I'm 26 years old and have been practicing witchcraft since I was sixteen. Since then I've varied from Wicca to a nondescript Celtic-influenced green path of witchcraft, finally to rest at a very faery-flavored spiritual path. I can honestly say I've never met anyone who follows the same ideals as I do, so it's been hard to follow one structure of either witchcraft or faery. So I think it's really safe to say that I learn from everyone I meet and add a little here and there to my actual practice. I'm 99% out of the broom closet. My grandmother is exceedingly old-fashioned and has turn deeply toward Christianity with the passing of my grandfather. I try to tell her about my interest in Celtic mythology and environmentalism, but any approach of the word "witchcraft" or any of its ideas results in lectures about demon worshiping, the Devil, and the lack of a good church in my life. So other than my grandmother, it's pretty much public knowledge with me, and it is really important to me. My sister and father were both pagan at one point (everyone's views change over the course of time- some more than others) and we had a family coven that just gradually disintegrated and I've been practicing mostly solitarily when I can't get with my fellow practicing buddy for the holidays.

naturally anything Celtic, whether it be Scottish, Irish, or Welsh; I'm obsessed with Arthurian legends and the myths surrounding them; naturally anything remotely feylike or supernatural; and I have a strong passion for Indian culture, particularly bellydancing.

narrow-minded people, overly loud and proud people, self-righteous bigots who won't even listen to anyone else's opinions or beliefs and who are under the impression that their ONE opinion is the ONLY and RIGHT one. And this is a strong pet peeve of mine: I hate hate hate the confusion between angels and faeries. I believe in guardian spirits, not angels. To me- and this is my own personal opinions and therefore everyone else is entitled to believe in what they want- angels are an element of Christian myth. As I am in no way affiliated with the Christian faith, angels have no place in my practice. Guardian spirits, yes. Divine inspiration, yes. Angels in terminology with feathered wings, no.

Considering I'm *still* in college (perpetually it seems) there's really not too much I have time for. In general, though, I *love* hiking and walking through woods/parks. I love swimming, and I've already mentioned my passion for bellydancing, though I admit that I've been severely slacking on that. I'm obsessed with researching whatever I find interesting, and I read and write quite regularly. I do admit that I have dabbled in writing erotica, and it's something I'm always expanding on. But mostly the stuff I write has a spiritual/fantasy feel to it. I love love love to sing and I've always wanted to record an album (I always dreamed of being a rock star) and since I try to join my local pagan community's chanting sessions as regularly as I possibly can, I now entertain ideas of one day having that album be spiritual. Even if it never sold any copies, I'd have one and that would be fine with me. :) And for my hobby/addiction? I admit full out that I am a Sims 2 freak! I love it and it takes up most of my free time. But it's not just a game to me. I have legacies that have lasted 6 generations or more, so it's something really special to me. I'm a dork. :P

Hmm... I guess I need to separate into genres here.

Fiction: I love love love Laurell K. Hamilton (mostly her Merry Gentry series but Anita Blake is great too); Charles de Lint (everything he writes just pleases me); Sara Douglass' The Troy Game series; and really anything that catches my attention and I have time enough to read. I love most of the classics, especially the women since the men do sometimes run dry. Most especially though is my love for Jane Austen.

Nonfiction: I'm really particular about the pagan books that I'll buy. I prefer greatly to spend some time flipping through their pages before I'll convince myself that I need it enough to buy. When I was in the coven I'd always be on the lookout for new "beginner" books since I was usually the one to help talk to the members who were new to the Craft (we offered "classes"), and sometimes that habit is hard to quit. Typically though, the only books I really do buy now are can't-live-without manuals, and I do admit that I snatch up any faery book I find- even if I regret it later. Any research is good research in my book. The authors that I am particular inclined to like, for one reason or another, are Yasmine Galenorn (LOVE!), Ann Moura, DJ Conway (whether or not I agree with everything she says, she's definitely hard to put down and I can't help but to like her), Anna Marie Ferguson, Alicen Geddes-Ward... hmm I just noticed that they're female. Ahh yes... John Matthews. I LOVE HIM. Of course his wife Caitlin Matthews is equally awesome. RJ Stewart is great, and Scott Cunningham, of course, is legendary for beginners and solitary practitioners.

Of course I'm always open for suggestions.

I'm exceedingly ecclectic in my musical tastes, but I will readily tell you that I do not like Rap, Hip Hop, or Country. I can handle folk as long as it doesn't sound *too* blue-grassy, but you have to have an appreciation for folk music in order to like a lot of the pagan music that's out. I do love Classical music, though I'm not as knowledgable in that as I'd like to be. My main genre of music is rock/goth rock. Like who? Some random names: My Chemical Romance, Abney Park, Type O Negative, IAMX, Bright Eyes, 30 Seconds to Mars, AFI, Cruxshadows, Inkubus Sukkubus, Within Temptation, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Leaves' Eyes, Tool, A Perfect Circle, *some* Marilyn Manson, HIM, Muse, Lostprophets, Flogging Molly, Rasputina, Billy Talent, Kidneythieves, Orgy... gods the list could go on.

As for pagan music, the bands I'm currently appreciating (I *do* need to buy more) include: Spiral Rhythm, Emerald Rose, Inkubus Sukkubus, Elvendrums, Adiemus, Llewellyn, Before the Solstice (with a sound similar to the combined efforts of Billy Talent and A Perfect Circle!!), and there are tons that I either can't think of or don't know the artist names.

Wow... this list could go on forever.

Labyrinth, Legend, Dead Poets' Society, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, any Jane Austen adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, American Beauty, Wanted, Fight Club, Hellboy 2, August Rush, Spiderwick Chronicles, Velvet Goldmine, *some* of the Harry Potter films, Interview with the Vampire, Dark Prince, many many many more.

And usually anything with the following actors: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Scarlett Johanssen, Edward Norton, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, James McAvoy, Helena Bonham Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer