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Magic shop casts its spell on young witch
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Thursday 2nd Sep 2004.
GAZETTE & HERALD: SCHOOLGIRL Emma Drew has come under the spell of witchcraft to such an extent that she now spends all her pocket money on magic goods.
Her mother Elizabeth Drew is worried that her daughter may get too wrapped up in the craze which is being fuelled by white witch Maxine Vine who has just opened a new shop in Chippenham.
Emma, 11,of Cricketts Lane, Chippenham was one of a number of wannabe witches who gathered to swap spells and learn the tricks of the trade in a magical workshop run by Ms Vine.
She hosted the get together with partner Tom Dimakopoulos, at their shop Charmed, to teach aspirant white witches how to develop their magic skills.
Emma, who has been interested in witches since she was eight, went to the meeting, held in the Market Place, Chippenham to find out more about the art of Wicca.
"At first I only went into the shop to buy incense sticks, but now I've bought half the shop," she said.
"Everything looked really good in the shop window then when I went in I just got so interested in it all."
Emma who is starting at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham on Wednesday has already been casting spells.
"I did a healing spell because I had a bad back," she said. "It's been hurting for three or four weeks.
"I would be in agony when I got up but now it's fine and doesn't hurt. It's made me more interested, knowing the spells work.
"I was totally amazed that things that happen in films can happen to me.
"Hopefully I'll be able to go to future meetings," Emma said. "And I brought one of every spell in case I need it later in life."
Emma, who earns pocket money by doing daytime chores at home, such as washing up, said: "Instead of spending my money on sweets I buy myself a candle.
"I've brought incense sticks, a Book of Shadows and herbs. I don't know how much money I've spent."
Emma's mother said: "As long as it doesn't go too far, like when you cross over to black magic, then I'm ok with it.
"It is quite worrying to start with but Emma's sensible. If you believe in it then there's no harm at all.
"When she cast the spell on her back and told me she was better I didn't know whether to believe it or if it is mind over matter," she said.
"Maxine, who owns the shop is really good with children and shows them what to do,"
Charmed has been open only a month but owner Ms Vine is bubbling with enthusiasm and her success isn't the result of a spell.
"I've always had an interest in magic," Pauline Rowe, of Pewsham said. "But I've never really gone further with it, so when I saw the shop I got to see what it was all about."
Ms Rowe, 40, went to the magical evening last week to talk to others about their gift.
"I haven't done any magic," she said. "It's always fascinated me though. I'd read my horoscope but that's as far as it went.
"You can't just talk to people about it in the street because they'll think you're mad, so a shop like this is great because you know everyone has got the same interest as you."
"It's brilliant that the shop is here," said Dawn Henderson of Melksham.
She has only dabbled in magic and isn't a practising witch yet, but she went to the meeting to learn how to exercise the arts.
"The word witch in itself still has all these awful connotations with it," she said. "You can't just talk to anyone about it."
Reiki master and crystal healer, Mrs Henderson said: "It's very difficult to get hold of things, like incense and herbs, especially if you haven't got access to the Internet.
"If you want proper things that are symbolic then you need somewhere like this shop."
Sharon Rimes, 44, from Calne has been a practising witch for nine years. She will be talking about her experiences at future workshops and teaching enthusiasts how to use their magic.
"I seldom use my magic for myself," she said. "Because we get back three times what we give. You have to be very careful with wealth and love spells.
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