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| Author |
Message |
robh
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Welcome to the Synthesis conference
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Nov 28 04:19 UTC 1995 |
Hello all, and welcome to the Synthesis conference. This is a place
to talk about any number of things that could collectively be called
"occult." Some obvious examples include: astrology, the tarrot and other
methods of "divination", various flavors of paganism and how they are
perceived by "mainstream" people and religions, as well as many things
that I hope you will come up with in the conference. Note that the
quotation marks above are to remove any taint of my opinions from this
opening message.
I'd like this conference to be a comfortable environment for
practitioners of the various arts and religions we'll discuss here. This
*does not* mean that there is no room for the skeptic. However, as we may
be discussing deeply-rooted beliefs for some people, so courtesy and
open-mindedness is a necessity. Other than that, anything goes. Please,
be comfortable, learn, teach and enjoy.
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| 212 responses total. |
bjorn
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response 1 of 212:
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Nov 28 14:35 UTC 1995 |
Hail and Well met!
As the first person to respond, I must admit being a smattering of
pagan (or for those of you who prefer: Neo-pagan) religions, though I am
primarily a Volsung (also sometimes Wallsing) which is the proper name
for the religion of the Norsemen- through research the only name for
that religion comes from the Saga of Sigurd (might be known to you as
Sigfreid). I am usually tolerant of other peoples beliefs- until they
attemtp to force them on me... then YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW....
Alas, parting is such sweet sorrow, I bid thee all well, May ye all have
Freyja's blessing.
God Jul til alles!!
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bruin
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response 2 of 212:
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Nov 28 19:30 UTC 1995 |
Oh well, I guess I have to put my own modesty aside for now.
My name is Richard, a/k/a Bruin or "Bruin the Bare Bear." My interest in
neo-Paganist beliefs begain in 1989, when I began attending the Creation
Spirituality meetings that were being held at the Unitarian Church. I had
also been involved in Native American spirituality, including the sweat lodge
ceremonies that were held at Botsford Recreational Preserve at the time. I
had bowed out for two years beginning in 1992 to devote my time and energy
to securing a better personal living situation, but resumed my interest in
1994 when Shining Lakes Grove of the ADF was forming. I have been a faithful
attendee of many of their functions, and it was there that I first met brighn,
kami, val, anne/mooncat, eeyore, jimhoyt, and some other Grexers whose logins
escape my mind. As your new co-fairwitness, it is my pleasure to welcome all
newcomers, as well as long-time synthesis participants. Peace be with you.
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birdlady
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response 3 of 212:
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Nov 29 23:10 UTC 1995 |
Hmmm...a re-introduction...how interesting...
My name is Sarah Michaela O'Connor, and I am one hundred percent Irish..pretty
rare, but possible. I was raised Roman Catholic until I awakened to the
Celtic and Native American religions when I was sixteen years old. I combine
the two philosophies, therefore I have a totem, but celebrate all Celtic
holidays. Since my roots are based in Ireland, I feel more tied to the Celtic
religion. I love discussing all aspects of religions, both Pagan and
Christian, but please don't try to change my morals or beliefs. I respect
people's opinions if they can back them up with facts...each person is
entitled to what they believe.
Congrats on the new co-fw job, Bruin.
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selena
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response 4 of 212:
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Dec 3 12:28 UTC 1995 |
Hm! Okay, haven't introduced myself in a while...
I'm Selena Anne Barwens(-Kershaw), and I am 22, also 100% Irish,
and married <open marriage>. I'm very pagan, the product of an oppressive
Catholic household that, by age twelve, disowned me. I admit to having an
anti-Catholic bias, and I'm sorry for anything I might say along those
lines. I'm bisexual, and I believe in many kinds of magick..
I'm not sure what else to say, so ask.
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brighn
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response 5 of 212:
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Dec 3 15:43 UTC 1995 |
Hi! I'm Brighn, everyone knows that. Brighn al-Ya'alina is my full
Craft name: Ya'alina is my spirit totem's name (also called "Mom").
Mom's a cheetah, btw. I'm Wiccan, a member of Shining LAkes Grove
in Ann Arbor (a bard, in fact, in fact the Bard Rialta, plus as soon
as I get the formal paperwork, I might be the official Grove Fool).
Married to two of the loveliest ladies ever to grace the planet
(biased? me? naaaahhhh....), one of whom just introduced herself.
Maybe I should go get the other one to do the same... Anyways, ummmm...
what else? Bisexual, open marriage, principal dieties are Odin,
Brighid, Osiris, and Isis, oh yeah, and Bast (SORRY, Mom!) ,and
Hestia just b/c she keeps the apartment from burning down (had a
bit of trouble with grease fires before we talked to her).
Ah well. Anything else you wanna know? Ask...
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blondval
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response 6 of 212:
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Dec 3 16:03 UTC 1995 |
My name is Valerie Jane(I never really use my middle name) Hartzer
I'm an archaeology grad student at MSU and a practicing Wiccan and I
am a member of Shining Lakes Grove. I'm of Slavic desent (75% Polishand
25% Croation) and my interests include Ancient Egyptian religion and Slavic
paganism and mythology. I'm a practising polyamorist in an open marriage
with Brighn and Selena (above) which has brought me great joy! Like
Selena, I'm a recovering Roman Catholic, but I have no animosity to
Christians in general. I'm a cancer (July 12) and am very close to cats
especially Noelle (my familiar) and I'm closest to the dieties Bast and
Diana.
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anne
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response 7 of 212:
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Dec 3 18:01 UTC 1995 |
Hey, blondval. :) Could I talk to you about Egyptian religion at
some point? I'm interested in learning more about Bast, and there's
another goddess, can't think of her name off hand, I believe she
was a daughter of Re- Lioness goddess.. Let me know. :)
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bjorn
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response 8 of 212:
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Dec 3 20:50 UTC 1995 |
We're getting into animal symbols now, lah? Well, I am a Leo (August 4), a
Serpent (Chinese Zodiac- 1977), a Bear (Bjorn) the son of Eagle (Arne= Eagle,
sen=son)
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birdlady
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response 9 of 212:
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Dec 3 23:35 UTC 1995 |
While we're at it...I'm Capricorn (January 9), a bird and rabbit by nature,
a mother figure in more ways than one (call on me for a shoulder to cry on,
good advice, and cookies and milk to go with it). =) I feel very in tune
with the Earth and all of her gifts...
Valerie, it's so nice to finally "meet" you. Brighn talks about you endlessly
(all good things), and I've been dying to know you. Welcome! <hugs>
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brighn
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response 10 of 212:
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Dec 4 02:53 UTC 1995 |
Anne: Sekhmet is prob. the one you're thinking of.
Since we're doing animals and such, I'm a Piscean and a Monkey (March 4, 1968).
Those who know me well can see both of those, but I don't show
me Virgo rising nearly enough... good thing? Bad thing? I dunno... :)
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birdlady
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response 11 of 212:
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Dec 4 03:29 UTC 1995 |
<birdy feels honey dripping off of this response and is forewarning you>
Brighn...I think Virgo shows well enough. It's said that Capricorns and
Virgos make the best friends. =)
<curtsey>
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brighn
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response 12 of 212:
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Dec 4 18:22 UTC 1995 |
Awwww.... *deep rouge blush*
Great, another sign tto watch out for... lately it's been scorpios.
I gave up counting at 15.
*heh*
But none can compare to my favorite scorpio. *hug selena*
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selena
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response 13 of 212:
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Dec 5 11:24 UTC 1995 |
*Selena excuses herself, brighn, and blondval a moment, taking their hands,
and giggling*
Be back in a bit..
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otter
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response 14 of 212:
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Dec 9 16:06 UTC 1995 |
As long as we're talkin' critters...
I won't tell you my "true" name, but my mother named me something to do with
otters and laughter, because she says an otter is "a party waiting to happen"
and that has proved to be quite appropriate. My major totem is skunk, which
would take at least one full screen to explain. Otters and skunks are both
members of the weasel family, so I'm exploring that right now. The skunk's
only real natural enemy is the great horned owl (it has a lousy sense of
smell) so they are my next course of study. Not an easy bird to spot!
Feb. 28, 1961 makes me Piscean. <otter ponders the presence of yet another
water sign, gets a headache and dives>
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val
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response 15 of 212:
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Dec 10 04:10 UTC 1995 |
Hi!! I'm redval!!
This is to seperate me from blondval. :)
At the moment I'm a little brain dead so I cannot think of anything
to say about myself, but fortunately most of you all know me somewhat.
If we are talking about animals, does anyone know any dieties that
have the spider as a special animal.
Oh, BTW, I'm very interested in spiders, and I'm thinking of going to grad
shcool to study them.
Oh well, I'll be back later to give some pertinent info on myself.
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kami
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response 16 of 212:
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Dec 10 05:16 UTC 1995 |
Val, there's a whole song about then. Haven't I ever played MotherTongue's
"Motet to Arachne" for you? They name
Anansi, Minerva (?), Arachne, Moera (?),and one or two others. Try Greek,
Native American, and African to start. Have fun!
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robh
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response 17 of 212:
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Dec 10 11:26 UTC 1995 |
And don't forget my patron goddess, Athena.
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bjorn
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response 18 of 212:
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Dec 10 15:39 UTC 1995 |
Not that it has anything to do with the conferencse, but I saw a Black Widow
Spider on the first floor of Richards Hall about a month and a half ago. Then
I left it alone and it left me alone.
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brighn
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response 19 of 212:
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Dec 10 19:44 UTC 1995 |
You're not its type, Bjorn, not enough legs... :)
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kami
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response 20 of 212:
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Dec 10 23:56 UTC 1995 |
Thanks, Rob. I thought of her but couldn't back it up with specifics, and
didn't want to talk through my hat. Tell us a story?
Sounds exciting, Bjorn. Glad it wasn't too much so.
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birdlady
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response 21 of 212:
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Dec 11 00:30 UTC 1995 |
No offense to anyone, but I have serious arachnophobia...even the thought of
spiders gives me shudders and makes my chest constrict. I'm trying to get
over it though, because a dear friend of mine possesses the spider as a spirit
animal. =) <birdy shudders again>
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robh
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response 22 of 212:
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Dec 11 02:34 UTC 1995 |
I used to be completely and utterly arachnaphobic, happily
my patroness has helped me reduce that to "mildly arachnaphobic". >8)
Re 20 - There's a wonderful story, which I'll tell later.
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val
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response 23 of 212:
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Dec 11 03:32 UTC 1995 |
Birdy, try desensitation therapy. People will charge you enormous amounts of
money for it, but you could probably do it youself. All it involves is a
series of escalating encounters with spiders. Talk about them until you are
comfortable, look at pictures, spiders at a distance, spiders close up
<behind glass>, spiders loose, to finally touching spiders. You work
at your comfort level, and only move on when you are comfortable with the
previous step. This is used with all phobias, from what I hear. :)
Hope whatever you do works.
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bjorn
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response 24 of 212:
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Dec 11 05:33 UTC 1995 |
Re #20: Not that it could have penatrated my Doc. Martins if it did get
scared/angry. Then again, it had no reason to do either.
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