I have thought of a way I can
answer this without being too offensive. So I’m going to take another run at
it. If this is not enough or not what you’re looking for, please let me know.
Like most people I was
indoctrinated into the form of spiritual expression (or lack thereof) practiced
by my family. I was compelled to explore from a very early age and, in that
sense, may have always been a witch.
In third grade I visited the
school library for the first time and was told I could check out a book. I
picked a book on the Greek myths. At twelve, my parents were given a giant
coffee table book called Religions of the World. I grabbed it and ran off to my
room. There I discovered that there were people with radically different
customs and viewpoints. Whereas, nothing religious had made any sense to me up
until that point, reincarnation “felt” instantly right.
I was hungry for a look at
Eastern culture because, again, I’m a seeker at heart who needed to understand
all perspectives. “New Age” was an
Eastern wind that brought Asian and Oriental philosophy and medicine which is
part science, part mystery. Meanwhile, I took Religious Studies in college
while matriculating a degree in psychology. One of the highlights of that time
was a visiting professor from Yale who called himself a philosopher/theologian.
I took small, round table classes from him with undergraduate honor students.
We asked the great questions of life and religion and took a stab at answers.
It was one of my most important dips into the cauldron of becoming.
While I was taking my M.A. in
psychology from an institution that is actually a Christian seminary, I delved
further into Religious Studies, worldwide fundamentalism, the histories of
religions, where creation myths come from, etc. etc. With each step that I dug
deeper, the information became more unsettling, and I finally gave myself
permission to walk a different path because, at that point, anything else would
be dishonest.
Shortly thereafter I began to
study Carl Jung and various self-help theories that advanced the ideas of
personal participation in outcomes. Or creating one’s own reality. The one that
had the greatest impact on me was a program by Bob Proctor called Born Rich. It
was a series of DVD’s and books that were basically a compilation of wisdom on
the topic. Think The Secret on mega steroids. Later on I would come to
understand that the techniques Bob Proctor was trying to teach sales people
everywhere were just witchcraft by another name. He might object to that
characterization, but it’s unlikely he will read this. If I’m wrong, sorry,
Bob. I still love you.
I explored white and green craft.
I traveled far and wide, studied from masters of various disciplines and
programs including chaos magick, then set about experimenting with what does
and does not work for me. Of course that is always changing because we can’t
cross the same river twice. When we turn around to come back we find the river
has changed and so have we.
On my journey I have seen and
done some extraordinary things. There have been many failures, many dead ends,
and a couple of near mishaps, but there have also been amazing encounters with
coincidence (synchronicity). Along the way I learned how to hear my inner voice
and trust it. I learned which dreams to pay attention to. I learned what to ask
for and how to ask.
When I reached the point where I
thought I had something to teach, I founded a school and have graduated
hundreds of students who would say they practice the Danann method of the
magickal arts. There’s nothing more satisfying than having people say their
lives are richer because of something you shared.
I would answer to the tags witch
or magician interchangeably. I’m a work in progress as is the expression of my
spiritual impulse.
August 5 Interview
Read 2 Review
August 7 Guest blog
Fang-tastic Books
www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
Aug 9 Guest blog (possible review)
Grave Tells
Aug 13 Interview
Beauty and Books
August 20 Interview
Roxanne’s Realm
Aug 21 Promo
A Great Book Is The Cheapest Vacation
August 23 Guest Post
August 24 Interview
August 25 Promo and reviews
Paranormal Cravings - Paranormal Book Review Blog
August 26 Interview,
Paranormal Romantic Suspense,
Aug 31 Guest blog and book 1 review
Louisa Bacio -- Love Knows No Bounds –
Sept 2 Interview and review
On the Broomstick
Sept 3 Author created character interview
Butterfly-o-Meter Books
Sept 5 Review
Books, Books, and More Books
Sept 6 guest blog (review both)
Lissette E. Manning
Sept 7 Guest blog
Sultry Storyteller/
Sept 9 Reading Between the Wines
Sept 10 Interview
Simply Infatuated
September 13 Guest blog
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
Sept 21 Interview
Mary’s Garden
Sept 24 Guest blog
Book Lover's Hideaway
October 1 promo and reviews
Andi's Book Reviews
October 5 Guest blog and review
Book Maven
October 6 Guest blog
October 7 Guest blog (review book 1)
Oct 14 review book 2
October 8 Promo and reviews
whoopeeyoo :D
October 13 Review (both)
A Bibliophile's Thoughts on Books
October 25 Guest blog (review both)
For The Love Of Film And Novels
October 31 Halloween Guest Post
Fang-tastic Books
My Familiar Stranger
By Victoria Danann
The Order of the Black Swan #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: 7th House
Date of Publication: April 21, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-933320-49-6
ASIN: B007V8RAKW
Number of pages: (estimated 370)
Word Count: 111,268
Purchase Links: Amazon Smashwords
Book Description:
Of course a girl could suffer worse problems than having gorgeous suitors. Perhaps more importantly, in the midst of an epidemic of vampire related abductions, can she stay alive long enough to choose between an honor debt, true love, or the breathlessness of single-minded passion?
My Familiar Stranger is a full length, stand alone, Paranormal Romance novel that also sets up the foundation for the Black Swan series. It is loved by fans of paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and urban fantasy.
Erotica quotient: A few steamy scenes. No menage. No BDSM.
Author Bio:
For the past thirteen years, Victoria has illustrated and authored Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners.
Though works of fiction are a departure for her, she has had this series simmering on the back burner of her mind for years. In addition to authoring and illustrating Seasons of the Witch, she plays rock music and manages one of Houston's premier R&B/Variety/Pop bands.
This series will include some of my actual experience in the paranormal with fictionalized anecdotes from my journals during the years when I was a practicing "metaphysician", but most of the material is fantasy.
Posts
1 comment:
Wow - trying to find words on the inspiration this post given me. So neat about the path you have taken...
I am always curious to learn more about the various religions out there.
Childhood friend five years my senior introduced paganism and wicca to me when I was sixteen. My parents were not so accepting.
Through a band called Inkubus Sukkubus I learned about Strega. So I found this post quiet educational. So thank you!
Post a Comment