Easter Sunday

I took a field trip today with friends to IKEA, which opened up here in South Florida just a few months ago. We drove up in my friend's brand spanking new Toyota Prius. Sweet.

IKEA wraps up the best and worst of home design and decorating. I love the modern, utilitarian designs, but it mostly looks better than it really is. Much of the furniture is flat pack, particle board, and has to be assembled by the consumer, but, then again, that's what keep the prices low. It's great stuff for small spaces, first places, and those of us who like to change our looks often. One of my favorite pieces is this Audrey canvas. Too bad I don't really have a spot for it (yet).



IKEA was packed with people, but after a yummy lunch in the store's cafeteria, we managed to spend a few hours browsing. I bought a lamp, some tumblers, tealights, and one of those little wooden guys above.

After IKEA, we went to Tate's, one of the best geek comic book and toy shop in South Florida. It's certainly the hippest. I love going there even though I rarely buy anything. I did get Pocky Sticks though. Good stuff.

All that shopping walking really works up your appetite so we were hungry again by the time we left Tate's. We headed to a great vegetarian Indian place for an early dinner. We basically just ordered a ton of food for the table. It was delicious.

Lest you think we're a bunch of superficial consumer types, there was plenty of excellent conversation. One particularly interesting discussion is one that comes up again and again. It's the question of what you believe versus what you do.

At last night's Ostara ritual, two friends and I were looking at connections between different deities. For example, Isis-Aphrodite or Oya, Brigid, and Mama Brigitte. It led to pondering on our views of deity. Are they different, distinct goddesses, the same, facets of some "one"? I've decided it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter whether I'm a monotheist or a polytheist in my beliefs. The bottom line is that I approach them as many and as individuals so my practice reflects polytheism. And in the end, I've decided it's what I do that really matters.

It makes me consider if people who identify as monotheists really are. My mother, for instance, is a Catholic and she is wholly devoted to God, Jesus, and Mary. That's not really so monotheistic. And she doesn't deny the existence of other gods. Her attitude is that Yemaya and Buddha aren't her gods, but they are somebody else's. I don't think that's not very monotheistic either.