Thank You:

I was 19 before my area was able to offer On-line access. By this time I was already married to my Husband and had a child. I was also in the beginning stages of my hermit-hood, and looked to on-line to satisfy my socialization needs.

After a year wasted destroying Vampire roleplaying chats in Hotmail, and hanging around a highly questionable chat, which was later closed down by the Feds, titled "The Armpit of the Internet" where I spent a great deal of my time spamming Tubgirl pictures, I finally discovered AOL, and my first real group of Occultists.

Before this time, I'd run into dabblers and fluffs, but never anyone whom I'd consider to be serious about the path they claimed to be on. Now, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against fluffs or dabblers, so long as they don't get all "Witchier than thou" on me for being a little left-handed, but they weren't what I was looking for either. I was craving knowledge, something more than my collection of tepid Occult books offered.....and I found it.

Amongst this eclectic gathering of awesomesauce were a few 3rd Degree Wiccans (not Neos, actual Oathbound, lineage Wiccans), a scattering of Celtic and Norse reconstructionalists, a Herbal Goddess with both Native and Gypsy roots (who could tell you the practical, seasonal, medicinal, and metaphysical useage of just about every herb to ever grow on this planet, and would verbally bitchslap anyone who claimed to be an "Indian Shaman".), and an Atheist Mage who could write up pages worth on magic and science, and dabbled in blacksmithing, making suits of armor as a hobby.)

Oh, and a Theistic Satanist who, despite his youth, knew more about Demonology than anyone I've run across since.

I came to them with my mind wide open and told them straight off about my background, admitting openly to my ignorance. They responded by pimp-slappin' the stupid out of me. At the time, I was still slightly hyper-sensitive, so my feelings were hurt, but within a few weeks I grew a thicker skin and realized that I was actually learning from them. Later on I was told that if they hadn't seen potential in me, then they would have just ignored me. That their brutal welcome, which seems polite in comparison to some of the asshats I've met since, was a test, as they didn't have time to waste on fools.

So they took me in, and within two years, I went from novice, to having several of them tell me that they considered me a peer.

They taught me one of the most important lessons I've yet to learn in regards to my faith, and practice.....that my beliefs should never be limited by any one person or book, and I should never try to remold or define my path around that of another.

Instead of telling me what I should believe, they told me everything....well, the Wiccans didn't, but they told me what they could....and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that most of my stumbling over the years wasn't nearly as bad as I'd thought. In fact, I was probably better off on my own, than being bogged down with a bunch of Coven mumbo jumbo.

I was with them for about 5-6 years, and then the arrival of a few trolls, the worst of which was a "Christian Wiccan"....yeah, figure that one out....and AOL's decision to completely destroy their forums, lead to everyone leaving.

I never bothered to try and stay in touch with any of them. At the time, it felt natural. These people, whom I'd shared so much with and held in such high esteem, had played their part in my life, and it was time for me to move on, keep walking, and not look back.

Sometimes people come into your life, and when it's time for them to go, you know that you'll probably never speak to them again, and it's Okay. That's the way it's meant to be.

I have massive issues with my memory, so the few I do feel a connection to, I cherish. I remember them, and a part of me always will.

They played a pivotal part in my growing process, and I will always be grateful for them for that.