Category: Fun Stuff

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2023: The Year of Jane Austen

I talked about my attempt to finish reading all of Jane Austen’s books a bit in my last post, and how 2023 is going to be my new Year of Jane. This year, I plan to read all of Jane Austens works, including rereading my old favorites, as well as some of her lesser-known and unfinished works. There are roughly enough to fill in a whole year if I pick one book a month. So here is a rough sketch of my yearly plan, though it may shift a bit here is my generalized reading schedule. And if you would like to join along for discussions and group reads, come join the Jane Austen Book Club today!

January: Pride and Prejudice

February: Sense and Sensibility

March: Sandition *season 3 of Sanditon premieres March 19

April: Emma

May: Mansfield Park

June: Love and Friendship

July: Lady Susan

August: Persuasion

September: The Watsons

October: Northanger Abbey and The Mysteries of Udolpho

November: Poems

December: Fanny Burney’s Camilla, Cecelia and Evelina, or Maria Edgeworth’s Belinda (all of which were some of Jane Austen’s favorite books)

Join my Jane Austen Book Club HERE!

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Join my Jane Austen Book Club!

Join my Jane Austen Book Club!

For lovers of Jane Austen and Historical Romance, come join the Jane Austen Book Club today!

It is no secret that I absolutely adore Jane Austen. She is easily my favorite classic author, and Pride and Prejudice is my all-time favorite book. I even planned on finishing reading her entire works last year in what I dubbed “My Year of Jane Austen” … sadly I fell a few books short of my goal.

So, 2023 is my NEW Year of Jane. I plan to read the works I have yet to finish (Mansfield Park and Northanger Abbey, as well as her unfinished works and poems), as well as re-read the ones I already know. Because with each reading I gain something new, and I will never be tired of reading Jane Austen. I would also like to read more fan fiction, and some of the books that were Jane Austen’s favorites in her life. So, If you would like to join me for a Year of Jane, this book club is for you!

This Jane Austen Book Club idea is something I have been playing around with for a long time, and I thought I would just go for it! And what better time than during my Year of Jane? In the club, I hope to suggest Austen-esque book recommendations, plan group reads and discussions, and hopefully connect with other Austenites and Janeites! If this is something you would be interested in, come join the club and suggest our next book!

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The OK Tarot

Tarot distracts your logical mind with a story. While your logical mind is distracted, your subconscious mind and intuition are engaged. Let your mind drift and allow the cards to speak to you.

If you chose:

Aᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ Sᴡᴏʀᴅs: 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦， 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡， 𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑓－𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒
A hand bearing a sword. You are a leader, and are at the beginning of a victory. But beware of your own power: for a sword is double-edged, and can cut both ways.

Aᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ Pᴇɴᴛᴀᴄʟᴇs: 𝐺𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑， 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦， 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝐿𝑢𝑐𝑘
A hand is filled with a coin. You have or will soon gain prosperity, financially or in business. Beware of letting your good fortune make you greedy.

Qᴜᴇᴇɴ ᴏꜰ Cᴜᴘs: 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛， 𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑦， 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒
A crowned cup spilleth over. You have many talents and are admired by many. Let your cup overflow and use it to fill the cups of others.

This is my first time using the OK Tarot so I wanted to do an intuition test to break in the cards and give them a chance to speak to me. IMO all of these cards were probably cards I was meant to pull — tarot has a way of telling me what I need to hear, exactly when I need to hear it. I can also look at this spread as a personal past/present/future reading, or I can focus on the one card that called to me first. All methods are good methods of reading tarot: I like to use it as a tool for recentering, and I take the advice of the cards with the knowledge that the universe is on my side, in big and small ways.

Q: ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴇᴛ?

If this is your first tarot reading, let me know what you think! And if you liked this reading lmk and if I should do more of them!

Thank you to @tarcherperigee for sending me the OK Tarot deck by @adamjk@oktarot#atpinfluencers

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The Complete Language of Herbs by S. Theresa Dietz

The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive & Illustrated History by S. Theresa Dietz is an essential compendium for any herbalist.

Plants and herbs have been used throughout history to heal the body—but understanding how to use the medicinal properties of plants in teas, tinctures, and food has become somewhat of a lost art. This book takes us back to our roots, helping us to decode and decipher the lost language of herbs.

The book is presented like a dictionary, organized alphabetically by the scientific name of each herb. Names and varieties are listed, along with symbolic meanings, possible powers, folklore, and facts, making this a unique and new approach to herbal understanding. Illustrations accompany each entry, making it easy for readers to identify and visualize specific herbs. Every common herb is covered, from Sage to Sasparilla.

“All herbs in this book mean something, and they just might have the power to actually manifest a magical effect if the enablement is, at the very least, a heartfelt wish.” Whether you use herbs for cooking, medicine, aromatherapy, or floral arrangements, we should all be using herbs as magical proxies to enhance our power and better our lives.

A huge thank you to Lydia at Quarto Publishing for sending me another amazing Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of this title. All opinions are my own.

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The Magick of Birthdays by Hannah Hawthorn

This book does a great job of introducing readers to the different meanings of the houses and signs, and showing us how we can use that knowledge to better our lives.

There are 12 signs of the zodiac, and every persons birth chart is a circle divided into 12 sections (houses). Each house is ruled by a different sign, and these differences are what make your personality unique. For example, I am a Cancer Sun, Taurus Moon, Sagittarius Rising.

The three most important signs in your chart are your Sun, Moon, and Rising. Your rising sign rules your first house, and it describes the way you present yourself to the world. Your sun sign, the zodiac sign you typically look for when reading your horoscope, describes your inner ego, and your moon sign rules your feelings. From these components, an astrologer can develop a thumbnail sketch of your personality, and by knowing this hopefully you can improve your life.

I was expecting this to be more like The Secret Language of Birthdays, but found it to be more of an astrology spellbook, which actually turned out to be much more interesting than I anticipated. There is so much information packed into this handy workbook, and I can see myself returning to it for reference for a long time.

You can follow author Hannah Hawthorn, creator of @simplywitched, on Instagram and TikTok for daily magickal content!

Thank you to Tarcher Perigree for sending me an Advance Reading Copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

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Cosmic Botany by Tanya Lichtenstein

Cosmic Botany by Tanya Lichtenstein is a wonderful guide that pairs plants and crystals together to maximize their spiritual potential and bring inner peace to your home.

“A house is not a home without plants … or crystals.”

The therapeutic effects of plants and gardening have been widely documented – benefits include boosting our mood, sharpening our focus, and lowering our stress levels. Cultivating indoor plants can boost positive vibes and increase the flow of energy into space. They purify air, amplify the sense of well-being and rid you of stress, in the same way that healing crystals do.

Combining crystals with plants should be an obvious pairing, but I literally needed this book to tell me to do it. I love plants and crystals and have a wealth of both in my home so it was super easy to find some good combos. I was able to pair Amazonite with my String-of-Pearls, Pyrite with my Pothos, and Quartz with my Monstera, just for starters! There are some obscure crystals I will have to hunt down for some specific pairings I want to try (looking at you, Your Order Has Been Shipped)! The pairings are given the cutest names, hinting at the spiritual benefits reaped from each crystal+plant combo.

Homebody: Echeveria succulents + rainbow fluorite

For example, my Amazonite String-of-Pearls combo is dubbed ‘Worry Detox’: the carefree waterfall of pearls cleanses and aligns with the detoxifying nature of amazonite to help you wash your worries away. This

Pothos and Pyrite create ‘Abundance Hero’: the humble and dependable pothos meets with the charged bounty of pyrite’s energy to create an energetic and abundant vibrational center.

There are so many great pairings I want to try, and I am so happy for this introduction to Cosmic Botany! Thank you to Tarcher Perigree for sending me an Advance Reading Copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

Cosmic Botany by Tanya Lichtenstein

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The Modern Art of Brujeria by Lou Florez

This was a really interesting book that glimpses into Mexican cultural lore and traditional folk magic. Packed full of recipes and prayers, this book is essential for witches of all paths.

Meaning “witchcraft” in Spanish, brujería describes or disparages occult religious practices in some Latin American and Afro-Caribbean cultures with indigenous roots.

I chose this book to learn more about Brujeria magic because it is informed by Catholic beliefs, Aztec traditions, and Mexican healing arts. The main focus of the spellwork in this book are baths, candles, cleansings, and agua floridas. It offers a cultural understanding of spellcraft and other traditions of the Global South.

And while it does teach readers about spiritual cleansing through cleaning, candle casting and honoring the saints, it is more than just a reference or lesson book. Dedicated to Mexican-Americans, this book is for those who feel they are both and neither, who are caught in-between. It explores ancestors and descendants, and seeks to reclaim the magical and religious traditions of Mexico. Filled with cultural advice, this book hopes to bring confidence back to the generation of Mexican-Americans who have been assimilated and colonized, and lets readers know that they are not alone.

If you feel a pull back to the magic of your ancestors, this book is written for you.

Thank you so much to Ulysses Press for reaching out to send me an Advance Reading Copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

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Dirtbag Astrology by Alberto Toribio

I always have a great time reading about astrology. I like learning about the associations with each sign, and how it can theoretically guide our personalities impact our day-to-day lives.

Astrology is the study of the influence of the planets and stars on our lives. You probably know your sun sign if you like to read your daily horoscope, but full natal charts can be much more in-depth.

This book is a good beginner’s guide to astrology. It covers mainly sun signs and moon signs, offering a very basic understanding of the foundations of astrology, with simple modern humor. Experts and beginners alike can learn something from this fun little book!

Though this is not a comprehensive guide to every sign, house, and planetary placement, it does introduce us to eclipses and Mercury Retrograde, and discusses tips and tricks for approaching each celestial event.

Thank you to Union Square & Co. for sending me an Advance Reading Copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

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Beautiful Quotes from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an amazing book, and I definitely agree that it is worth the hype. It is one of those important topic books that is a great conversation starter, though (*trigger warning*) it does cover many difficult topics.

The novel tells the story of the fictional Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who, at age 79, gives a final interview to an unknown journalist.

I found it to be quite sad, and there are many scenes that are tough to read. But the uncomfortable scenes are what make the writing so good–it makes you feel angry, and happy, and it makes you feel understood and seen, because they are relatable. It is also a book that makes readers think about big topics–*TW* sexual assault, rape, domestic abuse, homophobia, biphobia, alcoholism, and lgbtq+ rights, just to name a few.

I found so many powerful quotes, and highlighted so many lines in my book! Here are a few of my favorites:

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I, Antigone

As a classicist, I am a big fan of Greek myth retellings, and I am happy for every chance I get to read them. In I, Antigone, Carlo Gébler paints a beautiful picture of a world filled with Kings and Queens of the ages, and brings a new twist to one of the oldest stories in the world, the story of Thebes. If you thought you knew the whole story, think again.

Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 441 BC. Of the three Theban plays, Antigone is the third in order of the events depicted in the plays, but it is the first that was written. The play expands on the Theban legend that predates it, and I, Antigone is written in the same spirit for a modern audience.

Most modern myths have many versions and variations, and will pull from various sources like Ovid, Homer, Hesiod, Sophocles. I was interested to see which myths Carlo Gébler would include in Antigone’s world. I was excited to find the author took inspiration from various sources and included many gods and goddesses into the story, all while giving them a modern spin.

With this books we get many stories in one. Many myths make up the grander tale of the Greek king, Oedipus. Within the story of Oedipus, we also get the stories of Europa and the bull; their children Minos and Adamanthus; Cadmus’ search for his sister Europa, and his founding the founding of the great city Thebes; how Cadmus’ great-grandson Laius became king at Thebes, and how he brought a great curse upon his line.

Retellings of the Greek myths and legends are really popular right now, and I, Antigone is a great read for fans of Madeline Miller and Scarlett St. Claire.

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Earth Magick by Lindsay Squire

I love books about the occult and witchcraft, so I was excited to add Earth Magick to my collection of magical books. The cover is stunning and I love the art style-–it just makes me want to read it and display it. And it is as beautiful inside as it is out: the book is filled with gorgeous illustrations, diagrams, and charts that inspire and inform your practice. 

This book covers ritual basics, the elements, the seasons, healing crystals, divination techniques, shadow work, energy balancing and more. Each section is packed full of easy to understand text and is paired with beautiful visualizations, breaking down the information and making it all super easy to understand and put into practice. 

Continue reading “Earth Magick by Lindsay Squire”
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A Modern Jane Austen Wardrobe

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a lady who loves Jane Austen also loves a good bonnet. That’s how I feel, anyway. In my teens, I became consumed with Pride and Prejudice and read it most nights (sometimes by candlelight), and can say it has really shaped my world view. I was and still am obsessed with the fashion and the history of Jane Austen’s time. I have watched every adaptation I can get my hands on. I keep a worn copy of Pride and Prejudice by my bedside, just in case I feel like flipping through it from time to time.

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The pastel- and muslin-filled world of the Jane Austen adaptations that I still watch on repeat (and plan to for the rest of my life) was brought to life by women I now worship. Brilliant costume designers like Jenny Beaven, Ruth Myers, and Jacqueline Durran who worked on Sense and Sensibility, Emma and Pride and Prejudice, respectively, imbued Austen’s characters with the historical likeness of Regency-period England as well as a timeless elegance that makes them and their style eternally beloved.

More recently, I was floored by Alexandra Byrne‘s sumptuous costumes in the new adaptation of Emma, which I strongly recommend for at-home viewing. Thanks to them, one of my biggest dreams is to don an empire-waist gown and white gloves and attend a Jane Austen ball (which, yes, is totally a thing!).

So. How is an avid austenite meant to dress in the world of fast-fashion??

Imagine yourself in a world where fans are used to shield smiles and secrets, and the best place to fall in love is on the dance floor. Think of the heavy use of organza and the endless streams of ribbons and pearls. A dream!

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Continue reading “A Modern Jane Austen Wardrobe”
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