My Trip to Salem and The World of Witches Museum

This past September 25th, was my 40th birthday (Yikes, it snuck up fast!). Since I'd always wanted to go to Salem, my sweetheart made arrangements for us to go on a 5 day adventure to Boston and Salem. Of course this had to include a trip to the World of Witches Museum!

We flew out of San Diego, and arrived in Boston on Sunday the 26th but that day was really just spent in airports and sitting in a cramped seat for almost 2 hours on the runway of Houston! Now I'm not claustrophobic but that could have done me in.

Monday morning arrived quickly and we headed out to Salem, I was very excited! We were staying in Burlington which is about 15-20 minutes away from Boston or Salem so the ride to Salem wasn't very difficult at all. Salem is a really cute town. I'd never visited there before and I drunk up as many sights and sounds as I could. We parked near Pickering Wharf and wandered around the local shops and restaurants for hours until finally making our way back to where our car was parked and the World of Witches Museum. I really didn't know what to expect. That is to say, I had read all about the Museum, but what one reads and imagines can be so very different than reality. Upon entering the front door, we were enthusiastically greeted by a young woman (who's name escapes me, I'm sorry!) and after a cursory glance around (books, jewelry, and fortune-telling fish! I love those fish, I had one as a child), decided we were going to take the tour. For the next 15 minutes or so, that nice woman who greeted us earlier, led us through the History of Witchcraft, from the early cave-paintings, thru the Salem witch trials (poor Tituba), into the present day and then into a room where they hold ritual every night. I was impressed! For someone who may not know anything about witchcraft, the tour held a lot of information. For someone, like myself, who knows maybe a bit more than your average non-pagan/wiccan the tour was still interesting. The tour has entire walls dedicated to well-known pagan/wiccans (Ray Buckland and Selena Fox to name a couple) and the tour also mentions the plight of people accused of being witches in other countries. After the tour, I mentioned to our guide that I was a member of Witch School and the Correllian Tradition. She told me that Reverend Don was the man in the front room. (How could I have missed him? Honestly, I did think I recognized him but he had his back turned to us as he worked on a window display.) We made our way back around to the front where I was introduced to Rev. Don. He is just as he appears in his Vlog posts. He smiles a lot which put me at ease right away. What a nice man! We spoke briefly about people (including children) being persecuted in other countries for being "witches." All too soon we said our goodbyes.

The next two days were all Boston; here the Freedom Trail, there the Cheers! bar; here the USS Constitution, there the Boston Common. So much to see and do!

Thursday brought us back to Salem. I had made up my mind that since we weren't going to be able to make it to one of the nightly rituals at the World of Witches Museum, I wanted a reading by Rev. Don. Either I was projecting that thought loud and clear, or my sweetheart read my mind because he suggested the same thing. This time when we entered the Museum, a pair of friendly young men greeted us. Rev. Don, we were told, was doing some interviews. Halloween was coming and it was a busy time! I made an appointment for 2:00. What could we do to pass the time? We had over 2 hours. An awesome portabello sandwich, a trip to see the Friendship of Salem ( a ship..schooner?) and a quick stop into a shop that sold a really wide array of crystals and stones was the answer. I arrived back at the Museum a little before 2:00 and Rev. Don had arrived just a little before me. For the next 15 minutes Rev. Don gave me a wonderful reading. I left feeling a little bit lighter and a little more grounded. Sounds oxymoronic (is that a real word?) but true.

Friday saw us back in all the airports and in the air, returning once more back to San Diego and home, sweet home.

My time in Boston and Salem will never be forgotten (by me!). I had a fabulous time and learned so much! I also feel privileged to have met and had a reading from Rev. Don. I have so many great memories and pictures of my trip...and of course I brought back a fortune-telling fish. Like Rev. Don said, "Who doesn't like a fish?"