Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Alice Grist, Interview #82


Name: Alice Grist


Where you live: England, UK - in the Middle, but was born in the North, near Manchester.


What you do as a vocation or avocation? I'm an Author and professional Tarot Card reader.


Your two favorite books: I love so, so many books it is hard to whittle it down to two. But of recent ones I have read these intrigued me for different reasons.
The Island - Aldous Huxley - a classic! Fantastic vision of a Utopian spiritual society.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt - just a darned good thriller - perfect holiday reading.


Your two favorite songs:Hey Al by Superevolver - a song written by my husband for me - as such it has to be my number 1!
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley


Why you are interested in spirituality? When I was very young my father was a Vicar at a Church of England Church, I was the vicar's daughter and thought I was famous! Following my parent's divorce Dad lost his faith somewhat and toyed with a number of alternative spiritualities. He settled on Wicca. I was a young teenager at this time and Dad involved me with some of the 'fun' aspects of Wicca such as healing, tarot, meditation and pagan picnics. As I grew older I forgot about my spiritual inclinations and got on with university and eventually setting up home with my now husband. A few years ago I was going through a dark transitional time in my life and whilst feeling lost I went for Reiki healing. This led me to spiritual development classes and a renewed interest in all things spiritual. It was during this time that I started to write about spirituality, at first for a local magazine but this eventually this led to The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment. I realized there were few spiritual books for a mainstream modern female audience, and that women were more likely to grab a 'chicklit' book. My book aims to bring spirituality to those readers. I remain interested in spirituality of all kinds and am now working on my second book.


Your favorite quote: A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. Thomas Carlyle


Your favorite web sites: Fun and functional ones I'm afraid, You Tube, Myspace, Facebook, Google, Newspaper Websites. Also http://www.superevolver.com/


Your hero? My Mum. She doesn't realize how amazing she is. Bringing up three rowdy teenagers whilst attaining a first degree in Psychology and going on to grasp her dream career. She has also done this whilst battling against a disability caused by having polio as a child and now suffers the after effects of post-polio. Despite being tired a lot she is utterly fabulous, kind and generous. She's the best!


A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? Wow, all the ones I keep failing at! It's hard to know what you aren't doing right until you fall into the same patterns time after time. I would like to clear the tendency to be critical of others when perhaps it is myself I should be being critical of. All negative thought patterns have got to go!


A place in the World where you feel spiritually connected - Kentucky USA - where all my family on Mum's side live. Also the Lake District and Wales in the UK - just beautiful. Anywhere in nature or by the sea.

Website, Amazon Link and Publisher's Website:
http://web.mac.com/alicegrist


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