Challenge Entry #5 - 
Teachers of Magick – Student of Magick
Since I have never known a mentor or had a teacher, I decided to answer the prompts for this challenge.
→ Was there someone who influenced my decision to practice magick?
Not as such. I was raised Roman Catholic by my mother who was raised the same by her mother. But by the same token, there were the ones that told me tales of brownies, fairies, will o’ wisps, selkies and the like. From them I learned which red clovers were edible, when honeysuckle flowers were ready to suck out the nectar, how to catch fireflies, press flowers, learn to wish on the evening star, stamp (like your thumb, place the thumbprint in the palm of the opposite hand, make a fist and stamp it into the palm) 10 white horses to make a wish, learned all the fairytales and tell which birds brought which messages.
→ Do I have a parent/grandparent/sibling/neighbor/friend/etc who helped me on my journey?
Oops, I didn’t read ahead but yes, my grandmother, as I mentioned above.
→ Is there a magickal/occult author whose works I was able to learn from?
My first introduction was books by both Raymond Buckland and Scott Cunningham. I devoured the information and chose my self initiation ritual from Cunningham’s book. Over time, as the internet developed, I found other sources and authors.
→ Is there a prominent figure- historical or fantastical- who inspired me?
I suppose I was always fascinated with the tales of Circe, Medea, and endlessly lost in the world of Grimm fairytales.
→ Do I have a student-teacher relationship with my deity/deities or guardian spirits?
No, I don’t think I would call it a student-teacher relationship 
→ Have I learned from others, myself, or a mix of both?
Both.
I have to say that the number one source that I’ve learned from and continue to do so is Spells8 and this forum! The challenges expand my knowledge and comfort zone. I love being able to ask questions of others and learn from their experiences. I also am learning on my own as I grow and experiment. Learning to be more confident and comfortable, learning to make and strengthen new connections in the spirit world.