Barefoot Astrology
It must’ve been a few years back. Images that I have from then? It would’ve been an August date at the shop, best I can guess. Buddy’s daughter, my de facto granddaughter, certainly not blood kin, but close enough. Cosmic ties, for sure.
She was — her parents were out-of-town the other weekend. Stayed with us. Great fun, for me. Older, more adult-like, without the pretense. Means way more amusing, again, for me.
What that child recalled, in vivid detail? Accompanying me to the rock shop, then on to extended Austin family, and then back to shop again, sort of like day-care. She was fascinated with a job where I didn’t have to wear shoes.
At the time of her visit to the store, there were two counter workers who would also work mostly barefoot. Summer months, and the understanding that barefoot was at the user’s own risk, with no liability implied or otherwise imputed.
Years later, I’m still at the shop on its independent contractor, preferred practitioner time-table. Left over from the pandemic, I got in the habit of wearing my older sandals, and not the slip-on version. I used to carry a spare set of flip-flops in the car, I suppose I could go back to that, but the child’s fascination with a job — such as it is — where I don’t have to wear shoes?
I’ve been in varying degrees of undress and barefoot for more than 30 years on this road. Wasn’t so much a goal, as a clear side-benefit.
Return to our roots.
Barefoot Astrology
One of the first series of shows I worked at? I had a reputation of taking my shoes off, boots, and that — eventually — gave birth to idea of Barefoot Astrology. Austin in the spring, summer, fall? Sure, shorts and sandals were a uniform. Still are.
It’s roots, and listening to a child wax eloquent about a job where one doesn’t have to wear shoes? Brought back memories.
I designed this life, hybrid format, as much by luck, chance, fate, and outside influences as by specific design, but I like the relaxed manner I can conduct business. I’ve worked very hard to make this appear simple.
“A lot of work goes into making this look easy.”
I don’t know that I dreamed of a career where I could be barefoot, but it certainly figured prominently as a big bonus, off to the side.
Included in old prognostications, someplace, in the last three decades, I used the example of buddy. He considered a day success based solely on what he billed for the day, and anything less than a certain number was a personal affront. Me? I thought a good day was no shoes and no shirt.
Return to our roots.
Barefoot Astrology
The term originated from me spending much time shod in only shorts and sandals — or less.
