From the outside, Catland is a thin shop, taking up only a sliver of real estate on Flushing Ave. in between a heavily graffitied bar and an insurance storefront. Crystals sit on the window sill, herbs and bones dangle from the ceiling, and in the center of the window hangs a white neon sign forming a hexagram with “witch shop” printed underneath. A black-and-white sign hangs on the door; it reads, “OPEN.”
Ten after 1 p.m. on the Sunday before Halloween, Haylin Belay, a 26-year-old witch, walked through Catland’s door. Pausing in the walkway after being pelted by the rain outside, she stomped her shoes and shook her coal-colored coat dry before fully stepping into the shop. Belay was there to teach a 1:30 p.m. workshop—“Sex Ed for Witches.”
Read Full Article »