Hello all, my name is OldGerald...at least on IRC. Everywhere else in the Pagan world I'm known as Taliesin Athor Govannon. My parents call me Steve, but parents are like that.
I started studying the occult at the age of nine when my parents gave me a book of "true" ghost stories. From there, I read every book on the occult that I could lay my hands on...the good, the bad, the flaky. I read my first book on the Craft (Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft) at the age of 17. I have at least a passing familiarity with most areas of modern occultism, though my specialties are Witchcraft (of course), UFO's, Tarot, and poltergeist activity.
Ok, ok...if I read Buckland's book at 17, then I can't be THAT "old". Let me explain about the name. On #wicca, I serve a specific purpose... most often, I am the lone traditionalist in a den of eclectics. I love the traditional Craft, and am a firm believer in the concept of covens and disciplined training. So much so, in fact, that I recently left a coven of which I was High Priest to join another coven as a dedicant! I did this because I honestly believe that my training needs to go on... that I was not yet ready to be a HP. (The coven I left was young, and had no elders to teach me). Because of my minority status on the channel, I decided to name myself after Gerald Gardner. "Old Gerald" is a term of endearment I've heard Doreen Valiente use for him. (And by the way, I'm 25 years old.)
What else about me? Well, I'm a musician...a singer/songwriter who hopes to have a tape done soon. I'm also a humour writer for The Witch's Brew magazine, and you will see why if you drop in on the channel when I'm in one of my more discordian moods }:-> . I also like to write poetry, and am working on a novel or two. The only thing eclectic about me is my musical taste...I like everyone from Barry Manilow to Slayer, though my current favourite is Sarah McLachlan. Another hobby of mine is causing trouble on usenet.
And before anyone asks me, the books I recommend most highly on the traditional Craft are: "The Witches Way" and "Eight Sabbats For Witches" by Janet and Stewart Farrar, "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning Of Witchcraft" by Gerald Gardner, "The Rebirth Of Witchcraft" by Doreen Valiente, and "What Witches Do" by Stewart Farrar.
Drop me a line if you want to chat, or just hop into #wicca...I'm on after 1:30 EST most often. Hope to see you soon!
