What do you study to support your path?

[Radiant Star]

Many young occultists come into their path because they hear a fairy story as a child about magick and it intrigues them or they are aware of things that others around them are not and want an explanation. Sometimes it comes later by a chance reading of something and this leads to exploration of the occult world, although this can mean that some explorers only read books or articles directly related to the practice of magick and may remain completely unaware of the rich histories and supporting subjects of magick.

It seems to be true that some occultists are also avid readers and investigate all kinds of relevant topics in the effort to be informed and perfect their practice. These might come from history, mathematics, languages, world religions, arts and crafts or even geography and so on.

Which path or system did you finally fall in love with?

What kind of topics or subject areas support your learning and development on that path?

[fr.novumorganum]

Philosophy, Literary Theory, History, Art, Literature

[Kain]

Hmm...interesting thread Radiant Star. Well, my personal approach can in many ways be traced in various paths/paradigms, although I guess that overall you could class it as Tantric and thus also Alchemical in nature. I find that the study of Mathematics, Physics, Art in it's various forms, Philosophy and Computer Programming (indeed!) have helped me very much along the way, and provided me with very interesting and relevant insights concerning my development in this field...

Kain

[feranaja]

Nutrition, Tellington Touch, CAVM (complementary and alternative veterinary medicine) herbal studies, the language and psyche of other species (which includes but is not limited to the behavioural) .. I think of my Path as Western Mystery Tradition and my role within that tradition as healer, not only of animals but through animals, of us as well; anything that deals with health or living in balance is to my mind, part of the Great Work... I can barely separate my professional life and studies from my occultism anymore at all..
fera

[Anibis]

Philosophy, particularly French Post-structuralism. Juggling, magic, and clowning. Theatre, Tai Chi, Home maintenance, Mathmatics, computers, economics... Truth be told. EVERYTHING becomes supporting material for the path...
-Ibisis

[Naomi]

Honestly I never settled on a system because I don't like systems. I don't believe in settling for anything less then the BIGGEST BITE OF REALITY you can handle. I like dark untravelled roads with labels for the people who travel them like "insane" "weird" "crazy" "maniac" and "scary".

Yet the greatest revelations I come to are from observing the natural world. Written material may augment that but there is nothing more enlightening to me than observing life in action, including human behavior, the play of light and the technology science has developed.

Hard drives, for instance....I think they're a great little primitive model for the universe itself. Except I'm thinking we'll be seeing better version in the near future...

Also using what I acquire is important to me. Why waste time on theory? Put that bitch to work and see if it gives results. I don't spend much time in the armchair. I get results and I like them alot. I like reading too, but if I can't fall in love with the author I rarely hold onto the information for long.

I like pop culture and current memes. I think they hint at the health and mindset of humanity and the effects the planets are having as they transit. (Emo Saturn through Leo, anyone?)

Wanting to do magic just "happened" I just started doing weird rituals in my bedroom. Stuff with dead flowers, pictures, curses, glamour...later I learned the common words for what I was doing from Chaos Magicians, Discordians and Hermetic people online. And that's that.

But hell I'll dive into anything once....if it's pretty deep I might stay a while, too, until I figure it out, and then move on...always.

[Son of Mr. Gordo]

Which path or system did you finally fall in love with?

Vajrayana

What kind of topics or subject areas support your learning and development on that path?

Working with my teacher and senior students. And of course being a bookworm. Primarily though, it comes down to my own practice everyday that I monitor.

Gordo

[Phoenix]

My path ... the path of knowledge


EDIT: But i like your question, to be precice i follow the path of GAIA, the true goodess "The pure one"

[m1thr0s]

Why waste time on theory? Put that bitch to work and see if it gives results.see...that's something I never understood because I am a (tantric) theorist and for me it's actually all about action. I don't understand theory that isn't about action...what the hell is it about then? Maybe I don't get it because I really just don't want to know...

Theory f*cking rocks if it's all about action...

m1thr0s

[Sibylle]

I think it's all about relevance. I love theory, but what matters is about usefulness in everyday life.

[m1thr0s]

for me theory is very much like drawing house plans before building a house...the house only exists "in theory" until it's built but the planning of the house is a blast...that's where you get to decide all this cool stuff...where the hot tub will go and all of that...

m1thr0s

[oak]

i read some stuff sometimes, and sometimes recognize some things in there. but mainly i just study my perceptions. my "path" basically is just bridging the mind-body gap, mind here rather meaning the supporting structure of the physical body. and the gap being a somewhat inaccurate word, as they are not separate, but the gap rather meaning the volumes between the areas the mind is holding, the situation being somewhat like a "string puppet".
practical examples being such as breathing with all the muscle fibers related to breathing, rather than pulling air in and pushing it out. or eating with the mouth and drinking with the throath, like is adviced in passing in the "Book of Breathings (http://home.comcast.net/~michael.rhodes/SnsnTrans.htm)"

so nothing fancy or flashy i'm afraid. :dull:

[Radiant Star]

I have just started Isaac Newton The Last Sorcerer by Michael White.

Described as a "ground-breaking biography", so hope it lives up to that.

I think its quite useful to try to understand the background of the people who have influenced the paths we are on in any way and hopefully this book will do it.

[MythMath]

I just like his figs... :p

[m1thr0s]

actually, his first wife, Fidelia (Fig) Newton invented those, but apparently never attempted to sell them or anything. They were a huge hit throughout the courts of Europe though and, as rumor has it, were secretly responsible for a number of Isaac's prestigious commissions...

I just made all that shit up...sounds pretty good though, eh?m1thr0s

[deviadah]

Well ALL subjects interest me. The problem with the world today is that many artists doesn't speak to scientists, and the other way around.

As for myself I became interested in the occult when I was very young, about seven, reading my grandmothers family Bible after having watched Indy 3. I was curious about the Grail and wanted to read the actual account of it. When I read that this guy called Joseph of Arimathea carried it away I became really intriqued. In conjunction with the film Excalibur these events together formed a curious interest for answers to questions I yet was too young to perceive.

Now over two decades later I have come a long way and during the journey not only found the Grail, but also discovered even more subjects.

At the moment reading an interesting book: The Nazis and the Occult...

Anyway, rambling...

In short: Where there is Gnosis I try to be!

[Naomi]

I just like his figs... :p

Ewwwww!!! Wtf are you talking about!?!?

[Radiant Star]

actually, his first wife, Fidelia (Fig) Newton invented those, but apparently never attempted to sell them or anything. They were a huge hit throughout the courts of Europe though and, as rumor has it, were secretly responsible for a number of Isaac's prestigious commissions...

I just knew there would be a good woman behind the man somewhere :p