Conference hydra::dejavu

    re: Alison
    
         Perhaps you could ask someone other than me who has more or
    better ideas, but there are really some nice spots around for any/all
    of what you ask.  If you are interested in spending a day "journeying"
    (in the shamanistic sense) I may be able to put you in touch with
    someone.  As for regressors, I don't currently know any (but I haven't
    looked for this sort of activity for a long time.)  As for bookstores,
    there are several not too far from where you will be.  NOVA bookstore
    in Sunnyvale is a dinky little place...mostly caters to New Age
    music, I believe (the owner is somewhat of an expert in it.)  Minerva
    bookstore has quite a few items of the kinds you may be interested
    in (in Palo Alto on Alma.) Country Sun in Palo Alto is a
    health food store that has some "new-agey" things, I think. 
    On Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road in San Jose (where Cupertino and Saratoga
    more or less come together) there is San Jose Bookstore, which is
    a fairly typical and reasonable new age bookstore (it's where I
    usually go...mostly because it's convenient for me.)  There are
    supposedly some great places in Berkeley (approx. 30 miles away)
    that I am totally unfamiliar with and also in San Francisco (also
    about 30 miles or so away) that I hear mentioned from time to time
    (though I've never been.)  For perhaps the best visionary art
    around (and crystals) then I would recommend the Illuminarium
    (or is it called Isis Rising?) art gallery in Corte Madera just
    off U.S. 101 between Macy's and Nordstrom's (about 10 minutes 
    north of the Golden Gate Bridge.)  If you go to that side of the
    Bay, there is Mount Tamalpais, which was once a sacred Indian
    mountain, and Muir Woods, a grove of huge sequoias (trees.)  
    Back near Palo Alto, there are a couple of similar forests (of
    sequoias), in the Santa Cruz mountains...Big Basin (the state's
    first park, I believe) and Portola Valley.  But if you're going
    that far, you can also go to any of numbers of beaches, Half Moon
    Bay, Santa Cruz or even Monterey (70-80 miles from Palo Alto, I
    think.)  There is also near Santa Cruz one of those mystery spots
    (where objects seem to roll uphill.)  Anyway, these are some
    ideas that come to mind.
    
    Frederick
    

    I don't if this is feasible within your travel plans, but some of
    the most spectacular landscape in California is on U.S.1, the coast
    highway, just south of Monterey and Carmel. I highly, highly recommend
    Point Lobos State Park, with it's unique and beautiful cliffs, coves,
    and amazing vegetation. The drive south through Big Sur is a fantastic,
    high-cliff series of vistas, with turn-outs to stop at and enjoy
    the view. I would drive at least as far south as Pfieffer State
    Park, a beautiful giant redwood grove, and Pfieffer State Beach,
    a couple miles south of there, with a long drive through the woods
    to a spectacular beach with huge rock formations, with natural bridges.
    
    I'm sure there are New Age businesses in the Big Sur area.
    
    The landscape itself is a very spiritual high for me.
    
    -roger

    Carry on up Carmel Valley to Tasajara Zen Centre... (Watch out for
    Clint!)
    
    Brian

    Don't forget the Hot Sulfer Baths at Easlen. They are open to the
    public at 1:00am, if you like late night activities. 
    
    Big Sur Inn is a really charming place to stay...which is right
    around, of all places Big Sur.
    
    -A

    
    Try THEBAY::SAN_FRANCISCO and WSCM::SILICON_VALLEY in the note file
    for more information. Palo Alto is part of Silicon Valley where
    you may find interesting. San Francisco, Berkeley, Carmel-by-the-sea,
    Big Sur are best places to visit....If you are interested in visiting
    the Hearst Castle, the home of William Randolph Hearst, it is located
    on route 1 by the ocean between Carmel-by-the-sea and Big Sur.
    
    
    Kevin
    

         Well, you can scratch Isis Rising off your list (from .1).
    They closed their Corte Madera gallery suddenly last week.  As I
    understand it, it is because they do not like the burden of too
    many galleries and having just opened one in Ft. Lauderdale, they
    were too stretched out (and, again, money is not the issue...they
    once turned down Donald Trump.)  So there is the gallery in
    Ft. Lauderdale now and also the one at #1 Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.
    Sorry about that.
    
       
    Frederick
    

    
    I saw a book in a bookstore yesterday called "Sacred Sites of North
    America".  In it there were maps of different areas of the US and
    Canada (I think also Mexico, but not sure), and a description of
    the place.  You might try and get that book.  There were a lot
    in California....
    
    Linda

    
    Alison,
    
    Try also "East-West Books" on El Camino Real (route 82) in Menlo
    Park. I grew up in Palo Alto and this is my favorite store to visit
    whenever I go back home. They also have a resident psychic there
    by the name of "Viti".
    
    
    Roy                   

    re: .6 (me)
    
         I was made aware, a few months ago, of the closing of the Isis
    Rising gallery in Beverly Hills but forgot to enter it here.
    Now Concept:Synergy only has one gallery, at the Galleria shopping
    center near the beach (right next door to Nieman-Marcus) in
    Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  I was there last week...it is smaller than
    the one they used to have in Corte Madera with fewer items (no
    postcards or posters on site, for example, though they will ship those
    to people who ask.)  The items that they *do* carry, however, are
    very upscale and expensive.  Definitely the elite stuff, whether it's
    a crystal or blown-glass or other visionary art.
         The reason for closing the Corte Madera and Beverly Hills
    galleries remains the same---they didn't like the hassle of doing
    this business across the country and preferred to only run one
    gallery.
    
    Frederick
    

         I visited a new (for me) place last week, called Harmony Bookshop,
    at 709 El Camino Real, Redwood City (phone 415-365-4546.)  It is a very
    neat and clean store, and it doesn't have a lot of stuff in it
    (compared to San Jose Bookshop or East/West Bookstore in Menlo Park,
    for example.)  What *did* strike me was that they have virtually all
    the available Lazaris tapes, both audio and video (which fill up
    about ten shelves.)  I guess the owner(s) are *into* Lazaris.  :-)
         Right next door is a restaurant, which has a waterfall inside,
    called the Joy Meadow Restaurant.  They have chicken, fish or 
    vegetarian cuisine.
         Connected to the waterfall part of the restaurant (upstairs in
    the atrium) are meeting rooms and massage rooms.  This is called the
    Crystal Cove and Enchantment Galleria.  They have a whole schedule of
    on-going and new events up there.
         It's a nice place, I think.  Redwood City is a bit out of my
    normal daily path, but for anyone in the area, it might be nice to
    keep it in mind.
    
    Frederick
    

        ...must be my month for new bookstores...:-)
    
        Yesterday I went into a place called "Two Sisters."  It is a 
    metaphysical bookstore in Menlo Park on Cambridge, 1/2 block from
    El Camino (and about 5 blocks south of the East/West Bookstore
    mentioned in earlier notes.)  It is owned by lesbians and caters
    to lesbians (books, music, etc., by lesbians, a book section on
    lesbian lifestyles, another on lesbian stories) but also has more
    of the usual things.  What it may perhaps have more of than other
    bookstores I've been in is information on Goddess energy and shamanism
    (including some drums, rattles, and also some female-phallus art.)
        Again, for anyone in the area (and there are s0000 many DEJAVUers
    in the area...;-)  ) this may be a place to look.
    
    Frederick
    

    Hi Frederick. I was wondering, do they have a catalog and how can I get
    it? Do you have an exact address I can write to? I haven't seen any
    feminist book stores in Nashua, N.H. and am self-prevented from leaving
    that area as I no longer drive. (Long story - my choice) This sounds
    just like what I am looking for to obtain books on Goddess worship and
    the Aulde Religion from the feminist viewpoint. All I've been able to
    find here are The Spiral Dance and Drawing Down the Moon.
    
    Any help appreciated, thanks
    
    Phil

Re: .12

I know you said you no longer drive, but there is a store in Sudbury, Ma., on
Rt. 20 (I've forgotten the name) that is geared towards the feminist viewpoint.
I go near it frequently (it is near a camp that my live role play group uses),
so maybe I can get you a catalog (I am in Nashua also).  The only thing about 
this store is that I have gotten feedback from males that it is uncomfortable, 
or nearly impossible for them to enter the place.

They carry some books, tarot decks, incense, herbs, and American Indian 
accoutrements (for lack of a better word - beads, feathers, clothes, pipes,
drums, artwork, etc.).  Their focus seems to not only be female, but American
Indian.

Beth

    Beth, it would be sincerely appreciated. I understand about the
    uncomfortableness that some males would feel in a store of this nature.
    
    If the catalog isn't free let me know. I'll pay what it costs.
    
    My mail stop is
    
    Phil Connell
    NQO-1/1U3
    Nashua, N.H.
    
    Very much appreciated,
    
    Phil

    re: .12 (Phil)
    
          I don't have the address handy...I just called information
    and the number is 415-323-4778.   It sounds very similar to the
    one Beth describes, however.
          I felt a slight discomfort (I tend to feel, incorrectly from 
    what I've been told, that lesbians "hate" men.  In fact that isn't 
    really the case in most instances.  But the nagging thought lingers)
    in the store but the two women who were there were friendly.  I would
    not hesitate to go there again.
    
    Frederick
    

    Phil,
    
    Check out the WOMANSNOTES file - I know they have a note on women's
    bookstores.  I recall them mentioning one in Cambridge.  One of the
    moderators, Jody Bobbitt should be able to find the note for you if you
    have difficulty (LEZAH::BOBBITT).
    
    The store in in Sudbury is called Native Spirit.  You might also try
    the New Moon shop in the Nashua Mall (exit 6) for Goddess books and
    also Heartsong on Route 101 in Amherst (exit 7), I've seen books there
    on that subject as well.
    
    Ro
    

    Thank you all for the help. Fred, I'll call that number and see if they
    won't send me a catalog.
    I am an active participant in the WOMANNOTES file. Most of the
    bookstores mentioned in there are out of my travel range. Like I said,
    I'm limited to Nashua-Hudson. I don't even bycycle. I walk and I take
    the bus in extremely inclement weather. A snowstorm or rainstorm or
    extreme cold is walkable. Blizzards, hurricanes, and high heat are not.
    That is off the subject. New Moon in the Nashua Mall. HMMMM I haven't
    been to the Nashua Mall in about 8 years. Have to check it out.
    
    Fred, I understand the uncomfortable feeling. I think it's just a self
    preservation aura on their part. There is so much intolerance in this
    world that people who live lifestyles that are not "mainstream",
    whatever that means, need to be wary. In some cases just being known to
    live "differently", again, whatever that means, can and has put a
    person's physical well being and even their life in jeopardy. 
    I pray for the day when UNDERSSTANDING and ACCEPTANCE are the way we
    all live are lives and how we all look at other's who choose other
    paths. 
    
    Phil

    Phil,
    
    As one who has visited and worked at Native Spirit in Sudbury, the
    discomfort men may feel there, and the discomfort I myself have
    sometimes felt there is not due to a lesbian orietation.  Rather it is
    a store I would classify as ultra-feminist, to the preferred exclusion, 
    at least in the past, of any work produced by men, (except for books, 
    tapes, and CD's).
    
    Personally, I am not comfortable with an ultra-feminist attitude
    although I am very aware and opposed to the tyranny and oppression
    humanity, as a collective - both women and men, has endured during 
    the last few millenia.
    
    Native Spirit strives to offer quality merchandise and quality
    workshops at their location, which they do and do well.  They do not
    have a catalogue of the products they carry, other than the workshops 
    they offer to my knowledge.  They do carry some very nice feminist
    and Native American artwork and jewelry, but I'm sure you'd have to
    make a trip there in person to see and/or purchase any.  
    
    Their phone number is 508-443-7994.
    
    There is also a magazine published in Boston called "Women of Power"
    that could probably assist you in your search.  I don't have a phone
    number for them off-hand, but perhaps you could keep your eyes open for
    an issue or call information for the number.  If I find it, I'll post
    it for you.
    
    Warm regards,
    
    Kb

    Re -1,
    
    The oppression I refer to in paragraph two is in reference to the 
    current patriachal power structure.
    
    Sorry I omitted that.
    
    Kb

    Thank you Kb. I'll try there also. In my previously rather loud tirade
    of a NOTE, I wasn't talking just about Lesbianism, I meant anything
    that was considered a way of living. That includes ultra-feminism. If
    some women choose to live as much of their life as possible without
    dealing with men in any way, then I have to respect it that and try to
    understand it. Above all I must accept it as it is their wish as does
    me nor anyone else harm that I can see. They, too, must project an aura
    of wariness as this type of life opens them to ridicule from others who
    don't understand and choose to not even try.
    
    Phil

         To add to an earlier note, East-West Bookstore in Menlo Park
    also has a used books and tapes section.  It is possible to get
    some nice deals back there...(I like it because Lazaris tapes are
    nearly 50% off from list!  :-)  )  
    
         ...for anyone who happens to be in the neighborhood...
    
    Frederick