Nooses are Not Nice...
Nooses are Not Nice...
By: Greg Goodsell, Bakotopia.com contributos
Description: Bakersfield bookstore shocked by visit from 'Un-Welcome Wagon' in Old Town Kern
Topics: Altar, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, Magazine, blog, Metaphysical, Bookstore
Posted by Bakontributor Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:09:14 PST
Viewed 519 times
0 responses 2 comments Location: 616 Jackson St., Bakersfield, CA 93305
Local bookstore shocked by visit from ‘Un-Welcome Wagon’
By Greg Goodsell, Bakotopia.com contributor
The Altar Metaphysical Marketplace, 616 Jackson St., a colorful shop in the heart of Old Town Kern was recently “grinched,” much to the dismay of its owner.
The “new age” store, open on weekends, features books on paganism, incense, scented candles, wind chimes and many other items of interest to those into alternative spirituality.
Proprietress Katie Oliveras takes pride in her store, and feels that it adds to the diversity of the neighborhood, which includes a mosque, a market specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine and countless Italian, Basque and Mexican restaurants.
That feeling of goodwill came to an end when a noose was left on the store’s front door handle in early November. The incident has drawn a lot of unwanted attention to Oliveras’ shop, and she’s taking the threat very seriously.
“I got a phone call, I was in a community meeting," said Oliveras. “I got a phone call from a next-door neighbor that there was a noose on my door. I was not in a position to do anything about it, so I called and filed a police report. I looked at the noose as a clear death threat, which is really unfortunate. I will not be attacked, I don’t like people to come in and tell me that I’m wrong, I will be happy to address how we differ. To hang a noose is not nice!”
A practitioner of witchcraft, Oliveras was surprised to find a general lack of knowledge on the part of local law agencies.
“I filed a police report and the officer said that he thought that having the incident on file would be sufficient and that we wouldn’t need a report, that it wasn’t a hate crime because this is not a place of worship,” she said. “I am not a minority, I am not an ethnicity. So it wasn’t a hate crime. My religion is witchcraft. I was just on the news. I wrote a children’s book on witchcraft.”
After speaking to various members of the media, Oliveras received a validation of sorts.
“Two weeks later, I get a phone call from a detective, saying indeed that it is a hate crime!” Oliveras said.” “I thought that this was a victory for me.”
The Altar Metaphysical Marketplace is painted in cheerful pastels and has many of the same items you would find in any new age bookstore. There are a few skulls and skeletons on display.
“Skeletons are a symbol of wisdom and a connection to the ancestors,” explained Oliveras. “They’re clearly fake skeletons, but it’s basically a focus piece. I just wish these people would read a book before they made all their judgments.”
Oliveras is clearly aware of the negative connotations her religion has on others.
“I particularly do not care for the word ‘Wicca,’” she explained. “That’s just my own baggage. I like the word ‘witchcraft.’ I think it is an empowering, reclaiming sort of thing. Wicca is just more politically correct. It’s been a federally-recognized religion since 1986. The pentacle has been approved on veterans’ gravestones as well. In the research that I did, anyone who wants their symbol approved, it takes approximately four months to get your symbol approved.
There are different variations of Christian crosses, all different sorts of symbols and it took the pentacle nine years.”
The pentacle, a five-pointed star has often been linked to Satanism. According to Oliveras, this is a common misunderstanding.
“Witches don’t believe in a satanic image,” she said. “That’s a Christian deity.”
All the same, Oliveras says that she’s at a loss as to who left the awful calling card.
“I haven’t had any problems with disgruntled customers, people coming in and saying inappropriate things,” she said smiling. “There are a lot of churches in the area. I’ve had people come in and ask for money for this or that or for donations. Just a handful of times and I’ve given a couple bucks to the cause that they are working with. When they look around at the store, they want to pray for me! They’ll take the money, but they want to pray for me.”
Oliveras, whose store is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays hopes for the best, but she’s being especially careful these days. The noose, she reminded readers, was previously used to hang witches.
The Altar Metaphysical Marketplace
616 Jackson St - Old Town Kern
661-633-1220
Originally printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 17, 12-13-07
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Wed Dec 19, 2007 00:09:18 PST
closed minds, never a good thing.
Wed Dec 19, 2007 17:51:29 PST
I agree with Squirrely. I am a catholic who remembers and follows a very strict Christian edict: "Judge not lest ye be judged" Ms. Oliveras and I may not worship in the same way but it is not for me to judge her for that. A good healthy discussion of sharing faiths would probably arise if we met but in the end i would hope a healthy respect for each other's beliefs would come out of it. I am sorry for the not-so-nice calling card someone left for you. I truly believe it was wrong!
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