Rainy Day In Salem

It is pouring outside. Some would call this a Nor'easter. I feel bad for the local merchants because October is the big season.

Last night I went for a walk downtown Salem and I was surprised by how many tourists were out and about. It's only mid-month! Lights in store front windows offering psychic readings, haunted tours, seances, aura photography, spells, hexes administered or removed, and books, potions, herbs, oil, and schwag. The schwag is the common tourist trap junk that people buy such as sweatshirts, shot glasses, and bumper stickers.

The amusement park rides that a week ago were at the Topsfield Fair, the oldest fair in the US, by the way, are now parked on Derby Street through 10/31. The ferris wheel looms across from Murphy's Bar, that used to be Roosevelt's, and about every ten feet you can find a fried dough stand. Vendors sell everything from wool sweaters and caps to jewelry and blankets.

It is the Witchcraft Hysteria that makes Salem famous at Halloween. From persecution to profit.

I'm not a witch. My family does not practice witch craft. I know several witches and they have a peaceful, earth-centered, and loving vibration. My family does not participate in the Halloween trade or even in the spiritual marketplace. Nothing against those who do. Some do very fine work. Some not so much. Be careful and do your homework first when you hire someone for spiritual services! My family is just too busy at regular jobs, maintaining homes, pets, making music, and living a very normal life. We look more like we jumped off the cover of LL Bean and less like mediums! For us it is just a spiritual journey that we have been quietly on for now just about three generations. Just simple Spiritualist mediums (I'm not so developed as my Mom and Grandmother) who are careful to distinguish between that which is psychic and that which is spirit.

As the crowds swell in Salem each year I am beginning to think that more people are interested in knowing the difference. Or, maybe they just want a shot glass with a witch flying on a broomstick. Who knows? Who cares. People are paying attention and maybe they will learn something in the process.