A new era for many…

January 26, 2013 at 2:16 pm (Uncategorized)

On January 19th of this year, my Clan was able to accomplish several things on our most important “to do” list… “Things to do to keep Sis Happy and Healthy.”

Thanks to the ongoing encouragement of a dear friend (as she prefers to remain anonymous, we shall call her “Lotta Nerve”) and the driving skills and open-mindedness of a special gentleman (whom we shall call “JC”), we were able to locate one another, break bread together, and experience a most glorious road-trip on a crisp, cold Saturday.  Giving all credit where it is due, it was the sudden inspiration of dear Lotta, less than 24 hours beforehand, that spurred us into action. You see, Lotta’s prior personal plans for Saturday had changed, and as she now had a free day, she was inspired to contact us to ask whether we were up for an adventure.

Within hours, we all agreed that fate had spoken and it was time for a visit to a shop called Magickal Realms.

Magickal Realms recently had relocated from a boring, land-locked portion of the Bronx, to nautical City Island (hail, Yemanja!).  Mind you, though… the shop is only a physical place.  Our actual destination was part of our joint past, which exists only in our hearts and minds, in the memories of long ago.  Our Quest was to trust the God/dess to unite those who shared those same memories, and step off into the Great Abyss, together.

So, without further ado, I present to you… MAGICKAL REALMS of City Island, New York.

http://www.magickalrealms.com/

Old link:

https://www.facebook.com/magickal.realms

New link:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Magickal-Realms-inc/229162570550731

Rhea and Rhia

The two women in this photo have a shared past. What you see here is the instant of their reunion. Rhea, proprietess of Magickal Realms, is on the left. My sister, Rhia (named for Rhiannon), is on the right. Their path together runs far and deep, twisting and entwining like a string of DNA. It took over 30 years, and the inspiration and writing skills of  author  Michael Lloyd – on FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/Iakkhos – to make this happen.

Mr. Lloyd wrote a book entitled “Bull of Heaven: The Mythic Life of Eddie Buczynski and the Rise of the New York Pagan”… and so, it was Mr. Lloyd’s research which brought us to this long-awaited reunion. 

My sister Rhia and I knew Herman Slater of the Warlock Shop and the Magickal Childe… but she was also close with Eddie, the topic of Mr. Lloyd’s book.  Here is a black and white photo of “Horrible Herman” in a place of honor within the window of the restaurant which used to be the Magickal Childe:

The two photos below were taken of the altar which was set up in memory of Eddie, the night Mr. Lloyd’s book was celebrated at that same restaurant.  Rhea of Magickal Realms was present at that celebration, along with many others from “back in the day.”  Those years were the happiest in my Sister’s  lifetime. All she had wanted for a very long time was to know what had happened to the others she called family, those she had come to know and love. It was our hearing of this book, and our reading the reviews and seeing these photos that caused my Sister to express a real desire to do something she longed for yet feared — she wished to reunite with those she once knew.

Well, reunite she did, with tears and laughter. Thanks to Lotta for the inspiration… thanks to JC for driving us… thanks to Rhea for opening her door and her life to us.

Another very memorable soul from our past – dear Artie, who taught Pagan Way classes at the Magickal Childe – came to surprise us that night, and we all enjoyed reminiscing together. Artie even said that “JC” was “vibrating with energy,” and enjoyed spending time with him as a new acquaintance.

More details than the ones I have offered here would be inappropriate.

Let us just say that all which needed to be said was said, and all which needed to be done was done.

My sister Rhia is now content… and that was the purpose of the visit.

Merry meet, merry part… and merry meet, again.