Multifaceted

Re-Post from Boardwalk To Eden

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

There is something magical and untouched about the world of words.  Whenever I come to this blog to write out my thoughts or feelings―to tell a fictional story, or one of what I have done recently, I come with a certain style.  I want to sound a certain way, say words that make me seem both intelligent and unpretentious.  I want to write with a carefree attitude―making myself and my life both seem light and interesting.  These things can be done with certain inflections, specific wordings, and a particular tone.  But let me be clear, I am all of these things and more.  I am, like most people, multifaceted.  

Some of my favorite things include rainy days spent under blankets, sipping tea, reading a good book or watching Gilmore Girls or Harry Potter; going on a road trip while wearing clunky boots, ready for any adventure, hike, camping trip, or excursion that would come my way; traveling to Europe or any big city for that matter, and visiting museums, famous places, castles, cathedrals; decorating houses; gardening and eating the food I've grown; yoga, and all that hippie-dippie stuff that comes along with it: crystals, teas, incense, salt lamps, sage.  I enjoy all of these things to some degree, equally.  And I think, with most people this is a strong case.  

Because of social media and blogs or Instagrams dedicated to one thing, we think that continuity is key.  Most accounts look like similar photos, in different places, at different times, posted over and over again.  There is a lack of real life when someone only shares what they want their account to look like.  Yes, I love to go camping and take glorious photos of scenery, but I also love reading and ogling books, perusing bookstores.  

With this sort of single-faceted persona or feed comes a lack of realistic qualities.  What do these people do for a living to fuel said adventures?  What do they do when they're not hiking or rock climbing?  It creates a sort of unobtainable, unrealistic sense of self.  You get trapped looking at these bloggers who do this for a living and want to do just that.  Why can't we all be adventure photographers?!  

Soon enough, life has to happen, careers have to be built, and reality has to be faced.  But the thing is, reality isn't so bad after all.  There are books to read, adventures to go on, and also goals and achievements to be met. 

For me, getting a college degree has been the weirdest and most difficult thing.  I've traveled all over, I've taken the photos, camped at the places, and seen the museums―now I need to earn the degree and start the career, the life I've always wanted yet never had the courage to face.  Because honestly, getting a degree and starting an adult life is fucking scary.  Sure, getting married and buying a house are easy, but a degree and what comes after that ... now that is the part of multifaceted me that I haven't dared to face.  But I guess it's now or never, right?

Let's go.  Let's get this degree.  Let's see what life has for us next.  Let's finish this part of our lives we've been waiting so long to finish. 

First Aid Kit

I never had a favorite band growing up. I always wondered why there was no music to fit my tastes. I suppose a lot of people around my age felt this way, because the older I got, the more people my age were making music, the more I enjoyed the music that was being made. But I had to search deep. There was never a moment when I was listening to the radio and thought "This is my jam!" That didn't happen until I began listening to the music from movie soundtracks.

You know, honestly, I'm not sure when I first heard of First Aid Kit, but however it happened, I'm glad I did. It started with my favorite song Heavy Storm, and then Ghost Town. From there, I was hooked. I kept listening, and they kept making music. I've seen them live a good three times, and their shows are always so personal, fun, magical, and intimate. I hope these two amazing artists never stop making music for me to dance and sing and cry to.

If you want to see a bit deeper into my soul, listen to their songs and watch their videos.

Soul Food

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time...

There was a girl who dreamed that magic still existed in this world, if only people were to open their minds and hearts. The greatest magic of all—she knew—was love. This girl knew that one day, when she was a woman, she would find the greatest love of all, and that they would live happily ever after. What she did not realize was that to get there she had to go through many trials and tribulations, both with and without her love. But once her true love was in her life, they could conquer anything as long as they worked together. So, no matter how hard things got, no matter how slow life seemed to be moving, they kept trudging forward together, in love.

One beautiful autumn day, these two lovers got married and began to truly share a life together. They promised to nurture their love, to let it grow into something as sweet and strong as a blood orange tree. And this they did... 

While life continues to feed them obstacles, the two lovers continue to overcome any battle as long as they believe in the power of love. They know that every day is new, and every moment is precious. They believe in a beautiful future and a perfectly magical now. And because of this, they will always live happily ever after.

Salutations

I would like to take a moment before I write anymore gibberish on this here little journal of mine and introduce myself.

Eventually, I'll add more to my "I Am" page, but before we get going, let me see where I stand on who I am at the moment.

My name is Cassandra Yost, but I mostly go by Cal, thanks to an acronym made by my maiden name initials. I've always lived in Southern California but dreamed of living somewhere more lush, cool, and wet. Living in a place of perpetual summer really makes you yearn for those things people call seasons. I've always always dreamed of living on a little farm—not a full blown live-off-the-land sort of farm, but a cottage home on land with chickens, a goat, a garden, and maybe even a little stream or pond. A place with plenty of old shade trees to climb on and meadows to play in. Despite these dreams, I live a pretty blissed-out life in a small town near the mountains called Redlands. This is a college town with plenty of coffee shops, a huge old library, weekly farmer's markets, and an amphitheater that has free shows for all to see.

Currently, I do accounting and human resources by day and, come Fall, will be going to college for English Literature at night. I hope to someday teach a class of kids what a joy it is to get lost in a fictional world. But reading is so much more than that. Books teach us life lessons, metaphors, morals, compassion and empathy. By reading books and engaging with characters, we learn to connect to people and accept their differences. We learn to see the best in people and find heroes in the girl or boy next door.

I am a huge believer in everyday miracles and that love is the greatest magic there is, and really the only thing that matters in this life. I believe that the Four Agreements are a great source of wisdom to practice in our day-to-day lives. I believe that there is no time like the present, and that we should really try as hard as we can to stay in the now. I love studying the ancient earth religions, gods and goddesses, but I do not consider myself a part of anything organized or named. I love to think about a time where women worshiped the sun, moon, and earth freely. A time where plant medicine was the norm, and where flora, fauna, and human lived side by side in harmony. I believe in magic.

I have a husband named Jonathan, two pups—a husky named Gozer, and a beagle named Turbo, two cats—a ginger named Brag, and a blue named Junior. My favorite movement comes from yoga, hiking, swimming, riding bikes, and gardening. My favorite music is indie, folk, bluegrass, surf pop, and acoustic singer-songwriter. My most recent creative endeavor is to learn to make pickles and preserves. I hope to write a book someday.

This is me.

Here's To Now

In the wake of the social media age, I have noticed that I tend to lose myself in a frenzy of what others are doing, who they are being, what they're listening to and reading, where they're going. It's really hard not to get caught up in the hubbub of the other, and forget to honor the self.

People aim so high, and I tend to want to keep up instead of staying small, humble, and slow.

Slow = the ability to calculate and measure. 

Slow = taking the time to make things as they should be. Not worrying what others are doing or what's going to happen tomorrow. Sometimes, we live too far ahead. We need to focus on the now.

Some things I'm slowing down to:

Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Regina Spektor (she's such a classic and such a poet)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

Self Love in the form of a luxurious skincare routine, yoga, good food, and empathy.

Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain

The Goddess Guide: Exploring the Attributes and Correspondences of the Divine Feminine

A new mala tassel necklace/wrap bracelet from The Rainbow Farmer