or on Etsy (like Obsydian Moon) to see workers do their thing and buy from them directly, supporting independent workers like myself, and if you have an occult community in the area, ask around and see if you can barter, trade, or buy supplies and commissions from them to fill what needs you have. You might even be able to get engaged and take workshops or classes; I know that the store I do readings and classes at, Sticks and Stones in Fairfax, VA, does this very thing throughout each and every month, and soon you won’t even need to go store hunting online for obscure supplies when you can just make them yourself. This is especially good for those who’re taking Lucky Mojo’s hoodoo and rootworking course. There are other courses you can take, books you can read, and teachers you can learn from who aren’t Lucky Mojo or its derivatives, I promise!
And, of course, this doesn’t mention your own local occult goods suppliers! Most metropolitan areas, especially those with a large Hispanic population, often have botanicas with oils, incenses, herbs, statuary, and other types of occult goods serving the hoodoo, Vodou, Santeria, Palo, Candomble, Quimbanda, and other communities, as well as any number of non-African pagan and other spiritual groups. Other metaphysical, spiritual, or occult stores have proliferated throughout cities across the US and across the world, and they’re all just a google away. In my Northern Virginia area, there are at least five botanicas and as many metaphysical shops that pretty much cover the vast majority of my occult needs (Botanica Ile Ifa Wa in Old Town Manassas, VA is my favorite and is amazing). Plus, not only can you browse products and ask questions in person, you don’t have to worry about shipping and handling delays, and you get to help out your local economy in the process.
Have another online occult supplier you like that isn’t listed? Know of any good stores in your local metropolitan area, especially for places not in the continental US? Post a comment with links and addresses below!
