In my day job, I'm a software engineer with a background in cryptography and infrastructure. I'm also working on a line of "Entheopaints" paint pigments derived from Entheogens), but I seriously doubt that will ever become my full-time job. I'd like to be a writer, but who wouldn't?

In my spare time, I have a piqued interest in video gaming and virtual worlds. I also have an excessive amount of physical books, some 3500+, because I go book shopping every weekend if at all possible (lately it has been more difficult, as I'll elaborate below). I enjoy studying religious topics, everything from Abrahamic religions to Occult studies, and perhaps even more esoteric. I have a robust interest in the Paranormal (if it's not glaringly obvious), everything from psychic phenomena to aliens and interdimensional travel. I don't have anyone in my daily life to talk about these things though, and it's a terribly lonely feeling. I'm hoping by branching out and finding communities to talk about things with that it will help.

I enjoy making electronic music, though I also play guitar and sing (you'll probably never get me to sing for you). I enjoy writing, though I don't typically make my work public I'd like to write a novel one of these days. My favorite books are House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski and Mind Surfer by Mark Leon.

I have been going through some severe health problems lately, and it's necessitating many obnoxious surgeries, so my interest in my spirituality has been revitalized in the past few months, ultimately leading me here and similar places. I haven't had a night of sleep in about 2 months now that I haven't woken up several times either yelling in pain or in tears. I guess you could say that I'm looking for a spiritual connection right now because of it. Most of my waking life is spent in bed now in pain, I'm too young for a bone disease

I am very familiar with Entheogens, and my first psychedelic experience was at the age of 15 (probably a terrible idea in hindsight) with Salvia almost 20 years ago now. I've experimented with everything from Amanita and Belladonna to Yopo and Zacatechichi. Entheogens have been a significant part of my life throughout, specifically for inner spiritual exploration, and I feel like I'm ready to start sharing knowledge (if you can call it that) that with others.

Greetings yamamushi,

I can not imagine what it is like having a bone disease. I hope that you have people in your life to support you.

Like you we are all mortal, but anything that makes mortality more prescient is disquieting.

I am not sure I can be of much consolation, but I have the inclination to believe our lives are but an infinitesimally small portion of an infinity to which we will always belong. There is no end, and there was probably never a beginning.

Writers write.



Have you read Whitley Strieber's Communion or The Key? Those are marketed as non fiction alien encounter books. A good fiction one is The Tommyknockers by Stephen King.




Very interesting, I'll have to read those, particularly Mind Surfer

Everything that happens to us is a good opportunity for us to learn, right? Welcome and best of luck with everything, brother.

Any thoughts on DMT? (What is it and what does it do)

Welcome!

I am sorry to hear of your pain, though I am glad to hear you're trying to treat it.

Your post is a lot of talking points, so I'll pick one..
I am also interested in religious studies, have found that the Hermetic principles are the most concise and accurate personally.
As for the occult and esoteric, just to maybe raise an eyebrow, I've found that Crowley knows what he's talking about. His Thelemic religion is not something I condone, but one and only book of his I recommend an aspiring person read is "Book 4"

For me, those two things tie in intimately with the paranormal, of which I've had some very powerful experiences with. I might make a post about my experiences, and link it here if you'd like to read/share.

I hope you find your place here. Im very new to the nexus, but it is a very informative and accepting place so long as you are sincere in what you say