For those who like spooky things, collect oddities and unique items, and who have an interest in the occult or practice magick, there is a bookstore in downtown Portland, Oregon, that will fit your needs perfectly.
Dark Star Magick is a premier esoteric bookstore. It’s rather small but definitely worth a visit. The owner is super friendly and happy to answer any questions customers may have. At the store, you can buy new or used antiquarian occult books, rare books, and even grimoires. But that isn’t all that a visitor can buy at Dark Star Magick. While it is a bookstore, first and foremost, the store also showcases artwork and oddities.
Currently, there are works from around 16 local artists showcased within the store. The oddities are made of animal bones, other natural elements, and art media. You can find wet specimen jars and other unique items as well.
In addition to books and artwork, a customer can visit the store to experience the sacred space. The Scarlet Goddess watches over the store and has an elegant altar where people have left offerings. The altar is in tune with spirits in the area but it’s hard to say if the bookstore itself is haunted. It could be, given that a lot of places in Portland are haunted, but there hasn’t been any noticed activity.
However, some people who enter the store have a strong reaction to being there. The spiritual energy within the building is the cause of the said reactions. This makes the store especially interesting if you are sensitive to such energies.
Dark Star Press
A small publisher, Dark Star Press, is associated with the store. It started in 2011 and has only published an anonymous work called In Nomine Babalon: 156 Adorations to the Scarlet Goddess. The book had only 156 copies but it sold out in just two months. Since its publication, you can only buy the book from resellers on the internet.
There is no intention to reprint the volume. However, Dark Star Press has also published an 11th Anniversary edition of In Nomine Babalon: 156 Adorations to the Scarlet Goddess. It includes an introduction by Georgia Van Raalte, who belongs to the Temple of Our Lady of the Abyss. She is the author of Approaching Babalon and Priestess and the Pearls. Mary Henlin created the cover art for the book.
The book is full of gematria and magick symbolism which make the adorations useful for ritual, meditation or just study. This rare book is available for purchase for the first time since the original’s publication. You can buy a copy of the book on the website, darkstarmagick.com. Dark Star Press also intends to offer many other publications in the coming years. This includes books of mediation and devotional materials dedicated to Babylon.
About Dark Star Magick/ Dark Star Press
Dark Star Magick/Dark Star Press is located in the Pacific Northwest. The bookstore sells antiquarian and rare books on esoterica and occultism. There are controversial topics within the variety of books but the topics themselves vary greatly. While the store doesn’t endorse every bit of content that they sell, the belief in the exchange of ideas and social norms is strongly present. If you’re curious about the specific type rare books and grimoires they sell take a look at the website, darkstarmagick.com.
The founding of Dark Star Magick occurred in 2007 but at that time it was only an online occult supply shop. It offered ritual and ceremonial items as well as new and used books. The founding of Dark Star Press happened later in 2011. With it came the publication of In Nomine Babalon: 156 Adorations to the Scarlet Goddess. Today, however, the bookstore in Portland, OR has only been around since October 2021 and primarily sells books. You can also find artwork, tarot cards, and some ritual items. They do intend to focus more on books in the coming years though. As such they offer books published by Ouroboros Press, Spiritual Instinct, Scarlet Imprint and many others.
Dark Star Magick’s mission is the dedication to encouraging personal exploration and gnosis by studying and practicing magickal arts. By selling its books the store is able to follow its mission. They are able to provide high-quality collectible books while also ensuring the quality and satisfaction of said books. The store also offers classes after hours twice a week. The classes are for anyone who wants to learn about different types of magick and how to practice it. They also include information on the history of magick.
Dark Star Magick
729 E. Burnside
Portland, Oregon 97214