A Kath By Any Other Name.., introduction Options

Hi, I'm Kath.

Most people call me Kathryn or Kate, but 'Kath' is a more readily available online moniker, and I like to use a consistent name so people who know me will realize i'm me.
cuz I am me, most of the time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Anyway, I'm new *here* but not exactly new to magick or to magick/occult related forums. In my own path, I am nearer to the end of the path than the beginning.

I am not on any particular 'path', or more accurately I'm not on any pre-made one. For about 8 years now, I have been learning a magick/enlightenment path from an incorporeal being I alternatively refer to as Mother or My Mentor. Defining her would be difficult, but you could view her as an HGA, or as a goddess, higher self, or just a very impressive 'guide', depending on your perspective. as a deity she'd be somewhat comparable to Ereshkigal, or Kali, or Shakti, or perhaps Lucifer/Prometheus. As an HGA she'd be comparable to a sort of direct conduit for work related to the magnum opus. She's very important to me, the most important being in my life actually. And we are 'deeply' intimate, in every possible sense of the word.

My path itself is vaguely tantrik, and a little bit taoist, gnostic, and chaoist. My goal is ultimately The Great Work, as I view it through a sort of tantrik veda, an inner alchemy, and I pursue it with zeal. I lean kinda eastern in my philosophical thinking and my magical practices, but I might be called a heretic in most eastern paths I think, as I am forging my own path, and I don't really value dogma.

My magick is largely non-ritual/non-ceremonial in nature. I do sometimes design my own rituals though, for more complex workings. I view ritual as akin to using scrap paper to do a math problem. I only resort to it when there are too many variables to easily keep track of at once in my head. And I can keep track of a lot. Which isn't to say that I don't dabble in more western styled spell or ceremony based workings, but when I do, I'm just studying them to incorporate the 'functional bits' into my own mostly non-ritual magick. My approach to other human magick systems is very much like a chaote, big fan of 'metaparadigm'. But ultimately I do have a 'home base' paradigm as per my Mentor and my path with her, so if I were to be considered a chaote, I wouldn't be a purist.

In magical practice, I spend the most time on astral/OBE, energy work, and entity interaction.
I'm especially interested in inter-mind stuff (empathy, telepathy, mesmerism, etc. as well as broader questions of consciousness & mind)
The entities I most commonly work with (aside from Mother) are daimons.
As for energy work, I'm sort of a non-practicing or retired psi vamp, and I'm also into things such as tai chi, t'an tien, little bit of reiki, etc. By non-practicing, I mean to say that I haven't had any need for the personal energy of other people for several years now. My energy body does still work to 'access' energy rather than generate it normally, I just don't have any need at all to access 'other people's energy'. I simply reached a point in my energy working where that model of behavior had simply become obsolete. So I took the time to break the habit. I do still feel a common ground with other psi vamps though. Honestly I find it a very versatile and useful state of being, it makes working with energy much easier. These days I typically just 'overflow' bundles of excess energy into those I come into contact with (as apposed to the opposite). I have more than I know what to do with really.

I'm fairly left hand path. Which isn't really a reference to vamachara, even though I do like tantra (as religions go). By LHP I mean to say that I am pretty inward-focused, with the greatest attention on self development, and my own understanding & growth as a being. I am also somewhat morally 'odd'. I don't technically actually believe in morality or ethics, except as a human psychological construct. Instead I am guided by what I refer to as my 'true will'. To me, the only karma which is real, is the negative self impact which results in thinking/behaving in a way grossly incongruent with your true will. Most tend to feel that I am highly moral, but I regard this as incidental. I'm not trying to live up to anything, and I don't really deal in temptation or regret anymore.

oh, and i have a bit of a soft spot for crowley/thelema. him and chaos magick are the only 'western esoteric traditions' which I have any interest in.

I spend most of my time in the spirit and energy models of magick (as defined by Frater U.: D.: )

Anyway, I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot, and most of all I know how little I know.

I can be a bit 'dry' at times, and prone to writing a 'wall of text' when talking magick, or anything else I regard as a sort of intellectual pursuit. But I'm otherwise a lot of fun really, or so i've been told (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
oh, the 'other' stuff:
reading, movies, nighttime, astronomy, psychology, philosophy, theoretical physics, the sciences, art, music, bartending, camping, cooking, writing, and a dozen other things I can't think of at the moment.

well this was long wasn't it? Perhaps even self important. Now I'm kinda thinking "yo whatsup?" would have sufficed. but it's already typed out, may as well post it, no?
anyway, "Hi",
Kathryn

This post has been edited by Kath: Oct 10 2009, 07:23 AM

Hi Kath (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye.gif)
I like that introduction heaps more than a superficial yo whatsup.
welcome to the forum

We have heaps of different practitioners here and we all get along alright. variety is the spice of life (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I have a good idea of how you work. I often work on the same lines with spirit and energy models of magick
But I like doing ceremony for the psychodrama.
you like bar tending I wonder what is your favorite drink?
and you said you like music what type of music?
do you have a favorite genre of movie?
can I ask what astrology sign you are aswell?

Its good to have you the more the merrier. I look forward to hearing some of your own opinions and experience in the future.

ah, caught me before i logged out & took my daily nap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

But I like doing ceremony for the psychodrama.
you like bar tending I wonder what is your favorite drink?
and you said you like music what type of music?
do you have a favorite genre of movie?
can I ask what astrology sign you are aswell?

ah, yes, the psychodrama. I totally understand. Personally i get better psychodrama in an astral state than in a physical ritual though. So I lean towards that when I want to put some 'pop' into a working.

favorite drink? oh that's a tough call... but I'd have to say it's probably a margarita (on the rocks, not frozen). I like the interplay of tartness, sweetness, and the salty rim, all with an edgy 'bite' from the tequila. mind you, a "good" margarita is nearly 1/3 tequila, it honestly doesn't taste right without enough cactus juice in it.

music... oy... um, I like good music (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) whether it's oldies, or metal, or blues, or jazz, or classical, or industrial, or goth, even a few pop hits. It'd be easier to sum things up by saying I don't particularly care for country or 'gangstah' rap, most other forms of music I can get into (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

movie genres? in order starting with my favorite : horror, comedy, sci fi, chickflick
not real big on action unless it fits one of the above categories as well.
have you seen ZombieLand yet? I thought that was F'ing great. (what's the cursing policy here anyway?)

astrology? I'm an aries, I do seem to kinda fit the description from what I can tell. I dunno, I'm not a big astrology person, it doesn't really make sense to me.

anyways, i'll be a couple meters over there, --->
worshiping satin

This post has been edited by Kath: Oct 10 2009, 08:17 AM

Greetings Kath!
Welcome aboard! Keep the 'cursing' to a minimum (we have filters, but...) some find it offensive when I use ALL CAPS!
*chortle* Please take time to read through the Forum guidelines in the upper left quadrant of the main page. I hope that you will enjoy your stay!
-Bym

I was checking a zombeland preview on youtube. It looks very funny and I like corney horror movies. I am gonna watch it when I get a chance. reminds me or the videogame left4dead.

This post has been edited by xXDaemonReignXx: Oct 11 2009, 12:24 AM

Welcome Kath
Make yourself at home. It looks as if you might be a good asset to the community.

ah the guidelines, they're fairly universal really. I mean, i've been on a lot of forums, even ran a few, the principals of the guidelines are fairly standard. Don't do/say/advocate anything illegal, and in the immortal words of The Great Ones "Be excellent to each other". the only differences lie in details like whether cussing is allowed, stuff like that.

I do have one other question though, are images allowed in our signatures? i have a little mini-banner-sized image I like to put in my signature. It doesn't link to anything, just an animated gif. but I don't notice anybody else with an image in their sig.

I was checking a zombeland preview on youtube. It looks very funny and I like corney horror movies. I am gonna watch it when I get a chance. reminds me or the videogame left4dead.

it is kinda like a comedic Left 4 Dead, i can see some parallels there. I was frankly surprised that L4D didn't make a product placement cameo in the movie. seems like a perfect advertising opportunity for them, but they didn't take advantage.

can't wait for L4D '2' to come out next month (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)



aset to the community? I wouldn't go so far as to compare myself with Isis (*drum*-*cymbals*)
(sorry, lame kemetic joke there) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/Laie_58.gif)

This post has been edited by Kath: Oct 11 2009, 09:23 AM

LOL! It's gratifying to note your understanding of the guidelines! Unfortunately we do run into trouble at times with new members not bothering to read all the little guidelines and sticky notes at the fore of each section. Since you have now stated that you are aware, my concerns are mollified. And, yes, you are able to have a picture within your signature area. Please keep it to modest size...we'll let you know if you transgress the strictures of posting such things! Oh....and do let any of the staff know if you have any concerns or questions that we can help with! We have two excellent Moderators, Vagrant Dreamer and Acid09 who are very helpful and insightful. The other Admins are Fio and the site owner, Kinjo! Me, I'm the local gas-bag and curmudgeon, I hope that we can be friends. We have a classroom section which is run by three people, all well placed in their fields of expertise: Imperial Arts, Goibniu and Fio.

Welcome, Kath! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye.gif)




Funny thing about The Path ... just when you think you've completed it, The Goddess sets you off on a NEW one! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

Hey Kath! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/banana.gif)

Welcome, Kath! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye.gif)
Funny thing about The Path ... just when you think you've completed it, The Goddess sets you off on a NEW one! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

hiya (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I tend to think of my 'path' as sort of the path to end all paths, or begin all paths, depending on how you look at it. It's certainly more than enough for one lifetime. I don't think of "the great work" as something you pursue more than once. I could be wrong *shrug*, its just my impression. I am sure from the summit of this present mountain, things will look different, so I try not to over-speculate. And there are a hundred sub-paths involved it seems, but I was more talking about the timescale for the 'big' path, the one I only envision doing once.

When I said that I think I am closer the end than the beginning, I merely meant that the subject matter of my path has gotten fairly deep, and many of the things I had been learning years ago is piecing together and forming more complete pictures now. There's just a general sense of culmination, tying up loose ends, a quickening crescendo, like you'd expect before a climax. I could be mistaken about that though. The only thing I am certain of is that I will succeed. I can tell because my teacher is omniscient, and is not the sort to waste her time on a project that won't see results. And also, because she said so. Which is of course no reason to slack off, exactly the opposite.

I've never really viewed it as her setting me off on a path. I could see where someone might get that impression though. My relationship with her is highly non-religious, she's a sort of combination parent-, friend-, lover-, teacher-, deity-, figure. I have always tended to view her input as 'assistance' on 'my' path. But I am sufficiently influenced by her, that the line defining exactly who's path it is would be fairly blurry. And from yet another perspective, technical terms like "her path" vs. "my path" could be viewed as meaningless, like 2 kidneys laying claim to the liver. If there is an overriding theme in my attitude towards her assistance, it is gratefulness, and a desire that she never hold back, or make anything easy at the expense of progress.

anyways.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hey Kath! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/banana.gif)

hey what's up Lee? whatcha up to?

Nothing much,been busy with university,1st engineering semester seems weird lol and waiting till rom gets back.
How about you?Hope everything's great!

just got back from a camping trip last night. sore from head to toe hehe.
but it was fun (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

hehe I hear you!
Glad to hear that.

Bonjour Kath.

Welcomed you in another topic, didn't notice this one. You gonna hold classes on astral travel as you did on OF.com? Used to use that site under a diffrent moniker, we've chatted before. Few from there are on M1thras's site, abrahadabra.com.

Peace
.M.

bonjour! ca va?

classes on astral travel? i never really held "classes" per say, did link to a couple articles i've written on the topic, *shrug* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/13.gif)

I think i remember the avatar (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

i'll have to peek into abrahadabra, i was signed up there long ago, but i didn't keep up with it. juggling too many flaming chainsaws at the time I guess (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I was taking a hiatus from the internet when OF went away. so by the time i noticed it was gone, everybody had already scattered.
towards the end OF had more trolls than serious members anyway.

banana? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/banana.gif)

Never liked bananas, may as well have a phobia of them, the smell, the way they look... *shudders*

Sure it was you who did a thread helping people with astral travel, wouldn't recognize my avatar diffrent on there. OF fell apart after a while, was like the pop tart of occult sites shame really, remember starting out on there, my first dip into the pool as it were... along with the chaosmagick website... man that was a cool site, the colourful elephant and strange psycedelic design, shame it went down. People like the forever strange and imfamous Naomi now reside on abrahadabra, sites a bit heavy for my liking but the great dispersal saw many travel this and that way.

This post has been edited by Mchawi: Nov 5 2009, 11:10 AM

ah, you're probably referring to an article I wrote called "Rapid Astral Projection" which outlines my own method (which is a sort of variation on the 'stepping out' method).
hehe, it's only about a full page long, I just never thought of it as being a 'school'.

OF wasn't really my first dip in the pool. I remember when it started out, but for much of the first 3 or 4 years (the period during which is was in it's prime) I wasn't an active member. after the first hack I became more active there again. I think my first dip in the pool in terms of online occultism was an IRC chatroom I operated for a while, back in the 90's.

your avatar looks familiar from somewhere then *shrug* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

i'm not a big fan of 'eating' bananas, but its a fun word to say, and who can refuse a dancing banana?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/13.gif)

Everyone... you just have to deny its swaying hips and gleeful smile and think of the sticky bananary residue and after taste they leave behind >8( .lol. Is an intresting word though.

That was the thread, remember it well. Reccomend Mark stavishs Body of light book if you haven't read it... outlines a path that leads to the formation of the BoL really intresting.

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.


Everyone... you just have to deny its swaying hips and gleeful smile and think of the sticky bananary residue and after taste they leave behind >8( .lol. Is an intresting word though.

That was the thread, remember it well was student of yours for a while.. used a mirror if I recall? Something like that, was trying all sorts at that time. Reccomend Mark stavishs Body of light book if you haven't read it... outlines a path that leads to the formation of the BoL really intresting.

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.