******Listen Up! The magazine newsletter format is used to let you know there is a riveting new slow magazine interview, feature or column to read. Please login to experience this magazine in all its glory. AJ -Founder and Editor-in-Chief.
Dearest Slothful Reader, A great magazine should delight, inspire and captivate you and make you giggle, whilst offering you luminary, illuminating ideas on how to live the good life, slowly, and free of that pernicious influence of hidden mercantile relationships, bad agendas and propaganda. That is the idea behind the Butterflies and Zebra Column, with a little help from Jimi Hendrix. There are no paid for endorsements in this column. Everything I have unearthed has been tried, tested and paid for by me. This is the column to read for beautiful, inspiring, free range and rebel ideas. This is where I write about my discoveries, ideas, tips and experiences and the moments of inspiration I have experienced in recent weeks, that I think you will find illuminating, useful, make you laugh and in some cases make your week or year! Let's go!
But before I go any further, I invite you to pay for my free range, vested interests free journalism. For if you don't pay, the world will simply be full of propaganda and real, free range journalism, ideas and creativity will be dead as the dodo.
For those of you who have supported from the moment you found The Luminaries and liked it, I salute you. Thank you and please share the magazine.
Donate or subscribe now to read on - Subscribe or tip AJ for her journalism.
This week, I am longing for a digital detox, curious about elegant and practical plastic free gadgets and toys for pelvic health (post vax injury) and pinnacles and wondering if reformed rakes and unashamedly masculine men make the best consorts. One of the best sites I have found for pelvic and sexual health and wellbeing is Pelvic Relief. Do take a look.
On a more serious note, it is time to use cash every which way we can, use and a not so smart, smart phone as little as possible to avoid the constant, deliberate attempt to distract us from what really needs to be done, which is to build strong community networks and independence for humanity from dastardly corporate shits gone rogue. Also, I have noticed my anxiety increases if I spend more than a few minutes on my iPhone. Life is just better without it. So I want to go back to 1999, Prince and a Dumb Phone. Yes, life was not perfect way back when, but it was more fun, optimistic and simpler in the nineties and less stressful. After reading reviews by a various tech geeks, none of them seem impressed with the relaunch of the Nokia 3210. Instead they prefer the Nokia 2720 or the Punkt MP02. I am also looking into a Dumb TV, and I had a very nice email from Mitchell and Brown, a British Brand who offer TVs with up to seven years guarantee that can be run with or without smart function. I will find out more and report back. I am longing to watch my favourite classic films on DVD whenever I please and without being asked to pay over and over again or to be tracked on my love of Charles Boyer, Steve McQueen or Cary Grant!
My Favourite, Fantastic Men
On that note, discover one of my favourite agent provocateurs - Danny Bedford at Freefolk and take a look at The Sovereign Project, Advance UK and Independent UK MP, Rupert Lowe for almost singlehandedly doing what a genuine government should do, including The Rape Gang Enquiry. In the US, my favourite fantastic man is Robert Kennedy Junior, period. Bobby is an example of stoicism, a first class legal mind and the finest HHS Secretary and warrior for farmers and real food the US has ever known. Bobby asked for a sword and some ground to stand on and now he is restoring real food, protecting injured children and inspiring the world to move into the light, connect with nature and restore integrity to public office. I hope the MAHA movement will continuee to spread across the earth and usher in a new regenerative age. My second favourite fantastic man is legal eagle Aaron Suri for so eloquently and incisively holding the pharmaceutical complex to account for the horrific harm they have unleashed on humanity in pursuit of greed. That includes me.
Bridgerton Series 4
Tis the season for the decolette a la Bridgerton, which is back for series 4 and in sparkling exuberant form, although the writers should reign in the vulgarity. Yes to masked balls, uplifting gossip columnists, reformed rakes, pinnacles (for orgasms), melodrama and romance. But no to the mania with showing shagging! Ah, this author longs for the return of mystery and exquisite romance, not masturbation! Who agrees?
The Return of The Sanditon Review and A Silver Bangle Inspired by a Quote From Mansefield Park About the Isle of Wight
Back in 2020, I crowdfunded The Sanditon Review, a limited edition printed journalism review of a long form opinion piece on the ITV and PBS sleeper hit of Jane Austen's last great novel fragment. I wrote the piece when my mother became terminally ill and I channelled my heart into the writing. The review contained some specially written additional essays and some wonderful donated fan art. It was and is a favourite and beloved project of mine.
The Review was a hit and it was selling well up to the point my world collapsed. I was seriously injured by the Astra Zeneca Vaccine on May the 25th 2021. A year later, I was diagnosed with vaccine-induced autoimmunity and high inflammation and my health was in jeopardy. It has taken more than three and a half years of life-saving functional medical treatment and detoxification to save my life and health and get the toxic spike protein out of my cells. My rehabilitation continues.
Own The Limited Edition Printed and Signed Sanditon Review
We have approximately 29 copies of The Sanditon Review to sell. Please email if ou would like one and let me know where you are based so we can work out the postage.
The Sanditon Review
Journalism saved my life when I used my skills to reach the top doctor in the world for vaccine injury, Dr Peter McCullough MD. Watch my filmed interview with Dr Peter McCullough here. Now I am picking up my life and work, one day at a time, and the remaining print run of the precious Sanditon Review is in our new magazine shop for fans of the first series to buy and treasure. Each sold review will be signed and dated by me for 2026 and magnificent new beginnings. When the review sells out, I may offer a revised and updated new Sanditon Review, which will include my thoughts on Series 2 if the demand and support is there. What do you think?
For Jewellery Magpie's and Jane Austen Lovers
Staying with peerless Jane Austen, I have discovered the most delightful Jane Austen silver artisan bangle, inscribed with an immortal quote from the novel Mansfield park. The quote says, "She talks only of the Isle of Wight, as if it was the only island in the world." As a resident of the isle, I can attest that we all say that! The gleaming, evocative bangle which is the perfect literary talisman, comes in several sizes. It is slowly and painstakingly handcrafted by jeweller and RCA graduate Sophie Honeybourne. Sophie, a great fan of Austen and her beloved Isle of Wight, works out of a magpie, jewel box atelier and workshop in Ventnor, the creative hub on the south side of the isle. The island was very fashionable in Austen's day as it is to this day. The bangles are popular, especially with US lovers of Jane. The Jane Austen island bangle can also be fashioned in gold or you can commission a special bespoke design with Sophie.
Sophie Honeybourne - Jane Austen Island Bangle
The Luminaries Sanditon Review
Flaneur - The Joy of Slow Saturdays, Treasure Hunting for Antiques, Beautiful Books on Louis X1V and Pretty Nick Nacks
I wiled away a delightful couple of hours wandering around the antique shops and charity shops in my nearest local town last Saturday. I stopped myself buying a handsome forties fur coat, but I could not resist the delightful discovery of a mint condition Folio Society, hardback, book treasure on Louis X1V and His Loves. I like to dip into the book just before falling asleep after reading about Louise de la Valliere and her 'love in a cottage dream" with the King of France.
I urge you all to have a mooch this weekend and share your pictures on Instagram and put your phones away.
Home
Let There Be Light, But Not Blue Light
Creating a cosy, nurturing warm light at home is critical for health, relaxation and calm on these dark winter nights. We are electrical beings. I wondered why in recent years, I would feel strangely wired, inexplicably stressed and restless, within an hour or so of putting my main lights on after dark. Then, I stumbled across the negative effects of sitting for hours under led lights, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime. Led lights flicker constantly, upsetting the nervous system. After doing some research I found a British company called Block Blue Light. I was sceptical until I took the plunge and changed the lights in my sitting room and bathroom to lights that emit a pleasing amber glow and contain no blue light.The effect on my wellbeing was immediate. The atmosphere is once again calm and nurturing and when I do go to bed I feel sleepy and ready for a deep night's restorative sleep.
Flights of Fantasy Platform Shoes
Pons Quintana
Reader, I have come rather late to the giddy, Golden Age benefits of height when it comes to goddess platform wedges. Pons Quintana the Menorcan, artisan cobbler has transformed me into a devoted convert. The squeeze of a very ugly playboy hotelier who is now worth zillions once scolded me outside Harvey Nicks in Knightsbridge for wearing Mary Jane flats, after an interview. " You will never keep a man in those frumpy, boring shoes," she opined. I was bemused at the time, as I had to run around town as a reporter and take the bus and tube everywhere.
Eureka! Now, I know she is right. You never see Irene Dunne, Marilyn Monroe or Rita Hayworth in flats. They are cellulloid goddesses and the goddess must elongate her legs and be able to stride here, there and everywhere, as if walking on air. The platform sandal exudes power, confidence, surprising comfort and, sky high allure. A well made pair of wedges are like walking on a cloud. Pons Quintana make just the most darling platform sandals in braided, artisan, burnished leather with all kinds of pretty, divine fripperies from exotic flower power embellishements to metallics, tartan accents and stripes. The customer service is seriously good too. Even better, they take the misery out of ordering from the UK and they have divine sales. They also make artisan leather shoes for gentlemen too.
In Search of the Best Cup of Coffee
Bob Dylan sang about one more cup of coffee for the road and the romance of that idea is eternal. Amid a lot of very bad or run of the mill cups of coffee, I have had a damn fine cup of coffee in Picnic Cafe in Reading, at The Ventnor Exchange in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, Le Pain Quotidien in Covent Garden, The Carlisle Hotel in New York. and St Pierre Park Hotel, Guernsey. Where in the world do you like to go for the perfect cappucino?
Cash is Independence and No Surveillance
Finally, a few other ideas. Take out cash and buy your slow, organic and regenerative food from local food producers that you love and trust and work on buying less and less from the supermarkets. They are destroying farming and food security. It is time to act.
I am now off on my journalist travels, for the first time, in a very long time. Don't worry I will send a postcard, until next time.
AJ - Editor-in-Chief - February 2025
Copyright All Rights Reserved Alison Jane Reid/ The Luminaries Magazine February 2026. No copying or usage without written permission and no Ai use.
