June Ahern's Blog - Posts Tagged "religion"
Shopping at San Francisco's Woolworth Store
Having had lived in San Francisco since 1956 I find it a fascinating city for it's picturesque hills and valleys, and waterways and therefore set my story about a Scottish immigrant family in the city.
Growing up in San Francisco some of my most enjoyable memories were trips downtown to shop at Woolworth’s Department Store. The building was on Market Street and wrapped around and up Powell Street. Woolworth was such a San Francisco experience that I just had to include it my book, The Skye in June. See an excerpt below.
The store was filled with just about everything you'd ever want to find; clothing, beauty products, sewing goods,inexpensive jewelry, so much stuff!
Perfect for Christmas shopping where my money would be spent carefully. I’d jump on the number 8 Castro bus at 19th and Castro with usually a sister or two and head downtown for fun. My wallet would be filled with money saved from babysitting. The first floor was tight to walk with aisles or counters and in the basement was Budgies, Canaries and gold fish –– gifts I bought at one time or another for family. It took hours to shop. At the end of the shopping I’d go upstairs to the lunch counter –– always busy –– for a Patti-melt and milkshake or a burger and coke. Afterward, if there was time, we would take a cable car ride (no lines back then - just hop on.)
From "The Skye in June"
The grinding noise of the cable car’s brakes as it slowed to their stop was ear piercing. June stood and took hold of the metal pole. She swayed outward as she readied herself to jump from the platform when they reached the intersection of Powell at Market Streets. The thrill of hanging out of the cable car and the feel of the brisk wind against her face had charged her energy. She felt a sense of freedom. As they lurched to a stop, she hopped off and hollered to her mother, “Did you get a transfer?”Cathy nodded a “yes,” and gingerly stretched out a foot to get down from the cable car. June took hold of her hand to help her mother. Arm in arm, they walked over to the Woolworth’s department store on Market Street to look at the items for sale in the window.
Please read more chapter excerpts www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
Growing up in San Francisco some of my most enjoyable memories were trips downtown to shop at Woolworth’s Department Store. The building was on Market Street and wrapped around and up Powell Street. Woolworth was such a San Francisco experience that I just had to include it my book, The Skye in June. See an excerpt below.
The store was filled with just about everything you'd ever want to find; clothing, beauty products, sewing goods,inexpensive jewelry, so much stuff!
Perfect for Christmas shopping where my money would be spent carefully. I’d jump on the number 8 Castro bus at 19th and Castro with usually a sister or two and head downtown for fun. My wallet would be filled with money saved from babysitting. The first floor was tight to walk with aisles or counters and in the basement was Budgies, Canaries and gold fish –– gifts I bought at one time or another for family. It took hours to shop. At the end of the shopping I’d go upstairs to the lunch counter –– always busy –– for a Patti-melt and milkshake or a burger and coke. Afterward, if there was time, we would take a cable car ride (no lines back then - just hop on.)
From "The Skye in June"
The grinding noise of the cable car’s brakes as it slowed to their stop was ear piercing. June stood and took hold of the metal pole. She swayed outward as she readied herself to jump from the platform when they reached the intersection of Powell at Market Streets. The thrill of hanging out of the cable car and the feel of the brisk wind against her face had charged her energy. She felt a sense of freedom. As they lurched to a stop, she hopped off and hollered to her mother, “Did you get a transfer?”Cathy nodded a “yes,” and gingerly stretched out a foot to get down from the cable car. June took hold of her hand to help her mother. Arm in arm, they walked over to the Woolworth’s department store on Market Street to look at the items for sale in the window.
Please read more chapter excerpts www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
Give-away of Novel by June Ahern
These dark, cold and rainy times are one of my favorite, jump into bed early with a book and a cuppa. How about you, is this also a favorite time of year to snuggle up with a book and keep warm?
I've once again, entered "The Skye in June" my novel as a give-away in the US and GB, which seems appropriate since it is about a Scottish immigrant family living in San Francisco, California - a great historical city. Please read more about the story at juneahern.com.
And Good Luck! Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again.
I've once again, entered "The Skye in June" my novel as a give-away in the US and GB, which seems appropriate since it is about a Scottish immigrant family living in San Francisco, California - a great historical city. Please read more about the story at juneahern.com.
And Good Luck! Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again.
What a Character!
I'm often asked how I create my fictional characters and although I can't speak for all writers, I can for myself say––you and you and you!
I am a people person or should say, a people magnet really. My "other" job is all about people, which gives me plenty of fodder in my larder when writing.
In my first book, "The Timeless Counselor" –– a non-fiction –– I wrote about clients' sessions, but changed the names of course. If you've read that, you see how their stories could actually become a fictional tale or two.
In my novel, oh yum, yum! How fun picking bits and pieces of personalities and situations from a host of characters I've encountered in life.
Even my own family says, 'hey! is that me?' I say of 'course not!'
In truth bits and pieces are my parents, sisters and even my brothers. And then there were others life neighborhood friends. One friend, upon reading the book, called me and said 'loved reading about myself in your book'.
My brothers moaned 'You only used sisters where's the brothers?' Maybe a part of the sisters is the brothers, I told them.
In one chapter of the novel, "The Skye in June - fictional (but of course!)I used a crime committed in the early 1960's in my neighborhood to create fiction between the MacDonald family and more so for the main character, June.
Although I remember the story, research was still necessary to stir real and imaginary pictures to put into enticing words.
One of the people involved in this serious crime (all teen boys) read my book then remarked, "I see I made your story." He wasn't angry or upset. Names had been changed, it was an old crime but still part of the changing environs in "the Castro" of San Francisco and only a few would recognize the old story.
Readers from my 'old hood' during the story's era in San Francisco, contact me all the time to share their own experiences of growing up in what became a world famous neighborhood, "the Castro". Those who went to Catholic school also have much to say about their experience with nuns. Readers who went to the same parochial school I did and wrote about in the book, recognize the nuns by their real names and not the ones I gave them. That is fun! Of course the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.
As I work on my new novel the characters are created more so by me, but still I reflect back on the later 1960 days in San Francisco and have many characters to draw from.
What about the characters in your life? Will they end up in a story?
Please read more about me and my books at http://www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
The Timeless Counselor/A Complete Consumer's Guide to a Psychic Reading
I am a people person or should say, a people magnet really. My "other" job is all about people, which gives me plenty of fodder in my larder when writing.
In my first book, "The Timeless Counselor" –– a non-fiction –– I wrote about clients' sessions, but changed the names of course. If you've read that, you see how their stories could actually become a fictional tale or two.
In my novel, oh yum, yum! How fun picking bits and pieces of personalities and situations from a host of characters I've encountered in life.
Even my own family says, 'hey! is that me?' I say of 'course not!'
In truth bits and pieces are my parents, sisters and even my brothers. And then there were others life neighborhood friends. One friend, upon reading the book, called me and said 'loved reading about myself in your book'.
My brothers moaned 'You only used sisters where's the brothers?' Maybe a part of the sisters is the brothers, I told them.
In one chapter of the novel, "The Skye in June - fictional (but of course!)I used a crime committed in the early 1960's in my neighborhood to create fiction between the MacDonald family and more so for the main character, June.
Although I remember the story, research was still necessary to stir real and imaginary pictures to put into enticing words.
One of the people involved in this serious crime (all teen boys) read my book then remarked, "I see I made your story." He wasn't angry or upset. Names had been changed, it was an old crime but still part of the changing environs in "the Castro" of San Francisco and only a few would recognize the old story.
Readers from my 'old hood' during the story's era in San Francisco, contact me all the time to share their own experiences of growing up in what became a world famous neighborhood, "the Castro". Those who went to Catholic school also have much to say about their experience with nuns. Readers who went to the same parochial school I did and wrote about in the book, recognize the nuns by their real names and not the ones I gave them. That is fun! Of course the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.
As I work on my new novel the characters are created more so by me, but still I reflect back on the later 1960 days in San Francisco and have many characters to draw from.
What about the characters in your life? Will they end up in a story?
Please read more about me and my books at http://www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
The Timeless Counselor/A Complete Consumer's Guide to a Psychic Reading
What a Character!
I'm often asked how I create my fictional characters and although I can't speak for all writers, I can for myself say––you and you and you!
I am a people person or should say, a people magnet really. My "other" job is all about people, which gives me plenty of fodder in my larder when writing.
In my first book, "The Timeless Counselor" –– a non-fiction –– I wrote about clients' sessions, but changed the names of course. If you've read that, you see how their stories could actually become a fictional tale or two.
In my novel, oh yum, yum! How fun picking bits and pieces of personalities and situations from a host of characters I've encountered in life.
Even my own family says, 'hey! is that me?' I say of 'course not!'
In truth bits and pieces are my parents, sisters and even my brothers. And then there were others life neighborhood friends. One friend, upon reading the book, called me and said 'loved reading about myself in your book'.
My brothers moaned 'You only used sisters where's the brothers?' Maybe a part of the sisters is the brothers, I told them.
In one chapter of the novel, "The Skye in June - fictional (but of course!)I used a crime committed in the early 1960's in my neighborhood to create fiction between the MacDonald family and more so for the main character, June.
Although I remember the story, research was still necessary to stir real and imaginary pictures to put into enticing words.
One of the people involved in this serious crime (all teen boys) read my book then remarked, "I see I made your story." He wasn't angry or upset. Names had been changed, it was an old crime but still part of the changing environs in "the Castro" of San Francisco and only a few would recognize the old story.
Readers from my 'old hood' during the story's era in San Francisco, contact me all the time to share their own experiences of growing up in what became a world famous neighborhood, "the Castro". Those who went to Catholic school also have much to say about their experience with nuns. Readers who went to the same parochial school I did and wrote about in the book, recognize the nuns by their real names and not the ones I gave them. That is fun! Of course the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.
As I work on my new novel the characters are created more so by me, but still I reflect back on the later 1960 days in San Francisco and have many characters to draw from.
What about the characters in your life? Will they end up in a story?
Please read more about me and my books at http://www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
The Timeless Counselor/A Complete Consumer's Guide to a Psychic Reading
I am a people person or should say, a people magnet really. My "other" job is all about people, which gives me plenty of fodder in my larder when writing.
In my first book, "The Timeless Counselor" –– a non-fiction –– I wrote about clients' sessions, but changed the names of course. If you've read that, you see how their stories could actually become a fictional tale or two.
In my novel, oh yum, yum! How fun picking bits and pieces of personalities and situations from a host of characters I've encountered in life.
Even my own family says, 'hey! is that me?' I say of 'course not!'
In truth bits and pieces are my parents, sisters and even my brothers. And then there were others life neighborhood friends. One friend, upon reading the book, called me and said 'loved reading about myself in your book'.
My brothers moaned 'You only used sisters where's the brothers?' Maybe a part of the sisters is the brothers, I told them.
In one chapter of the novel, "The Skye in June - fictional (but of course!)I used a crime committed in the early 1960's in my neighborhood to create fiction between the MacDonald family and more so for the main character, June.
Although I remember the story, research was still necessary to stir real and imaginary pictures to put into enticing words.
One of the people involved in this serious crime (all teen boys) read my book then remarked, "I see I made your story." He wasn't angry or upset. Names had been changed, it was an old crime but still part of the changing environs in "the Castro" of San Francisco and only a few would recognize the old story.
Readers from my 'old hood' during the story's era in San Francisco, contact me all the time to share their own experiences of growing up in what became a world famous neighborhood, "the Castro". Those who went to Catholic school also have much to say about their experience with nuns. Readers who went to the same parochial school I did and wrote about in the book, recognize the nuns by their real names and not the ones I gave them. That is fun! Of course the names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.
As I work on my new novel the characters are created more so by me, but still I reflect back on the later 1960 days in San Francisco and have many characters to draw from.
What about the characters in your life? Will they end up in a story?
Please read more about me and my books at http://www.juneahern.com
The Skye in June
The Timeless Counselor/A Complete Consumer's Guide to a Psychic Reading
MADONNA INSPIRED ME
When I was in Italy I fell in love with the artwork, which is everywhere - churches, fountains, town centers, buildings.
It's awesomely beautiful. The most popular person painted and carved is the Madonna who was, not only in churches, but out and about throughout cities and towns.
The Madonna aka Mary, Queen of the Angels, Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, God's mother, Jesus' mother, was the central image to behold in much of the artworks.
It had me wondering why men felt a great need to create a female deity over and over again. Can this be that even back when these men were creating there was more than a deep appreciation for the mother and the woman? Could it be an innate and inner understanding and faith in the female principle as the source of all life?
For my mother and her daughters, we were very inspired by the power of the Madonna, the love for her, the faith and that led to a different spiritual path for me.
As a former Catholic from a European country, we were taught to pray to and put faith in Our Lady, the Blessed Mother, Mary, Jesus' mother to guide us.
When we emigrated to the United States, the focus appeared to be more on God and Jesus for guidance and help. Still, in our household images - pictures and small statues of Mary outdid the cross or Jesus; this doesn't mean we did not respect and honor Jesus or God as we did.
Read more about how my devotion to the goddess and how it came the inspiration for my first novel
http://witchgoddesses.blogspot.com/20...
The Skye in June
It's awesomely beautiful. The most popular person painted and carved is the Madonna who was, not only in churches, but out and about throughout cities and towns.
The Madonna aka Mary, Queen of the Angels, Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, God's mother, Jesus' mother, was the central image to behold in much of the artworks.
It had me wondering why men felt a great need to create a female deity over and over again. Can this be that even back when these men were creating there was more than a deep appreciation for the mother and the woman? Could it be an innate and inner understanding and faith in the female principle as the source of all life?
For my mother and her daughters, we were very inspired by the power of the Madonna, the love for her, the faith and that led to a different spiritual path for me.
As a former Catholic from a European country, we were taught to pray to and put faith in Our Lady, the Blessed Mother, Mary, Jesus' mother to guide us.
When we emigrated to the United States, the focus appeared to be more on God and Jesus for guidance and help. Still, in our household images - pictures and small statues of Mary outdid the cross or Jesus; this doesn't mean we did not respect and honor Jesus or God as we did.
Read more about how my devotion to the goddess and how it came the inspiration for my first novel
http://witchgoddesses.blogspot.com/20...
The Skye in June
RITUAL FOR IMBOLC: CLEAR THE MIND, SET A GOAL
IMBOLC
Imbolc known also as Feile Brighdeis the 'quickening of the year’ is a traditional
Celtic (Gaelic) festival , celebrated from February 1 through sundown February 2.
Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland.
Also known as Brigid’s Day, Groundhog Day and Candlemas. It’s one of the eight festivals of the wheel of the year when fertility and light herald in the first signs of spring, the start of the agricultural year and the birth of livestock.
At this time the beloved pagan fiery power Goddess Brighid, (Gaelic name Breo-Saighead) is honored. The goddess of healing powers, fertility she is also the goddess of loving unions – marriage.
At this time what or whom will you “marry up” with to feel fulfilled?She is a Goddess of Fire, of the Sun and of the Hearth.
Burn the past - let go of it by clearing out that which is no longer useful in your life.
Clean the home in preparation for new.
When I clean and clear, how good and fresh my mind is.
It gives space to think, now what?
Do you feel that way too?
It's also a good time to make a wish - perhaps as in a petition to Brighid (Bridget) to help manifest something long desired into an attainable goal.
Contact us at sf coaching.
We will teach you the formula to successfully fulfilling goals.
https://www.thedarkangel.comThe traditional colors of Imbolc are white, red, and black, which are the colors of the Triple Goddess.
Also, colors of the ever-renewing forest, dark, deep greens, earthly browns, with the surprising pinks and yellow flowers that seem to pop up in the forest.
Close your eyes, clear your mind and mentally image sitting in a forest full of life in the quietness of it.
If you can, go into nature to clear your mind, heart and spirit and open to receiving images of - now what to grow?
www dot it sf coaching link it together dot it to com it.Learn more about June Ahern, author, professional speaker, retired psychic medium with paranormal investigations on The Haunted Bay with June Ahern YouTube.
June Ahern
