A Sun Sign for you and me 💝

A Sun sign for you and me 💝

I must have been in my 8th grade when I was introduced to Linda Goodman and her 'study' of Sun Sign based astrology  Her book was a personal assesment 'bible'  among teenagers in my all girls convent school during those days (perhaps it still is!!), and all through high school we'd obsess ourselves figuring out the looks, and characteristics of friends, relatives, celebrities, and whoever,  based on Goodman's  'Sun Signs'. It had become a reference book to the extent that even high school sweethearts were chosen and fixed based on the sun sign they were born under, matched with the compatibility indicators prescribed by her book!!! As for me, it gave me great satisfaction, and pride that Goodman's assessment of souls born under the Libra sun sign was perfect and positive 🤣🤣🤣

Having misplaced my copy of the book long ago, couple of months back I online purchased a copy  just to share the innocent joy of reading this book with my teenage daughter. Needless to say she was equally delighted. She may not make it like the 'reference guide' it was for me during highschool, but yet! Anything for those simple joys of nostalgia 🥰

Later as a young student of Archaeology I got even more interested in the concept of the Zodiac which basically originated in ancient Babylonian astrology and was later influenced by Hellenistic culture and beliefs, and how Horoscopic Astrology became popular and spread across the Mediterranean regions and empires, centuries before CE. It was all too interesting. (Of course, the modern day Newspaper version of 'instant' Sun Sign horoscopic astrology 'predictions' was invented in the 1930's or so!! Interesting story that! But nevermind!!) What mattered was that the ancient Sun sign names, symbols, elements they represent, the associated celestial body details, was all too fascinating, and stayed with me even after becoming a professional Archaeologist digging up mounds for ancient  remains. 

So, some twelve years ago, when I chanced upon this beautiful book of 'Mythical' Cross Stitch patterns at a book store, and was leafing through the pages, I was pleasantly surprised to see a charming Sun Sign design to create. I bought the book, and embarked on the project. This was in another country, which had plenty of amazingly well equipped 'treasure trove' all-under-one-roof store for all kinds of craft needs. I was progressing well with the piece, however slow, at my leisure. 

But soon it was time to pack and move! To yet another country, or back homeland. I chose homeland. And the Zodiac cross stitch project, was stalled, packed, and put away. And sadly forgotten 😞 The cargo took a while to reach us. Besides, I got so busy setting up home and settling down, there was no time for some therapeutic crochet or cross stitch or gardening!! (Honestly speaking, exploring the history and heritage of a new city was and is always top priority, hence all the free time, and household-needs shopping-time doubled up as city exploration time 😅) 

All through the last few years, whenever I pick up my crochet hook, or embroidery needle during long weekends or vacations, the entire set of Zodiac constellations rise up in the horizon of my memory and seem to say 'Not fair! We too deserve to see the light of day!! Spare some time for us!! Make us complete!"

So, finally, after all these years, it took a Covid scare and Lockdown 'stranded at home' time, for that much cherished, piece of cross stitch pattern to resurface, and grab my attention. Will I finish it this time round? I don't know. Like a very good engrossing book, a little part of me doesn't want this pattern also to end 😇