A is for About

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Following the theme set by the Pagan Blog Project 2014, "A is for About" seems the perfect place to start. Because, in addition to the definition above, in this post "About" is meant as statement, description, and challenge.

This is not a teaching blog. Nor is it a personal diary--though it will contain elements of both. It is one person's musings on her personal quest to achieve spiritual development--as well as many other less "noble" goals--through magic(k)al study and practice.

About Me

I am a woman, American, raised in Detroit, MI and lived all around the country before settling in Southern California some 15 years ago. I've been practicing magic for somewhere around 30 years (yikes!)--since I was around 15. My journey started with practicing wicca-type spirituality, leading to practical hoodoo/conjure, before formally studying with a ceremonial magician for 7 years and undergoing a form of Hermetic initiation. I say "a form of" because my instruction was largely one-on-one, with one major teacher over several years and a few less influential teachers in shorter time periods. While I have great respect for them, I have never been a part of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Builders of the Adytum, or any other formal organization. I describe myself as an independent magician. I am more spirit-inclined than the average magician, though. Meaning I have a great relationship with many spirit guides and enjoy great rapport with them. I also practice and have an appreciation of both high and low magic(k).

About This Blog

Now that you know of my leanings and background in Hermeticism it's easy to see why "Da'ath" is part of the blog title. But I think a little more explanation of what this blog is about couldn't hurt. It's not for everyone, and I want to make that clear up-front. It's not for everyone because this blog is going to be focused on the trials, rewards, and frustrations of pursuing spiritual growth. It's not about spells, otherkin, or any other of the popular topics in paganism. I am choosing to write about this because it is of urgent importance to me. Not every person who practices an alternative spiritual path or is interested in working magic is into pursuing self-evolution, though. And that's perfectly fine. I'm just letting you know that this is not a blog about magical technique--well not entirely, anyway. I am an unabashed magic geek and I love to talk technique and spells. I probably will from time to time. However, this is not a "practical magic" blog. If deep topics bore you, you might as well bail right now. Because...

About You

So now you know where I'm coming from and what this blog is generally going to be about. But while the impetus for me to write this is to push myself further along my path, I don't intend this blog to be about me as a person. As I already mentioned, it's not a diary. I welcome dialogue and encourage people to comment. I am happy to hear about other people's experiences too. For me, spiritual and magical practice are intertwined.

I want to wrap up this PBP inaugural entry with a challenge for all readers: I am far from where I want to be as a person and in life, but in spiritual terms I know what I'm about. Do you?

"Dali From the Back Eternalized..." by Salvador Dali, 1973
www.SalvadorDali.com