catholicpagan

Heartland Welcomes Skye

Illinois October Book Tour continues.( See “Chi-Town” book event below.)

By early afternoon Sheree and I , once again hit the road, for the next Skye  book event. Bracing against Chicago's chill wind we made our way to the train station, suitcases rolling along behind. I like train rides with the changing scenery and stops along the way. Traveling south from Chicago a the small town of Joliet I searched the station for suspicious characters; it being a prison point. No one worth worrying about.

 

The train chugged along smoothly and then my Illinois trip came to a stop - third on this tour (see blog below.)  Stop the clock, June’s aboard!  Nightfall and coldness descended as we sat on the tracks and I tired. Luckily, upon our arrival our hostess and event planner, Laura, was there to quickly whisked us off to her country home. Soon I was cozy under a big quilt in bed after a medicinal hot toady.  

The next day the sun greeted us and cheerily we headed out toward Bloomington for my book reading. Fall's vivid colors adorned nature throughout the Heartland’s countryside delighted us and Laura held our interest with history of the rural farming area. When we arrived at our destination -  Colley's Chess Cafe - a group of young chess playing children were finishing up their games.

.   Soon my guests came and I began reading the book's carefully chosen excerpts, ones that introduces listeners to the character, plot and theme but doesn't give away the story. Listeners were so enthralled, they encouraged more story telling, which of course I was happy to do.  I read up to girls sitting at Haight/Ashbury on the sidewalk in the early ‘60’s and ended story time with the main character hotly confronting her mother.

.   One couple had driven three hours from Chicago to play chess with Colley, not knowing a book reading was happening. They enjoyed the story so much they bought two copies. Guests, books in hand, left and we three women merrily drove off to Normal, a place I looked forward to experiencing being from San Francisco. 

  Sheree and Laura, new friends, discovered they had a common enjoyment of threater, and planned to meet-up in Chicago for plays. 

On the other end of Normal, I stood. Next day an early train ride back to Chicago airport proved yet another delay. I silently sang an old song, "Slow down you move to fast, gotta make the morning last."  Still I fretted I'd not make my flight. But with no more delays at the airport, I returned safely home deeply grateful for Lisa, Laura and Sheree’s great efforts to assure a successful book tour in the Heartlands. Blessed be.

P.S. Was glad I left my broom at home and toured with so many wonderful normal folks.

CHI-TOWN BOOK TOUR

The Skye in June  should've took the broom.

It was a dark and stormy night when I arrived in Chi-town (Chicago) to begin my book tour in Illinois.

  After a four-hour delay flight due to storms, I was elated to see my friend, Sheree, a Chicago transplant via San Francisco. The storm raged all night but in the morning, broke to a calm. The view from Sheree's high tower apartment of Lake Michigan was shrouded in a gray mist; perfect to hide in bed a few extra hours before first book event.

My first book party, hosted by my client, jeweler Lisa Cotten, would be just a 40-minute drive north of Chicago, we thought. We arrived one and a half hours later due to the usual Friday late afternoon crawl, hindered a bit more by a light misty rain, worsened by a long detour. 

                                                     

Still nothing could dampen the gaiety of about twenty-five women turned lose on a Friday night meeting to enjoy good wine, food and girlfriend company. What a riotous group of ladies. Laughter and voices rebounded in Lisa’s beautiful two-story house that she and her family had only moved into the month before. Lisa was so eager to share some of the more shocking parts of "Skye" with the guests.

Sheree was smooth, corralling the wild women into the living room for me to begin the book reading, sitting by the fireplace.

“Skye” quickly found many new homes and was a sell out with more on order, thanks to the great help from both Lisa, and Sheree.  

Guests, most interested in the psychic and metaphysical aspect of the story, had thought-provoking questions about such topics as how ESP works, how to develop it and karma. 

I demonstrated my main character June's, psychic abilities for Carri who is from a big Catholic family and purchased nine books as gifts. 

 

Why is Carrie smiling while I'm astonished at what I see? Is it twins for this mother of four?

Next day Sheree and I off for a train trip south to Normal/Bloomington, my next book event. (stay tuned for more on Illinois book tour.)

Vacation on the Vineyard - Martha's

Following a full moon in a red-eye special hubby & I arrived into Boston Airport on our way to Martha's Vineyard. We continued to the island on an eight-passenger, puddle-jumper plane (I would have preferred the safety of my broom.)
Goddesses' alert! You’re asked your weight in front of God and everybody. I blurted out a number, close enough where other passengers won’t accuse me of lying, but not too far away from truth so as to topple the plane downward into the deep ocean waters.

A gaggle of wild turkeys strolling along the street greeted us as we arrived at our sunny holiday home.  Life would prove to be slower and simpler on Martha’s. Tired, but eager to explore, off we drove and soon learned it's not easy to be lost on the island for long as all roads lead back to a familiar ground. We saw the island from one end to the other picking up fresh seafood along the way.

Martha’s has variations of Colonials homes, old and new, huge Mac Mansions and a most charming town, Oak Bluff boasts

myriads gingerbread houses. On my daily walk I found the local graveyards– being a medium I have to visit my spirit friends--and although most of the old headstones were almost impossible to read I did see that the dearly departed began to rest there as early as 1600's, Lots of Smiths lying around, making me wonder if it was an alias back then too.  After reading a mystery book by a local author, Cynthia Riggs - a 13-generation islander – I called her (she’s in the local phone book) to meet and exchange autographed books. She showed me around her historical family home, now a B&B catering to writers and poets. On a lovely sunny crisp day I ferried to Falmouth on the mainland to meet my friend, author Suzette Standring. We stopped by the picturesque New England town's bookstore with thoughts of me having a book event for The Skye in June when I return in March.

Our vacation ended with “the fast ferry” to New Bedford for a blowout fun filled party with some of hubby’s relatives.

His Uncle Ed and a cousin-in-law were New England fishermen as are many in this area and on Martha's. The statue on the island is a dedication to fishermen.

Once again I lied about my weight on the trip but since I’m home safely in San Francisco, the lie didn't count.

I Belong to Glasgow/San Francisco

Where will this witch park her broom?

I am not a ABS,(American born Scot) I'm really a FOB ~ or FOA - off the airplane) legal alien. Born in Glasgow Scotland left in 1956 (been back several times) raised in San Francisco -  love the City but to those born native San Franciscans  I'm told  "Yeah sure, you're from here. Don't call yourself a native, gotta be born here."  As I gaze upon my lovely city by the bay, my heart flutters with it's beauty.

 

Alas, I've been told by Glaswegians, "Away wie ye, yer nay a real Scot, yankee." That's the relatives too. This photo is of my big sistah and me standing on Maule Drive in Glasgow's Partick district. We lived here in a kitchen & one room, pull-chain toilet, no bath before moving to a larger flat on Dumbarton Road. In '69 I visited my Granda on Maule Drive who then lived in it. 

Funny story -- in 2006 last time visited Glasgow, my husband, big sistah and I were walking down the main street, Dumbarton Road, (as featured in my novel) The Skye in June (not Joon) minding our own touristy business when we hear "JOON!!" We look at each other, alang the street runs a wee woman followed by a man - it's my cousin, Pat Burgoyne. She had an inkling that if they drove from Renfrew - outside of Glasgow - down Dumbarton, they'd see me - having heard we were in for a visit. A canny Scot, she is. True story. We Yanks have the sunglasses on.

 

" Perhaps like my father, I'm meant to roam around and the world can be home, where ever my broom is parked will be where I"m at in the moment.  Meanwhile, a place in my heart still belangs to Glasgow

Normal Life for Witch

I’m so exited to share that this witch has been invited to be with Normal people in month of October, Season of the Witch.  What will it be like? Who shall I meet?  Oh! the thrill of it. The invitation to theNormal/Bloomington, Illinois area to present my book,The Skye in June, (about a young witch-in-the-making) at Immanuel Bible Foundation and Broadview Mansion.  Shall I survive as a witch within the Normal Christian home? And I thought sharing witchcraft with the 

Floridian girl scout troop as a step on the hot coal experience.  

How will Normal receive this author, psychic and witch from, of all places, San Francisco? We certainly know that many think of my dear City – Baghdad by the Bay – as a place of nutty and evil people.  Of course, I hotly disagree –mostly - after all there are those over-the-wall folks. Cool it, say I. I concede a few might be a hinge “different” from the perfect normal image but really, quite harmless.

“I’ll contact pagan, Wicca’s in your area to come,” said I to my Normal connection.  She replied, - I don’t think there are any in Normal."

 Trust me, dear, witch June purred wickedly, they’re there. Five minutes on internet and Google coughed up three pagans/Wiccans/Goddesses' groups. Twenty-four hours later - all interested replied to book event. One group, from their spokeswitch, came back so darkly negative full of fear, our privacy, our seriousness as witches...oie, glad I'm living in a place to openly practice -even with the judgements it was not as harsh as this one group had of myself. 

Ahh, life is good and full of surprises.  A normal day in the life of a witch.

Tír na nÓg A Witch Cure

About Tir na nÓg my Witch Cure center in  French Gulch, Northern California, an enchanting chalet hidden amongst trees.  For a larger image of any pictures - just click on them to enlarge.

It was as blessedly wonderful as the name promised––Tír na nÓg an Irish Celtic mythological place. The name translates as the Land of Eternal Youth or the Land of the Ever-Young. There happiness lasted forever and why not? This is what you can enjoy; serene music, good health, and a bounty of food and drink. 

Each morning the day started sitting sat on deck drinking tea, listening to singing birds and the bubbling brook footsteps away. Listening to the wizard chime words of wisdom to the angel and me.  My entertainment was a daily show of various colorful birds flying high and low, landing on the feeder in an amusing pecking order, spilling birdseed for the grounded squirrels, that stuffed their cheeky cheeks A loud honking gaggle of geese flew up stream, dragging their feet through the water and a large raccoon washing his hands in the water, lumbered off. One day, a deer carefully picked her way through the leaves only inches from me. It was then I was sure Snow White would emerge from the woods. 

The brook was a wonderful relief from the afternoon's heat as hubby and I waded through the very cool water, carefully picking our pathway while looking for rocks to skip -  he was much better than I at it so I put him to work. 

Besides that my days were spent eating, sleeping, reading and drawing and enveloping the enchanting ever-blooming wonders abound.  I didn’t turn on the music I so carefully chose for my holiday, for it could not compare with nature's orchestra that soothed my tired soul, my body, mind and spirit. 

Hubby, not too tired from working, called out "Come ~ play!"  Our playground was found in the old claw foot bathtub - perfect!

I danced through the house, giggling, renewed in energy.  

Ah Tír na nÓg I dream you ~ awaiting my return to the “other world.”

 

Witch Takes Mother Nature's Cure

Longing to rid myself of the muggle ways of living in a too busy metropolis I take flight, packing lightly my broom, as my quest for renewal of spirit begins. My retreat will bring me to the restful arm's of Mother Nature, the surest pathway for revitalizing this witch's depleted magic,.  In muggle terms, I'm on holiday.

Don't try to find me.
                                           Courtesy of athomesf.net

A lover of nature, I give my struggling soul to Her green grass, melody of rippling leaves rustling in the gentle breeze of summer. An array of delicate flowers in glorious bloom send heavenly scents to titillate me to view their beauty.   All to heal my senses, dulled by over-done activities. Courtesy of athomesf.net

Already I hear the gushing waters of the stream moving across rocks, suggesting to my soul a  cleansing of harried duties and worries lodged in mind.

Such thinking as I'm late, I'm late for a very important date - releases from my consciousness as the road to my haven widens. 

My spirit hears the giggles and cooing of the forest's fairies enticing me to dance skyclad amongst the trees.  Joining in the merriment my witch spirit is swept further away from the heaviness of worry and schedules. 

Like the myriad of forest birds - dressed in every color of joy and serenity, I bask in the healing gift of the life surrounding me.

In deep satisfaction I snuggle in my lover's arms and whisper, "What's for dinner?"  After all, a witch must eat too.

Courtesy of athomesf.net

Fly to Rio to visit Daniel

My son Daniel went to Mardi Gras in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in '04 and still wasn't back in SF by May.  I just had to find out where, how and why he was home so years ago I went -  17 1/2 hours to see him. 

Daniel left by himself knowing no one or speaking any Portuguese (language of the country.)

A guy he met in SF hooked him up with Julio someone he knew briefly in Rio. Julio didn't speak English but picked Daniel up at the airport. 

Daniel with Brazilian friend, Julio.

My time with Daniel turned out to be an incredible journey. We had a once-in-a-life time together. Daniel is a true adventurer. He took me all over the city, usually the places white women would never go and showed me places I'd never had seen as a tourist. We went to some dangerous areas in Rio. It could have gotten bad, but we were fine. One night about midnight we went to the skater park and also guys were playing socceer. Vendors sold food and some wild Brazilian moonshine drink. After one of those I started reading palms. It was so much fun and all men & boys - lined up for readings. One guy even came off the court -they were playing on a tennis court. We got back to the hotel about 3 a.m.

As a toursit I had to visit Cristo - the huge statue set up on top of a mountain like hill. We taxied up (oh the thrill of Brazilian taxis!) It was awesome but the trip down from that, more-so. In the hour or so walk we had a beer at a stand outside a slum area - don't enter (though Daniel had a story about that), saw a traffic accident, smashed car w/blood, ran into someone Daniel knew from SF who owned a store on the street and more. 

coming down a long curvy street we stopped for a beer outside a slum dwelling. The graffitti is awesomely beautiful and very political. 

 

 I have many pictures that I'll share over a period of time. Brazilians were wonderfully friendly but then there was the street children. Sad as it was, Daniel said not to get too involved.  He took me hand gliding, something I had wanted to do for years.  My son is the BEST PERSON  to travel with for an adventure! So many stories.

Brazil shines behind me.

Witch June's morning run along beach in Brazil