1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?
2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?
3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)
4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?
5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?
6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?
7. How do you publish and distribute your work?
8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?
9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?
10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

My responses to these questions can be found in my introduction to The Valley if anyone is interested.

Mod Hat On.

Crossoflight;

I appreciate that you are new here and getting into the swing of things somewhere new can be difficult. So let me try and smooth the way.

I would suggest that what you are asking here is too much all at once. Its also a bit... much you are asking people to share some things they would consider deeply personal and some may take offence to the style of questioning. People are not going to want to spend two hours answering your questions. May I suggest you choose one or two of the questions you have and discuss it. You may find many of the questions you have lead off that and will then be discussed in an informal "discussion" as opposed to the interview style here.

Xalle

I found the questions helpful as an aid to reflecting upon and clarifying my experience. They're not meant to represent a test or examination. It's not my intention to burden people or to intrude upon their privacy. Obviously, people are free to respond to individual questions or ignore them as they see fit. I'm interested in any responses but if people deem the questions inappropriate or irrelevant I'm happy to be met with and learn from the silence.

I appreciate that. I'm just trying to let you know how people react to this form of questioning and trying to make things a little easier for you. However as a gesture of understanding I will try and respond myself.

1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?

I have no magickal aim and I dont think I perform esoteric work.

2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?

Terry Pratchett? lol No seriously, I dont have a mission. I would say either by accident or design TP has hit several nails on heads. As for other accessible works, any music that I feel touches me, makes me sing along, raise my voice.

3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)

My parents never had any interest in religion and brough us up sans church. My mum is an artist, she plays the piano, and has a nice voice. Dad plays the banjo, mandolin, harmonica, piano and sings, brother is a DJ, sister is a musican and plays the drums, bass, lead and a little piano. She also has a beautiful timbre to her voice because she is an Alto. Other sister plays piano, loves music and is completing her degree in fine art. I sing, play the tin whistle and love art. My grandmother has been the church choir all her life and likes nothing more than a good sing along.

4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?

I was about 13 and only at that stage realised that people couldn’t see what I saw when I looked at a person. Some would call it aura, I, now consider it their energy

5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?

I'd rather not discuss that.

6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?

Im not sure I have esoteric interests. I'm a witch, its what I am. I dont intergrate its just there.

7. How do you publish and distribute your work?

I dont have anything to publish or distribute.

8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?

Not in the places you have mentioned. Not sure there is a lot of point discussing this when it has been discussed elsewhere.

9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?

No. My family know I dont want a Xtain funeral. They know I want to be cremated. I haven't thought about it much further than that. I'll be dead. I dont think I'll care too much.

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Nope! But thanks for asking.

Hmmmm



1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?

Possibly, but I have no idea why I would want to do that, it's a lifestyle not a mission statement.

2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?

No, my way is mine alone and I've never had anything published.

3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)

Generally that is was something lots of people did, that they were welcome to but it didn't really make a lot of sense when you looked into it. I was always free to do my own looking into.
4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?

Yes I can, but again I don't know why I would want to do that here.

5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?

Sorry, but again that's really none of your business

6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?

They are a natural part of my daily life, concious integration has never been a consideration

7. How do you publish and distribute your work?

My work? You mean my occupation, my crafts or jewellery? In the normal way. If you mean some kind of record of magical notes and experiences then I don't, is there some new rule I'm not aware of that says I should?

8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?

I don't know Sheffield that well at all, beyond the Corporation club and Meadowhall but magic resonates everywhere.

9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?

No, what happens to my corpse once I've left it is for the peace of mind of those I leave and will not concern me in the least.

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just that I'm not trying to be faceous, but if you ask a question in this manner the imp in me is compelled to answer it in kind.

Should point out, Xalle's reply came up as I was doing mine, there was no collusion.

Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?

Yes.


Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?

Probably.

What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)

Religion: depended on the family member.

Magic: depended on the family member

Music: Loved it.

Art: Knew what they liked.

(Present tense to all those still applies)

Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?

Yes

What is your most striking religious/magical experience?

That's a very personal question and I only share that kind of thing with people I know and trust.

How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?

There is no distinction requiring integration.

How do you publish and distribute your work?

Usually using MS products: Word, email, document sharing facility. Those are the usual methods in my workplace.

Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?

Don't know Sheffield at all, and my knowledge of magically resonant places in England is sadly lacking. Know of many such places in Scotland.

Have you made preparations for your funeral?

Other than making it known the basics of how I wish to be disposed of, no.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

No.

1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?
Yes.

2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?
No.

3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)
Incomprehensible to a Witch.

4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?
Yes.

5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?
A personal one.

6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?
Consistently.

7. How do you publish and distribute your work?
NA

8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?
Yes.

9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?
Yes

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?
If I don't survive Tuesday's surgery, then all are welcome to attend the funeral. Bring food and drams, and be prepared to have FUN! Andy has details.

1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?

Erm I kinda follow the Genral Aims of Ceremonial Magicians "Holy Guardian Angel and all Dat" but with my own presonal agenda too. Which either makes me a very good or a very bad Magician. I'll leave it for others to decide which.

2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?

Yes and No. At some point you leave the books behind and go by instint alone. If you want to trawl through the masses of work relating to CM including Crowleys Equinox then be my guest all it will do is confuse you.

3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)

Assuming I actually Speak to members of society I share more than a few common chroamzones with. (long sory) then one Blood relative keeps a polite disintrest. Family is non musical and non artistic.


4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?
Yes I can, Will I? No.

5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?

Don't think I've had it yet. I keep building on what i've achived. Genrally speaking I can almost get "high" on CM (read my blog)

6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?

I just do? Do I set aside and special time and place? No, I do it whenever and wherever feels right. Thats not so say I think Asle 4 In ASDA is the best place for perfoming Necromancy ( thats asle 6 ).
7. How do you publish and distribute your work?

I don't I'm a occultist not a academic. The Blog and this Board is the closest I come to that.

8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?
Resonant to me Persoanally? Yes, not telling where, for everone else theres Mastercard sorry, Averbury/Stonehenge/Glastonbury

9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?

Nope, I am going to live forever.


10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

A sense of humour in Magic is important.
Respect other Practices.
Ditch the Books and run on Instinct.
The older you get the less you care about what other people think of you.

1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?


To achieve what I want to achieve. (7 words)

2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?

My world view is contained in my novels. My mission? Erm... to have fun.


3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)


Er...why? Do you think their view formed mine? And, if so, why not include one's spouses or life partners? Do you think one's views do not alter after leaving home?

However - my childhood home had only popular sentimental art, Frank Sinatra and 1950s musicals, no magic and no religion.

4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?

Probably not. Religious, I mean. However, the first memory of something was looking into the night sky in Blackpool in 1966.

5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?

Only one? Hmm...possibly driving recklessly across dangerous moorland in accompanied by three gods and a hyper car wight, laughing my head off.

6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?

Esoteric experiences? Do you mean religious experiences? Or magic?
I get up in the morning and go to sleep at night. Everything else conscious lies in between.

7. How do you publish and distribute your work?

Er..what sort of work? I write. It goes on my website.
The day job gets published on the work website. Or in various minutes, briefings, papers etc

8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?

Yes.

9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?

Yes. But it's really up to the person who has to sort it out, isn't it? I mean, if I cared enough to hang around in Midearth afterwards in order to supervise then I've really buggered something up.

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Are you OCD? (er...no, that isn't a esoteric organsation...)

Ok. This may not be in the spirit of the " original questioning ", crossoflight, but I for one do take offence at it. For things that are deeply personal and subjective to the individual, no matter what common threads with others they may possess, it is going to take more than being bombarded with a load of Q and A's to get quality " information " out of people about it. As you might be able to tell from some of the answers above. Your interest might well be genuine, but I personally don't like coming here and feeling like I have just been propositioned by a street surveyor.

Just a thought but what are your answers to your own questions crossoflight?

Read his intro hun.

You know, under the Geneva Convention, all I have to give is my name, rank, and serial number ....

oops silly me.

1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?

I'd have to define magical and esoteric very loosely and say that I want simply to be more connected with nature, and to better appreciate its sanctity.

2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?

Not one in particular, although a lot of pagan writing seems to stress the importance our connection with nature. I'm reading 'Living with Honour' by Emma Restall Orr at the moment, which is proving to be quite interesting.

3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)

Mostly a mix of practising and lapsed Christians of one denomination or another. Not very much into art though really.

4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?

I prefer to keep that one private – for now.

5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?

That first one.

6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?

Very simply, working with nature is a big part of it and I live in the Welsh valleys, so the natural world is always very apparent. Most days it's just a case of taking some time to 'let it in'.

7. How do you publish and distribute your work?

I don't have a body of work that relates to my spirituality.

8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?

Well, if everything is sacred then in a sense everywhere is magical. Trying to grasp that is of great importance to me.

9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?

No, I think I will attend to that when I am a little further along my path.

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Well to be honest I found the questions to be a little arbitrary at first, and the wording suggested they were aimed mostly at those who use magic. I have done my best to relate the questions to my own spirituality and if others do likewise I think the results will be quite informative especially for newbies like myself

Peace

DM

1. Can you describe the aim of your magical or esoteric work in 200 words or less?

I don't really "do" magic as such. any small workings or blessings are for the benefit of my family, local environment or community.


2. Can you recommend accessible works that relate to your magical world view and mission?

I don't think I have a world view or mission as such. I found "Triumph of the Moon" and "Stations of the Sun" by Ronald Hutton invaluable, and pertaining to my Heathen path in particular, "The Troth" vols 1 & 2 were quite helpful.

3. What was your family’s attitude towards religion, magic, music and art? (Parents, siblings, grandparents)

My parents were not concerned with any kind of spiritual life at all, being shallow and obsessed with outward appearance, social popularity, status and wealth. I don't see them any more. My grandparents are dead. My brother is a jobless, druggie, middle class drop out. I don't see him either.

4. Can you describe your first religious/magical experience?

Not really describable. Childhood epiphany concerning the Norse Gods that led to several years of spiritual strife until I suppressed it. Resurfaced again in my mid thirties when I had the confidence and the knowledge to answer the call.


5. What is your most striking religious/magical experience?

I have yet to have it I think.


6. How do you integrate your esoteric interests into daily life?

As a housewife and stay at home mother. In my cleaning, cooking, stitching and looking after my home. In the way I choose to exercise self-control; no nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, or non-prescription drugs. In the family celebrations we hold at each festival. In the way I present myself to the world.

7. How do you publish and distribute your work?

Not applicable

8. Do you know of any magically resonant places in Sheffield, elsewhere in England, further afield?

Not specifically. I believe each area has its own land spirits but I am yet to have success in contacting any for myself.

9. Have you made preparations for your funeral?

Yes. This sounds somewhat threatening like "Do you like 'ospital food ?!"

10. Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to ask if you're going to use this information in any way - stats or a survey for your website ? if so I hope you'll do us the courtesy of letting us know.

I would like to ask if you're going to use this information in any way - stats or a survey for your website ? if so I hope you'll do us the courtesy of letting us know.

[/quote]

I have no intention of using the information in the ways you suggest.

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. The following themes have emerged for me:

1. It's possible to offend people when you have no intention of doing so. I knew this already but it wasn't an active thought in my mind when I posted the questions.
2. People are generally reluctant to speak about what I've termed 'religious/magical experience'. This seems to have something to do with secrecy and/or privacy.

I've sometimes been accused of being secretive, sneaky and obscure. I've decided that the watchwords for the next phase of Cross of Light Temple are openness, honesty and clarity of expression.

I've also been accused of being 'unbearably smug' and 'condescending' and my work has been compared to the worldview of 'a paranoid schizophrenic'. I don't view the comparison as an insult.

Thing is CoL, You came onto the board and started asking questions and soliciting opinions immediatley. The board is by and large a freinly and infomral place. Being mined for information on some very perosonal subjects by a 'stranger' who admits he has his own system of belif-Then yes some people will take offecne at that.

Actually, I think it has less to do with secrecy, ( and as for privacy, well this is the internet after all, very little is private if you put it up for view to the world, even on a gatekept site such as this ) than the fact that you stroll on here and bombard us with a series of mild interrogations, oh and lest us not forget, your detailed answers to such beforehand. It's not that we are not interested in you or expect you not to be interested in us. It's the method in which you attempt to extract/exchange information. If I had wanted to fill in a RentaPagan meme, I would go to OKCupid,

Fixed that for you.

I think it might be worthwhile for you to consider the difference between 'offend' and 'irritate'.