In order for paganism (or Ancient indigenous religion) to expand, we need to restore dignity to the tradition(s). I am absolutely flabbergasted by the fact that when you type in "pagan" or "pagan shoppes" into an internet search engine all one can find is stores selling "witchcraft, wicca" supplies like crystal balls, tarot cards, and terrible third rate materials on modern astrology and other such hogwash.
I am surprised that there hasn't been a single eccentric rich person out there who used his money and business acumen to reconstruct a Greek or Roman temple. The solution to the malaise in modern "paganism" is the establishment of a muscular pagan tradition. The paganism of today has become a eunuch paganism, a paganism without substance, honor, and dignity.
My idea of a pagan store would not involve the sale of any products such as the above mentioned articles. My pagan store would sell images, framed, unframed, lithographs and laminated, designed in a realistic, Romanesque style. I could have holy cards commissioned with prayers from the Iliad, Odyssey, the Aeneid, the Eddas and Sagas, the Mabinogion, the Tain Bo Cuailgne, the Vedas, Upanishads, Tacitus' Germania etc. i.e. dignified classical texts in place of these horrible third rate books on "moon magick" and bunk. I'm talking holy cards, metals, prayer books (derived from ancient texts or written in such a way as to be in the style of ancient prayers.), images, statues, historical texts, pendants etc. This could catch on, and once people see the ancient ways presented with dignity, power and beauty, paganism can expand in a healthy direction.
Paganism needs to move out of the kitchen and into the sphere of blue suit power i.e. practical people with a Will, Passion and affirmation of life. The symbols and imagery of pagan antiquity carried great Power and a mystical quality. It must be approached with solemnity and not be diluted and trashed by fluff-bunnies. Fluff-bunny attitudes have so gripped the modern "Celtic" strain as to render that tradition beyond salvation it seems. To Hell with Arn Driocht Fein, and other fakers, who give our indigenous traditions a bad name. Churchill was not a member of a Druid Order folks, get with the program. No more glitter, no more fluff, instead we must exalt the Sun, Power, Blood, and Fire, Nobility, Independence, Passion, Symmetry, Solemnity, and Scholarly Integrity.
The only problem is how best to start up a business like this?
