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Underground > Temple >

Magical culture in the U.S.

07:17 / 31.03.07

RustyGoldhouse started a really good thread, and think it'd be cool to continue on that thought. Anyone care to share their experience in local magical circles in the U.S., locally speaking?

I'm from Tampa, FL. and I've found that most people who I can can relate to in regards to my practice as a solitary magician, who draws a lot of my influences out of the chaos magick/crowley/thelemite current, is Santerians, Wiccans, and Pentacostals. There are several Pentacostal churches in they city, though all of them are situated in working class neighborhoods. I have visited several masses, hoping to witness one of the really good "gifts of the spirit", like glossolalia or a good spiritual possesion, but never did. Wiccan covens are a bit hard to come by, but predominantly I've found either gay male wiccans or Dianic witches. The northern outskirts of Tampa are pretty country, and most straight wiccans I've met live there.

Santeria-Lucumi bodegas are highly prevalent in central Tampa. I have yet to really participate in a Santeria-Lucumi ritual or group, so I can't really comment on the depth or scope of the Santeria-Lucumi community here. ]

There's also a pretty decent Rasta culture in Tampa too, if you'd care to consider that within the same range as the other groups. There are several pretty cool hotshops in tampa, all run and owned by Haitians. In recent years I've taken a strong interest in traditions developing from the african diaspora, like Macumba, Santo Daime, Santeria-Lucumi, and Vodun, and found the presence of these traditions all throughout Tampa. Whether or not my interest was due to presence of these groups in my normal range of activity, or a classic case of loa-meddling always puts a smile on my face.

What's your city like?

The Ghost of Tom Winter

07:45 / 31.03.07

At the moment I am living in Tallahassee, FL. The magic group here, which I can't seem to find much of one, seems to consist of old Wiccan ladies who really like cats (If my local occult store can be a judge on anything that is).
There's a pretty strong set of Buddhist groups ranging from Zen to Shambhala.
My anthropology professor has talked about some churches just outside of town where the folk get touched by the "Holy Ghost" and start dancing to the preacher's gospel. I haven't gone yet, but planning on doing so.
Other than this, I have found zilch in ways of magic like communities.

My home is in Orlando, FL. And I have found even less there.

I'm not sure if either a) I'm not looking hard enough b) no one has bothered to start a group or c) there is no demand.

I hope its A, but who knows.

11:49 / 31.03.07

You might try the UU church. I know a guy who at one point was into the psychedelic shamanism thing who's become active there. His LJ mentions pagans & witches in conjunction with the Unitarian Universalists.

I don't actually *read* those messages that closely, because I'm not that likely to pop up at the church on a Sunday, living as I do 10 hours south of there.

Could introduce you via LJ or email, if you like. He's been a local for ages and might know more than me.

05:00 / 01.04.07

Thanks grant, but did you mean a local in Tampa, or Tallahassee?

The Ghost of Tom Winter

08:56 / 01.04.07

I assume he meant Tallahassee, since 10 hours south of Tampa would put him somewhere in Cuba.

That sounds pretty awesome grant, I never heard of the UU before this but it sounds like my cup of tea. Sadly I won’t be able to make it to the service today but I’m definitely planning on heading over there next Sunday.
And a local psychedelic shaman would be an interesting person to meet.

Thanks for the info too.

16:39 / 02.04.07

He's "cookiebastard" on LJ.

It's, ummm, a Burning Man name. I gave him the "cookie" component because he's a heck of a cook. The "bastard" just came naturally.

16:42 / 02.04.07

Yeah, sorry, I don't know much about Tampa any more. I went to the same school as id-entity in Sarasota, though, and would be surprised if there wasn't *something* (disorganized, irregular, but energetic) going on with the current crowd. There was a local group of magicky types in Sarasota in the 1980s, who put on wiccan lectures in people's houses. I never did too much with them, and can't even remember the organization's name.

20:00 / 04.04.07

I've only been In New York for a little less than eight months, and the only people I've met who were open about discussing there praxis/perspectives were O.T.O's. I really liked them alot, but ultimatley I don't think we jived very well...despite my absolute adoration of Crowley and his works(not to mention the godesses they and I have in common) I think that my background is to heavily influenced by continental philosophy to allow for a proper convergance.

At this point, New York's being one of the prominent(perhaps premiere) epicenters of super-condensed energy nearly needs not mentioning. Around every corner of the city one encounters such intesified intention and accelerated psychic/emotional fluxuations that one always feels as though one is arriving at a just then created universe.

As far as where the ever elusive secret creator chiefs of New York City can be found; Mystery, par excellence ...perhaps I am doomed to haunt the lonely fringes of the village?

misterdomino.org

21:08 / 12.05.07

In New York, check out Alex Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in Chelsea. Great place to go to meet people with the same interests. His website has a list of all the events that he hosts at the gallery...
www.alexgrey.com
In particular, the entheogenic salons generate tons of energy and a great atmosphere. Maybe I should make a post in Gatherings about a barbelith meet up there or somethin'.

18:06 / 26.05.07

I live in Minneapolis and have had little luck in finding other people into magick and the occult who are not bat-fucking nuts. I have a couple of friends with whom I am able to discuss such things, and but beyond that I am at a loss. Which is strange, because we have a couple of pretty good "new age" bookstores that carry good stuff, but I have yet to break into, much less find, the actual community here. Anyone else from the MPLS?? Where is all the action at?