Hello to All!

[bigredsage]

Hello Everyone,

I am extremely glad to have stumbled (almost literally,) across this forum.. It seems to be exactly what I have been looking for.

After a life-changing experience, I find myself once again on the path of the seeker. I have practiced wicca for almost 13 years, among other similar interests, and have at least a passing experience or interest in many other areas such as astrology, tarot, reiki, etc.. But the pagan life has not *quite* fit me.

I am more of a logic/math/order based person, and always have been. This is where I was through my education, and where I am today in my "day job," as well with computer science. Nature-based did help me spiritually, but there is something missing, something more that I am looking for.

I have recently been exploring alchemy and through these studies I came across the hermetic traditions.. Which then led me through a few different areas of thought, ending here with the Golden Dawn. I do not know near enough to say for sure yet, but my strong feeling is that this is where I belong. Of course, all of the little things that have led me here (and quite a winding path it was, I will add,) have helped to point this out to me

I have several years worth of study and reading to do, and of course the search for like-minded people and initiation, but I look forward to conversing more with all you you as I learn more.

shawn..

[Frater Yechidah]

Welcome aboard. Glad to have you here

Hopefully this forum will help you decide if the GD is for you.

LVX,
Dean.

[Bráthair FnB]

Ave Shawn, welcome to GDF. Delighted to have you joining us here. If you're still at the quizzical stage then a forum may be easier to get involved with discussions and maybe spark a few? Anyway as I say lovely to have you join us.

[Samuel]

Welcome to the GDF. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Since you are in the "looking stage" as it were in relation to GD work, may I suggest reading the book The Essential Golden Dawn by the Ciceros (if you have not already read it). This is an excellent overview of what to expect in the type of material that is generally taught. It also has a fairly easy to follow history of the GD (which is often very complex and convoluted) and some basic ritual material.

Feel free to ask questions - there are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum who do not mind answering questions.

In LVX,
Samuel

[bigredsage]

Thank you for your kind replies

I will definitely pick up the book you suggest, it's a title I do not yet have. I am currently reading (slowly) "A Garden of Pomegranates," as I see reference to Qabalah everywhere and figured this is something that should be studied regardless (and personal interest helps too )

I will do my best to use the search function (already I am falling in love with it here,) but I'm sure I'll have all kinds of questions that will bring smiles to faces with their new-ness.

Thank you,

Shawn..

[BrAugustine]

Glad to hear from a fellow computer scientist! i'm new here too. Looking forward to some good math-flavored discussions

i haven't read "A Garden of Pomegranates," but i really enjoyed William Gray's "The Ladder of Lights" and highly recommend it. Gray's writing style reminds me of Carl Sagan's -- he really wants you to understand, and tries to use analogies from modern life. (It's pretty heavy on Cold War analogies, which makes sense, given the time in which it was written. His chapter on Binah has the best example.) i had a chance to poke around in Dion Fortune's "The Mystical Qabbalah" in a bookstore, and liked it too, but i've got too many books to read and not enough time in which to read them, alas Both of these books are recommended by Regardie (e.g., in his intro to Crowley's "Liber 777").