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October 21, 2003
Norwegian Witch wins government grant to open magickal shop
While this isn't exactly a huge deal, its nice to see a government being a bit more tolerant of alternative spiritualities that many of us in the Pagan community have come to expect.
OSLO, Oct. 21 — A witch has won subsidies from the Norwegian state to run a business of potions, fortune-telling and magic. Lena Skarning, 33, won the unprecedented start-up grant of 53,000 crowns — about $7,400 — after promising not to try out harmful spells with her business, Forest Witch Magic Consulting.The article notes that Skarning says that the popularity of the Harry Potter books may have helped make society more tolerant of Witches and Witchcraft, but that Harry Potter is unrealistic - pointing out that in the books and movies, the Witches and Wizards ride their brooms with the bushy part in back, but that "Real witches ride with the brush part in front." Now, if it had been me, I probably would have picked something a bit more substantial to cite in order to point out the differences between the Harry Potter witches and religious Witches (like the fact that we don't walk through walls to catch the train to our secret school where we play a game like Quidditch and turn animals into stemware, for example.) But that's just me.
At any rate, an article at Ananova gives a few more details and points out that in order to qualify for a grant, her business plan had to pass the scrutiny of the Norwegian Industrial and Regional Development Fund.
Skarning, a 33-year-old practicing witch said she plans to make a living mixing potions for clients, selling wares door to door and making house calls.Some may question the appropriateness of a government giving money to a person of any religion in order to run a religious business, but if the decision is made solely on the basis of the merits of the business plan and not because of the religious aspect of the business, then I don't see any problem with it - regardless of what religious community the business caters to. I certainly hope that American entrepreneurs who are interested in opening a religious-oriented business, be it a Christian bookstore, a Kosher grocery store or an Occult supply shop, would be given the same consideration in applying for government grants or small-business loans that any other entrepreneur would get. Religious communities have commercial needs, after all, and deserve as much of a chance to succeed as any secular business.[...] Her specialty products include night creams for vivid dreams, a day cream to combat indecisiveness and a foot cream to change a user's bad habits.
Skarning said has always been a witch, but needed seed money for her business to take root. She attended a seminar on entrepreneurship and then applied for the grant.
Ove Gahren of the SND insisted the agency wasn't under a spell when it gave her the money.
He said money was awarded for applications that were "exceptional, very innovative, and very importantly, offered a new service or created a job."
He said the notion of a witch getting a grant may seem out of the ordinary, but her business plan was "pretty reasonable and well thought out."
At any rate, I'm glad to see the Norwegian government be willing to take a step like this, and I wish Ms. Skarning the best of luck with her business.
Posted by thorswitch at October 21, 2003 10:25 AM
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