Day Six: Good Evening

A Monday post on a Tuesday? Truly the world lost its marbles.

I'm here to give some ideas into what's been going on and why y'all haven't heard from me in a bit. Unfortunately, a brick wall has been erected in my personal life and it's making things difficult. I can't go into any major detail; things have gotten extremely intense lately. I'm happy and sad all at once, anxiety has been high, and I've finally fixed these rotten tech issues!

So expect a regularly scheduled Wednesday club tomorrow and the start of a new week. We can always start over.

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Magic by Canyon Spells

Day Five: Tech Problems and Saddling Forth

It's officially time for book club! But I have to get through this week's recap because I've been having a problem with blogger eating my posts. Don't feed your writing sites after midnight folks.

This last week was pretty tough and it was rife with struggle. There was the unfortunate passing of Flower, a lack of knitting projects, two emotional outbursts, and almost one metric ton of chocolate ingested. This week should be better especially because we have a new book to focus on!

This months book is (dramatic drumroll) The Magicians by Lev Grossman.
I don't want there to be tons of pressure so there is no time that the book has to be read by. I will make a review of the book on the last Tuesday of the month (8/29). If you're interested in finishing the book with me and reading my review/discussion (and adding your thoughts in the comments) then absolutely join in. If you'd rather wait for the review to see if you'd like to pick the book up, that's cool too.

I picked The Magicians because I watched the show, and it has been something I've been interested in for a couple of years now. The cover always managed to pique my interest. I haven't read any reviews of it myself, the only input I have is from coworker Adam.

Here is the Wikipedia description:

"The Magicians is a fantasy novel by the American author Lev Grossman, published in 2009 by Viking Press. It tells the story of Quentin Coldwater, a young man who discovers and attends a college of magic in New York. The novel received critical acclaim, and was followed by The Magician King in 2011[1][2] and 2014's The Magician's Land. The novels have been adapted as a television series that currently airs on Syfy." (source)

This is an extremely vague description, so I'm excited to discover what secrets this story holds!

What books would you suggest for book club?

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Favorite Record by Fall Out Boy

Day Four: Broom Closet

Fridays are dedicated to all things spooky, freaky, and occult. The reason these happen to be such large interests of mine? Well, I'm a witch.

Yep, if you had your suspicions allow me to confirm them. I've been a practicing pagan for the last four years, and some kind of eclectic many moons before that. The technical term for my religion is Eclectic Neo-pagan, or just plan Pagan. Neo-pagan gets a lot of flack and has been associated with some unsavory things, this is why I normally just call myself Pagan. Now that you know what has basically been my biggest (and worst kept) secret for the last four years, let's talk about am's and am not's.

I am not:

• A worshiper of Satan
• I don't even believe in the Christian Satan.
• Evil
• Most of my practice includes protection magic and healing.
• Crazy
• This one is still up for debate but I feel quite sane.
• Made of wood
• I really don't know where this one comes from, but no. Unfortunately, I am not made of wood. That would be super cool though.

I am:

• Real
• I've been pretty real my whole life I think.
• The same person as I always have been
• This is the big one. I'm no different than I've always been. I just celebrate weird holidays. I get weirdly suspicious about certain weather phenomena. I get really excited about rocks, and I might tell you to drink tea that I make but, like, really insistently.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because of the way being Pagan works, everything is highly personal and specific. There are general rules I don't follow because I'm not Wiccan, for example. If I want to tell you about tarot, spells, or holidays (which not every Witch celebrates) then you need to know my point of reference. Now is the part where I tell you pretty detailed stuff about witchcraft that you may or may not be interested in.

A lot of what I do, as far as magic is concerned, is based on divination and intuition. I found my calling with tarot cards and crystals, so that was where a lot of my study was based. As I've grown as a Witch I've turned my focus to healing, protection, and emotional stimulation magic which I'm naturally gifted in. This means if I notice pain or imbalances I'll try and assist or correct them. This doesn't alway mean I do a huge ritual, occasionally it just means being a good listener. Magic isn't always like the movies, sometimes it's just being a kind person. Especially when it's difficult.

As far as worship goes, because this is still a religion for me, I found a calling in Pan and Venus. There is a complicated theory I hold in regards to deities, that every deity is just a different aspect of a whole cosmic energy. I guess you could say I'm a bit agnostic that way. Which is why I'm able to believe in the Christian God and Norse Gods simultaneously. To me, they're both equally true and real, I just identify more with this culture or community's depiction. This being said, I don't just pick and choose who to follow without conscience. I have to feel called to that particular deity to have any interaction at all. Enter Pan and Venus.

Overall I'm just like every other spiritual, new age hippie. I just add ritual, holiday, and religion to my free spirit. I don't try and hurt people, I live this way because it makes me feel happy!

Some of you are going to have no problem with this, to which I say thanks. Some of you are going to fear for my mortal soul and think me rotten. You can think as you please, I know that the universe has a plan for me. Hopefully, this is part of it.  

May swift winds carry you.

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Wyrd Woman

Day Three: Learning to Be

Two blog posts in a day! 

Watch it Wednesday is all about discovering new stories and watching interesting developments in pop culture. A long standing tradition coined by my eleventh grade English teacher, Edwards. A lot of the time WiW was anime because that was the stuff that Edwards didn't really have time for. Occasionally we'd also branch into dramas and movies. Today I thought that continuing the legacy would be apropos.

Today we're talking academia.

While dredging through Hulu I stumbled upon a show called My Hero Academia. I didn't think much of it, other than I had seen quite a few people rave about it. I hadn't watched anime in about two to three months, the last show being a shojo anime. (READ: For those who aren't regular consumers of Japanese animation, Shojo is a genre of anime that is typically characterized by heavy romance and lots of sparkles). My Hero Academia wasn't really on my radar but lucky me The Boyfriend wanted to watch it. I'm nothing if not compliant, so into the depths of shonen anime I went (READ: Shonen anime is the opposite of shojo anime, typically characterized by long battle scenes and violence).

Thank goodness I'm compliant because this show is a gem. The characters are hilarious, Deku and his childhood best friend turned worst bully Kaachan are amazing foils to each other. All-Might is the all mighty (pun intended) pro hero who Deku idolizes, his sardonic and kind 'weak' side is amazing! I love that this show is very aware of its genre and audience but still manages to take huge risks like making Deku a crybaby. There is an overall tone of hopefulness that never leaves. As well as a really interesting narration by Deku as if the show were a flashback. 

Character and story aside, this show is visually stunning! The color and consistency are really fun, I also love small attentions to detail like All-Mights clothes getting bigger between forms and the hero's costumes being destroyed over time. The setting and music do a lot for this anime, nothing like Your Lie In April, but still fun and high energy making you more invested in the action. Another really cool thing is the interesting visuals for hero's quirks or powers, each character looks incredibly unique making background characters really stand out.

The first season is 13 episodes and the second is still ongoing. I'm really stoked for this anime and will happily continue as a fan. My Hero Academia is a great starter anime or a vet's new favorite. I am confident who ever watches this will be filled with a youthful vigor and feel a rush to fulfill their dreams. 

My Hero Academia earns 5/5 stars from me. 

What are you watching these days? Have you ever watched anime? What's your go to encouragement show?

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Figuring It Out by SWMRS

Day Two: Headliner Lineage

Norma "Flower" Jury
6.9.1926-7.23.2017

So first off this post is a day late because of course there would be a death in the family this week. I'm not exactly heartbroken, but I'm definitely not okay. However, there was nothing that made Flower happier when we talked, then when I let her know that I was still writing. I'll end this thought on this note, tell your families, your friends, your dog that you love them. Try and visit more with people you don't see often, and let things go. I'll love and miss you Flower, forever and ever.

Okay!

Since we're restarting this blog a little early, we don't actually have a book for book club. I thought that we'd take this time for a little open discussion. I'll let you know what I've been reading, and you tell me what you've been reading! It'll be a great way to get some new books (even though I really shouldn't be buying any).

Book one is The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater. Coincidently this is the fourth book in the series and the final book. The Raven Cycle follows Blue Sargent and four boys from Aglionby Academy, a prestigious boarding school in Henrietta a small fictional town in Virgina.Blue meets up with Gansy (Richard 'Dick' Gansey III) who is hunting a welsh king who may or may not be magic with his three best friends. This series is all the best parts of supernatural mysteries with well-rounded teen characters thrown in the mix. There are parts that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure and a mystery that will keep you guessing. Overall, if you're looking for a new series to start, and aren't afraid of ghosts, The Raven Cycle is worth a go.


Book two is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I'll be honest, while I'm in love with the characters, the story and tone leave something to be desired. I can't even give a really good description of what's happening. However, if you're looking for something fun and classic, you really can't go wrong. Though if you had a choice between Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice go with the latter.

That's not the full list of what I'm currently reading, but if I gave you that we'd be here all day. I'll ask again, what are you reading right now? How do you feel about it?

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Golden Days by Panic! at the Disco