Thanks to everyone for the encouraging response to our first (of hopefully many) staff review videos. We’ve been busy videographers and now present two new staff picks! First off, here’s Renee with Deb Lipp’s The Way of Four
and here’s me again with my pick from the Tarot section…
Some recently arrived titles that might catch your eye (or be the perfect gift idea for someone special!)
The Witch’s Coin – Prosperity and Money Magick (Penczak)
Reiki for Spiritual Healing (Bevell)
The Question Journey (Bishop) - a unique approach to journalling, excellent for those intimidated by that big, blank page. This journal poses questions for the journaller to answer, leading them down pathways of self exploration. You never know where a question will lead you. Also, the author, currently based in BC, is a former Nova Scotian.
The Purposeful Universe – How Quantum Theory and Mayan Cosmology Explain the Origin and Evolution of Life (Calleman) - this one was a bit of a head scratcher – to put it in the science and spirituality section (our first thought) or with the author’s other title in the 2012 section?
Warrior’s Life (Morais) – the official, authorized biography of the enigmatic and talented Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist and other mystical works.
Defy Gravit – Healing Beyond the Bounds of Reason (Myss) the latest from Caroline Myss, healer, teacher and visionary.
The Cauldron of Memory – Retrieving Ancestral Knowledge and Wisdom (Grimassi)
Pagan Astrology (Kaldera)
Book of Witchery – Spells, Charms and Correspondences for Every Day of the Week (Dugan)
Temples of Light – An Initiatory Journey the Heart Teachings of the Egyptian Mystery Schools (Hoffman) includes CD of guided meditations.
Parenting the Children of Now – Practicing Health, Spirit and Awareness to Transcend Generations (Losey) – includes exercises to share with your children and solo work to better connect parents to their spiritual source.
Don’t forget – we will indeed be closed on Wednesday, November 11th to mark Remembrance Day.
Our deep gratitude to those who have served and sacrificed in the name of peace and freedom. Our prayers for true and lasting peace across the planet, so that no one else need sacrifice in this cause.
Our Holiday Gift Certificate promotion begins today!
Every gift certificate you purchase now comes with a 15% off coupon, good on any purchase!
Tuck the coupon in with the gift certificate to give to your giftee OR (and we won’t tell) keep the coupon for yourself to stretch your holiday shopping budget!
Hurrah, at long last, Scott Cunningham’s Book of Shadows is finally here!
One of our best selling authors in the Wicca and Paganism section, Scott’s death left a noticeable hole in Pagan publishing. His clear and accessible vision of Wicca was the jumping off point for many new Pagans and Wiccans, particularly those discovering their spiritual path solitary (and before the era of the internet!). I know my copy of Solitary Practitioner looks like animals have been chewing on it! I still recommend this classic in my Wicca 101 classes.
That’s why I’m delighted that this recently discovered title is becoming available. You can’t have too much Scott Cunningham!
Here’s the blurb from the publisher:
Llewellyn is pleased to present a new Scott Cunningham book—a long-lost Book of Shadows. Recently discovered in a battered manila envelope, this previously unpublished manuscript was penned by Scott in the early 1980s. This rare book includes original spells, rituals, and invocations and an herbal grimoire. Featured in the design are Scott’s actual hand-drawn signs, symbols, and runes.
More than ten years after his passing, Scott Cunningham is still an iconic and highly regarded figure in the magical community. His books on Wicca are considered classics, and his writings continue to inspire and inform those new to the Craft.
It’s literally just come in an hour ago, so no review yet – stay tuned!
Don’t worry, I’m not going to get into the whole ‘get the H1N1 vaccine or not’ debate – there are voices much more informed than mine out there to get your facts and theories from.
But as we are entering the traditional time for sniffles and sneezes, chills and coughing, I thought it might be worthwhile to mention some of the essential oils that can help alleviate some of your suffering.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) - this oil is a wonderful oil for all manner of cold symptoms and for keeping the germs at bay. Use 8 drops in 60ml of carrier oil for a chest rub to clear breathing or on the temples and neck for fever and headache. Add a few drops to a room diffuser to ease breathing and help with cough.
*** Do not use if you have high blood pressure, epilepsy or are taking homeopathic medication.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) – the well known anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal essential oil. Can be used in the same manner as the eucalyptus oil or my personal favourite, steam inhalation. Add a few drops to a large bowl or sink full of very hot water. Carefully lower your head into the rising steam and cover your head with a towel to contain the steam. Keep your eyes closed to avoid irritation and breathe the essential oil infused steam into your lungs to help with upper respiratory issues. Opens your pores up too!
Other useful oils include:
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – a potent aid to the immune system (***avoid during pregnancy)
Lime (Citrus medica) – an uplifting oil, lime is good for boosting the immune system (***do not apply directly to skin, avoid sun exposure)
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) – great in a carrier oil to massage the chest and throat.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – helps with colds, flu and runny noses, also helps if feeling nauseated. (*** can be irritating to the skin)
Or, if you want your essential oils quick and easy (and ready to throw in a purse/bag and go), try the therapeutic blends from Colour Energy, especially:
Immune Booster (with tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint, geranium, rosemary, pine, ravensara, and cinnamon)
or
Headache Relief (for unclogging nasal passages, with peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, birch, frankincense, yarrow, and vetivert)
Both essential oil blends are already diluted in an organic jojoba oil base and packaged in a handy roll-on vial so they are ready to use ASAP.
As with any advice on health issues, please be aware that I am not an aromatherapist, just an enthusiastic user with some knowledge to share. Essential oils should be used with awareness of any contraindications and never take internally or used ‘neat’ (directly out of the bottle on the skin). Some folks will use some uncut (lavender and tea tree commonly) but it’s always better to err on the safe side, in my mind.
Sad news coming in – well loved author and teacher, Ted Andrews, author of Animal Speak (and many other books), passed away on October 24th.
I was fortunate enough to briefly meet and speak with Ted at an industry trade show in Denver some years ago and I can certainly report that he was as kind and generous in person as he seems in his books and articles.
Here’s a photo of Sandra and myself with him at the show.
I can’t think of any author who was as enthusiastic about the animal and plant world messengers as Ted Andrews.
A voice that will be missed – Blessings to Ted on his journey and to his family.
With November fast approaching, I know many of you are starting to ponder their holiday shopping (I also know some of you have FINISHED your holiday shopping, but please, don’t rub it in too much!).
The option to layaway one item (or many) and spread the payments out over multiple weeks (and pay cheques) can make budgeting a bit easier. Plus, you can layaway a one-of-a-kind item so you’ll know it will be there when the holidays arrive.
Our layaway policy is pretty basic:
- 25% down to start the layaway, with three months to complete payment. We ask that you stop in at least once a month to make payments on the layaway. In special cases where the item(s) on layaway is quite expensive, we will extend the layaway period as needed (for example, if you wanted to buy our BIG shiva lingam on layaway, we’d give you a few extra months to pay it off!)
- Layaway deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable (remember, we’ve taken the item off the floor for you, so you are obligated to purchase that item.)
If you have any questions about our layaway option, feel free to drop us a line or call (902) 423 1313
Of late, we’ve had a number of our customers requesting their purchases in paper bags. Since we don’t offer paper, this has given rise to ‘which is better for the environment/is a renewable resource/involves less energy to recycle’ conversations.
Of course the simplest and best answer is ‘neither’, and that’s specifically why we decided to introduce our reusable Little Mysteries bags way back when. They’re just a dollar and are brilliant for later use in the grocery store as they have flat bottoms that keep the bags upright for filling.
But, sometimes the reusable bags get left in the car and you need something to bring your treasures home in. So paper or plastic? Honestly, I’m going to dodge the question of environmental impact and ease of recycling (FYI – our green plastic bags are biodegradable plastic and fully recyclable), because we could have a whole lively debate on which is best and I’ll always revert to the ‘neither’ answer.
I’ll go right to the down-to-earth, purely practical reason we offer plastic bags. We are a bookstore, we live in a city where rain and snow often occur, books and moisture are not friends. I know you’re not going to be happy if I put your lovely, brand new book in a paper bag to carry out into the driving rain. See the issue? It’s just the wisest option for books and any of the other paper-oriented products we carry.
And while we do try to ask if every customer actually needs a bag with their purchase, sometimes we forget, so do let us know if you don’t need a bag!
