Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Signs and omens

I do seem to spend more time writing than reading. I think I even spend more time buying books than actually sitting down to read, something which is troublesome but mostly due to work restrictions. Even if I only scan a book quickly, what is important is the message. I scanned a book about signs and omens. It would have been one of those that would have been lovely to read. I get its message. Really, just pay attention to things which happen in a day. There is always something to be gleaned from it, or something which will have importance.
Today, on one of my shortened forays into the big city, I did my usual round of hairdresser, dentist, shopping and just idly noting all the changes in my old neighbourhood. Towards the end of the day, when I dropped of my hubby for a long overdue haircut and I went to the Occult shop to browse for the 15 minutes it would take to trim his hair. By the end of the day, four things which hold some significance melded together in a message I need to assess.
In a newspaper my husband picked up earlier there was a story about the great Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila, my olympic hero. It was the anniversary of his olympic win. Imagine 50 years celebrated on September 10. How lovely to see this honour for him. Kip Keino would be my other hero. Their courage and stories were so inspirational to me as a young girl.
The Occult shop had an interesting book called Hekate Soteiro. It was expensive. I was told by the sales girl that it was Sarah Iles Johnston's PhD paper. I had to buy it. Hecate is my current hero. Although not new, I noticed for the first time, the Crow's Magick tarot deck. My book, The Will to be True/In the Shadow of the Blackbird depends heavily on the myths of the Blackbird, raven or crow in part two. An image of the crow sits on it cover. Finally, I have wanted to be a JP for a long time. I applied before and was not successful but they are looking for candidates again and I will try again.
Four signs/omens - things generally important or special to me. Where this is going I don't know. Lately, I feel change, a need to retire from nursing and move into something else. Maybe this is the time to make change.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Studying the circumstances

We are now well past the bloom of summer. My lovely clematis are struggling to still put out the occasional bloom and today I found new branches on my lavender. How nice to see even a dying plant struggling for the last gasp of warmth to remind us how beautiful it was and will be again.
Feeling much better about the future. My husband's recovering in a way which has been challenging but we are working towards a future which now seems permanent, where as before there was nothing to build on. Nothing is final yet. He still has a long way to go but it is one step at a time.

Publishing my book, The Will to be True/In the Shadow of the Blackbird and finally getting it on the shelf and hopefully selling has been a revelation. I am no longer excited. I am determined! The most exciting part was picking the cover and seeing the first hardcopy. Selling it is definitely not my strong point. I hope people will be kind and buy it. Just like my husband's progress, sales will be slow and require that I put in more effort than the writing but I am liking this.
Gee, it feels like giving birth to a baby and wanting to tell everyone its the most beautiful ever. We need someone else to do that without looking foolish. So I thank those who buy my 'baby' and tell me its beautiful. It warms my heart, as it should and makes me want to make another one. Fortunately, unlike caring for real babies which is my life's work, there will be no sleepless nights and I would be doing something I really enjoy in this fall season of my life.