I had been been spending too much time and effort in trying to
secure all the material things in life. I was losing focus on what
was really important. This site was started because I was feeling
the pull to bring Spirit back into my life.
I couldn't decide where to direct my energies. I wanted to keep
a Journal of sorts. I wanted to teach what I have learned over the
years. I wanted a place where I could discuss various topics and
issues. Since I couldn't decide which route to take, I decided to
take all of them, and this web site was born.
The first thing many people ask is, "So, who the heck are
you to be preaching all this stuff?" and other similar questions,
so I'll start right off with my FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Q: Why is this site called A Path?
A: I believe that everyone walks their own path through
life seeking growth and union with Spirit, whatever they perceive
Spirit to be. Different religions take their paths through different
territories, different cultures affect the scenery, and each
person walks a slightly different path. However, All Paths Eventually
End at Spirit. This site describes my path and what I've seen
along the way. It is not THE Path, it is just A Path.
Q: So, who the heck are you?
A: My name is Brian. I am a self-taught computer guru
that has been involved with metaphysics since I was fourteen
years old (I'm 36 now). I have been learning and teaching for
years informally, and wanted to make some of the concepts I've
come up with over the years available online to others who may
be seeking answers to see if they "fit" for them.
Q: Why should I listen to you?
A: Why not? I've learned what I have in life by reading
and listening to whatever I could find. Take what helps you
and toss the rest.
Q: What training do you have?
A: I have no formal training in any occult system or
religious mysticism. However, I have been "researching"
it for more than twenty years though an exhaustive educational
process called "living". It is great for teaching
you things whether you want to learn them or not. And if you
are actually trying to learn things, it is even better!
Q: Where did you come up with all this stuff then?
A: Through a lifetime of reading, listening
and observing, and then trying to
put it all together
into something that makes sense to me. I have taken various
classes which helped bring some of my ideas into better focus,
but it has been primarily through observation and research.
The concepts are drawn from a variety of eastern and western
sources, with my own ideas added in.
Q: What religion is this?
A: It is not a religion.
It is just what I think. However, for those looking for a starting
point, the closest religion that I've found is eclectic Wicca.
The majority of my beliefs align closely with Wiccan beliefs
and I've adopted a few of the Wiccan labels for things, but
I was not "Wiccan-trained".
Rather I developed my own personal
spirituality over the years, learning and experiencing many
different philosophies and beliefs and picking and choosing
the ones that "rang true" for me, and arranged them
in a way that made sense to me.
It is not a formal religion. It is a spiritual
framework that I have built for myself that works for me.
If anyone else finds pieces of it that they find useful, I am
happy to have helped in some way. It has bits and pieces that
may come directly or indirectly from a variety of western and
eastern religions. Where I can identify a particular doctrine's
viewpoint, I will try to mark it as such.
Q: Do you believe in God / Spirit / Divinity?
A: Yes, but probably not in the way that you expect.
I see The Universe around us as Divine,
along with every aspect of it. You, me, that creepy guy around
the corner, the squirrel in your back yard, the chair you are
sitting on. All of it, Divine.
Q: Are you trying to convert me?
A: Nope. Not a bit. I am making this site primarily for
me. Through teaching you learn amazing things, so I have structured
this as a teaching site to help me to think about how to present
my ideas and help me to crystallize my thoughts on different
subjects so that I can present them clearly.
Q: Can I convert you?
A: You're free to try through any peaceful means if you
really want to. I try to remain open to any other ideas and
welcome reasonable challenges to my belief system. If you just
want to tell me that I'm going somewhere bad when I die because
I think this way, don't waste your time. I've been through it
plenty of times. However, if you think you have a logical argument
for why a particular idea on this site seems wrong, please let
me know and I will happily consider your points and evaluate
my own beliefs in relation to them.
Q: Who or what is Methastra? What kind of name is that?
A: Pronounced "Me-thas-tra", with the "e"
pronounced like in "beg", it is a "magical name,"
meaning that I use it as a name when working with magic, or
in metaphyscal discussions, like here on this web site.
Methastra is a combination of the names of three planes of
existance: Material, Ethereral, and Astral.
I chose it to signify the importance of maintaining contact
with each realm as you go about your daily life.
I have never heard of anyone else using it, liked the uniqueness
of it, the symbolism of it, and it sounds neat. That's enough
for me!
Q: What are those lines under the menu: 
?
A: That's my runic signature. They are called Futhark
runes, and consist of three letters, M E and A. They stand for
the Material, Ethereal and Astral planes,
from which I derived the name Methastra.
It is like signing your initials to something to identify it,
where you don't feel like writing out your whole signature.
Q: Can I contact you?
A: Sure, just send an email to brian@apath.org.
Note: I have spam-blocking software installed
and you will need to reply to the message you get back from
it or I won't ever see your message. It's a hassle, but I get
new spam every 5 minutes or less and I had to do something.
This site is growing and changing a lot so if you see something
I goofed up or would like to see more on a particular topic just
post in the forum or email me and let me know.
Blessed
Be,
