Modern Model Sept 2014 | Page 30

The  Magickal  Journey  to  Yourself   By  Brian  Thornton       MeeGng   RJ   Onyx   Moonshadow,   author   of   Awakening   to   the   Light   of   Magick,   the   first   thing   that   I   noGced   was   that   he   is   confined   to   a   wheelchair,   and   I   felt   sorry  for  him.  I  immediately  imagined  a  life  made  simple  by   limitaGons   and   obstacles.   I   imagined   that   wriGng   was   one   of  his  many  tools  to  escape  –  unGl  he  began  to  speak.     “I’ve   always   been   amazed   by   the   wonders   of   the   universe,   and   find   that   I   am   always   asking   why   things   happen,  and  always  researching  why,”  he  said,  adding  that   he   began   to   post   some   of   his   daily   ponderings   to   social   media   sites,   sharing   his   quesGons   with   the   world.   “I   started   doing  this  years  and  years  ago  and  people  started  liking  it.”     At   some   point,   RJ   said   he   decided   to   gather   a   year’s   worth   of   quesGons   and   pondering,   and   turn   them   into  a  thought-­‐provoking  book.     For   the   book,   I   gathered   up   the   quesGons   and   thoughts   that   I   had   shared   from   Halloween   2012   through   Halloween   2013,”   he   explained,   crediGng   his   mother   for   Modern Model Page 30 her  inspiraGon  and  support.     “First   of   all,   without   a   mother,   none   of   us   would  be  here,”  he  joked,  adding  that  his  mother  has   always   been   an   excepGonal   role   model.   “With   my   disability,   I   know   that   she   went   above   and   beyond   what  other  mothers  would  do.”     Even   as   she   supported   him,   she   also   taught   him   to   be   independent,   be   free,   and   quesGon   everything.     “She   allowed   me   to   form   my   own   spiritual   beliefs,   and   has   her   own   ideas   and   morals,”   he   said.   “She   is   a   feminist,   and   an   individualist,   and   I   have   always  admired  that  about  her.  She  never  forced  me   into   an   organized   religion,   and   let   me   believe   what   I   wanted  to  believe.”     Following   her   example   allowed   himself   to   develop  intellectually,  which  was  the  key  in  wriGng  his   book,  RJ  shared.    “I  have  always  been  interested  in  nature,  and   the   earth   and   stars,   and   over   the   years   I   came   to   realize   that   everything   around   us   is   magic,”   he   said.   “This   book   is   about   opening   your   eyes,   expanding   your   mind,   gaining   a   new   perspecGve   on   life,   and   working  towards  personal  happiness.”     Since   the   book   reference   magic   in   the   Gtle,   RJ   said   some   people   made   an   immediate   amempt   to   connect  the  book  to  witchcra:.     “This   book   is   not   about   any   parGcular   religious   belief   or   principle,   it   is   about   spirituality   in   general,”   he   said.   “If   you   want   to   get   more   out   of   life,   this  book  is  for  you.”    PracGcing  what  he  preaches,  as  his  mind  asks   quesGons,   RJ   is   acGvely   out   in   the   world   seeking   answers,   parGcipaGng   in   art   shows,   fesGvals   and   events  whenever  possible.     “I   have   been   asked   to   do   interviews   with   radio   staGons   and   radio   shows,”   he   said,   admiung   that  one  of  his  recent  highlights  was  an  invitaGon  by  a   Spiritual   Leader   Teal   Swan   to   offer   to   share   his   book   at   her   spiritual   events.   “For   a   couple   of   years,   she   has   been  doing  a  weekly  web  series.”     26,000   followers   later,   she   is   a   prominent   force   in   the   spiritual   movement,   traveling   to   events   worldwide   to   encourage   spiritual   enlightenment,   RJ   explained.     “She   asked   me   to   come   on   one   of   her   talk   shows   and   talk   about   spirituality,   and   my   disability   and  how  it  has  affected  me,”  he  said.      Keeping  busy  with  the  creaGon  of  a  talk  show   of  his  own,  and  daily  interacGons  with  his  followers  on   the   Internet,   RJ   said   his   book,   like   everything   else   in   his  live,  is  about  growth.     “UlGmately,   it   is   about   taking   all   of   the