My birthday is on Monday so I took myself to Manitou Springs last weekend to celebrate. The town has a really chill vibe with a lot of eclectic shops I really enjoy. Divulging in some materialism, I got myself some gifts! My most meaningful one would be the piece of stone, the same kind and from where the original stones at Stonehenge were from. I celebrate the solstices so it holds special meaning for me, especially as I hope my son will continue to celebrate them after I am gone.
I also received my innerstar accessory from Spain last week! Although all of my jewelry helps me feel empowered, I do feel a special connection to this piece.
Plants are a big source of enjoyment for me. I have a large collection and am happy to have added this boobie cactus to the bunch! It has been on my wishlist for some time but as is the same with my past wishlist plants, I've waited now for good reason. She is in fantastic shape, a perfect maturity for my liking, already potted in an appropriate media...and I was able to support a local shop instead of a big box store/wholesale nursery.
Lastly I wanted to share the book I got. After I finish a book that requires a lot of focus (I finished Neogensis: Dawn of the New Mind by Morgue a few weeks ago), I like to read a palette cleanser. This book on Altered States has been the perfect one, especially with how often they have been mentioned lately in the Nexus Academy and Oculus Livestreams. This book, short but detailed, has sparked my curiosity in relation to my own neurological functioning. I have bipolar depression and post partum ADHD, both of which I take medication for. It hasn't occured to me until I read this that although they are psychiatric medications prescribed by a doctor, they are still substances that alter my state of mind or consciousness. I plan on looking into more detail about how the substances I consume (meds, herbs, even chocolate) alter my state of consciousness. What is the chemistry of it? What is my brain lacking that these substances seem to provide that help me genuinely function better? What other physical effects do they have and are they possibly harmful? This is what I am currently researching before I move onto reading Cosmogenesis: The Awakening Universe, Morgue's third book in their series.
And of course I'll share those findings at some point. It will also include my past history with addiction, and probably how trauma can change the brain.
Does anyone have any preference as to how I share this? Is it easier to listen to audio, watch a video, read?
Does anyone have any sentimental artifacts? Do you have anything you wear that makes you feel empowered? Let me know! I genuinely would love to discuss this with you all.
