Raspberries and a Red Dress

Oh how I’m loving these warm (by British standards) Summer days. Some of my deepest nourishment comes from walking barefoot around the garden, sampling raspberries, cherries, strawberries and gooseberries. My garden is my sacred space, the place I come to commune with my Higher Self.

It grounds me, and it raises me. My senses are bathed in beauty.

Thank you so much to everyone who has offered generous feedback on our new magazine, Starflower Living, Naturally.

I’ll share a little secret. It was never meant to be a magazine, but a newsletter which kept people up to date with the books we were publishing. But, as usual, when I put my hand to a publishing entity, it takes on a life of its own.

We’ve had so many requests for it to be available as a print magazine, and not just a digital one. We thank you for such a lovely compliment.

There are several reasons for choosing the digital route: one is financial. Huge resources are needed to start and maintain a print publication. You are always at the whim of Royal Mail, an organisation which can double prices overnight if it so chooses. During my 12 years editing/publishing The Mother magazine, we endured regular postal increases. Most of these we ‘swallowed’ rather than passing on to the subscriber. Ironically, in 12 years, the printing costs only went up twice, and even then they were marginal.

The other reason is that Starflower Living is published monthly (well, more frequently than that, as it comes out every New Moon), and there is no way we could get it printed and posted (even just to UK readers) to meet that deadline. Packing and posting a magazine is a time consuming job. My goal at all times is for a stress-free family life, wherever possible.

I would much rather put my energy into doing something I love: gathering information and images, and sharing them. Publishing digitally means on each New Moon we’re available to whoever wants it, wherever they live in the world. So, YES, it would be lovely as a print magazine, but that isn’t my intention. I’m so sorry to disappoint.

Starflower Living is also being offered on a single-issue purchase, rather than by subscription. Maintaining a database can be a full-time job, and that’s without having to send out renewal notices. As one-off purchases, it means people can just buy the issues which resonate with them.

For example, our Leo issue covers themes of courage, zest for life, the red tent movement, the heart, and play. If that doesn’t appeal to you, maybe the Virgo issue will: nutrition, nourishment, sacred space, healing, daily rituals. Or Libra? Love, relationships, marriage, commitment, partnership, beauty, balance and fairness. I think my favourite will be Scorpio. A nice bit of psychological depth as we step into the Northern Hemisphere Autumn.

If you haven’t yet read the launch issue, it’s available FREE from www.starflowerpress.com If you like, you can sign up to be notified of when each new issue comes out.

Cycle to the Moon has been printed and should be arriving on my doorstep any day (Monday, hopefully). As soon as I’ve signed the pre-ordered copies, I’ll get them in the post. If you’ve already ordered a copy, I trust you enjoy it.

As I type, my daughter Bethany is playing violin in preparation for an exam next week. She’s going to Bangor University in two months to study composition and conducting. Dependent on passing school exams and her violin exam, of course. Fingers crossed. I am still getting used to having an adult daughter, let alone one about to leave home. She wonders if I’ll miss her. She has no idea what a hole will be left by her absence.

It is said, of parenting, that the days are long but the years are short. Yes indeed.

While we’re enjoying the school holidays, both my daughters are counting down the days until exam results.

Eliza is desperately keen to head back to school and start A Levels. Her chosen subjects are English, History, Media, Philosophy and Ethics. She loves her teachers, and is so passionate about learning. This morning she told me how many days left until school starts. I watched her face light up, and my heart sank. Fifty something days closer to Winter! I told her not to wish my Summer away.

Fortunately she started a part-time job, working in the gym café, which gives her something to fill her Summer days with, and money to spend.

She enjoyed her Prom last week. Here are a couple of pictures.

I’ve been able to spend more time focusing on my next two recipe books. You can find some of the recipes in Starflower Living.

And I’m still writing for The Mother magazine.

Enjoy your Summer (or Winter, if you’re Down Under). Love, Veronika x