By Christina Emberley - writer 

There is a store on 124 Street and 110 Avenue in downtown Edmonton that has been getting busier every day. Although it is a small shop, its big windows showcase a space filled with books, candles, cards and incense, much like many stores throughout Edmonton. 

However, this store is a little different. The cards it carries are tarot, the incense and candles are magical and many of the books hold instructions on how to write a spell. 

The front entrance has a wall dedicated to broomsticks and there is a room in the back where a Shaman keeps his office. 

The store is called Where Faeries Live, and it is one of several stores in Edmonton dedicated to the Pagan religion.

When you think of Edmonton, witches are not the first thing to come to mind. You probably picture the typical Alberta stereotypes: cowboys, farming, mountains and the like. But what many don’t know is that there are large communities within the city that are not so typical. One such community is that of the Pagans. 

“I can write a list of at least 500 people in Edmonton who are Pagans,” said local Druid and member of the Pagan Services Association Christine Wityshym. Druidism is a sub-faith of Paganism. “And those are just people I know. Imagine how many more there are here.”

Because Paganism is not an organized religious movement, exactly where the newbies are coming from is hard to pinpoint, but the increase is definitely there. 

According to Statistics Canada, there were 21,080 Pagans in Canada in 2001, which was a 381 per cent increase from the 5530 in 1991, and it seems the number is continuing to rise.

Some believe the spike in Pagan population is because of the rising popularity of Paganism in pop culture; others believe it is just closet Pagans coming out into society. Wityshym credits it to the broad sub-religions that fall under the term.

Often described as a big umbrella, Paganism encompasses countless religions and spiritualities that have different systems and rituals but follow the same golden “rule of three”: “We don’t believe in good and evil—we just value karma, and that what you put out in life comes back to you threefold,” Wityshym said. Karma is the underlying force of all Pagan religions, and it is one they take very seriously.

Pagans also believe very strongly in nature and community, and try to work environmentalism and social interaction into their everyday lives. They do this is by holding fireside chats at local stores, having dances and nude swims, having Pagan pride day and holding Pan Fest, the very popular yearly Pagan festival.

Pan Fest is Alberta’s premium pagan festival, and it takes place as a three-night camp out where Pagans from all over Canada come together to share their faith and community. This year will bring the 11^th annual festival. 

Although the location is kept secret to all but those in attendance, several past festivals have been held on Catholic property, showing how non-judgmental many Edmontonians are.

“We’ve held the festival out on church property a few times, and it’s been great,” Wityshym said. “The churches that own the land know that it’s a peaceful gathering and they’ve been more than generous to let us use their grounds a number of times.”

But Pan Fest is not the only exciting Pagan event this year. Wityshym also said Edmonton-based Pagans are getting anxious for the upcoming 2010 census because it will feature religion, giving Pagans a chance to make their numbers known.

She believes that this will show Edmonton, Alberta and Canada how present Paganism truly is. She also hopes that it will open up opportunities for others to learn more about the religion and reduce prejudice.

According to the Pagan Educational Network, Paganism is a religion that is very deeply rooted in past traditions, characterized by element-centred spirituality. 

They believe that everything is intertwined and their values

And while the majority of the Pagan population is Caucasian, educated and middle class, Pagans come from all walks of life. Many are people with interests in ecology, personal growth, spirituality and creativity, and many more work in scientific professions.  

And, very importantly, not all Pagans are female, as the rumour often goes. Erik Williams, a local musician, has been practicing Druidism for the past 13 years and said that particular rumour is his biggest pet peeve.

He came across the religion as a teenager who was looking for something he was missing from Christianity. 

He said Edmonton, though usually very conservative, has been nothing but accepting of his faith. However, he said he understands why some people are sceptical of the religion at first.

“People tend to get very in-your-face when they first come into Paganism, like they have to make it known that they’re going against the grain,” Williams said. “They go all Flavor Flav with a pentacle, but it fades. It’s not until you internalize your faith that it really becomes a part of you anyway.”

Williams said that once you internalize what Paganism really means to you, that is when people become accepting, at least for the most part. 

As much as Edmonton may be a very accepting community for some, it does have its share of bad seeds that have made their opinions known to other Pagans throughout the community. 

Jennifer Wolfe, an employee at Where Faeries Live, has had her fair share of run-ins with people who were not feeling very open-minded. 

“We had a guy barge in here the other day calling us devil worshippers, even though we don’t believe in a devil,” Wolfe chuckled. “It keeps things interesting, anyway.”

Wolfe said she finds intolerance a little difficult on occasion, but that is something she feels every religion suffers with.

 However, she said Paganism seems to have the most ridiculous stereotypes attached to it, 90 per cent of which are completely unrealistic.

The one she loves the most: witches can fly.

“Broomsticks are very symbolic to our faith, but no one flies on them,” Wolfe laughed. “Well, at least not to my knowledge.”