Staff Introductions

[Ðanisty]

We thought it would be a good idea to have a few introductions since some of you may not know the staff members very well. Since it was my idea, I may as well go first:

I'm Ðanisty, one of the admins/owners here on AF. If it makes it easier for you, you may called me Danisty, Dan, or D...most people don't bother with the Ð and that's fine. Any questions about alchemy should definitely be directed to someone else. While I have interest in it, I know very little about it. My background is in Satanism and then Luciferianism. I practiced LaVeyan Satanism for 6 years starting in high school and then moved to Luciferianism about 5 years ago. Unlike most, I'm a theist. I know there are some out there that don't like that and to them I say "deal with it." We all have our own reasons for believing what we believe.

I got involved in the online occult community a few years ago on OF (pre-hack...yes, even the first one), but I've been active in online forums for at least 6 years. I have moderating and admin experience on a total of 5 forums. I'm pretty well versed in the functionality of vBulletin, so if you have any suggestions or are wondering if something is possible with this software, feel free to ask me. If I don't know the answer, I'll defer it to Zonaxx who is our technical administrator and does not have anything to do with the occult or management aspect of this community. Any site design comments, questions, suggestions, complaints, etc. can be sent my way.

I realize I haven't been posting much in the last couple of months and that's due to medical problems that have recently been worked out. I have been checking this forum daily though so if you have any problems, I'll be able to address them quickly. I look forward to posting more frequently now that my health is returning.

[m1thr0s]

For the benefit of those who don't know me, my name is m1thr0s and abrahadabra.com itself is my site and has been for over 5 years now I guess. If that seems a little confusing it's because the forums are a joint effort put together by Danisty and myself quite recently, with a huge amount of help and support from Zonaxx, who usually prefers to remain in the background.

I have a pretty diverse background and have studied a lot of things over the years. I became interested in eastern metaphysics while still in my teens and chewed through a lot of the classic works of Buddhism, Taoism and Tantricism with a particular affinity for the I Ching. Somewhere in my early 20's I was introduced to western occultism primarily through the works of Aleister Crowley and very soon after began gravitating more in the direction of Hermetic Alchemy. Abrahadabra itself pretty much hit me like a lightning bolt for whatever reasons, and I began a process of synthesizing eastern and western physics through the lens of Abrahadabra, a process which never ran out of steam but is still evolving with great vigor down to the present day.

Somewhere in there I became accutely aware of the fact that the work I had started had developed a life of its own and could not properly be identified as being an extension of any other school specifically, since it draws fairly aggressively to a lot of different traditions yet remains powerfully self-identified according to its own unique principles and methodology. I eventually pinpointed the system well enough to give it a name that meets with classical parameters both historically and conceptually, and so the term Mutational Alchemy came into being. Mutational Alchemy is thus the core practise that I am involved with on a regular basis, of which Abrahadabra remains an exemplary standard...something akin to a *flagship* formula to which Mutational Alchemy itself represents the backup fleet.

Mutational Alchemy (and Abrahadabra) - as I employ these things - both represent a particular kind of energy-working logick and technique and are best defined as a tantric technology of their own kind and caliber. They do not in themselves constitute an exact philosophy and are thus potentially of value to anyone without regard to philosophy. When the matter turns to philosophy, I find that I am still very "eclectic" in my views and tend to draw a little from everywhere essentially. I am probably more of a mystic than a magician per se and more of an "autotheist" than a theist as well, but I am able to appreciate many points of view and do not really feel the need to confine myself to only this or that philosophy.

So that's a little about me and where I am coming from in general. It doesn't tell you much of where I have been exactly but in my case I don't think that this is really terribly important. My objectives here on these forums are twofold really: to share the information I have amassed over a period of many years with anyone who finds that information useful and also to explore new ideas and fresh points of view with others without any strings attached.

So that's my little *about me* rant. I hope it clarifies a bit at least who I am and what I am all about...

perseverance furthers,

m1thr0s

[Radiant Star]

I am Radiant Star. My interest in the occult has been with me since childhood, but its only in the last few years that I have taken up more specific practices as a Ceremonial Magickian.

In the past, I have been a practising Catholic, explored many other Christian denominations and also took the veil for a while as a Muslim. I have learned that if the coat doesn’t fit, its not going to keep you warm.

Like Danisty, I have held Admin and Moderating positions on a handful of forums. This experience has clarified the belief I have that forums like this are important for people to explore what they actually believe and practice, rather than what they think they believe and don’t actually live out. I also support forums such as this one because I think they do something towards promoting tolerance towards others who do not share the same ideas.

[Kain]

Greetings to all. For those unfamiliar with me, I am Kain. Like all others who have posted above me, I have moderated in various occult-related board in the past. I consider this immediate project special however, as it manages to be both an all-around occult forum and a more specified "research board" of sorts, able to produce some exceptionally interesting discussions, conclusions and practical results on the field of Hermeticism and Mutational Alchemy in particular.

I originally became involved in the occult field during my teen years. From early on my take on the matter was deeply drawn towards the field of direct energy manipulation and Inner Alchemy. Even though my initial subjects of study where of western origin, I became increasingly interested in the nature and content of eastern schools of thought, philosophy and practice, and more particularly with those most closely related with the body itself. Thus, I started my study and practice upon the doctrine of Hindu Tantra, the major Centers and Nadis and the work on the building of the subtle body or the so-called Body of Light.

Since my approach was (and still is) heavily bent on the practical appliance of such forces and principles, I began to take an interest in the potentialities of directly grounding built subtle energy fields on the physical. After a preliminary success on the field of telekinetics, I intensified my practices to an extent that caused me to be the subject of a very severe accident involving the getting out of hand of a particularly powerful energy surge/current known as the Kundalini force. The prematurely awakened force caused me a severe energy burn on my back which left a permanent mark and damaged some small nearby nerves as well, an experience that has been of profound importance and learning value for me concerning my further endeavors in the field of the occult and energy manipulation. After this incident, I became increasingly interested with the field and the particulars of Kundalini, a factor that forcefully and out of it's "own volition" came into the scene and actually demanded my attention.

I have also been working long on the mapping and better definition of certain processes and constructs related with the field of the Body of Light, so, like many of us here, there is plenty of personal research and documentation of constructs that I have done. Later on, I found that a lot of it has been almost identical with aspects of Mutational Alchemy, which is another reason I feel so very close and at home with this particular system, as if it is a much more detailed and learned description of the very thing I myself perceive in my deepest states of introspection. My initiation to the overview of the system of Mutational Alchemy by m1thr0s has been exceptionally clarifying for me, in a way showing me the innevitable unfoldment of a lot of (personal, I thought at the time) thoughts I was only beginning to practically explore by then. Thus, I feel a special affinity with this system.

My field of interest also includes Taoism, the I Ching, Hermetic Alchemy, Pythagoreanism and also Qabbalah. Philosophically however I have always had a deep tie with the Satanic way of thought. Satanism is a philosophy experiencing very intense diversity and active growth at this moment, and could be well considered as one of the most rapidly evolving philosophical currents at present. My personal approach towards Satanism is more akin to Autotheism. It is all structured around the axiom "Man is God" (or "Jivatma is Paramatma" if you like), and the absolutely immense practical ramiffications of such a statement, ramiffications which a large part of the current Satanist community seems to fail to realize so far. I suppose Satanism itself is not to blame however, as it always endorsed natural Elitism and the Law of the Strong...

I hope this clarifies things a bit concerning me and my approach on things,

Kain

[Sibylle]

I'm Sibylle, and joined the online occult community at Occult Forums soon after it began, and moderated there as well. As a student and unaffiliated practitioner of occultism, I appreciated finding like-minded people so talented and knowledgable.

I'd previously had memberships in the Rosicrucian Order/AMORC (http://www.rosicrucian.org/home.html) and BOTA (http://www.bota.org/), and found useful practices to incorporate into my own from both, but in the end concluded that I work better on my own.

My interests include psychology, mind over matter and healing, all of which I consider spiritual and the foundation of occultism. Tarot, astrology and herbal medicine interest me also. What I personally observe and experience is much more important to me than what I am told, and being the contrarian that I am, I find it easy to dismiss what others may call "proof". Proof is an argument intended to convince, but if there is actual truth or something called a "fact", I think it reveals itself. I'm suspicious by default of things and ideas promoted or marketed, and assume that for the most part, lies must be marketed and the truth goes without saying for those interested in it. So while religion and philosophy are also on my list of interests, any evangelist that finds his way to my door automatically encounters disbelief - because to me, evangelism invalidates whatever is being sold. I place great value on privacy and freedom, especially freedom of thought, as I consider it the only real freedom we have.

I enjoy encountering thoughtful opinions contrary to my own, because I find that considering them enhances learning and understanding - for both parties. You won't find me telling you what you must believe, or what political position you must embrace, because I am less concerned with what is politically, culturally or socially correct and more concerned with individuals who think for themselves.

[Zonaxx]

My name is Zonaxx. I'm not going to embarrass myself by attempting to emulate any of the fine writings of those staff members who have written before me. Instead, I will tell you that you can call me Zonaxx or "Naxx" (people love that form for some reason). There seems to be some ethereal atmosphere of mysticsm and impossibility around here, which is only helped by our chosen usernames. I'd like to throw a wrench into the mix by suggesting that you also call me Bruce. ;-)

I came to be associated with this project first through Danisty then by m1thr0s (two individuals, by the way, who I consider to be invaluable friends).

My experience with the Occult is zilch. To tell you the truth, I'm a Christian. :laugh: That's certainly not to say I have closed my mind to other ideologies, philosophies, or non-philosophies - I wouldn't be hosting this website otherwise.

I'm Abrahadabra's technical adviser and, although you will find no occult enlightenment from me, an off-topic conversation is never far from my inbox. Hope to see you around the forums!

[Anibis]

I am Ibisis. The name means Intellect and Intuition conjoined. Although I have never actually moderated anywhere else than here, I have been around on OF and in other places on the internet for several years. I have studied the occult in a focused way for almost eleven years, since I was first introduced to Crowley's writings. I have examined a number of models; I guess I was really effected by reading the Illuminatus! trilogy, and it sent me into a search for as much knowledge about as many 'primary models' as possible. As opportunistic as this sounds, I am actually quite friendly to ordinary religious beliefs, and am sympathetic to Christians, Muslims, pagans, whatever. Open mindedness, politeness, & respectfulness are what I look for, and have learned that 'what you believe' means less that Why, and how you go about expressing it. Anyway, I could go on at length, but most of what I'd have to say is in my posts. I guess the big thing about me and magic is that I am a performing magician. I am a stage and closeup conjurer as well as a clown and a juggler, and this makes up most of my living now. I see no contradiction between the intelligent occult and the machinations of the sleight of hand and misdirection artists. Heck, I even have a soft spot for James Randi... As a conseqence I try to bring intelligibility to bear on the occult. This is not so big a stretch here, especially when in the company of so many people of intelligence. I look forwards to meeting you folks on the forums... Cheers;
-Ibisis
I have come to the conclusion that most of the time consciousness itself is a conjurer's theatre...

[fr.novumorganum]

My occult/on-line name is Fr.NovumOrganum. I selected that moniker both for its associations with Bacon and its general meanings. I’m a member of the OTO (although far from a doctrinarian) and practice thelmic magick, but I am also well versed in the Golden Dawn system, and have a never ending interest in the KAOS 156 current. I am also drawn to the path of the Dao. Indeed, I find thelema and Daoism more than a little similar, but that is another thread.