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Continue reading →: How to Avoid Blisters on the Camino de Santiago
In October and November of 2015, I walked the Camino Francés, one of the traditional pilgrimage routes to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. It was a deeply emotional journey, with far-reaching implications for my life, and I’m slowly but surely capturing the memories and musings here on my…
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Continue reading →: Last Minute Details
Is there an award for “Worst at Packing”? If so, send me an entry form – I’m pretty sure I’ve got a shot! We’re now about 13 hours out from my flight to Paris, and I haven’t finished everything on my list. My house is still dirty, I don’t have…
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Continue reading →: Five Days
It seems like forever since I started planning for this pilgrimage. Have my intents changed? Have my worries taken new forms? Have my boundaries widened or narrowed? I’ve spent the last fifteen or so years thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago one day, and finally that one day is…
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Continue reading →: Mate
Youth imbues one with a sense of invincibility. Few at tender age are as cautious as more seasoned veterans might advise. I, myself, made every move a grand gesture. Sure, I made a show of checking the angles, devising a plan, but in truth I crossed the board willy nilly,…
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Continue reading →: The In(si)stance
So many things to say in one small post: fear, excitement, irritation, disappointment, surrender. I’ve been sitting here in my favorite coffee shop for the last half an hour, typing a few lines, deleting them, looking out the window for a bit, then starting over. There’s something that’s been bugging…
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Continue reading →: Aydrian
Yet another of my good friends from high school has passed away. A year or two ago, my friend Sara died. She was one of the sweetest, most gentle people I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Our mutual friend Aydrian died this weekend. He was such a bright light to everyone…
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Continue reading →: Camino Countdown
In 18 days, I’ll be embarking on the greatest adventure of my life thus far. I’m a little worried, because I haven’t made it to my fundraising goal yet. But if I have to skip a few meals or donate less at donation-based alburgues, then that’s what I’ll do, I…
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Continue reading →: Between
I’m going to have my first appointment with a therapist next week. For awhile, I was stumped on what to talk about. After all, I knew that I had anxiety and depression, but I didn’t have a clear idea of why. How would I talk to a therapist about what was…
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Continue reading →: The Leg
They do so much for us, you know? They provide stability. They carry us for untold distances. They propel us through the door for our first job interview, hustle us around the bases, help us lift heavy boxes. I’ve used mine to run down the driveway to check the mail,…
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Continue reading →: Laboring Along
Two weeks ago yesterday I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and put on medication. So far, the experience has actually been pretty positive. I’ve been able to think clearly for the first time in years. My resting heart rate has gone down, which I’m hoping will mean that my…
Hello,
I’m Nova
I have no “personal brand.” I’m not a girl boss, I’m not an influencer, and I don’t aspire to be powerful, inspiring, or rich. I probably can’t teach you anything, and there’s a good chance that there’s nothing at all of interest or use to you here. This is just where I come to talk about the random bits and pieces that make up my quiet life as a sober woman in her 40s. I’m engaged to the love of my life, have six (yes, SIX) indoor pets, and spend a lot of time gardening and hunting for thrift treasures. I also study classical voice (I’m a lyric coloratura soprano) and am deeply interested in all things spiritual and paranormal. Right now I’m trying to recover from career burnout and even out my personal energy, but my eventual goal is to become a medium and shamanic healer, using music to remind humans of the things that actually matter: connection, community, and loving all living things as though they were our own children. I may or may not talk about all of these things here (and sometimes all at once). Welcome!
Compass & Quill 