I have been involved with the Pagan community since 1982, and first became interested in the runes about a year later. What started as a curious sideline developed into a passion for the runes, and for the myths and culture of the Norse people which they serve to illuminate. My fascination with the Norse runes and my dissatisfaction with sets currently on the market led me to start creating my own quality wood rune sets, which I now market as part of a complete line of runic and Norse-related products through my wholesale and mail-order company, Tara Hill Designs. I am the author of two self-published books - 'Raido: the Runic Journey', and its companion volume, 'Runic Journeys'. I am still working on an expanded version of 'Raido, the Runic Journey' - in fact, it's pretty much finished, but as I suffer from 'publication anxiety', there's no telling when I might get up the nerve to take it into a real publisher. .
After many years as a Wiccan and a Priestess with the Wiccan Church of Canada, I drifted away from Wicca and began exploring a less formalized, more primal form of Pagan spirituality, which my husband and I began developing with a group of like-minded friends through our 'hunt coven', Tuatha de Cernun. Together we would hunt, fish, gather wild plants, explore the woods, and try to gain a deeper understanding of the ways and beliefs of our earliest ancestors through a real and physical connection with the natural world. Although the group is no longer active, these activities have had a profound effect on my understanding of the runes and the cultures of the ancient peoples of northern Europe.
About five years ago, I began to develop an interest in genealogy that has gradually become an obsession, and most of my spare time these days is spent answering queries and transcribing census records. I am very actively involved with the 'Association of Philippe du Trieux Descendants' - editing their newsletter, maintaining their website, and compiling, editing and publishing a 5-volume, 1,200 page genealogy of the Truax family. I am also the webmaster and newsletter editor for the Hamilton Branch of the U.E.L.A.C. If anyone knows of some way that I might make a living at designing and editing newsletters, please let me know - I'm very good at it.
When I'm not doing all of this, I sing with the Milton Choristers, take private vocal lessons, and write angry, eloquent letters to the local paper that sometimes get me in trouble. This fall I hope to start taking Irish dancing lessons, just so I can add something to my long list of activities that doesn't involve sitting in a chair.