I’m currently a physical health physician in private practice for the past 35 years. Was initiated through 3 degrees of Masonic Blue Lodge almost 40 years ago but quickly became disillusioned. Initiated into a Celtic Wicca coven about 25 years ago. The coven was dysfunctional and pretty much disbanded shortly after. Tried to continue on my own but Scott Cunningham just wasn’t enough to keep me going. So, that also ended after a short while. By then my career was in full swing and taking most of my time. Drifted here and there spiritually for the next 20 years. Became very interested in Tarot again about 5 years ago and started to discover online communities. Stumbled onto the Spells8 website doing some research and here we are! Something recent that seems odd to mention but feels very relevant is that my Mother-in-law, who has lived with us for the past 28 years, died a few weeks ago at home, in her sleep, in her own bed. She was 96 years old. Funny, but something about that seems to have helped lead me here.
I don’t know why but something about your introduction just pleased me. Sounds to me like this is the path that you were supposed to be on religion wise. Seems like no matter where you are in life you eventually find your way back to it. I wish you the best of luck! I don’t really know any of the phrases used here on the site but I guess Merry meet would be applicable in this case, correct? LOL.
Hi Miss Kitty Kat, Thanks for you kind words. I’m not especially current with all the “lingo” but Merry Meet sounds appropriate. You’re right, we may drift off course, sometimes way, way off course, but if something is truely to be we somehow find our way back to it.
Greetings from New Mexico! Welcome to both @Blaine and @Kitty-Koobie-Kat!
@Blaine, you have had a long path. I hope this can be your “home” for a while so you can rest. So sorry for your loss. At the same time, I’m grateful for the guidance which brought you here.
Scott Cunningham was one of my favorite authors for quite a while as I was learning in the 1990’s. May he rest in peace.
Like you, I had phases of on again, off again witchcraft. It was more of a case of real life taking over for a time, learning down side rabbit holes, and bringing experience back with me to firm up areas of my belief system I didn’t know were weak. At the moment, I’m in a spiritual slow period. Just moved, so real life is messing with me.
Absolutely applicable.
I’m pleased to make the acquaintance of both of you and am looking forward to learning from and with you both.
Greetings @georgia
Yes, many, many rabbit holes have helped to round out my seemingly scattered belief system. I hope I didn’t come across as disrespectful of Mr. Cunningham. I still have and will go back to his books for reference. It certainly was a lot different back then without the internet.
It certainly was a lot different back then without the internet.
It’s hard to believe I had the chance to start something at the beginning of the Internet and had no ideas. It simply wasn’t meant to be this time around.
Not at all. It is difficult to create a living practice from a static book, yet those books are valuable resources, even after so many years. I remember enjoying the scents of the mixtures of herbs and oils on his lists of correspondences.
Hi, @Blaine and @Kitty-Koobie-Kat
I’m Dan - Welcome to Spells8!
Merry meet is used a lot - but our greetings and salutations vary a bit. I tend to write like I would any time - there is no established format.
I study belief systems and I’m also diving into Norse and Celtic pantheons. I enjoy Tarot, Lenormand, Futhark runes. My path falls loosely under the Chaos umbrella.
Enjoy Spells8 - there is a LOT here and everyone is very welcoming.
Welcome, @Blaine and Merry Meet! We’re so glad you found us and decided to join. I’m Feathertip, from SE Michigan. In my non-retired life I was in health-care management, for various private practices, so I’ve had the pleasure of working with many wonderful health-care professionals. Happy to see you! 
I’ve been practicing for less than a year, though I’ve always been a pagan. Currently, my interests include Lenormand cards for divination and exploring my connection with nature. I don’t have a whole lot of religious beliefs with gods/goddesses, but I do have a whole lot of wonder. 
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions about anything- your new Coven is full of kind and informative people. 
Jump in wherever you feel comfortable!
I look forward to seeing you around the forum!
Blessings. 
And a blessed welcome to you as well, @Kitty-Koobie-Kat - and Merry Meet!
I hope you are finding your way around the forum all right. There’s a lot of information and it can feel a bit overwhelming, so please feel free to ask for help or clarification about anything!
We’re so glad you have found us! I look forward to seeing you around and getting to know you.
Blessed be! 
Hi, @Blaine! I’m Amethyst from Southern West Virginia. Welcome to the forum! 
It’s lovely to meet you! And another Scott Cunninham fan, yay! But yeah, I get what you mean about continuing. I always wanted to know what witches do daily, not only on the Full Moons and Sabbats. That’s one of the things that drew me to this forum! So I’m glad you found us!
I am sorry to hear about your Mother-in-Law, but it sounds like she had a wonderful life full of happiness and love, which is a great thing. And you never know, maybe she helped you find this site. Stranger things have happened.
If you have any questions or anything, just ask, and someone will pop up and give you a hand. I look forward to getting to know you!
Hi, @Kitty-Koobie-Kat! I wanted to make sure I welcomed you to the forum, too! It’s nice to meet you. I’m Amethyst from Southern West Virginia.
Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m an Eclectic Witch who is in the midst of changing a bit, or at least I think I am. I like candle magic and chants, and doing different daily prayers. What kind of magic are you interested in?
Greetings @Blaine & @Kitty-Koobie-Kat and welcome!
My name is Kat, and I started practicing the craft in 1993. I practice bioregional nature magick and work closely with the natural world, and drawing inspiration from plant spirits, animal spirits. My interests include herbalism, gardening, and divinatory practices like tarot, throwing bones, Lenormand and ogham.
There is a wonderful search function that will help you dig for more information in the forums!
We’re glad to have you here. 
Make yourself comfortable, explore, and feel free to ask questions!
Merry Meet @Blaine and @Kitty-Koobie-Kat ! Welcome to the coven! It is great to have you not with us! I’m from Minnesota and have been practicing many aspects of the craft for 35+ years. I currently work with voodoo and divination.
The courses here in Spells8 are a fabulous place to learn new things and refresh things we already know. Feel free to ask questions anytime and jump in to any conversation that grabs your attention.
Blessings
Hello @Blaine and @Kitty-Koobie-Kat - it’s very nice to meet you both!
I’m Bry, an Eclectic Witch and one of the moderators here. I hope you’re both finding everything you need! Make yourselves at home
I’m seconding Kitty-Koobie-Kat that it sounds like you’ve listened to your heart and found your way. Perhaps you were led by the spirits of loved ones, perhaps through the hand of fate or destiny if you believe in those forces, or perhaps by your own guiding compass - or all of the above! Whatever or whoever helped you, the important thing is that you’re where you are now. Congrats to you for the journey so far, and may there be many blessings for you on the road ahead! 
Merry meet is perfect “witchy lingo” for a greeting But like others have said, there’s no pressure to speak a certain way! Feel free to adopt phrases that you like or stick to how you usually speak. Either way, we’re happy to have you here in the forum with us. Be at home! 
Hello, Blaine! Sounds like you’ve been on quite the lifepath so far. I’m fairly new to this coven, but given what I’ve seen, two blessings are taking place: the first being where you have reached out to share your journey with the coven; the second being the coven opening their arms and accepting that gift.
These are a great bunch, welcoming and kind. I hope you love it here!
@Ploxxieboodle I tend to be a “Loner” and have trouble participating. I must say, it’s been easier than I thought thus far.
Thanks @Mystique. I grew up in north central Iowa about 20 miles south of the Minnesota state line.
Centerville, Iowa. Left long ago. Only visited it a few times since.
@dan3 Titonka, Iowa population 500. Left 45 years ago and haven’t been back. Hated it there while growing up. Never felt like I truly belonged. However, if I had the chance to do it over again I wouldn’t change a thing.