Salutations listeners —
Please excuse our mess as we make some essential updates to our website. At the moment we’re readjusting our inventory, and apologize for any inconvenience. If you need to make a purchase please email us for the time being. Thanks a bunches!
Love —the staff at Hey, Venus! Radio
Once in a while we sit gazing away at our archive, wondering which books we’ve in fact read through over the years. Of course there are those who slip away, which become just another curious title on the shelf…precious contents unbeknownst to our own wandering minds. Delirious for narratives, paper cuts, and a twist to the story.
Recently though, we'd packed up a few boxes of books that have been on our shelves for a long while, and sold them off to a local collector. How wonderful it felt to just let go of some titles, knowing that they would go to a new home and be thoroughly digested -hopefully not by a dumpster.
Now that we've cleared out some of our inventory, I can finally sit down and put together a list of a few titles I've been reading through over the last two weeks. In hopes that you'll find at least one or two of these books to frequent your bedside stack of glorious titles to get lost in. Here are just a few that made it to the top of my raging pile of fiction and nonfiction favorites for summer. Recommended musical companions are also featured at the end of this article.
Good Bugs for Your Garden - Written and illustrated by Allison Mia Starcher
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1995, ISBN 1-56512-071-X
In order to make sense of which insects are valuable for your garden, Starcher's practical compendium makes the top of our list. Not only is this delightful tiny book a humble companion for any botanist, it also dives into how one can omit pesticides and use instead the knowledge of a very detailed collaboration within the kingdom of pollinators & predators alike. Explore with your wee ones this lovingly illustrated guide for identifying predacious thrips, tiger beetles, ant lions, braconids, ichneumons, green lynx spiders and more.
Tarot of the Old Path - By Howard Rodway
Urania Verlags AG Books, 1990. ISBN 3-908647-17-7
Is it true that bumbling human being can also hold the key to wily divinations? Speak to the sceptic and coalesce the elements -extend the lamp to the seeker! The Tarot is a beneficial nature-based philosophy which can be applied playfully to one's routine, while accessing determination and recognizing the synchronicities available. Are the cards just a game of chance, or do they help us speak directly to our ancestors? That's a question only the conjurer can answer. Either way, this guide is a helpful and descriptive source for anyone interested in deciphering the unexplainable methodologies behind the art of the Tarot.
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma - By Peter A. Levine (with Ann Frederick)
North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 1997. ISBN 978-1-55643-233-0
Each and every life contains difficulties which neither of us are exactly prepared for. I've spent years trying to locate the right book on such subject matter, in hopes that I'd find one which explores trauma without pacifying the reader, or glorifying religious implications. This is where Levine's ideas come into play, as his lessons are rooted in a more scientific approach. The author lyrically elaborates on instinct, compassion, and the neurological basis of emotional regulations. His theories allow for the seeker to "assess the problem at its physiological roots through the felt sense" and explains as to why stereotypical therapy limits the treatment of trauma-based healing. In a crumbling world it's time we take a more transformative look into allowing for overwhelming experiences to morph into points of departure rather than helplessness. Levine taps into methods which (at times) reveal Shamanic approaches to dealing with hyper-arousal, disassociation, stimulus barriers, and other symptoms of trauma. The author also offers plentiful exercises for the reader, which allow for the body to remain fluid during the minds rehabilitation.
Autumn Story - Written and illustrated by Jill Barklem
Philomel Books, 1980. ISBN 0-399-20745-7
It was a fine autumn. The blackberries were ripe and the mice of Brambly Hedge were very busy. Lord Woodmouse, who lived in the Old Oak Palace, was out early with his youngest daughter, Primrose. Ah, delicate yet ambitious little Primrose, who loves pies and puddings, resting her paws around a cup of hot acorn coffee, and snuggling by the fire before bedtime. But once our tiny Primrose obtains just a taste of the blackberries along the edge of the cornfield, she suddenly can't resist her fascination with the nearby wildflowers.
Time ceases to exist for the little one, as she wanders into secret underground tunnels, and takes to a grand fascination with her neighbor's collection of family photos. Meanwhile, Primrose's parents are preparing for their trip to pick mushrooms past the barge -but where has their daughter gone off to? Join Lady Daisy, Mr & Mrs Apple, and a lonely whoot owl on their quest to bring Primrose home before the sun descends behind the thicket.
Of course, there's nothing better than a musical companion for these moments where we transcend time and space at the mercy of an author's words. There are two records which I'd been saving for just the right occasion, and even though my record player seems to be on the cusp of kaputt...I can't resist a set of tunes to surrender alongside.
The Wonderful Moving World - Narrated by Frank Sentry, singing by Minnette Shaffer
Minnette Productions, circa 1920's.
This 10 inch 33 is in three parts -each one of which consists of poetry, narration and song. A children's record series for first, second, and third graders.
I wasn't able to locate a date for this album unfortunately, and perhaps I didn't spend enough time scouring discogs -so alas, there's not much I can tell you about this record other than I am absolutely in love with these tender tracks so graciously featured. The vinyl itself is a clear ruby-red release, uncanny almost. I can't be sure how very rare this album might actually be, but as far as I can tell we may be the only one's who have a copy. Aside from one that might be buried in an attic…beneath a rack of stinking old mink furs. No matter, each of these songs simply take my breath away. Part one is The Tumble Weeds; tumbleweeds tumble in the fall when the wind begins to call. Part two The Clock; this rhythmical excursion into the world of time aids in creative writing for children. And, the third and final installment is titled Raindrops; raindrops, rainbows and clouds have always been a mystery for children: What holds the clouds together? What is a rainbow? Where does the rain come from?
Hauntingly precious. At the same time, I find this record to be just lovely to fall asleep to. But if you happen to pick up one of our recommended readings we've assigned above, the truth is I don't think you'll be disappointed with this musical companion. The cover of the record is also quite a treat, although the illustrations have almost completely faded.
Eugene Fodor Solos [Tchaikovsky, Ysaye, Paganini]
Showpieces by Wieniawski & Prokofieff, piano by Jonathan Feldman
A storm from within enraptures you, so let yourself be hurled into the abyss of Fodor's melancholy serenades. Ballads of confidence fluttering around your peripherals, with each and every stroke mastered on strings by the young violinist; as Fodor was only 24 years old in 1974 -the debut of this collection itself. His capricious version of Prokofieff's March from "The Love for Three Oranges" is divine, especially beneath a dizzying sky.
This collection is not exactly the best representation of Fodor's work, but nonetheless it was the very last of what was left from when we sold off most of our records, back in 2022. Not featured on this album though, is Fodor's other masterpiece which I'd like to recommend; from Saint Saens:Violin Concerto, Op. 64 in E Minor: Allegro molto appassionato. This one I often play on repeat, imagining I am the only one to show up for a secret after-session performative, down the hallway from the stage where Fodor perhaps was taking a piss before heading home. But seeing me there, with an eagerness to confront the strange genius, he decides to play Op 64 one more time while I lay beneath a faux eucalyptus tree by the lobby, only inches from the strings of his violin. A girl can dream, can't she?
Until our next update, don't get sunscreen in your mouth and thanks so much for stopping by. What's been on your reading list as of late, fellow Venusian? We always love hearing feedback from our listeners, so please don't hesitate. If you have an insightful literary gem or a flavorful record you'd like to share with us -we're all earz.
Ingredients: The fantastical history of a mysterious water-meadow in Germany. Summoning of the Emperor Dragonfly. Visitations from 8 legged creatures share valuable insights. Watching from the windowsill, ready for the fever dream to come true.
Featuring tracks by Mason Lindahl, Babe Rainbow, Joanna Brouk, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Fontella Bass, Howard Jones, and The Cigarettes.
That which you saw glimmering inhabits slow-cooked soliloquies for lucid dreamers. This happening allows for velvet bellied hummingbirds to burst from their habitat. Scully, it's me. Niektórzy lubią ostro?
Stay until the very end of our monologue for tunes by Dominique Frontiere, Habibi, Virna Lindt, Mamalarky, Lill Babs, Alfred Newman, and other particularly haunted hymns from the archive.
Ramblings amidst an endless stack of books makes for particularly lucid moments; imperfections woven by eternity. The use of precious stones for airships in Vienna circa 1709 mark the great procession.
Translation: we'll be reciting excerpts from Fernando Pessoa's work, dive into a bit of gemology, and conduct an experiment in German. Might these transitory fevers saturate your third eye...there's a possibility you'll be capable of blowing bubbles from out your Svadhisthana.
Soothing tracks trembling with dewdrops by Susumu Yokota, Hania Rani, Nils Frahm and other breezy soundscapes from the archive.
We’ll see you quite soon, dearest Venusians. It’s been exactly a year since our last pop-up Antiquarian library, and we’re about ready to burst!
That being said, we didn’t exactly have time to work on a new episode for this week, but we hope you’ll forgive us and join the festivities. It’ll be nice to see your smiling faces gawking at our unusual treasures.
We’ll have a few Ashwagandha plants for sale, as well as our healing hair & beard oil. Of course, there’ll be quite a collection of unique books from our archive for sale…and some for browsing only.
Come celebrate the first day of summer with us!
with love,
gina
Join us for an unscripted Sunday afternoon interlude, to help catapult you into the very last week of spring. We'll unabashedly confess to methodologies for surrendering to your higher vibration, while reminiscing on puppy dog tales and a few filmic splendors. Ingredients also include updates to the shop, such as our magnificent rose and ylang ylang fragrance that's about to crash-land on our website. If it all sounds too good to be true, you're probably just in need of some reassurance from Venus. So give yourself permission...knees abaft! The accidental marvelous awaits.
Stay until the end for the usual zwitschermelodies by Marie Rottrova, Orchid Mantis, Witch, Cocteau Twins, Lulu, and other glorious goons who haunt the airwaves.
Offerings for the food gods during their path of orbit. The antenna blinks/winks while chewing on a bag of finely sliced eggplant, with a heaping spoonful of gorgonzola cheese. On the search for recipes to warm your heart as it drifts into the end of spring? Look no further, we've got you covered. From a spicy squash curry, to a splendiferous gluten-free pizza pie, we have come to infiltrate the airwaves with a dash of mashed potatoes on our chin.
Stay until the end of our discussion for a delectable current of tracks from our archive, such as tunes by Sinn Sisamouth, Pure X, The Chico Hamilton Quintet, Sonny & The Sunsets, Robin Hitchcock & The Egyptians, The Flaming Lips, and quite a few others. Welcome to your Tuesday night mixtape.
Get out your notebooks and tune-in for your weekly dose of meridian adjustments, weather-watching witches, and curious perspiring limes. We'll also recite a few essential reflexology exercises from The Foot Book: Healing the Body Through Reflexology, by Devaki Berkson (circa 1977).
Stay until the end for cinematic serenades and shoe-gazing tunes from Animal Ghosts, Nino Rota, Sugar Belly, Soft Blue Shimmer, and many others. Welcome to your Tuesday night mixtape, dearest Venusians.
On breakfasting habits, self-sabotage, parrots of sinister origins, and updates to the shop. We also decided to try something slightly different for this episode. So, we chose not to include a playlist -as it's always best to experiment with new methodologies. Especially now that our Trichostema lanatum has blossomed.
Psst the rumors are true...we're setting up our antiquarian bookshop again this summer, so stay tuned for those specific details. I didn’t choke on any juniper berries this time around, in case you’re keeping track.
A special Monday night mixtape for all you lovers out there. Harness the power of the planet Venus, before dawn eclipses amidst a hazy sky. Fill your palms with dandelions. Count the moths on the ceiling amidst the first blush of such a forenoon. Acute swelling of ants and bemused sweat, your eyes like the hum of a tiger in the warmest of honey. Radio waves cast a relentless spell, echoing off your moon roof; pseudo-Japanese pop, dreamy symphonic grooves and a melancholy dirge or two. Step out of the ashes. Sleepwalk with Japanese beetles.
The end of spring is approaching, dearest Venusians -let's set the pace for thee Aurora flavored rain-dance that's yet to grace your peripherals. Don't forget to wear yellow socks with your flip-flops, for good luck of course.
Featuring tracks from Hiroshi Yoshimura, Joy Electric, Bonnie Guitar, Jade Warrior, Alisha Chinai, Yamasuki, and many others.
Heraldic birds of monstrous requests do the twist in the direction of a marshmallow sky. Blink three-times if you seek refuge in Beatrice's clamoring conditions -as we offer recitations of Herman Hesse's DEMIAN. We'll also reminisce on a recent lucid dream spell, conduct an ode to mothers, and confess to other embarrassing epiphanies.
Stay until the very end for dreamy tunes by Ljupka Dimitrovska, Shin Joong Hyun, Ghost Orchard, Red House Painters, Speakerhug, Gabi Novak, and many more sweet songs from the archive.
Welcome to your Monday night mixtape. For our first episode of Season 9 we decided to keep it simple and offer up some of our most delectable tracks from the archive. Carry yourself from the edge of the deepest mountain and surrender to the musings of your own sanguine opus. Wiatr słucha, wiatr jest senny, tak jak ty.
Featuring tunes from Cocteau Twins, Sachio Fujioka, Ultraflex, Mammal Hands, Barbara Lewis, Josephine Odhil, and many other bellowing alchemists.
It’s the tail end of April and the deluge has spoken. Join us as we stumble through our plentiful seed collection, stir the political pudding, sleepily recite lucid dreams, and make recommendations from an essential stack of VHS tapes. Of course, we’ll include updates to the shop and expand on our recent extracurricular projects.
Knees abaft, flooded streets, lonely bees gone bonkers for bluebells, and messages from bone-munching egrets —just in time for our very last episode of Season 8. But don’t fret, fellow Venusians. We promise to continue our monologues, and simultaneously get your wheels set into motion even amidst the stickiest of life’s inherit slumps.
Featuring over an hour of tunes from Tobias Picker, Franz Emerald, Stenia Kozłowska, Koshun Nakao, Samla Mammas Manna, and other third-eye-bending ear candy.
I might have imagined to awaken on a nameless day, a long vowel converted into particles of string. Enter the Ouroboros: A limber nucleus sticks to your brow. Hands made of glass, milken gibberish. But then you ask yourself…what do precognitive dragons have in common with Dream Zoos? Where will Hey, Venus! Radio be in 500 years from now? Es klebt an deiner stirn?
Translation: for half a decade now we've been talking your neuroses off i.e. whisking you away by means of delicate tunes and absurdist monologues. That being said —it’s our 5 year anniversary!! We can’t believe it either. And, with 3k subscribers to the program, we just don’t know how to ikˈspres our nevər endiNG ˈɡradəˌto͞od.
We hope you'll celebrate right alongside us as we reminisce on breakfast habits, flutter into the abyss, and of course we’ll conduct a multitude of literary recitations from deep within our archive. Stay until the very end for music by Zdenek Liska, Usha Mangeshkar, Dirty Projectors, Les Baxter, and other solemnly omnipresent composers.
“…this is getting out of hand!” laughed the salamander, sunbathing beneath Cornelius’ knees.
The time has come for you to step into yourself, harness forgiveness, and surrender. Opportunities arise from the most curious of places…all you have to do is give yourself permission.
Set the pace for activating confidence, in light of this crumbling world before your weary eyes. But don't let your strawberries get soggy along the way. If you take a bite before you make your wish, the spell might just enhance your capabilities for departure. Bring your measuring cup, wenn du dich traust. Tape sounds whirl in the Venusian basement.
Episode #87 features velvety visions for euphoria hunters. You'll also need your binoculars for the arrival of the Pink Moon, as we will indeed be conducting a lunar ritual.
Stay until the very end for enrapturing tunes by Sopwith Camel, Shuggie Otis, Pale Saints, and many others from the archive.
Ja, süßer als Wein -join us as we explore some unusual words and reminisce about working in bookshops. Float into the abyss with palms full of honey, beneath the cosmic dust of starflower anthems. Don't believe a thing they say -we shall celebrate Zhong Yuan Jie earlier than usual this year (on Hwisprian Lane). Because we all share the same sky...dreaming of salamanders in parallel with dry tongues. An escapade nonetheless, so don’t turn that dial just yet.
Serenades by Yves Tumor, Sharam Jey & Night Talk, Blawan, Volodja Brodsky, Heatwave, and a few other haunting hymns from deep within our archive. Welcome to your Tuesday night mixtape, dear Venusians -the echo chamber is leaking. Don't forget to take notes.
We’ve come to infiltrate the airwaves just in time for the heat-wave, and your most recent tumble into the kingdom of self-reflection. Might the day for once achieve an identity? A breach to the sun. Birth-dayee bluez and perpetual cellophane sink water? Silvery trembling leaves foaming with filigree rust brought forth premonitions (in the shape of dissolved linguistic delights).
It’s true, most recently we’ve become re-obsessed with writer Bruno Schulz, and hope you’ll join us as we indulge in some recitations of his most profound works. We’ll also touch on updates around the shop. Prepare your senses for the upcoming whirlwind, dear Venusians, as it’s almost the season of the Taurean.
Sultry smooth tunes by Asha Bhosle, Mina, Shigeru Umebayashi, Feinberg & Greenberg, and a heavy dash of Mancini.
—and the wintry harbinger has eclipsed, but only softly does the equinox consume her; tales ov April's arrival: an enormous everyywhere ov the second flame. Viola puttering in the chamber "I choked on a counterfeit blueberry dipped in curry"....limitless sentiments behind the glass cathedral, displays of an autonomous plural-bird. As a clumsy world vanishes we mumble sunbeams alongside Maryam Guèbrou. Clap your hands, say meow.
Fragmented poetry recitations highlight Margarite Stanley's windblown-petal archive, circa 1947. Tracks by Laurence Crane, John Cale, Peter Grudzien, and Mercury Rev.
Welcome to your Wednesday night mixxtape, fellow Venusians.
Do you crave absurdist monologues while laying your eggs into the backseat of a car? Wandering ears onto the surface of a pond. A misunderstood monotreme, by chance, crosses your path. We ask ourselves next, might giving some tongue to the platypus be frightening or delightful?
Join us as we wade around the pond, confess to a few phobias, and utter an improvised prayer for the dead in a mysterious parking lot. We also answer a listener's email, regarding the process of our program's inner-workings. Swimming in circles...there's no place like home? Midnight on the windowsill.
Playlist includes tracks by Emeralds, Irma Thomas, Mayayoshi Takanaka, Gal Gracen, A. Trovajoli, and many others.