Renaissance Books & Gifts — Attraction in Springfield

This place, folks, is all about it. I'm not even jacking around now... You got to go I mean you got to go. My sweet wife Connie was talking to an old gal one day, and the old gal told her about this Renaissance Bookstore. She told her that they had Buddha stuff they had yoga stuff they had stuff about different ghosts and Ouija boards and spirits and seances and what not. Well Connie just a had to go, but I'll tell you she's a little faint of heart so she drug me along. That's right. Connie is faint of heart when it comes to the voodoo and the magic and the ghost. She always points to the Buddha and says, look at the fat man! I always say she' sweet, and beautiful. I don't say she's a Mensa member. Now listen, these folks have magic healing crystals Stones they've got tablets they have Ouija boards and many other mystical items. She sure is a sweet gal, and I mean sweet. So were the ladies working in this fine establishment. They were clean and they were pretty too. I like them. Connie liked them too. in fact, all of the employees at the store everyone that work there, was very very friendly and helpful. Every one of them asked if we could be helped, or if we were looking for something in particular. Connie asked about something called tantric, yother things including Namaste, and blood sugar sex Magik. Whatever the heck that is. She found some things that tickle her fancy, and she bought them. There was also someone that was sitting back behind the store, near the dumpster. They said he was a yogi. He was very friendly and he would Shake people's hands and greet them, when Connie approached him to meet him he basically ignored her. I found out later he was just visiting, he doesn't actually work for the store, they just invited him to leave the property, because they felt like he was getting rude, and taking advantage. Eating all of their food, and what not. Anyway, back to my story... Connie was very upset that this Yogi would not take the time to meet with her. I went up and wrap my arms around my sweet Connie walked away and was comforting her, and when the yogi noticed that I had put my arm around this girl, that I loved her and that she was with me, then he had all the interest in the world for my dear sweet Connie! I don't know why the change all of a sudden, but it was as if when me, Smokey, her husband, showed her love and attention well-- That's all this Yogi could think about. He embraced her and took her back to his lil' carpet and started whispering at her. Later, they went out to his conversion van and were gone for about 3 hours. When they got back she came to me and hugged me. She looked flustered and out of breath and she was walking sideways. Her eyes rolled up in her head a little bit. She then announced that this Yogi was her new spiritual advisor. They meet three to four times a week, and she normally tells me about these meetings. They have to be in secret, because that's the part of the ritual of the yoga. She normally comes back all splotchy. it's something that the yogi and her call Hot Yoga. I'm not sure what any of it means but she seems very very pleased. Thank goodness I wrapped my arms around her and showed the world how much I love my sweet Connie. Otherwise that dude never would have messed with her. Anyway, all in all a fantastic little store. I learned more about things I had always been curious about, then at any other point in my life. I learned more from Renaissance about crystals and rocks and sticks and crosses and moons and bubbleheads and rough-and-TUMBLE gangster trophy, and a guy named Aleister Crowley, and a guy that was referred to as mr. Dillman. I don't know who that is, but I'm sure he's wonderful. Please, if you get a chance go to...

Renaissance Books & Gifts is honestly the whole package, but without having to wait on the package. (See what I did there? 🙃) Online shopping is convenient, sure, but you don't get to smell the candles, the books, the incense, or the new tapestry smells. You can't pick up the gargoyle figurines, the tiny Buddha statues, or see every angle of the Triple Moon Goddess candle holder....without clicking 18x....you can't feel the weight of the pendulum you've been eyeing (not to mention be able to feel if there's a connection, or not), and there's most certainly no way to choose your perfect crystal through pictures.... pictures that more than likely are not even close to the one you'll end up getting, and how do you know if you even want it, honestly? How can you make a decision of this nature without feeling it? I mean feeling the weight and energy of the crystal in your hand....the tingling warmth or the icy coolness? My wife, Brittany, and I absolutely love going to Renaissance. She has been known to stop in just to buy herself a $1 crystal with the leftover change from the cup holder in our car. Some days being amidst all of her favorite things was all that could cheer her up....the overall vibe within the store is exceptional, and believe it, or not, there have been three migraines stopped dead in their tracks thanks to the tibetan singing bowls. Getting rid of the blues and migraines in one place. And all thanks to the phenomenally helpful and talented staff. They actually care, and it's quite apparent. They always take time to make sure everyone is finding precisely what they are looking for, and if they haven't figured it out yet, there's sure to be something that needs to go home with them. The really cool thing is that doesn't matter if you are only able to spend a couple bucks, or if you have the $20 birthday cash your grandma sent you...or if you made the wisest decision one could make, and that's to go to Renaissance weilding your tax return money. You're all gonna get the same treatment: kindness and respect. Brittany won the monthly gift certificate giveaway a couple of years ago (after trying for 6 years, religiously), and she still cherishes every item of the $100 worth of heavenly Renaissance merchandise. So, yeah, online shopping is great for us anxiety-ridden misanthropes, but if we didn't have at least one shop that we loved so much that we didn't mind venturing out in person to go to, some of us would lose our understanding on the human experience, entirely. That being said, I can't say that I would yearn for it very much, or even at all, considering that most times, I long for zero contact with my "fellow" humans....but when you find your people, it definitely changes the perspective of an antisocial homebody. Renaissance is worth the time, energy and effort that you'll put forth in order to deal being out in public.... And all that comes with the territory of in-person shopping in...

it is so beautiful inside. i was brought initially just to stop by and see if i'd like it, but i've since been multiple times and always leave with something cool in hand.

the selection of books is so broad it's actually breathtaking to walk in, especially if you're looking for more perspectives on a single subject. they're well organized and have so much to flip through (which makes the chairs a good place to park while you decide what to buy)

the crystals are also beautiful and i recently got the only worry stone that has ever fit my hand, along with a ton of incense.

they're so quick to answer questions and always so friendly, ESPECIALLY with the tarot and oracle deck selections. there's so many store demos and i cannot fathom the effort that goes into even beginning to have an idea of what they do and don't have, but they're somehow always spot on.

it's hard to explain the vast variety of different practices and beliefs they cover, but if you believe in /anything/ in particular, you just may find something...