Ailsa Abraham's Blog: Ailsa Abraham, page 6

Through an ass……

Yes, misquote – “through a glass, darkly”. That’s how my version of “The Sight” works. It’s a common

[image error]WOT?????

Scottish phrase for being able to see the future. I have it. Of course I do, I’m generations down on hereditary Scottish witches. Unfortunately my Sight is impaired.

What do I mean? Well let’s take a couple of examples – the other day I found a dead blackbird at my feet in the back garden. Of course I picked it up, examined it, said the ritual words and cremated it. Then I went off to think what all this meant. Birds always mean something!

A robin looking at you is always someone on the other side wishing you well – it’s nice and comforting. Blackbirds are known as Druid Dhu “Black Druid” in the celtic languages – they always refer to psychic, spiritual messages. Knowing that my other half has advanced cancer I thought it was a message about my psychic path after his departure.

Of course I had forgotten the old wisdom- any ending is also a beginning!!!! Duuuuuuuh! It could just as easily  have been any part of my life after his departure. Or something coming to an end on its own. Or my own ending……….. I had to meditate and wait.

The next day I was sought out by a raven who, as you may know, is very significant to me.

Lady Raven was my ritual name when I was a High Priestess, before I hit Crone. This chap called in other corvids to underline what he was and that he doesn’t normally live around here. So I had a definite message from the raven too.

I was working on a misapprehension. I didn’t realise that these two were talking about my life NOW. I soon found out that yes, an ending is always a beginning and a beginning can mean going back to what one was doing before.

What did I do when I was Lady Raven, apart from coven-work? Oh yes, we can go back to that and now am forced to.

I feel I am gifted with The Sight but need bifoculs to interpret the damn readings!!!!

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Hoorah for November

[image error]Phew! Thanks be November has started. Why? Because although I love the old Celtic New Year festival of Samhain (pronounced Sawane) on 31st October when we celebrate our ancestors because the veil between the worlds is thin….. despite loving that, I always end up getting cross and stamping my little foot around that date.

Anyone who reads this blog knows at least two things about me …. 1) I am a pagan who has been co-opted into the local Catholic faith and 2) I am an equal-opportunities gods employer. I try my best to get on with everyone no matter what their religious beliefs and if I’m a visitor to their country, I will behave accordingly.

I don’t tell people what they should or shouldn’t  believe because it is one of the most highly personal choices a human being has. So I get fairly hot under the collar when others try to dictate to me, especially on the basis of  completely wrong historical information.

Many Christians don’t like the fact that when their religion was introduced to Britain it adopted many of the old religion’s festivals as people were loathe to give up the feasting that went with it. Hence, although scholars have proved that Jesus must have been born in March, they stole Yule from us and made it Christmas. Unlike the Romans, who were content to leave their occupied citizens to worship their own gods with a Roman deity tacked on – like Mars Cernunnos or Bacchus Pan, the incoming evangalists of the White Christ stole the whole festival and invented a reason for it.

Finding that there was already a festival for ancestors, dead people etc, they took that and re-named the two days All Hallows and All Saints. Yes, that is where the word Halloween comes from, All Hallow’s Eve.  This is where my ire begins with 31st October.

I loathe the corruption of Samhain into Halloween which comes from the ancient Scottish tradition of “guising”. As the veil between the two world was very thin, not only could friendly family spirits come visiting but wicked ones as well. So children would go out into the night with their coats on back-to-front, masks on their faces and offer to scare away the bad spirits in return for a small cake. We made turnip lanterns which took most of the day to dig out! I did it as a child and I can remember the song we sang at each house.

The matron of the family would reward us with a special “soul cake” for keeping the house safe. If she didn’t, we just walked away.

How this has descended into the crime of “demanding with menaces” is beyond me. Telling children to knock at strangers’ doors to ask for sweets strikes me as ludicrous when we tell them of “stranger danger” every other day of the year. Teaching them that it is fine to do something horrible to people if they don’t give you what you want is laying the foundation for bad psychological problems in the future. It is worse in a country where they don’t understand the word “Trick” and are surprised when I hang out of the bedroom window with the garden hose, shouting “Trick” and soak them. The joke is lost in translation.

A great many churches agree with me but they then go further than that and write spiteful messages on social media telling people that they must not follow “old traditions” as Christ died for us to change….. excuse me? Did I wander into your building and try to set up my Samhain feast table? If they stuck to discouraging their followers from running a one day protection racket, I’d love it, but don’t start taking pot-shots at my faith because we didn’t start this, it’s an American invention kept alive by profiteering shopkeepers.

I like November. We don’t have Guy Fawkes Night here and celebrate burning catholics, it wouldn’t seem polite. My animals are safe. We aren’t into the frenetic run-up to the Shopping Festival and I can enjoy the changing colours and temperatures of the countryside.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh – peace at last!

 

A Little Bit of Karen

October isn’t the best month to come over here by magic carpet but my guest today is one tough gal. Here comes Karen Little and some of her friends. Hello, you lot!

[image error]Chicken and Noodles

Ailsa, I hope you don’t mind me bringing my dogs, Chicken and Noodles. I can’t go anywhere without them. They were fairly well behaved on the magic carpet, though we had to make a quick stop for Noodles to cock his leg on the Eiffel Tower, and I had to hold Chicken pretty tightly as she chases birds; some flew pretty close us.

Not at all- Lily will be delighted to have some English speaking canine company. Yes, we are very well off for birds over here but tell Chicken not to go for the birds of prey, they are pretty feisty! Now, first off – what would you like to drink and I have all kinds of home made cake, jam, bikkies etc – choice?

I’d love a strong black coffee; it’s my favourite tipple at the moment. I think I probably went for wine last time I was here, but I’m behaving myself these days. Ooh, and a sliver of that chocolate cake. That looks pretty healthy.

Freshly brewed coffee on the wood-stove behind you, help yourself. The cake is home-made with gooey filling, here you go. Let’s start with your books – do you write under just one name or several?

I write under my own name. It never occurred to me to do otherwise, though I painted under different names. I was kazvina for the six years I lived in Spain, for instance.

I understand that! I’m never sure if I’m Elise, Ailsa or Otter! How many genres do you cover?

I write a lot of poetry, I write a lot of prose, but there is a lot of overlap for me; my novella trilogy has been described as poetical (among other things!) I occasionally write short stories; they’re not my strong point, though strangely I met my publisher at the book launch of a short story anthology when one of mine was selected for it.

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How much have you had published including anthologies etc? How long have you been writing professionally? I imagine that, like all of us, you wrote all your life before “turning pro”

I’ve had close to a hundred pieces of work published if we include everything in magazines, anthologies, on-line magazines, e-zines and my own books, the Spanish Spectres series Filled with Ghosts, Ghost Train Leaving and Ghosts Treading Water.

[image error]I ran away to London as a teenager, and got into London Contemporary Dance School, then a Dance Theatre company. Later I did a degree in Fine Art at Camberwell School of Art, London. Yes, I’ve always written but in the last five years writing has become my main “expression.” I started reading my poetry at events and then was persuaded to believe it was publishable. I still paint, and sometimes [image error]illustrate my poems as well as other people’s. My slender book Tentacles consists of ten of my poems and ten black ink drawings. Art of Rescue is poetry and prose by eight writers including myself, illustrated with my coloured ink drawings.

What was your first published work? Short story, magazine article, poem?

My first published work was a poem, and very encouragingly it was the first time I’d sent a piece of writing anywhere. Hot Pies was published in an anthology Best of Manchester Poets vol 3, back in 2012.

Wow! What are your ambitions / hopes for your writing career?

I hope I continue to be inspired enough by life to keep creating. It has helped me through some very dark times and helped me find purpose. My real life is the material of my writing. I would like to reach more people with my books, but my favourite thing is when someone tells me how much a piece means to them. Today I got an email from someone telling me my trilogy is their go-to when they can’t sleep. I have a minuscule but perfectly formed fan-base.

I know what you mean Now on to you, the author. Where do you live and with whom?

[image error]I live near the sea on the south coast of England, in a Trailer. I live with two naughty dogs, a gecko and an avocado plant called Hardy. I grew him from a stone and he ran wild; he is four feet tall and skinny, the first houseplant I haven’t killed, so I take that as a good omen. There is a stream in my garden that leads to a river and four miles later reaches the sea. I’ve only lived here six months, and guess what? My third book is set where a stream leads to a river and then to the sea, though in Spain. I wrote it before I moved here, though added detail since living here, so that felt both spooky and meant to be.

Yes, “own-life” has a habit of intruding, doesn’t it? Describe a perfect day at home for me. Where else have you lived?

I was born in the North of England, lived many years in London, and then six years in Spain. I spent one year teaching art in Marbella, and then I got a studio in a village near Ronda where my son and myself were the only English inhabitants. The villagers considered me mad because I lived by exhibiting and selling big wild abstract art pieces, and my house/studio was about eight feet wide; narrower than my present Trailer, though on two floors and with a roof terrace across the length of it.

A perfect day at home for me is taking the dogs for an early walk along the river, then writing or painting for as long as the pooches will allow. If the weather is half decent we then get on a bus to the beach, a ten minute journey, and we converse with the waves.

Tell me two or three interesting facts about you that I haven’t asked.

I recently bought a guitar, because surely it’s never too late to become a rock-star? That’s a coincidence. I have tried several times to play the guitar with no success but won one in a raffle, so think I’m being pushed to have another go!

I’ve never owned a motorbike but have ridden them many times. I worked at a motorbike hire shop and we went home on whatever bike we fancied: on my first day at Art College all my art supplies were knocked off the back of my motorbike when a lorry clipped the carrier I had bungeed them to. Well, everyone knows about my love-affair with bikes and my near-death experience doing a triple somersault off mine.

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BIO

Karen Little trained as a dancer at London School of Contemporary Dance, and as a Fine Artist at Camberwell School of Art, London. She has performed and exhibited internationally.

[image error]Her first novella, ‘Filled with Ghosts’ was published in December 2015 and shortlisted for a Saboteur Award in 2016. Set in 90’s Southern Spain it was described as ‘Visceral, surreal, and utterly compelling. This is a writer who finds a strange beauty in the darkest of places.’ The second book in the trilogy, ‘Ghost Train Leaving’ was published in July 2017, and the final book, ‘Ghosts Treading Water’ will be published in late October 2017. Other books include Tentacles, ten poems, ten drawings, and Art of Rescue, with poems and poetry by various authors, edited and illustrated by Karen.

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Webpage http://karen-little.com

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-little-456b0776/

Amazon author page https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B076SZMKX7

All books are available at http://wordcatcher.com and on http://amazon.co.uk

Thank you for inviting me. Please come and see me when you have the time. I certainly will, thanks for inviting me.

The Year of Change

[image error]Dear Readers, Friends of Iamo and Riga,

I can feel big changes coming for 2018. With Shaman’s Drum already disappeared and Alchemy going the same way soon, this will be a wonderful opportunity to clean, tidy and re-paint the Guild.

I’m planning on knocking through some walls, enlarging space and completely re-painting the exterior before opening the new edifice to the public. This is needed as some of the building was never completed before our first visits.

Then, of course,  we can extend the back, allowing the Black Shaman to move more freely in the wide world.

Consider this a temporary closure for renovations. Some of the Guild are in need of holidays (dealing with karma all day, every day is very tiring, as I know to my own cost), Iamo and Riga are rather busy “doing their own thing” so Dagda is planning some adventures of his own. In the fulness of time we will see how things pan out for everyone we have met so far.

So I’m asking you all to give me a short time while I have the builders in, before I announce a grand re-opening  when we’ll throw a party in the cloisters and parade ground.

Thank you all for your patience – The Scribe

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Wouldn’t stand for….

[image error]Isabella

I was chatting with my pal Isabella May about her latest release “Oh What a Pavlova”  which includes the female lead being beaten up by her partner. I thought you might like to listen in to our thoughts.

AILSA You look grumpy. Another “I wouldn’t stand for it” remark on your reviews?

ISABELLA Yup. I just hope this book can go towards breaking the misconception that only weak, pathetic women are the subject of domestic violence.

[image error]Get lessons first!

AILSA (laughing and spitting her coffee out) Well that’s me then! I’ve been on the receiving end of two abusive partners and I’m hardly pathetic and weak-willed. Ex Air-Force, combat-trained and always ready to stick up for myself (and anyone weaker than me) in everyday life… so how come I became a “victim”?

ISABELLA Don’t know, my friend – why don’t you tell me? It’s different but similar for everyone.

AILSA

Well, it’s just crazy. If a stranger attacked me in the street I’d never hesitate to fight back. I was trained “defence is just that – if your life or safety is in danger”. I’d have no hesitation in hurting them if they were out to hurt me. I don’t advocate this to anyone who doesn’t know what they are doing, though!

With a partner it is totally different. They use a technique which is now called “gaslighting”

Oh and please don’t think I’m talking only about women. My own partner used to work with the charity Victim Support and he goes frantic when the subject of domestic violence forgets men. They also get abused. Fewer, yes, but they are even less likely to complain or seek help. So let’s just call the abused the “victim”.

Once the abuser has robbed the victim of their self-confidence and cut them off from all their friends, controlled small things in their life like what they wear, music they listen to or food/drink they consume,  all of which is psychological abuse, then the physical abuse can start.

By this time, the victim is convinced that they are stupid, everything is their own fault and, if the abuser is really gifted, that the abuser is second only to God Almighty. Even an intelligent victim will assume that if THEY are stupid and at fault, then the other person is right. In the end the victim will accept that everything that is happening is their own fault.

After that, there is no point in complaining, after all, it’s my own fault, isn’t it? Add to that the fact that the abuser is the victim’s chosen partner. Who wants to believe that they can make such a huge mistake? The abuser will appear to be charming, polite and well-mannered with others, they will have done the same when courting the victim. So the question becomes “I am so thick that I was THAT wrong about this person? Yes, I suppose it IS my fault.”

You see now how the vicious circle starts to strangle the victim and make entirely sure they speak to nobody, even covering up their injuries, always by saying they did it to themself! Psychologically interesting? I walked into a cupboard door and blacked my eye (inferring I am thick!) How well has this brain-washing worked???[image error]

The crunch time comes in two ways. Either someone outside the enclosed circle realises what is going on and gets the victim out or the victim suddenly finds their anger and hits back (quite literally) If they can hurt the abuser enough, this can turn tables or at least cause the abuser to run away and look for a more quiescent partner. Given long enough, the abuser ages and becomes unfit, unable physically to keep up the violence. Or the victim learns to run faster.

I repeat that fighting back is not a good idea unless one is willing to really hurt the other person quite badly. Training is vital. Only once with my first husband did I punch him back and put my whole weight behind it but he got up again…. oh dear, that was a mistake.

Speak to someone. Get help. Never ever believe that it is your fault because  NOBODY has the right to lay hands on you violently. EVER![image error]

 

 

 

 

 

 

使わなくなったコスメを高値で業者に買い取ってもらうには

好みや体質が変わって使いかけで放置しているコスメや、何かの時に使ってみようと仕舞ったまま気が付けば溜まっていく試供品。
捨てずに、出来るだけ高く業者に買い取ってもらうには、どうしたらよいでしょうか。

業者の得意分野を確認する

ブランドコスメだからといって、どこで買い取ってもらっても同じような高値がつくとは限りません。
バックや洋服と同じようにコスメの場合も流行がありますし、地域や客層によっても人気のブランドは異なります。

まずはHPなどで売りたいブランドの買取価格例をチェックして、高値買取の実績のある業者をピックアップしておき、その中から数社を選んで事前に無料査定を依頼してみるのが良いでしょう。
また特別強化キャンペーンなど、特定のブランドを期間限定で高く買い取る企画を開催していることもありますので、こちらも合わせてチェックしておきましょう。

サンプル・試供品はまとめて売る

ただでもらえるサンプルや試供品がお金になるなんて、なんだか不思議ですよね。
でもサンプルとして配るものは大抵が新商品つまり旬のコスメですし、1回分ずつ個別包装されていますから、旅行やお泊りの際の持ち運びにも便利で衛生面でも安心です。

1つだけでは大して有り難味を感じないサンプルも、数がまとまればお金を出しても欲しいという人は少なくないのです。

パッケージ、付属品はきれいに保存を

売ることを前提に化粧品を購入する事はないと思いますが、いざという時に少しでも高値が付くよう付属品はきっちり保管しておきましょう。

また人気のブランド品ですと使いきった後のからのケースにも値段が付きますから、取り扱いは丁寧にしてきれいな状態をキープしておくと良いでしょう。

　
　

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家に眠っている不用品は、どこで処分するのがお得なの？

着なくなった洋服やタンスの肥しのバック、使いかけのコスメなど何処のお宅にもある不用品。
業者に買い取ってもらうのとオークションやフリマで販売するのとでは、どちらがよりお得でしょうか。

ブランド品は業者に買い取ってもらう

ブランド品はオークションでも高値で取引されますが、その分ユーザーもオークションでの購入には慎重になります。
実際にブランドコスメの場合には、せっかく出品しても入札ゼロということも珍しくないようです。

業者に買い取ってもらう場合に比べて、写真を用意したり説明文を書いたりと手間もよけいに係るのに、結局買い手が付かなかったのでは元も子もないですよね。

ブランド品の場合には、業者でも時には買値を超えるような高値で買い取ってもらえますから、自分で販売するより買い取りがお薦めです。

ノーブランド品はオークションかフリマで

他方ノーブランドの品物は、保存状態等が良くても業者での買い取り価格はとても安くなってしまいます。
元々の単価が低く転売の手間を考えると商売になりにくいからでしょうか、そもそも買い取ってもらえないケースすらあります。

しかし、洋服やバックにしてもコスメにしても、みんながブランド品を求めている訳ではありません。
特に成長が早くすぐに着られなくなる子供服などは、良質なモノを安くお買い得に手に入れたい、と考えている人が多いはずです。

ですからノーブランド洋服やコスメなどは、積極的にオークションやフリマに出品してみましょう。

マイナスの情報もしっかりと伝える

業者に買い取ってもらう場合でも、オークションやフリマを利用する場合でも、正しい情報を伝えるという事がとても大切です。

少しでも高くなればと伝えるべき事を伝えないでいると、大きなトラブルの原因にもなりかねません。
汚れや傷などのマイナスな情報こそ、しっかりと伝えて気持ち良く取引をしましょうね。

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今の時代、売れないモノは一つもないようです

トイレットペーパーの芯が売れる！という話を聞いたことがありますか？
フリマアプリやオークションの世界では、実にさまざなモノが取引されているようですが、本当にどんなものでも買ってもらうことはできるのでしょうか？

衝撃だった現金の販売

まだ比較的記憶に新しいと思いますが、メルカリで現金が販売されていたというニュースは衝撃的でした。

円をドルなどの外国の通貨に交換する事はあっても、日本円で日本円を買うなんて発想がそもそもありませんでした。
しかも販売価格の方が安い（3万円が2万8千円で買える）のでしたら誰しも購入したいでしょうが、実際はその逆で3万円が3万2千円で販売されていたりした訳です。

良く考えてみれば、すぐに現金が必要な場合に、キャッシングの利息や手数料よりも差額の方が小さければ、そちらを購入するというのは充分にあり得るのですが、そのアイディアは驚愕でした。

もちろん今は禁止されていますので現金の販売はできませんが、思いもしなかったものが商品となる可能性はあるという事ですね。

ゴミでしかないと思うものでも買い手が付く

メルカリではトイレットペーパーの芯以外にも、ラップの芯やペットボトルキャップ・食べ終わった後のお菓子のパッケージに蛇の抜け殻まで販売されているようです。

自分にとってはゴミでしかないモノでも、どこかの誰かにとってはお宝であったりするので、頭を柔らかくして色々な人物の生活を想像してみる事で、不用品が思わぬビジネスにつながる事もありそうです。

使いかけのコスメだってお宝

こうして見てみると今の時代に売れないモノはないようです。
ついゴチャゴチャと溜まってしまう中途半端に使ったコスメや、着なくなった洋服だって欲しいと思う人はきっといるはず。
あなたなりのユニークなアイデアで不用品を現金に換えて、おいしいランチでも楽しみませんか。

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中古品を上手に利用して、ブランドコスメを安く試してみては？

気になるブランドコスメ、でも高いお金を払って購入しても、実際に使ってみないと自分に合うか分かりません。
いくら口コミをチェックしても、顔立ちや肌質・好みは人それぞれですから、それだけでは判断できませんよね。
そこで、まずは中古品を購入して試してみるのはいかかでしょう。

中古品といっても程度はそれぞれ

直接肌に付けるモノですから、知らない人が使ったモノには抵抗がある・保管状態や衛生面はどうなのか、といった思いは当然あるかと思います。

しかし一口に中古品といってもその範囲は広く、ほとんと使いきった状態のモノから、開封未使用または未開封のまま年数が経ったモノまで、その内容はさまざまです。

使いかけが気になる方は、まずは比較的新しい開封未使用のコスメを探してみると良いかもしれませんね。

ネイルやフレグランスは積極的に

基礎化粧品やファンデーション口紅など、直接う肌に付けるモノは未使用品でないと嫌という方でも、ネイルやフレグランスであれば、使用済みでもあまり抵抗を感じないのでは？

特にフレグランスであれば直接肌に付けなくても、ガーゼなどに香りをしみこませて匂い袋のようにして使ったり、造花などに振りかけてルームフレグランスとして楽しんだりもできるので、高いブランド品はまず中古で試してみてはいかがでしょう。

購入前にはしっかりと確認を

化粧品にも消費期限はあります。
また保存状態によっても品質に大きな差が出ますから、気になるコスメを見つけたら少なくとも

購入時期保管場所

の二つは、必ず相手に確認するようにしてください。

自分なりの受け入れられる範囲を明確にしておき、事前にしっかりと確認をしてからお安く試して、自分に合ったブランドコスメを見つけましょう。

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フリマアプリの上手な利用方法

「Fril（フリル）」「メルカリ」「ラクマ」など、フリマアプリがいま熱いですね。
使わないコスメなどを、業者に買取を依頼する代わりに、スマホで手軽に売買しているようです。
そんなフリマアプリをまた利用した事のない方のために、上手な付き合い方をお教えします。

自分に合ったフリマアプリを見つけよう

例えば上記３つのフリマアプリで比較してみましょう。
まず「フリル」は元々がファッション・フリマアプリだった事もあり、やはりファッション系に強い印象です。
また「メルカリ」は、出品アイテムの豊富さと圧倒的な利用者数の多さを誇っており、早く売りたい場合や他では扱っていないようなものを取引したい場合などには、特にお勧めです。
そして「ラクマ」の強みは、何と言っても販売手数料がゼロである事（「メルカリ」だと10％の販売手数料が掛かる）と、購入時に楽天スーパーポイントが使える事です。

更に今年に入って、ヤフオクでもフリマ機能が使えるようになりましたので、オークション派の人も併用してみてはいかがでしょうか。

いずれにしても一つに縛る必要はないので、自分の用途に合わせて上手に使い分けてみましょう。

初期設定は丁寧に

時間を節約するためにスマホのフリマアプリを利用したいという方も多いと思いますが、最初に設定する自己紹介文だけは少し時間をかけて丁寧に入力します。
相手の見えない取引に置いて、自己紹介文は取引相手を知るための重要な情報源です。

自分を正しく知ってもらって、安心して取引をしてもらえるよう手を抜かずに頑張りましょう。

写真をたくさん撮っていざ出品

実店舗と違い実際に手に取る事ができない分、アプリでの取引で写真は大切ですから、１枚で済まさず角度を変えて複数の写真を用意してください。

あとは出品するだけです。「案ずるより産むが安し」大丈夫うまくいきますよ。

The post フリマアプリの上手な利用方法 first appeared on ブランド品ではないコスメは買い取ってくれるの？.