From The Dark Waters

[Dark Waters]

That is what my name means, Douglas {Celtic}.

If you really want to go deep - Douglas {from the dark waters} Charles {man} DeGraw {of the Gray} - makes me The Gray Man from the Dark Waters. But now I think it's getting too deep in here so let's move on  :


A little bit about me, personally. I'm coming up on 44 years old. I am a System Communication Technician for Southern California Edison. I served in the Army from 1988 through 1995 and went to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.

A little bit more about me theologically. I was born, baptised, raised and confirmed a Roman Catholic. But the more I looked into that faith, the more I found their ceremonies and rituals hollow and even heretical in some cases. I then went on a faith journey. I explored all the other variation of Christianity, but was never satisfied with the answers or practices. I then moved on to the Older religions. Even when I was a Christian, I was always affected by Nature, and somehow always meeting more and more people of a Pagan Bent. This came to a head in Advanced Training in the Military where my closest friends ended up being two witches and a Druid.

I came to this Path by a very slow and convoluted route. I didn't just jump in, I studied and researched - not books, but people. I would sit and listen and talk. I attended a few large public rituals and got a feel for the people long before I ever studied the doctrines. One Sogen festival in Tuscon, AZ was especially eye opening to me. As the festival wound down for the day, and we prepared for ritual - the whole day had been overcast, and the night was cloudy as well. But as we began to form the circle a large gap in the clouds moved over us and the stars were visible and clear. They had cauldrons smoking at the corners and as they called the Guardians the smoke would bend in that direction as though from a slight breeze that kept moving. To this day I'm still not sure if there was some "trick" for the cauldrons, but there couldn't have been for the clouds - and it was in all very moving.

After that, I began more serious studies, and everything I found about the real ways of Wicca gave me feelings of peace and calm inside. I ran across many misconceptions and many false paths that were spawned by fad or desire or fanaticism, but I usually could sense the wrongness in them and avoided those that gave me that feeling. Still over a decade later I am only now comfortable to publically call myself a Pagan or Wiccan. I only recently began to assemble my tools and begin practicing an abbreviated ritual. I know I am still early on the Path, and begin and end my rituals with a plead to the Goddess, God and the Guardians to help me go on the Path they would have me on, and to make me stronger in my faith to them.



About my affiliations. I was born under the English sign of Virgo, an Earth Sign, and the Chinese sign of the Rooster, specifically the Earth Rooster. I have strong ties to the Earth element, I am solid and strong and unmovable when I plant myself. But I also have an resonance with Water, and feel at ease when submerged or in a shower but especially in the Ocean. I am the Rock at the base of the Waterfall. Both of these elements belong to the Lady Goddess and I feel closer to her than any other deity. I am so much a creature of hers that I belong to her time as well, the Night. The Day is uncomfortable to me, and the sunlight weighs upon me and hurts my eyes. I know we have a duality faith but I find little ability within myself to draw as much power from the God as from the Goddess. At Night I become more aware, feel more alive, and I can even see the New Moon in the sky. Unfortunately the real world doesn't work that way and I am ever at odds with my nature as so much must be done during the day and even more at night.

I have been part of a few Pagan Message boards before, the latest one has kind of petered out on users and responses. So I started looking again and this seems a nice place.

Well I think I've rambled long enough, the floor is now open to questions and comments.

[Laveth]

That is what my name means, Douglas {Celtic}.

If you really want to go deep - Douglas {from the dark waters} Charles {man} DeGraw {of the Gray} - makes me The Gray Man from the Dark Waters. But now I think it's getting too deep in here so let's move on  :


A little bit about me, personally. I'm coming up on 44 years old. I am a System Communication Technician for Southern California Edison. I served in the Army from 1988 through 1995 and went to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.

A little bit more about me theologically. I was born, baptised, raised and confirmed a Roman Catholic. But the more I looked into that faith, the more I found their ceremonies and rituals hollow and even heretical in some cases. I then went on a faith journey. I explored all the other variation of Christianity, but was never satisfied with the answers or practices. I then moved on to the Older religions. Even when I was a Christian, I was always affected by Nature, and somehow always meeting more and more people of a Pagan Bent. This came to a head in Advanced Training in the Military where my closest friends ended up being two witches and a Druid.

I came to this Path by a very slow and convoluted route. I didn't just jump in, I studied and researched - not books, but people. I would sit and listen and talk. I attended a few large public rituals and got a feel for the people long before I ever studied the doctrines. One Sogen festival in Tuscon, AZ was especially eye opening to me. As the festival wound down for the day, and we prepared for ritual - the whole day had been overcast, and the night was cloudy as well. But as we began to form the circle a large gap in the clouds moved over us and the stars were visible and clear. They had cauldrons smoking at the corners and as they called the Guardians the smoke would bend in that direction as though from a slight breeze that kept moving. To this day I'm still not sure if there was some "trick" for the cauldrons, but there couldn't have been for the clouds - and it was in all very moving.

After that, I began more serious studies, and everything I found about the real ways of Wicca gave me feelings of peace and calm inside. I ran across many misconceptions and many false paths that were spawned by fad or desire or fanaticism, but I usually could sense the wrongness in them and avoided those that gave me that feeling. Still over a decade later I am only now comfortable to publically call myself a Pagan or Wiccan. I only recently began to assemble my tools and begin practicing an abbreviated ritual. I know I am still early on the Path, and begin and end my rituals with a plead to the Goddess, God and the Guardians to help me go on the Path they would have me on, and to make me stronger in my faith to them.



About my affiliations. I was born under the English sign of Virgo, an Earth Sign, and the Chinese sign of the Rooster, specifically the Earth Rooster. I have strong ties to the Earth element, I am solid and strong and unmovable when I plant myself. But I also have an resonance with Water, and feel at ease when submerged or in a shower but especially in the Ocean. I am the Rock at the base of the Waterfall. Both of these elements belong to the Lady Goddess and I feel closer to her than any other deity. I am so much a creature of hers that I belong to her time as well, the Night. The Day is uncomfortable to me, and the sunlight weighs upon me and hurts my eyes. I know we have a duality faith but I find little ability within myself to draw as much power from the God as from the Goddess. At Night I become more aware, feel more alive, and I can even see the New Moon in the sky. Unfortunately the real world doesn't work that way and I am ever at odds with my nature as so much must be done during the day and even more at night.

I have been part of a few Pagan Message boards before, the latest one has kind of petered out on users and responses. So I started looking again and this seems a nice place.

Well I think I've rambled long enough, the floor is now open to questions and comments.

 

Welcome.

[CalamityJane]

That is what my name means, Douglas {Celtic}.

If you really want to go deep - Douglas {from the dark waters} Charles {man} DeGraw {of the Gray} - makes me The Gray Man from the Dark Waters. But now I think it's getting too deep in here so let's move on  :


A little bit about me, personally. I'm coming up on 44 years old. I am a System Communication Technician for Southern California Edison. I served in the Army from 1988 through 1995 and went to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.

A little bit more about me theologically. I was born, baptised, raised and confirmed a Roman Catholic. But the more I looked into that faith, the more I found their ceremonies and rituals hollow and even heretical in some cases. I then went on a faith journey. I explored all the other variation of Christianity, but was never satisfied with the answers or practices. I then moved on to the Older religions. Even when I was a Christian, I was always affected by Nature, and somehow always meeting more and more people of a Pagan Bent. This came to a head in Advanced Training in the Military where my closest friends ended up being two witches and a Druid.

I came to this Path by a very slow and convoluted route. I didn't just jump in, I studied and researched - not books, but people. I would sit and listen and talk. I attended a few large public rituals and got a feel for the people long before I ever studied the doctrines. One Sogen festival in Tuscon, AZ was especially eye opening to me. As the festival wound down for the day, and we prepared for ritual - the whole day had been overcast, and the night was cloudy as well. But as we began to form the circle a large gap in the clouds moved over us and the stars were visible and clear. They had cauldrons smoking at the corners and as they called the Guardians the smoke would bend in that direction as though from a slight breeze that kept moving. To this day I'm still not sure if there was some "trick" for the cauldrons, but there couldn't have been for the clouds - and it was in all very moving.

After that, I began more serious studies, and everything I found about the real ways of Wicca gave me feelings of peace and calm inside. I ran across many misconceptions and many false paths that were spawned by fad or desire or fanaticism, but I usually could sense the wrongness in them and avoided those that gave me that feeling. Still over a decade later I am only now comfortable to publically call myself a Pagan or Wiccan. I only recently began to assemble my tools and begin practicing an abbreviated ritual. I know I am still early on the Path, and begin and end my rituals with a plead to the Goddess, God and the Guardians to help me go on the Path they would have me on, and to make me stronger in my faith to them.



About my affiliations. I was born under the English sign of Virgo, an Earth Sign, and the Chinese sign of the Rooster, specifically the Earth Rooster. I have strong ties to the Earth element, I am solid and strong and unmovable when I plant myself. But I also have an resonance with Water, and feel at ease when submerged or in a shower but especially in the Ocean. I am the Rock at the base of the Waterfall. Both of these elements belong to the Lady Goddess and I feel closer to her than any other deity. I am so much a creature of hers that I belong to her time as well, the Night. The Day is uncomfortable to me, and the sunlight weighs upon me and hurts my eyes. I know we have a duality faith but I find little ability within myself to draw as much power from the God as from the Goddess. At Night I become more aware, feel more alive, and I can even see the New Moon in the sky. Unfortunately the real world doesn't work that way and I am ever at odds with my nature as so much must be done during the day and even more at night.

I have been part of a few Pagan Message boards before, the latest one has kind of petered out on users and responses. So I started looking again and this seems a nice place.

Well I think I've rambled long enough, the floor is now open to questions and comments.

 
Hi there and welcome to TC!

[RandallS]

That is what my name means, Douglas {Celtic}.

If you really want to go deep - Douglas {from the dark waters} Charles {man} DeGraw {of the Gray} - makes me The Gray Man from the Dark Waters. But now I think it's getting too deep in here so let's move on  :

Welcome to TC. You have a great name.

[Cannaid]

Welcome to TC. You have a great name.

 
Greetings and welcome!!

[Dark Waters]

Greetings and welcome!!

 
Thank you all for the warm welcome.

[Laveth]

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

 
Surprised there aren't more responses yet, I rather liked this intro. I suppose some people do work on weekdays though...

[Donal]

That is what my name means, Douglas {Celtic}.

If you really want to go deep - Douglas {from the dark waters} Charles {man} DeGraw {of the Gray} - makes me The Gray Man from the Dark Waters. But now I think it's getting too deep in here so let's move on  :

Great intro. I can relate. One of my main images for meditation is a dark, deep well, which is sort of a visual symbol for myself and my spirit/mind.

I'm also originally Catholic (confirmed and everything). Despite the negatives some people have with Catholicism, it does prepare some people for mysticism.

I call myself an ecelectic universalist, but my usual focus is Celtic.

Again, great intro. Welcome to the Cauldron, Douglas!

Donal

[Dark Waters]

Surprised there aren't more responses yet, I rather liked this intro. I suppose some people do work on weekdays though...

 

Great intro. I can relate. One of my main images for meditation is a dark, deep well, which is sort of a visual symbol for myself and my spirit/mind.

I'm also originally Catholic (confirmed and everything). Despite the negatives some people have with Catholicism, it does prepare some people for mysticism.

I call myself an ecelectic universalist, but my usual focus is Celtic.

Again, great intro. Welcome to the Cauldron, Douglas!

Donal

 

Thanks again for the compliments.

[Maulus]

That is what my name means, Douglas {Celtic}.

If you really want to go deep - Douglas {from the dark waters} Charles {man} DeGraw {of the Gray} - makes me The Gray Man from the Dark Waters. But now I think it's getting too deep in here so let's move on  :


A little bit about me, personally. I'm coming up on 44 years old. I am a System Communication Technician for Southern California Edison. I served in the Army from 1988 through 1995 and went to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.

A little bit more about me theologically. I was born, baptised, raised and confirmed a Roman Catholic. But the more I looked into that faith, the more I found their ceremonies and rituals hollow and even heretical in some cases. I then went on a faith journey. I explored all the other variation of Christianity, but was never satisfied with the answers or practices. I then moved on to the Older religions. Even when I was a Christian, I was always affected by Nature, and somehow always meeting more and more people of a Pagan Bent. This came to a head in Advanced Training in the Military where my closest friends ended up being two witches and a Druid.

I came to this Path by a very slow and convoluted route. I didn't just jump in, I studied and researched - not books, but people. I would sit and listen and talk. I attended a few large public rituals and got a feel for the people long before I ever studied the doctrines. One Sogen festival in Tuscon, AZ was especially eye opening to me. As the festival wound down for the day, and we prepared for ritual - the whole day had been overcast, and the night was cloudy as well. But as we began to form the circle a large gap in the clouds moved over us and the stars were visible and clear. They had cauldrons smoking at the corners and as they called the Guardians the smoke would bend in that direction as though from a slight breeze that kept moving. To this day I'm still not sure if there was some "trick" for the cauldrons, but there couldn't have been for the clouds - and it was in all very moving.

After that, I began more serious studies, and everything I found about the real ways of Wicca gave me feelings of peace and calm inside. I ran across many misconceptions and many false paths that were spawned by fad or desire or fanaticism, but I usually could sense the wrongness in them and avoided those that gave me that feeling. Still over a decade later I am only now comfortable to publically call myself a Pagan or Wiccan. I only recently began to assemble my tools and begin practicing an abbreviated ritual. I know I am still early on the Path, and begin and end my rituals with a plead to the Goddess, God and the Guardians to help me go on the Path they would have me on, and to make me stronger in my faith to them.



About my affiliations. I was born under the English sign of Virgo, an Earth Sign, and the Chinese sign of the Rooster, specifically the Earth Rooster. I have strong ties to the Earth element, I am solid and strong and unmovable when I plant myself. But I also have an resonance with Water, and feel at ease when submerged or in a shower but especially in the Ocean. I am the Rock at the base of the Waterfall. Both of these elements belong to the Lady Goddess and I feel closer to her than any other deity. I am so much a creature of hers that I belong to her time as well, the Night. The Day is uncomfortable to me, and the sunlight weighs upon me and hurts my eyes. I know we have a duality faith but I find little ability within myself to draw as much power from the God as from the Goddess. At Night I become more aware, feel more alive, and I can even see the New Moon in the sky. Unfortunately the real world doesn't work that way and I am ever at odds with my nature as so much must be done during the day and even more at night.

I have been part of a few Pagan Message boards before, the latest one has kind of petered out on users and responses. So I started looking again and this seems a nice place.

Well I think I've rambled long enough, the floor is now open to questions and comments.

 
Welcome Douglas,  i am pleased that you have found a belief that brings you peace and happiness. It's good when that happens

Dan

[Fireof9]

Surprised there aren't more responses yet, I rather liked this intro. I suppose some people do work on weekdays though...

 
I was going to give him a nice welcome but then he went and beat most of my high scores in the arcade. Now I am shunning him till I get at least the Curveball one back

[Dark Waters]

I was going to give him a nice welcome but then he went and beat most of my high scores in the arcade. Now I am shunning him till I get at least the Curveball one back

 
Sorry about that - but you made me work for it if that is any consolation. Another board I was on, I swept their arcade and was never really challenged - you guys are rough.

[Fireof9]

Sorry about that - but you made me work for it if that is any consolation. Another board I was on, I swept their arcade and was never really challenged - you guys are rough.

 
I was kinda proud of the Hexxagon one as well........ but it was just a fluke.

No dude, I'm not pissed at all. If you look at the first 25 pages of Curveball its mostly all me. I am glad for some competition. Not sure if you can beat Shine's Chopper score though..... she just keeps bumping it up and up and up...

[Laveth]

I was going to give him a nice welcome but then he went and beat most of my high scores in the arcade. Now I am shunning him till I get at least the Curveball one back

 
We have an arcade?! *runs after high score*

[Fireof9]

We have an arcade?! *runs after high score*

 
Yuppers

http://www.ecauldron.com/forum/arcade.php

Get in there - we need more competition