*waves* 'Tis another newbie!

[Fidei Defensor]

Greetings to all! As you can tell, I am new to this site. My buddy MyValenwind introduced me to the site! I'll start off with an introduction of myself, since it is only appropriate for me to. I shall start off with the basics. I am currently 18 years old and am a full-time college student in my second year. I am majoring in psychology and am talking up a minor in theology. I am a very devout Roman Catholic who is very open to different religions and faiths. On this site, I will go by my Confirmation name, which is "Ignatia." I, myself, have noticed that there is a Christian Witch on here, so I figured that I should be welcome! Although I am not a pagan, I do believe that there are other dieties out there and respect those who believe in them. I have an interest in Druidism and have a couple of books about the religion. I have books about natural magic, the Tarot, and other random, basic magickal books. Although I am a Catholic, I have ALWAYS been drawn to the occult and the Wiccan religion. I have done reports and projects about the topics in jr. high school and have defended the religion when I was singled out for carrying a book about magick. As a Catholic, I try to respect everybody of all faiths, as do other Catholics. Even I have been persecuted by Fundamentalists for being Catholic, so I understand how it feels to be persecuted for your beliefs. As I mentioned before, I endured both sides of it, with my religion and the Wiccan faith. As a Catholic, I have a devotion to the saints, which can, in a way, be compared to the different dieties, except that the saints were human beings and are not divine. I could go on and on about different things, but I don't want to bore anybody, so I'll just move on to my hobbies and other random facts!

I love reading, writing, listening to foreign music, playing video games, and researching things about theology. My lifelong dream is to travel to Italy, Ireland, Scotland, and England! I am considering joining a religious order after college with a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. I exercize a lot and am a bit obsessed with my weight. I enjoy warm weather and moonlit nights.... I think that's about all that I can think of! OH! I am also a rabid fangirl of the Scottish actor Ewan McGregor, who is pictured in my avatar..... So dreamy. HAHA! I can't wait to meet everybody and to start posting in the forums! I'm really looking forward to it!

Pacem ex!

[MyValenwind]

*snort* You and that Hot Scot. LOL!
Hello there person sitting right next to me (well, was since you went potty *TMI*)!
Enjoy your stay at the forums, you're gonna love it here! LOL!
Awesome introduction by the way. XD

[Fidei Defensor]

Yeah, MyValenwind... THAT'S MY HOT SCOT! HAHA! Hello to you too! I am on your desktop and you are on your Playstation 3. It is interesting. And, I am definitely looking forward to lurking and posting around here. I was hoping that my introduction wasn't just a random rant. I want to go into more detail sometime later. ^_^

[MyValenwind]

LOL. Another reason to love the PS3. Lurking is a ton of fun. As for right now I'm gonna grab myself some videos. Woot!

[Fidei Defensor]

And, I shall leave you do that and wait for other members to find my post. ^_^

[Lark]

Welcome to Branwen's.  Pull up a chair and make yourself at home.  I think you'll find us a mostly friendly bunch (but watch out for the goat..she bites!)

-Lark-

[RedRonin]

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING A GOAT?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!

Oh..........  that goat.

Anyway.........

Hello and Welcome to the board.

Spent the first couple decades of my life in the Catholic Church.

[Fidei Defensor]

Hello, everybody! Thank you for all of the warm welcomes. I'm sorry that it took me so long to respond back! I have a laptop at home that likes to act up on me, especially when I am trying to do my schoolwork. *sighs* But, nonetheless, I am here! ^_^ I will do some lurking at first, so don't mind me. I can be a bit shy on forums, but once I get to know everybody, I can't stop posting!

[Labrys]

Hello..and yes, I was a Catholic convert once I left home.  It was my first step on a path that leads me in all the right places.  I was 18 as a convert, and was 31 when I knew I was finished there and I'm 58 now.  I am still entirely too fond of Jesuits....

[Fidei Defensor]

Hello..and yes, I was a Catholic convert once I left home.  It was my first step on a path that leads me in all the right places.  I was 18 as a convert, and was 31 when I knew I was finished there and I'm 58 now.  I am still entirely too fond of Jesuits....

Hello, Labrys! It's a pleasure to meet you as it is to everyone! ^_^ I have noticed in my own research and such that the Catholic and Wiccan religions coincide very nicely together. I have read other people's testimonies on other random sites where Wiccans discover their roots though Catholicism. As an open-minded person, I find this to be a very wonderful thing, indeed! ^_^ As a Catholic who is open to Paganism, it makes me feel like I can relate to these people better and am able to get along with and feel a part of them more.

I find your interest with the Jesuits very ironic because the Jesuits are the first religious order that I became fascinated with! One time, I wanted to become a Jesuit, until I found out that it was strictly for males. I tend to admire them, as well. I had the wonderful opportunity to take a retreat at a retreat house run by Jesuits this past May, and it was a very spiritual experience. As a matter of fact, it was so spiritual that I though that a person from any religious path will be able to enjoy it.

[Labrys]

Hello again.  I am, btw, not Wiccan. While I know a few folks who blend Wiccanesque and Christian spirituality; I am such a logic hound that the idea makes my head spin.  I think the very intellectual vigor of every Jesuit I met was what endeared them to me. 

I had a friend who was a priest, and he told me I would never "last" as a Catholic lay person because my theological reach exceeded the grasp of what the Church offered the lay member.  I was disturbed and confused at the time by his statement, but in retrospect I see he was correct.  But yes, I think some Catholic retreats, so long as one doesn't obsess over the precise names, could enrich any life.

[Brijrian]

You may want to check out a book called "ChristoPaganism: An Inclusive Path" by River Higginbotham and Joyce Higginbotham. I participated in a really neat workshop with Joyce at Pagan Spirit Gathering in June (Pagan Gregorian Chant--Gregorian chant was originally developed by a Druid convert and the method of singing may actually originate from Druidic practice).

I have not yet read her book (it's on my list) but she said that Paganism today is a lot like developing Christianity 2000 years ago--they used to have 3 levels of initiation (like some trads of wicca/paganism), and posess several other similarities.

So you may not be as disparate in your beliefs as you think!

[MyValenwind]

Oh boy, you had to mention Gregorian chants. Ignatia loves Gregorian chants. I think they're awesome too though. I gotta remind her today she's got some replies. Lol.

[Labrys]

You may want to check out a book called "ChristoPaganism: An Inclusive Path" by River Higginbotham and Joyce Higginbotham. I participated in a really neat workshop with Joyce at Pagan Spirit Gathering in June (Pagan Gregorian Chant--Gregorian chant was originally developed by a Druid convert and the method of singing may actually originate from Druidic practice).

I wonder if I will find this theory mentioned in the book by Hutton (Blood and Mistletoe) that so far basically debunks nearly everything everyone THINKS they know about Druids.  I am reading....slowly.  It has been a trying week.