Supernova
darkstaronline.com Newsletter
Issue # 7 |
 Libra
September/October 2004
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Hello
Hello again. It’s been a while. The busy-ness of Rockport’s summer season threw our newsletter schedule way off track. This is the first year we have put out a newsletter, and we learned a few things along the way. Next year we hope to be smarter and realize that there will be no time available in the summer for writing. Some of you will only recently have received our last newsletter, as it also takes time to enter your email addresses into the computer. I hope we are not overloading you with a double-dose!
So check out our pictures in Rockport Through the Seasons. Be sure to read The Stone Lady’s column, which this month is about Lapis Lazuli. We have a bit of the history, lore and legend of Cape Ann (Gloucester and Rockport), a comment on the nature of a Philosophia, and a referral to one of the best conference centers I know of: Rowe Camp and Conference Center.
Welcome Back To Rockport
Cape Ann is a most unusual place. Cape Ann proper – Gloucester and Rockport – is actually a small island, separated from the mainland by the Annisquam River, a tidal river that runs from Gloucester Harbor, through Gloucester, Riverdale, Annisquam, Bayview, and on toward Lanesville, to Wingaersheek Beach and the open Atlantic. It is some of the most difficult navigation on the east coast, especially at low tide. Only 2 roads lead off of this small island: over the bridge on Rte.128, and at the “cut” bridge (so called because this drawbridge is “cut” in half) on Rte.127.
The center of this small island is woods. Beautiful woods, full of trails, old cellars and quarries. Beautiful woods full of history. In one of the most populated and developed areas of the country – coastal Massachusetts – our woods have remained pretty much in their natural state. Now, of course, development is a serious threat, and Cape Anners are fighting hard to preserve them.
The Original Americans refer to North America as Turtle Island. Legend has it that all the Earth rides on the back of the turtle. If you look at a map of North America, you can see a bit of the shape of a turtle. Cape Ann is the Eye of the Turtle.
Since how one sees the world is determined by how one “sees”, well, that makes the Eye of the Turtle a very significant place. Maybe that is why we were an early artist colony, here where the light is different than anywhere else on Earth.
We are a vortex. Not like Sedona. We are a different kind of vortex. Louisa Poole, author of the Merryday Tarot and Keeper of the Land on Cape Ann, talks about the nature of that vortex and how it affects people. According to my understanding of what she says, here the good and the bad “spin” themselves out. You get to see the clutter of your life because it begins to present itself to you. You can either get stuck there, and that’s not good, or you can clear the clutter. It’s all about clearing the clutter (a problem in my own life!) Of course, this is a process playing itself out now all over the globe.
Shall I tell you about Avalonia? Way back in time, billions of years ago, in the area which is now the South Atlantic, there was an island geologists call Avalonia. Over time, this island moved northward, leaving little pieces of itself behind where it touched larger land masses. It left some of itself in North Africa, and, as you may have guessed, it left another piece in England or Wales. Where did Avalonia finally come to rest? Here. Rockport is the last piece of the island called Avalonia. Now isn’t that interesting?
No wonder life here is so intense.
Of course, not everyone will experience Rockport this way. We are indeed a picturesque little fishing village filled with good art and wonderful shops, expansive ocean and green woods, wind, fresh air, and beaches. We enjoy our natural beauty, and share it with all comers. And sometimes life is as simple as that. Still, we are The Eye of the Turtle, and I thought you might be interested to hear a little of the lore and legend - and the history - of Rockport.
Would you like to check out Louisa Poole’s Merryday Tarot? She has also written a book, which covers not only the Merryday Tarot, but also Numerology and The Invisible Kingdom. Click here:
Merryday Tarot by Louisa Poole.
Fairy Houses
A week or so ago, a couple came into Philosophia who impressed our young woman behind the counter – Crystal – very much. They are storytellers, and the woman (Mary) makes Fairy Houses. I wasn’t there, and when Crystal told me about her, I was only moderately interested. Well, the couple came back, driving 135 miles in rain to show us their Fairy Houses. We bought them out. If you like fairies, I am sure you will like Mary’s houses – made to be hung indoors.
See them here: Fairy Houses
Mary tells me that all sorts of people – from children to engineers - report back to her that their houses have turned themselves toward windows – evidence that fairies have taken up residence.
Soon I will be sending you more about Mary, in another email. Stay tuned.
Click on the picture for more information.
Rock Your World
This month The Stone Lady has written about one of my favorite stones. I consider it a Goddess stone: Lapis Lazuli. Her comments about Lapis are profound. As always, I am sure you will enjoy her column:
Rock Your World - Lapis Lazuli.
Jami Lin's Feng Shui Energy Forecast
Jami is taking time off to develop her Feng Shui advice, to grow her spirit with a vision quest in Colorado, and to spend time with the Dalai Lama. While we wish we could bring you a current Feng Shui Forecast, we can hardly argue with her purposes!
Rockport Through the Seasons
You just never know what you will see on Bearskin Neck. I spoke to the man who trailed these 3 dogs behind him as he walked. These all-too-cool canines were riding rather than walking because, as you might guess, walking three dogs tends to pull you in three different directions. And the sunglasses were – yup, you guessed it – to protect the dogs’ eyes. Click on the picture for more information.
We have some pictures of Rockport’s woodlands for you, because our woodlands are the heart of our little island. Having given you a bit of the history of Avalonia, a few shots of our magical woods seemed appropriate. When next I find myself at an old cellar or a quarry, I will be sure to get some pictures of these for you too. As it is, I could not resist shooting some mushrooms that popped up after a good rain.
And we have pictures of another Sunset as seen from our back window. In July we had pictures of one sunset. Here is another: each and every evening is unique. The water reflecting the shades of the sky fills the air with color – you can almost feel yourself breathing it in. The clarity of the light leaves little doubt as to the draw that has always made Cape Ann a haven for artists.
And finally, we introduce our new neighbor, The Floating Lotus. They have just moved in to the space left vacant by Half Moon Harry. (Everyone misses Half Moon Harry – Ah, but The Floating Lotus is a lovely replacement.)
Rockport Through the Seasons
Rowe Camp And Conference Center
One of my very favorite places is Rowe Camp and Conference Center in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. Some of the most important workshops I’ve attended in my career were at Rowe. Nowhere have I found a better place to Rest, enjoy Nature and Good Food, and – above all – to Learn. This is a place with heart. I recommend it to you without reservation. Here is a link to their website, but I do recommend asking for their paper newsletter. It’s got pictures:
www.rowecenter.org.
Religion In Shops
A young woman came into Philosophia the other day. She was not happy with the commercialism surrounding Wicca. I overheard her say that it is a religion, you know.
This is good insight in a young woman. It is a good value not to want to see your faith degraded. Since I was not in on the conversation, I did not get a chance to express my thoughts on the matter. So I will express them here instead.
Wicca and other Pagan faiths, the New Age, Theosophy – indeed many forms of Spirituality – have spread and become known in the past 30 years largely because of little shops and stores - and the books, crystals and other wares that they carry. I remember living in Salem, Massachusetts back in the 70’s. The little shops were centers for a young Renaissance of New Age and Pagan Spirituality. The shops, and the many teachers who gave workshops (often in those shops) were my inspiration for 2 decades. I do not believe that this has changed. The shops are part of the external web that keeps our renewed sense of Spirituality alive and exciting. And they are the means by which new people may continue, day by day, to discover a whole, new exciting world, and to connect with other people interested in the same things.
You can’t sell religion. But you can promote it. New Age and Wiccan shops do just that. Some do it better than others, I grant you. There are indeed shops that jump on the bandwagon just to make a buck. Or who are interested only in the external “accoutrements” of the faith (and Wicca has a lot of dramatic accoutrements!). You can feel that the moment you walk into such stores, and this, I think, is what the young woman found objectionable. Rightly so. Onward then to find a place that satisfies something in your soul as well.
New Age Stores. Terra Nova Shops – Shops of the New Earth. Philosophias. Let them abound! They are an integral part of our network. Retail establishments all, they are also our bookstores and libraries, havens and sanctuaries. They are sources of healing music and alternative medicines, resource centers and community builders.
We hope you agree.
Finale
Your comments on our newsletter, Supernova, are always welcome. Send them to info@darkstaronline.com.
This concludes the 7th issue of Supernova. Thanks for listening. Namaste.
~ gera
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