john.a
July 13th, 2008, 03:35 AM
I thought I'd introduce myself. First off, I'm a rather good friend of Toby Stimpson (otherwise known as Galadraal) in real life. We go to the same university. He recommended I come back onto this site after having been away for years and years. I used to be on here when I was around 14 but I left when I was around 16. I didn't post much and participate much - I mostly read. I'm 20 years old now if any of you are wondering; it's been quite a while. On to the questions!
1) Is there a story behind your user I.D./screen name?
No. It is composed of my name and the letter of my last name.
2) How'd you find us here at Mystic Wicks?
I believe the first time I found Mystic Wicks must have been through a link on witchvox.com? I re-found it when Toby mentioned it and I was shocked to hear it was still running. A year later after he mentioned it, I've decided to join again.
3) Do you follow any certain path (spiritually)?
I am Roman Catholic. I was once an uninitiated Wiccan who practiced mostly Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions. From that, I moved onto an interest in Thelema and from that I become more interested in the Golden Dawn. I dabbled in hermeticism, western mysticism, Kabbalah and ceremonial magic in general. I have since then renounced all of the above practices as interests only and have returned to the faith of my childhood. I am very devout.
4) Would you like people to send you a private message saying "hi" if they see your profile and want to get to know you better?
Why not? Although I must mention: sorry girls, I'm gay. And: sorry guys, I'm taken.
5) Do you use incense, and if you do, do you have a favorite scent?
I do not use it for ritual or for prayer. I use it when I want my room to smell nice and when I need to relax in order to study or if I have allergies.
6) How about "totem animals"; is there any certain animal with which you most identify?
No. Totem animals are not part of my religious paradigm. I do think that the species A. melanoleuca is quite magnificent. I also think that the species C. porcellus is the cutest thing on the planet earth. However, I must admit that only the hairless, immunodeficient kind are pleasing to me.
7) Is there anything else you think we should know about you, or that you'd like to share?
Why, yes. Being rather egotistical, I thought you'd never ask.
I am a student and am majoring linguistics, with a years worth of background as a philosophy major - I no longer study philosophy formally. Given this, language, ethics, metaphysics and epistemology are domains in which I feel most comfortable discussing.
I have background in many Occult fields, though purely theoretical and not practical. Many rituals and practices in the past haven't yielded any deep insight nor have I experienced anything unusual as eager and believing and desperate I was to experience something of the paranormal. However, this has led to me having rather extensive knowledge on old european mythology and ancient european religions as well as a deep knowledge of neo-Pagan traditions (excluding Druidry). I am also familiar with Thelema, chaos magic, kabbalah and alchemy. I have a working knowledge of medieval grimoires and modern ceremonial magic traditions and practices. Oh my, this is sounding too much like a magical résumé.
I am particularly very interested in many neo-Pagan values and their possible adoption in Christianity. Being in tune with the rhythms of the oceans, the sun and the moon can lead to a deep appreciation of the intricacy of creation. The catechism teaches that as Christians, we are to be stewards of the earth. As an environmentalist, I also believe in supporting local agrarian practices. By buying locally, we eat what is in season. This hopefully will reintroduce the concept of seasons and phases into our lives. Is not a deep experiential understanding of the earth's rhythms important in being a steward? Furthermore, we all know that many of the Sabbats have been incorporated into the Catholic liturgical year although most of these holidays are no longer celebrated by the majority of Catholics. How can these be re-introduced? What role do the rhythms of nature play in Christianity? What of the role of women? Can we re-create a newfound respect for women as stewardesses of life? Can Christians still take part in ritual and prayer that commemorates the passing of natural cycles while still honouring our Lord?
I speak and understand English and French fluently and Spanish and Italian at an intermediate level. In the Fall term, I will begin studies in اللغة العربية الفصحى (known as Modern Standard Arabic) and 日本語 (Japanese). I work out. I play soccer and frisbee. I am also a weekly volunteer at a GLBT-positive Christian homeless shelter called the Zacchaeus House. I am trying to learn how to cook but I am miserably failing.
Some faults and weaknesses: I have no idea what is going on in the world - I am almost politically crippled. I have no appreciation for television as a medium of storytelling and I openly disdain any other forms of television other than storytelling.
I look forward to posting in Abrahamic Faiths and to challenging popular (and often inaccurate) perceptions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. I may traipse through Philosophy and Theology and maybe Ceremonial Magic now and then.
1) Is there a story behind your user I.D./screen name?
No. It is composed of my name and the letter of my last name.
2) How'd you find us here at Mystic Wicks?
I believe the first time I found Mystic Wicks must have been through a link on witchvox.com? I re-found it when Toby mentioned it and I was shocked to hear it was still running. A year later after he mentioned it, I've decided to join again.
3) Do you follow any certain path (spiritually)?
I am Roman Catholic. I was once an uninitiated Wiccan who practiced mostly Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions. From that, I moved onto an interest in Thelema and from that I become more interested in the Golden Dawn. I dabbled in hermeticism, western mysticism, Kabbalah and ceremonial magic in general. I have since then renounced all of the above practices as interests only and have returned to the faith of my childhood. I am very devout.
4) Would you like people to send you a private message saying "hi" if they see your profile and want to get to know you better?
Why not? Although I must mention: sorry girls, I'm gay. And: sorry guys, I'm taken.
5) Do you use incense, and if you do, do you have a favorite scent?
I do not use it for ritual or for prayer. I use it when I want my room to smell nice and when I need to relax in order to study or if I have allergies.
6) How about "totem animals"; is there any certain animal with which you most identify?
No. Totem animals are not part of my religious paradigm. I do think that the species A. melanoleuca is quite magnificent. I also think that the species C. porcellus is the cutest thing on the planet earth. However, I must admit that only the hairless, immunodeficient kind are pleasing to me.
7) Is there anything else you think we should know about you, or that you'd like to share?
Why, yes. Being rather egotistical, I thought you'd never ask.
I am a student and am majoring linguistics, with a years worth of background as a philosophy major - I no longer study philosophy formally. Given this, language, ethics, metaphysics and epistemology are domains in which I feel most comfortable discussing.
I have background in many Occult fields, though purely theoretical and not practical. Many rituals and practices in the past haven't yielded any deep insight nor have I experienced anything unusual as eager and believing and desperate I was to experience something of the paranormal. However, this has led to me having rather extensive knowledge on old european mythology and ancient european religions as well as a deep knowledge of neo-Pagan traditions (excluding Druidry). I am also familiar with Thelema, chaos magic, kabbalah and alchemy. I have a working knowledge of medieval grimoires and modern ceremonial magic traditions and practices. Oh my, this is sounding too much like a magical résumé.
I am particularly very interested in many neo-Pagan values and their possible adoption in Christianity. Being in tune with the rhythms of the oceans, the sun and the moon can lead to a deep appreciation of the intricacy of creation. The catechism teaches that as Christians, we are to be stewards of the earth. As an environmentalist, I also believe in supporting local agrarian practices. By buying locally, we eat what is in season. This hopefully will reintroduce the concept of seasons and phases into our lives. Is not a deep experiential understanding of the earth's rhythms important in being a steward? Furthermore, we all know that many of the Sabbats have been incorporated into the Catholic liturgical year although most of these holidays are no longer celebrated by the majority of Catholics. How can these be re-introduced? What role do the rhythms of nature play in Christianity? What of the role of women? Can we re-create a newfound respect for women as stewardesses of life? Can Christians still take part in ritual and prayer that commemorates the passing of natural cycles while still honouring our Lord?
I speak and understand English and French fluently and Spanish and Italian at an intermediate level. In the Fall term, I will begin studies in اللغة العربية الفصحى (known as Modern Standard Arabic) and 日本語 (Japanese). I work out. I play soccer and frisbee. I am also a weekly volunteer at a GLBT-positive Christian homeless shelter called the Zacchaeus House. I am trying to learn how to cook but I am miserably failing.
Some faults and weaknesses: I have no idea what is going on in the world - I am almost politically crippled. I have no appreciation for television as a medium of storytelling and I openly disdain any other forms of television other than storytelling.
I look forward to posting in Abrahamic Faiths and to challenging popular (and often inaccurate) perceptions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. I may traipse through Philosophy and Theology and maybe Ceremonial Magic now and then.