Shop owner and witch practitioner Katje van Loon opened her metaphysical store named Conspiracy in the Cranberry neighbourhood on October 31, 2022.
September to the end of December is a busy time of year for a witchcrafter like van Loon, who has many things on offer in her space, which sits beside and Wolffy’s Book Den, her mom Eva van Loon’s shop.
Stores such as Katje's can be found in metaphysical hotspots like Victoria and Courtenay/Comox, but when she opened last year, there wasn’t really anything quite like her all-in-one witchcraft type of business in qathet.
“I want to work together with other business owners in town working in the same realm,” said Katje. “This type of business can be really cutthroat.”
Meaning that owners of metaphysical shops are very wary of the competition, but Katje believes working together instead of trying to shut out competitors could work better for everyone. She has a book focus in her wares, which isn’t surprising since her mom has run Wolffy’s for more than half a decade, and where Katje has worked and helped out for many years.
“I focus on books, specific spell candles made by practitioners, and coventry candles,” said Katje.
The wood-crafted archway built as the entrance to the shop has a word intricately carved into the top of the frame in a bit of a tongue-in-cheek way, according to Katje.
“I named the shop Conspiracy,” she said, laughing. “I got a lot of criticism for that.”
Witches and witchcraft in general still have some negative connotations in society, but many self-proclaimed practicing witches are slowly educating folks about what it actually means to be one.
“Witchcraft is a way of trying to affect change in the world, using forces we can’t see with our naked eye,” said Katje. “But by enlarge it is a craft and practice, and there are many types of witches; it’s not necessarily a religion, but it could be intertwined with one, or something completely separate.”
One thing Katje emphasizes is that, “it’s not evil or something to be afraid of, it’s a big wide range of practices to enhance the magic in your life.”
This entire autumn season is when folks can easily connect to the spirits who have passed on, including: Halloween on October 31, Day of the Dead on November 2, and Remembrance Day on November 11, according to Katje.
Small Business Week in BC takes place from October 15 to 21.
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