Laurie Cabot

Born Mercedes Elizabeth Kiersey in 1933, Laurie Cabot is an American Witchcraft high priestess and author known for founding the Cabot Tradition of the Science of Witchcraft. After growing up in California and moving to New England, her interest in the occult, which she claims began in childhood, developed further in Boston. Cabot raised her daughters as Witches and became a public figure, adopting distinctive attire. She opened Salem's first "Witch Shoppe" in 1971, which gained popularity partly due to the television show "Bewitched." This venture led to her establishing the Witches' League for Public Awareness in 1986, aiming to counter negative portrayals of witchcraft in media, particularly in response to films like "The Witches of Eastwick."

Cabot's shops, including Crow Haven Corner and The Cat, the Crow and the Crown (later The Official Witch Shoppe), sold various items associated with witchcraft. While the physical stores are no longer family-owned, she continues to operate an online business selling handcrafted magic products. Her 75th birthday celebration in 2008 was attended by numerous witches and musicians, reflecting her influence in the community. Cabot's work focuses on the religion, art, and science of witchcraft.

Laurie Cabot established the Cabot Tradition of the Science of Witchcraft, a significant development in the organized practice of witchcraft. Beyond her tradition, she founded the Witches' League for Public Awareness. This organization was created with the specific goal of defending the civil rights of witches and addressing negative perceptions of her religion, particularly in popular culture and media. Cabot expressed her views on media portrayals, criticizing films like "The Witches of Eastwick" for what she considered inaccurate and harmful representations of witchcraft, distinguishing them from genuine practitioners.

Cabot's involvement with Salem began in 1971 when she opened the town's first "Witch Shoppe." This establishment became a notable tourist attraction, partly due to the national exposure from the television series "Bewitched." Her shops, including Crow Haven Corner, offered a range of esoteric items such as herbs, jewelry, and Tarot decks, catering to practitioners and enthusiasts of witchcraft. While the physical retail locations have transitioned ownership, Cabot has maintained an online presence, continuing to sell her handcrafted magic products through various channels.

“Here are three women who have nothing better to do, because they are so frustrated sexually, than to get involved with witchcraft. They are not witches. If they are anything, they are weekend Satanists. They don't do one witchy thing in the whole film.”