The books I read in May

and where I'm at 10 weeks into my hives journey

a view from my TBR book shelf

As you are opening this email to read, I am deep in packing mode.

Tomorrow I take my first flight in over two years to head out on a solo adventure for five weeks.

I’ll be pet sitting for a dear friend who is on a magical adventure to see The Cure in Ireland (swoon).

For me, staying put in a comfy home with pets to love feels just as magical.

I’m the traveller who scopes out the area long before I land. I’ve found my gluten free bakery, butcher shop, grocery story and the gym well in advance.

I like to become part of the neighbourhood. Living like I’ve always been there with an occasional jaunt into the city.

This may seem boring to some, but to my sensitive soul, it feels like heaven.

No husband, no kids, no distractions. Just me, my imagination, my soul work, and 3 cats and 2 dogs! The perfect setting for magic to unfold.

Plus… think of all the books I will be able to read!!

Speaking of books… here’s the list of books I read in May…

---

Fiction:

After reading book one in April, I found myself transported back into this world of magic and mayhem by Kevin Hearne. It is very few books that make me laugh out loud, and this author has a knack of making me do that. I mean, with a Hobgoblin that gets high eating salsa, how could it not. I’m excited for book three in this series as I am still left hanging after this book about where the curse came from! I guess I’ll have to wait to find out.

If I told you that this series was about a school built around the moon phases, and that whatever moon phase you were born on would decide what magical abilities you would be learning about; would that be enough to have you running to the bookstore? It would me. Infinite Shores by Pascale Lacelle is book three in a serious that started with Curious Tides and is one of my favourite series of all times. It is an epic fantasy adventure with a book at the heart of it all. One that has the main characters jumping through time and realms. These are a few of my favourite things! Honestly, I haven’t heard of anyone else reading this series, but it is SO GOOD. I ten out of ten recommend.

Oh V.E. Schwab. You have done it again. You never disappoint me and each of your books feel completely different from anything else you write. I’m obsessed with this author. Vicious is book one, Vengeful below is book two and this year Victorious comes out… which is why I picked up this series in the first place. I didn’t want to wait too long for the final pieces of the puzzle to land. To give you an idea of what this series is about, it involves NDE’s opening up “abilities” but removing essential parts of being human. In the first book you learn exactly how this phenomena occurs and meet the two main characters that drive the series.

Then you step into book two and it only gets better. This series gives off Marvel meets Batman meets Alfred Hitchcock vibes. The story moves quickly and jumps from one character perspective to another. Think Magneto and Professor X as the two main characters as they navigate through the dark drama this book holds. Intrigued? It’s good. I inhaled each book in a couple of days.

After all that drama, I wanted something light to read and my friend recommended Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. What a delightful read this book was. It focuses on a man who has recently passed away and finds himself in a tea shop with the ferryman, who is not what you expect. I laughed, I cried; it was the full gambit of emotions. If love a queer love story set in a teashop with some of the most memorable characters you will ever read, you will love this book.

Non Fiction:

My husband read this book a couple years ago because he adores Rick Rubin and I felt like I could use a hit of creative motivation. Rick Rubin is a music producer who helps bands extract some of their best work. His take on creativity and how to work with it is a spiritual journey with definitive practices to support the process. I enjoyed the book. It wasn’t one of my favourites, but it had some memorable moments. It’s an easy read and if you are an artist in any way, a good support for your work.

I loved this book. It came to me as I was scrolling Facebook Marketplace and got a nudge from my Guides to buy it. It then sat on my shelf for a few months until I felt those same Guides tell me I had to read it. Immediately. Which I did. Robert Moss’s ability to share stories about dreaming and working in the dream state is powerful. If you had asked me if I was a dreamer before reading this book, I would have said no. Now I know I am and am looking forward to exploring this side of my gifts. I highly recommend this book or any book written by Robert Moss. Storytelling is always at the heart of what makes a great book in my world and Robert Moss is expert in this department.

The Seven Sacred Flames isn’t a book, it’s a spiritual journey. One that takes you to the heart of Christ Consciousness. Following the seven meditations, you recalibrate your energy to the divine love of Source creator. I’ve read this book and taught it many times. Last month I did it for my paid membership The Haven. You can access all the videos and meditations HERE. If this book calls to you, don’t order it off Amazon (where it’s listed for over $100). Instead head to Mt Shasta Publishing and order it directly from their website. The amount of LOVE in this book is beyond words. You will feel the Ascendent Masters and Archangels guiding and supporting your every step. One of my most favourite spiritual texts of all times.

---

It was a good month for reading!

I would say that it wasn’t so good for my hives, but I don’t think that’s true. I’m learning a lot about myself and my body through this process.

Here are some of the things I’ve learned after 10 weeks with hives:

If I do what I hear my body say it needs, things get better.

If I go down a rabbit hole of what to do about my hives, things get worse. It tells my brain to expect things that I don’t think my body would do otherwise.

My body likes sound healing frequencies right now. The more I listen, the less symptomatic I am. I listen to ones for auto immune, nervous system regulation, relief of hives irritation, inflammation. Whatever I feel called to listen to, I do. This makes sense for me because I’m an energy girlie and frequency is everything in my world.

I’ve also learned walking is out. The only two times I’ve gone for hour long strolls are the only two times I’ve got hives on my legs.

That I’m lucky. Hives last a few days in each spot and have a life cycle. Even if they are annoying, they don’t stay that way. Some days I have only a few and some days I have a lot. They tend to come out more near ovulation and my period, or when I’m stressed or exercise.

We know our own bodies. I started this journey a year ago. Things weren’t the way they are now but I knew something was off. I made my first appointment with an allergist last summer and put myself on a year long wait for a gynaecologist. I see them both in July.

That my days don’t change, just my routines. I now do cold compresses, take over the counter meditation twice a day, and put calamine lotion on 3-4 times a day. Doing this is just part of my day now. It’s not good or bad, it just is.

I love my body just as much now as I did when she didn’t have hives.

To help with inflammation, I don’t eat anything out of a bag, box or can right now. It’s increased the amount of time in the kitchen, but has also increased my energy. So in this I’m winning.

Overall, I don’t feel that my life has changed too much. I’m more aware of my body than before.

I also believe my hives are part of a bigger story and that one day I will understand what their message was. Until then I keep showing up, keep listening, and keep doing both my inner and outer work to support them.

Sending you big love,

Avalon

---

P.S. Do you live in Austin, TX and want to meet up for coffee?

Do you know Austin, TX and have any recommendations for me to visit?

I’m excited to be in a new place for the month of June and would love any must restaurants, thrift stores, markets, or bookstores.

Hit me up if you have the inside scoop!

---

P.S.S. Want to work together? Click HERE.

Don’t know where to start? Book a CLARITY CALL to learn what is happening in your energy.