Supernova
darkstaronline.com Newsletter
Issue #1 |
 Pisces
February/March 2004
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Welcome
 Welcome to the first issue of our e-newsletter, Supernova. We are deep in the heart of winter here in Rockport, and a very cold one it has been. Quite the opposite of the warm, breezy summer days with tourists everywhere, Rockport is now locked in its deserted icy blue-gray mode. Last summer’s cool breeze is now a frigid northern blast. In winter, Dark Star Philosophia opens only weekends. Few customers brave the weather to come through our door. This is the time of year when we can relax and have long talks with our customers, now mostly local people with familiar faces. We are a warm spot, a haven in a cold world, and we are all surviving this cold together. It’s a huddled-in time of year.
I like it. This is the coldest winter in 100 years, and it’s hard to keep warm. The fuel bill is off the charts. But there is a clarity in the air and in the water that you do not see any other time of year. The light is different. Stark and clear. I look forward to spring, but in the meantime, I am enjoying my forced hibernation, and getting much-needed rest in a world beautiful with short gray days and long, cold, brilliant nights.
For those of you who know Rockport in the summertime, this is quite a contrast. I took some pictures. You might like to check them out on the new section of our website called Rockport Through the Seasons.
Rock Your World
We have added another new section to darkstaronline.com. Terry Milton, known as The Stone Lady, will be writing a monthly column on minerals and crystals. I have known Terry for quite a few years, and have great respect for her insight into the “personalities” of stones. Terry does readings for people with her stones, and we have information on how you can contact her for one of these. Her column is called Rock Your World, and it will focus on one kind of stone each month – for example, this month she has written about Rose Quartz. She says:
"Rose Quartz is considered one of the most desirable varieties of quartz, and the people who are drawn to Rose Quartz tend to be gentle, warm, and compassionate individuals – the kind of people all of us want in our lives.
At one time, most Rose Quartz people have felt great
frustration at what they perceive to be an inability to communicate.
Take heart!" ... more
In addition, we are offering for sale several Rose Quartz Spheres.
Terry has sat with each of these stones, and she offers her insights
on each one to help you decide if one of them is for you.
Click on the picture for more information.
Shipping Change/Policy Change
We have made a change in our shipping charges. We were charging a flat rate of $6.95 for a package shipped anywhere in the continental United States. But $6.95 seemed like a lot for a small purchase, so our new rate is $4.00 for orders under $25.00 and $6.95 for orders of $25.00 and over, within Continental USA. Orders of $150.00 and over are shipped free.
We have also made a policy change. We were accepting returns for store credit only. You may now return items (in their original condition) for store credit or for refund. In addition, we have extended the time allowed for initiating returns. Originally asking that you contact us within a few days of receipt, we now ask that you initiate your return as soon as possible. After one month, returns are at the discretion of Dark Star Philosophia. (See Ordering/Terms and Conditions)
Feng Shui Energy Forecast
You may already be familiar with Jami Lin’s Feng Shui Energy Forecast at darkstaronline.com. She provides you with little things you can do in your home to enhance good energies and/or deflect nasty ones. These energies change from month to month. (Makes sense, but who knew?) I followed her instruction to hang a noise-making metal near my front door last month to ward off sickness. It worked – I did not get sick at the height of the flu season.
Check out her insights for this month: Forecast for March.
Thank You to a Friend
Bill Montague of the Concord Mousetrap (www.concordmousetrap.com) is the impetus and culprit behind Dark Star Philosophia’s new website www.darkstaronline.com. I have known Bill for a couple of years now. I first met him when he came into my shop and talked enthusiastically about setting up websites. His approach was down-to-earth and practical, and he made a lasting impression. Over a year later, I bought a computer, took a brief introductory course, and began working with Bill’s webmistress, Anna. What I thought would be a small project, involving less than 10 items for sale, turned into a 10-month endeavor, with massive amounts of work on both my part and Anna’s. (Turned out pretty well, don’t you think?)
Bill also taught me how to take pictures for our website. He allowed me extensive use of a wonderful camera corner in his gallery until I finally bought my own camera. I still drive up to Concord when I need special pictures that require more detail than my camera can handle.
Bill’s own place has been evolving dramatically. Recently he changed the name of his storefront from The Concord Mousetrap to Montague Gallery, and he is now displaying some very fine sculpture. He features a prominent sculptor from Gloucester, Massachusetts – Dan Altshuler. The website for his new gallery is www.montaguegallery.com. Take a special look at the busts of Emerson, Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott. There are very few sculptures of these notable philosophers available from any sculptor alive and working today. Click on the picture for more information.
Bill is mentor to those whom he feels he can benefit. Someone once called him Great Soul, and I would agree with that. Do check out both of his websites.
Finale
We are very excited about our new online adventure. Your comments are most welcome.
Please send them to info@darkstaronline.com.
That concludes our first newsletter. As my friend Bill says – Thanks for listening.
~ gera
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