This Week's Ketchup

Westerns, Word games, and Watercolor

I am incredibly depressed, but still finding interesting things to occupy my hopeless, despairing mind. Let’s ketchup.

I listened to this podcast about Aleister Crowley, the freaky weirdo to whom all roads occult and esoteric lead. I was, of course, somewhat familiar, given the reading I’ve done on tarot, surrealism, psychoanalysis, and spiritualist art traditions, but I’d never focused on anything about him specifically. It was really surprising to find out that his work is just that influential, and that any modern magick practices stem directly from his own ritual creations. Also can we talk about how his daughter was named Nuit Ma Ahathoor Hecate Sappho Jezebel Lilith? Just a grab bag who’s who of goddesses.

I finished Lonesome Dove, and it is as amazing as everyone says. My second Big Book of the year, it was a wonderful companion to spend time with for 8 weeks or so. I LOVE WESTERNS. I’ve been reflecting on why, and I hope to write a cohesive essay about it sometime, once I figure it out.

Strands is my least favorite of the NYT games, but I am pleased that they recently opened up the archive because I compulsively play word games whenever I feel like my brain might catch fire. I have no one to talk to about this, but I love when the spangram vaguely takes the shape of the theme. It’s like a delightful little treat.

I’ve been making watercolor paintings using water from different sources—the creek in my backyard, a lake in Roanoke, VA—and I love the idea that the place becomes part of the painting. The tiny flora and fauna of that particular location is embedded in the work as a mark of specificity. I wonder if you put the paintings under a microscope if you’d be able to see the differences. I hope so.

OK that’s all see you next time.