The owner of a New Age bookstore and wellness center in Centerville filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking an injunction against a city ban on fortune-telling.
Earlier this week, city officials ordered Courtney Bibb to stop offering certain paid practices at her business, Energy Among Us, citing a 1985 ordinance prohibiting “spiritualism and kindred services.”
Bibb, who opened the store in January, had been providing tarot and angel card readings, crystal ball readings, group meditation and healing, dream interpretations and other services.
In the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Macon, Bibb says the ordinance violates her constitutional rights, and specifically her right to free speech. It also contends that the law is “unconstitutionally vague.”
“I feel pretty confident,” Bibb said Friday. “I believe in what I’m doing. Health and wellness includes meditation and prayer. Finding peace and harmony is part of feeling good.”
Bibb had planned to speak at a city council meeting Tuesday. However, she said Friday the city has given her a “consent order” allowing her to continue offering spiritual services until a court hearing later this month.
She said the city also gave the go-ahead for an April 24 expo at the store.
The lawsuit notes that Centerville Mayor John Harley attended a Feb. 18 ribbon-cutting and grand opening at the Houston Lake Road business, at which time signs outside the business clearly advertised a number of the services that were offered there and signs inside promoted various classes.
Harley said earlier this week he attended under the impression the business was a bookstore, as indicated on Bibb’s business license. The lawsuit says Bibb applied for and received a license as a “wellness center/bookstore.”
Bibb, a former Macon police officer, was notified in a letter from City Clerk Krista Bedingfield that her business — as well as the planned expo event — violated the ordinance. The ordinance prohibits the practice of “fortune-telling, phrenology, astrology, clairvoyance, palmistry, spiritualism or other kindred practices, businesses or professions where a charge is made or a donation is accepted for the services.”
The letter states Warner Robins and Perry have ordinances of the “same nature.”
Bibb said she knows of several businesses in Warner Robins that offer fortune-telling services, including one nearby on Watson Boulevard.
To contact writer Rodney Manley, call 744-4623.
E-Mail
Print
Reprint|license
