If one does not have prior knowledge of the occult, Botanica Manivye will seem quite shocking when glancing at some of the merchandise. Shelves of candles take up a quarter of the store with labels such as Healing Light, Control, and some with pictographs of holy saints. Some candles take on the shape of a cat, two lovers, or the devil. Jars of dried herbs such as Mugwort, Sage, and Dragon's Blood line the walls. Pendants bearing voodoo coffins, pentacles, and various crystals hang next to long necklaces strung with brightly colored beads of white, yellow, red, and green. Glass shelves house spirit boards, tarot and oracle decks, crystals, and a jar of black cat eyes. Multiple altars find shelter in the botanica, as well, with candles, coins, incense, statues and jars of water filling the table tops. Antique black art, such as pictures, statues, and posters are dispersed throughout the store. A statue of a beautiful black womyn bathing stands in front of a poster of Malcolm X. A corner of the room is curtained off as the consultation room. However, the energy and feeling one gets when inside Sister Angie's botanica is of tranquility and acceptance. Sister Angie, a short middle aged womyn with long, thin dreads with bracelets and rings covering her arms and hands, greets you and makes sure you are finding what you are looking for. As you smile and nod that you are just looking, she hurries back to her consultation room to finish up a shell reading. Macy Gray plays in the background softly as you continue to look at the strange mystifying objects. One can easily get lost in thought while in Botanica Manivye and can truly start to see that "magic" really does exist.
Shops like Sister Angie's have emerged from a deep, rooty history. Botanicas, Yerbias, Hoodoo drugstores, Wiccan/Metaphysical/Spiritual shops are all connected by the same energy, the same history despite the alias they go by.
