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Birmingham's magical hangout
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The famous statue of Vulcan quite literally watches over Books, Beans, and Candles MS, located in a 109-year-old house at 1620 Richard Arrington Boulevard in Birmingham. BBCMS, or "The Shoppe" as its habitués often call it, is a dream made real by the whole Pagan-Magical-Altfolk community through the agency of its owners, Mitchell and Darby Hagood, starting in January 2007.
BBCMS is the third or fourth attempt at a metaphysical shop in Birmingham (not counting Sonny Boy, the well-known hoodoo store downtown). Mitchell and Darby learned from the mistakes others had made, so that they could, as Mitchell says, "make new and improved mistakes." Many stores like this one fold in the first or second year, but a conservative approach to business and a clear vision of how to serve the community keeps this one moving along.
BBCMS serves Primavera coffee, specialty coffee drinks, teas, and snacks in a front parlor. Also on the first floor are ornamental swords and knives, jewelry, books, Tarot decks, herbs, stones, candles and statuary. The environment is studiously quiet and open, with unobtrusive background music and signs directing people to mute their phones. People come to take advantage of the comfortable chairs, free Wifi, shop computers, and of course coffee and tea. The homelike environment allows for a wide range of conversation. A front verandah and a back deck accomodate smokers.
There are a number of readers who work out of BBCMS. Readings are available in Astrology, Palmistry and cards, Sortilège and Tarot, Runes and Tarot, or just Tarot, depending on the individual.
Upstairs one finds clothing, drums, rooms for the store's readers, and a large meeting room. The meeting room serves not only Magick City Pagans, but other interest groups and teachers of classes in yoga, meditation, bellydance, martial arts, herbology, and occult studies. The calendar of events, located on a whiteboard behind the cash register and echoed on the website, is generally fairly full. BBCMS has supported local charities and co-sponsored community events like the annual Witches' Ball and Beltane Ball, and a Day of the Dead event with Bare Hands Art Gallery. In addition to homegrown events, there have been author events with Dorothy Morrison, Ellen Dugan, and Christopher Penczak.
The motto of BBCMS is Acceptance. Everyone of good will is welcomed.
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