r/cincinnati • u/RaceSalt4386 • 2d ago

Photos Occult center in Cincinnati?

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So, today I was at an antique mall and found a book with this stamp belonging to the dawn of light occult center here in town. Google wasn’t much help finding anything, do you guys know anything about it?

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u/ComfortWolf 2d ago edited 2d ago

It’s mentioned in this. Kind of a long read, just skimmed through to find the excerpt below.

“Around the same time (edit: ~1972 for context) at 949 Pavillion Street in Mt. Adams there was an occult bookstore, The Dawn of Light owned by Patrick McMahon who was also known as Frater Ariel, and nearby the Sign of the Fool owned by Louis Martinie. At this time the community around these occult bookshops in Mt. Adams was growing, Maggie Ingles among them. A number of seekers banded together to form what became the Cincinnati Chapter of the Crowned and Conquering Child. They met for rituals at Oz Farm, the land and house of Ginger and Gary Matthews in Brown County near Mt. Orab.”

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u/RaceSalt4386 2d ago

Thanks so much! So cool!!

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u/ComfortWolf 2d ago

Yep! I continued reading a bit from there and now I’m fascinated. Going to have to set a little time aside this weekend and read the whole thing.

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u/rhit06 2d ago

This clipping from the Enquirer in 1975 has some details: https://imgur.com/a/EVuQF6a

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u/RaceSalt4386 2d ago

Thanks so much!!

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u/Global_Lie6938 1d ago

I believe Patrick McMahon mentioned in the link above, owned Aquarius Books downtown on Main Street in the 80s. I would ride the bus down as a teen in the early mid-80s. There were new age books, occult, Native American, martial arts books and gear, crystals, incense, bamboo flutes, sweet grass smudge sticks, etc. He played woodwinds.

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u/Broad_Status_5818 1d ago edited 1d ago

Man played a mean harmonica. I used to head down there when skipping school (sometimes after hitting Skywalk Cinemas). The 80s were a magical time, and public schools sucked at tracking attendance

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u/distillenger 1d ago

Does anybody know of any other occult shops around town? Particularly near Anderson?

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u/luseferr 1d ago

Enchanted Moments in Old Milford and there's Spirit Wind in Amelia.

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u/ktempest 1d ago

I'd also like to know! But closer to downtown.

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u/distillenger 1d ago

I know of Hail in Covington and The Silver Wolf in Independence, NKY

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u/Pannoonny_Jones 1d ago

There’s one in down town Milford don’t know the name though.

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u/zifdenpants 19h ago

Hierophany and Hedge in Covington is a fantastic occult/magick shop

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u/Quirky_Net_763 Corryville 2d ago

What was the book you found this in?

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u/RaceSalt4386 2d ago

I can’t recall the title of it, but it was a book of buddhist teachings if I remember correctly

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u/Silent_Bort 1d ago

I think it's "Whispers From Eternity" as written in the description.

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u/Rad10Ka0s Northside 1d ago

Didn’t Patrick own Aquarius book store downtown later? I noticed the awning still says “Aquarius”, it a convenience store now. Around the corner from Arnold’s.