A Trip to the Bookstore

Posted on August 7, 2003 by Heather

I have a love affair with books. In every room of my home you will find at least ten different books (expect the bathroom, oddly enough). I read everything from cyberpunk fiction or ancient history non-fiction. I have books about empowering women, making a tasty meal, sliming down my cat, and the ancient and mystical Qabalah. My book collection probably numbers upwards of five hundred items, along with at least another one hundred magazines on various topics. So, as you can imagine, a trip to the bookstore is a wonderful thing for me.

I took a quite morning for myself yesterday. My main purpose was to find a pair of shoes to wear to the two weddings quanta and I will be attending in the next two months. With my mission accomplished quickly and painlessly (thank goodness for end of summer sales), I decided to reward myself with some time at the nearby mega-bookstore. My first stop was the magazine section, in hopes that the latest issue of Sage Woman would be in (ha!). Next I went to the bargain books. My hopes were to find a couple of good books about ancient history or mythology. You see, I’ve decided to move away from the typical Wiccan books and start doing some exploration through learning more about ancient civilizations. (I think I’ll get into this more in another entry.)

My next stop was the New Age/Wicca/Metaphysical section of the bookstore. It’s really amazing how much this section has grown in the two years we have been going to this store. And just recently they have doubled the amount of tarot decks and books they carry. But, I’m embarrassed to stand there and look at the books. It’s not because I’m afraid some overzealous follower of another religion is going to walk by and berate me. It’s because of all the sparkly, hot pink, silly books. Yeah, yeah, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. I’ll remember that next time I see something like Witchin’: A Handbook for Teen Witches, complete with a picture of Ms. Horne lying on a fluffy purple rug. I can see how that would be infinitely better then a book on mythology, or reading a website written by someone not out to make a buck. *sigh*

I was pleased to see the trade paperback back versions of Ronald Hutton’s Triumph of the Moon sitting prominently on the shelf. And the re-released editions of Dion Fortune’s novels The Sea Priestess and Moon Magic were also there. Those are the kind of books we need more of.

What did I end up buying? Nothing. I was a good girl. I stopped by the library on my way home and picked up my favourite biography – Elizabeth: Struggle for the Throne by David Starky. It’s amazing the spiritual lessons you can learn from a mundane book.

1 Comment | Posted in My Life |

Plans within Plans

Posted on August 7, 2003 by Heather

We have finally sent a date… a tentative date. And getting quanta to agree to it was like pulling teeth. The main issue – money. It always comes down to money. He doesn’t want to get married right away because we aren’t rich. The fact that he makes great money and that we live very well doesn’t mean a lot. We must have a huge nest egg put away. I can understand where he is coming from, but we already live together. Let’s get the formalities over with and get on with our lives.

Now that a date is set (September 25, 2004), I can start thinking about some other things. Next week I’m going to visit my parents and hopefully get a chance to look at a couple of venues that I am interested in. The Old Mill Inn and Liuna Station both look promising. Both are ceremony and reception venues, making planning just that much easier.

Mom and I will also start what promises to be a long hunt for my wedding gown. I really don’t enjoy clothes shopping, and I have no idea what style of dress I would like, so this will be rather interesting. Thankfully we have found a couple of shops that sell floor models and dresses from past seasons for very good prices. I know it’s a waste of money buying my dress, but I’d rather buy it then rent it. At least that way I’m left with something after shelling out a large amount of cash.

Oh, and quanta’s visit home went well. His mom didn’t say anything. I’m wondering if she is just hoping it will go away.

Comments Off on Plans within Plans | Posted in Wedding |

Goddess, Goddess Everywhere

Posted on August 2, 2003 by Heather

WitchVox has linked to an interesting article entitled Goddess Craze Gone Goofy. The comments about it on WitchVox are mostly pretty dismissive. One poster even called it schoolyardish. Personally, I think the author makes some good points, although her manner is a bit too irreverent.

The “Goddess Movement” has gone a bit to far in some cases, I think. Goddess hikes, goddess fashion, goddess cards, etc. I’m guilty of owning a copy of the Goddess Tarot, and I do occasionally glory in my femininity (when no one is looking), but I know there is a limit. You see, it’s all about balance. Having women only events is nice, but men, and the God, should never be taken totally out of the equation. (Yes, I know about same sex couples, etc. But there is always a masculine and a feminine energy within the couples.) The author of the article, Ms. Kathleen Parker, ends her piece by saying: “The real name of the game is balance, yin and yang, male and female. And real goddesses, as with everything else, do not have to declare themselves.”

There you have it. Strive for balance and be yourself. What more do you need?

Comments Off on Goddess, Goddess Everywhere | Posted in The Outside World |

Music of the Cicadas

Posted on August 2, 2003 by Heather

I live in an apartment building in the downtown area of a large city. The building is actually in an area that sort of blurs between commercial, residential, and run-down downtown. When I go for walks or look out my window, I can imagine the way the old Victorian-style houses must have looked 30 years ago. In my mind’s eye I can see fresh coats of pastel paint, bright flowers, and crisp curtains. But sometimes it is hard to ignore the peeling paint, weeds, and boarded windows. I hope that someone sees the beauty in these houses and buys one to restore to it’s former glory.

During my walk to the library today I was enjoying taking in the sights along a different route. I walked past several large office buildings, enjoying their summer-baked gardens. My other senses soon started to demand my attention. I could feel the early August sun, slowly baking me. I could hear the birds, and smell the scents from the nearby Rib-Fest. But I noticed one thing was missing – no cicada bugs. Honestly, they drive me nuts. When I lived at home, I kept my bedroom windows open all summer to catch the breezes, and I could always hear the cicadas hiding in the tree outside my window. They were never quite, and they distracted me so much. But today I found myself missing their noise. It was a part of summer, but now it is gone. I have no trees or lawn of my own. My lovely container garden indoors is no real substitute for a beautiful outdoor garden. I wish I could be the one to buy one of the Victorian houses and bring it back to life. I would sit out in my garden, baking in the August heat, and listen to the cicadas sing to me.

Comments Off on Music of the Cicadas | Posted in The Outside World |

More About quanta’s Mom

Posted on August 2, 2003 by Heather

quanta has gone to see his parents today. As I mentioned earlier, his mom doesn’t approve of our engagement. I’m very concerned about what she is going to say to him today. She is a very forceful and opinionated woman, and I am sure she is going to try to talk him out of our engagement. Or at the very least she will insist we put the wedding off until we are better off (quanta makes more money then my mom and dad combined). I hope he will be able to stand up to them and tell them that this is our business, not their’s.

Comments Off on More About quanta’s Mom | Posted in Wedding |

Overwhelmed

Posted on July 31, 2003 by Heather

Argh! There is so much to do, and I’m not even sure where to begin. I’ve surfed through more wedding sites then I thought could possibly exist. I’ve read three books about weddings in the past week. I’ve bought a wedding planner which currently has no planning going on in it. I’m getting no where very quickly. It would be wonderful if quanta actually was trying to help. Instead he avoids all wedding talk or just nods his head. *sigh*

Things to do:

  • pick a date
  • determine the number of guests (under 75, I hope!)
  • day or night?
  • elope!
Comments Off on Overwhelmed | Posted in Wedding |

Good Things Come in Threes

Posted on July 28, 2003 by Heather

This past week as really good to me. On Sunday night, at 11:40pm, quanta asked me to marry him. I am so very, very happy that we are engaged. And to top it off, he gave me the most beautiful diamond and emerald ring I have every seen.

The second good thing was getting back to work. I’ve been unemployed since I left my assistant manager job at Electronics Boutique last June. (It’s a bit of a long story about way.) I’ve finally found a retail job I think I can do without my brain falling out of my ear. It’s only part-time, but that’s okay. My quest to find a job that uses my education continues, but without much hope.

And the third good thing… well… I hit 500 posts on Aeclectic Tarot forum. Okay, it isn’t as great as the others, but I can use my own pretty like icon now.

My mom also came down for a visit this past week. She was almost as excited as I am about me being engaged. Maybe more so! We had a nice visit, and I was very glad to see her. But between her visit, my new job, and reading every wedding book I can get my hands on, I haven’t had time for much else. This week, hopefully today, I will get a few more things posted on the site.

Comments Off on Good Things Come in Threes | Posted in My Life |