the yak occidental

September closes out the third quarter of the year, and the Wheel turned again on Mabon. Here are the highlights from the past month. Painting above: Autumn Fields, Knowlton (c.1941) by Prudence Heward September Excursion: Tour through Irving House  Now that we have both our vaccinations and things are opening up a bit, we have been making an effort to finally explore more of our new city of New Westminster (on unceded Qayqayt and Coast Salish territories). Our first local tourist stop was Irving House , which you can book timed entry tours for free (they accept donations at the end). Totally worth a visit, the house is beautifully preserved and lovingly tended. Highlights include an amazing Victoria hair wreath and hearing music from an old old Edison phonograph (though I believe it has a different name). It is on par with Craigdorrach Castle in Victoria and way, way better than Casa Loma in Toronto. There are so many thoughtful details and our tour guides were very well informe...

Here is a selection of memorable quotes from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Above: Portrait of Olga Konstantinovna Lancere (c.1910) by Zinaida Serebriakova "But poor Lady Brandon treats her guests exactly as an auctioneer treats his goods. She either explains them entirely away, or tells one everything about them except what one wants to know." "I make a great difference between people. I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their characters, and my enemies for their brains." "The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly,--that is what each of us is here for. People are afraid of themselves, nowadays. They have forgotten the highest of all duties, the duty that one owes to one's self." Influencers, Wilde-style: "Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. ...

I have read thirty-three books so far in 2021. Here's what I read for July, August, and September! Kushiel’s Chosen by Jaqueline Carey The Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self, and Relationship by David Whyte 21 Ways to read a tarot Card by Mary K. Greer They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple Selfish, Shallow and Self-Absorbed: 16 writers on not having children edited by Meghan Daum Body of Work: Finding the Thread that Ties your story together by Pamela Slim  The Three “Only” Things: tapping the power of dreams, coincidence & imagination by Robert Moss The Art of Showing Up: How to be there for yourself and your people by Rachel Wilkerson Miller Tarot Elements: Five Readings to Reset Your Life by Melissa Cynonva  The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman Find Your Own North Star  by Martha Beck Kushiel’s Scion   by Jacqueline Carey (re-read) Kushiel’s Justice  by Jacqueline Carey (re-read) Magical Writing Grimoire  by L...