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HISTORY OF ISISMAGICK
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STORY AND PICTURES ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT      ISISMAGICK1998-2007
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
NO REPRINT WITHOUT PERMISSION ,CREDIT and LINK TO ISISMAGICK

As one of the four original  owners (Don Blyth, Jolene , Lilith  &  Isis) of "The Ram Occult Center" 1971-1985;  and  the sole founder and  owner of  Panpipes Magickal Marketplace  from 1985 until it's sale to Fairusa Balk in 1995,  Isis  came out of retirement in 1998 to once again serve the global occult community with"Isis Magick"

     Journey with us back to Hollywood, California, 1970...............This is an overview of the last 37 years.

  In the fall of 1970,  Isis joined the group, and along with Don, Jolene and Lilith,  hosted the Weird Museum .
The little Museum was to become world famous, and finally infamous.

Dr Blyth Photo taken 1970

Pictured here are (left to right) Jolene, Lilith and Isis at the entrance of the Weird Museum.  Photo taken 1970.

    The original museum was housed in three separate rooms:  the Chamber of Horrors, the Medical Room, and a special room for Senbi Ak-Es-En-Amen,  a 3300 year old Egyptian mummy.

  Eventually Dr Blyth  opened a new attraction, Nightmare Alley, And acquired a new artifact, the alleged bones of Vlad Tepes the Impaler.....or as he is commonly known...Dracula!

In the spring of 1971, Lilith, Isis and Jolene had an idea, and went to Dr Blyth to ask if they might sell a few candles and herbs in a corner of the Weird Museum....from that small idea was born The Ram Occult Center in the summer of 1971.  NOT 10 years earlier, as falsly claimed in other unauthorized sources.
 
 

Lilith, in the Ram Occult Shop, when it had taken over the Chamber of Horrors  room.    Photo taken 1973

The new store grew rapidly and became Lilith's domain.  Jolene was in college , and Isis left to raise her three children.  It was Lilith's almost single-handed  hard work in those first two years of the Ram Center that made the  shop the great success that it became.   Later, others assisted.   Diana worked the shop, and Ida did the tarot  and psychic readings.
  Photos of Ida and Diana - early 70's
 
 

Meantime, Nightmare Alley had closed, and the Herbal Tearoom opened in it's place.   Bobbie's mother LaFaye had brought her to the group and she faithfully worked the Ram Center for three years.  The businesses were slowly outgrowing the upstairs space on Hollywood Blvd. Meanwhile, Lilith, after running the store for two years, finally tired of the grueling work of handling a growing business, and sold her share, leaving to raise a family.
 
 

Ram Center on Wilcox  1978
.  At this point,  Jolene, out of college,  picked up the torch and with Isis, Scott, Elizabeth and Diana, carried on.  ( Ida left for college, and Isis, children older, returned to duty.). After a short stay at another  Hollywood Boulevard location,The Ram Occult Center & Weird Museum  moved to an even bigger location at 1642 N. Wilcox in Hollywood.    Scott at Work Photo 1980

It had finally happened....the little shop that had been a part of The Weird Museum, had eclipsed it, and taken over!  The new location on Wilcox Ave was supported by The Ram Center, with Jolene at the helm, and the  Museum in secondary residence. Don, although part owner of the store,  and full owner of the Weird Museum,  but who had never taken profit from either; preferred to dedicate his time to teaching,   Eventually, the Weird Museum was closed and put in storage behind  the store.
Isis took over the "Pharmacy," as the Herb, Oil & Incense department was called.  Diana assisted Jolene. Elizabeth was the tarot reader that people came from miles around to see for advice & council.
 Isis' years of training came into call, as her hand-blended incenses, oils and herbal baths gained fame.  John and later George 1, worked the shop counters.
 

Isis also began  custom designing and constructing ritual robes and capes.  Her "Pentagram robe" became so popular, that her design appeared in other shops around Los Angeles.....Her original design had been copied!!  The ultimate compliment!  Later, her other original designs were to be copied also!
Then came 1984......The last year for the Ram Occult Center.
 

In anticipation of the Olympics to be held in LA.....the Weird Museum was once again set up behind the occult store.  The old gang was together again in June 1984 for the Wedding of Diana and her consort, Lee, with Ida officiating, and Dr. Blyth giving away the bride.
And then, in July 1984,  the whole Ram Complex was ravaged by fire!  The fire was NOT caused by burning candles, as falsely reported in other sources, but was caused by arson!

The Brotherhood of the Ram, now known as The Ramnian Church of God Incarnate, was formally disbanded.  The fate of the Ram Center became unsure.

 Isis in robe Photo 1978     Lilith,Jolene, Isis, Diana, Lee and Ida Photo 1984         Photo1984 Isis in shop
 
 

Photo of new store on Cherokee  1985
After moving what was salvagable to a temporary location on Selma Avenue in Hollywood, Don "sold" (read: gave) up his share of the Ram Center, and retired the Weird Museum collection to his private residence. Diana and Lee, newly married,  moved to New Mexico

Soon after, the badly demoralized Jolene became very ill, , and it was time for Isis to carry the torch alone.   Isis bought Jolene's share of the Ram Occult Center  and on January 12, 1985 became the sole and only owner of the store.

On January 12th, 1985, Isis closed the once mighty Ram Center, and at 1611 North Cherokee Avenue, in Hollywood, on January 15th, 1985, opened a brand new Hollywood occult shop.  Panpipes Magickal Marketplace.

George 1, from the old Ram Center, came on board as an employee for a while,  and Silver, as a friend,  stood guard late at night.   Greg joined the employee team, and gave classes, readings and worked the counters.

Nikiya arrived after the departure of George 1, and for a time prepared to become part owner of the shop.  Even though that didn't work out,  Nikiya remained for the next ten years, Isis' right hand man, and Manager of the shop.   (To this day,  Nikiya is a valued friend and is always there in time of need, as are  Lilith, Bobert and  Ida)
.
It was the beginning of a new era!   With the filming of "Beauty and the Beast" at the new store, we also began a career as a prime location for movie and television filming.

The old friends celebrated with Isis in party and ritual in the huge bamboo grove behind the Shop building!
But Dr. Blyth was also sick...and we all saw less and less of him, and Jolene went South for medical treatment.

Lilith,Jolene,Isis 1988 San Diego
For three years the store grew at the Cherokee location.

Lilith and Isis visited Jolene in her San Diego Home.  It had been 18 years since the three shop owners had come together in the Weird Museum.  Moments with Jolene were precious.

Amon Re Tet, a dear friend was lost to sickness.  Don rejoined his friends to mourn the loss.  Then Don himself lost his beautiful wife, Roza.

The group of friends were scattered far and wide but never lost the bond between them.  Diana and Lee, now in New Mexico, were building a business of their own.  Lilith now had a family, and had moved from the area.  Ida and David moved to the Mojave desert and established their Graphic Arts Studio.
 

But in 1986, a  brother arrived from Big Sur to assist Isis.
 
 

Rock Bob, a legend in Big Sur, California had left Hollywood in 1972 to live in his beloved forest.  And visits had been few and far between, until by a wonderful stroke  of fate, "Bobert" had returned to lend a hand, along with his vast knowledge of minerals, crystals and stones,  his unique talent as a jewelry designer,  and his incredible abilities as an accomplished occultist.
He built a studio and workroom in the bamboo grove and became for a fabulous year, a part of our shop team.  Then the mountain man returned to his forest.  (But visits, of course, continued, and still continue....whenever possible, with his beautiful lady, Barbara.
Bobert in his workroom behind the shop  Photo1987
 
 

Store on Cahuenga Blvd 1988
As happy as we were with the Cherokee location, the school system needed the property for a new parking lot.(?!!)   In February 1988, we relocated to Cahuenga Blvd., and business was booming!.  The store was used as shooting location for "Unsolved Mysteries,"  "Dream On,"  "Rockford Files, The Movie,"  "Witchboard II," and "Hardball."   Isis was officiating at many Pagan Handfastings and legal weddings, sewing all the robes, etc, and blending incenses and oils.  The store grew so rapidly, that help was imperative, and it arrived, as always, in force.
 
 

 Many people coming, returning and leaving, were an important part of our shop crew.  Nikiya, who had been involved as a teacher, reader and manager on Cherokee continued to be indispensible.

Silver still stood guard late at night when Isis was alone in the shop......Greg came back, Leslie came and went...Big Michael ran all the errands...Kyllein and Dee did readings, classes and ran the counters.....Kiiam was always available to rescue Isis from locking herself in the back yard, or from assorted floods and mayhem....Bobert and Lilith came to watch the shop in Isis absence, Lew stayed through the nights in Isis' absence....then George D, who had been a customer at the Cherokee location,  was hired as a handyman, and did the building, fixing and repairing .  Eventually George was hired to give tarot readings, classes, and finally, with Greg, chosen by Isis to run  the front counters, staying through Isis' sale of  the store in 1995.
 
 

 Those that were involved with the The Ram Occult Center, and the people that later helped with Isis's own shop, Panpipes, in assorted years from 1971 to 1995, (Except those pictured elsewhere in this history...) are shown below.

In The winter of 1991, Scott and Isis visited Jolene in San Diego, it was the last time we would see Scott, who had moved to Florida, and was back in LA for a visit.  Scott died in a terrible accident on December 21, 2000.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In November 1992, Lilith and Isis were with Dr. Blyth for the last time for his 70th birthday.   It was now almost 23 years since they came together at the Weird Museum,  Dr. Blyth died January 10, 1993.
 
 
 
 

In January 1993, Lilith and Isis were with Jolene for the last time at a wake for Dr. Blyth.    Jolene  died  July 3, 1993
 
 

  On January 31, 2003, in Colorado, Diana's beloved husband Lee passed beyond the gates after a long illness.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

On January 3rd, 2001... Wolf, coyote mix, Age 17 years, who as a puppy was found starving behind the Ram Center, and for 10 years faithfully guarded Isis and her store, striking fear & terror into the hearts of those who even thought of coming behind the counters or jumping the back fence,... (except for one homeless man whom she took a liking to)...........passed beyond the veil and  joined those who have gone before.  We'll miss you, our beautiful crazy loving faithful Woofers, until we meet again.
 
 
 
 

 Isis & Lilith New Weird Museum Entry 1993
Dr. Blyth bequeathed  the Weird Museum  to Isis;  and  a  room was built behind the shop for the collection.   In June 1993, "D. R. BLYTH'S WEIRD MUSEUM"  lived again as a loving tribute to Don Blyth. But after two years, and much negative publicity, Isis closed, once again, the doors to the world famous Weird Museum.

Photo of Isis in Weird Museum courtesy of Long Beach Daily Breeze

 

    Sad and hurt at the attacks on the Museum, in August 1995,  Isis put the world famous Weird Museum into permanent retirement and  half-heartly put the shop up for sale, while in reality was planning to move it with her to her new home in New Mexico, if the sale was not meant to be.

    But it was.  On August 31, 1995, the store was sold to Fairuza Balk, who was currantly starring in the movie,
"The Craft."

   Isis, with husband Alberdy,  moved to thier 40 acre property at the foot of the Floridian mountains in the Sonoran Desert, with the intention of retirement.   So much for intentions.

    Alberdy being too sick to work, Isis learned to drive a tractor-trailer, driving coast to coast.  Interesting, but less than spiritually fulfilling.

In 1997, Isis sold the New Mexico property, and after spending a year  at her property in Indiana, finally returned to Southern California.
 

........Which brings us up to 1998, and ISIS MAGICK Occult Supply Shoppe!
 

With renewed vigor,  a never-ending love of the occult and serving the occult community,  Isis returned.....   And, if anyone has experience....it's Isis........39 years after walking into the Weird Museum....still going strong!!

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!!!!!!!!!!2002UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!
 Have 4 years passed already?

Hundreds of hand-made robes and occult supply orders later......We thank you all for your loyalty and continued support!

We have given the soul of our beautiful and faithful coyote, Wolf, over to the goddess at age 17 years....
Sekhmet, our fantastic feline leader just had her 16th birthday....
We will be at the 3rd annual PagandayFest this October!!....
 

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March of 2004.... Isis husband, Alberdy, lost his battle with mental illness.  He remains in Mexico, permanently hospitalized.

SIEMPRE MI VIDA
by Isis for my husband, Alberdy.
 

You came.

 You came from the jungles and mountains and sky
Beaming sunlight and Magic and God in my eyes.

Your face, my warmth,  your lips, my sustenance.
 Your body, my shelter, your Spirit, my reawakening.

Your smile, an infusion of beauty and your love a cocoon of tenderness....
 Your eyes streaming forth blessings, compassion and knowledge of the ages.

 Relighting my love of mankind
Lost so long ago
My world bright and glorious......... the Gods but a whisper away.

Our oneness complete blessed by Magick and Myth
Our bond meld eternal,  locking hearts and twin souls
Even death with you, a promise of eternal delight.

You left.

You had come with the summer breeze from outside my world into my heart  and my being.
You left with winter's bitter cold leaving only body and broken brain behind
With  shadows of your former self.

 As I cling to the memory of your brilliant spirit and your beautiful mind
 I will cherish and care for and love..... with all of my heart, for all of my life
The you that you left behind.

Spring Equinox 2004
 

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In January of 2005, Isis' fabled Magickal Companion, Sekhmet, returned to the arms of Bast.   She was 20 years old.

Sekhmet 1993

"A part of me is missing, and  will not be complete until once again rejoined with this dear dear friend."   ....Isis

Sekhmet 1985-2005
 

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June 28th, 2005...Because of the increasing demand for custom made robes and hand-blends, Isis has decided to
put all her energy into these tasks, and no longer be a complete supply shoppe.  Thank you for your understanding, and remember, We are still here for you with our wonderful Ceremonial and ritual robes.

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Fall/Winter 2006-2007

Introducing "Khmet"  Who unbelievably found his way to Isis in the middle of Los Angeles...unaccompanied and totally alone, but by the Spirit of Sekhmet, at the tender age of 8 weeks old.
 

KHMET AGE 1 YEAR

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                 Here  are newer pictures of  some of our Magickal Friends.
 

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