About ... and the World 🌑

The Journey

As the header of this site states: This blog is over 20 years old and my views, experiences, thoughts, and opinions have changed a lot over the years and likely will continue to do as I learn more. This is a blog about a journey, often taking the wrong paths and learning from it, not about arriving at a final destination.

For two decades, this space has served as a digital diary, a theological laboratory, and a public record of that evolution.

The Theological & Esoteric Evolution

My academic and spiritual background is deeply rooted in traditional theology; I hold a Masters in Divinity and previously served as a deacon in the Russian Orthodox Christian Church. For a long time, my writing heavily reflected that specific framework, focusing on Orthodox Ecclesiology and the intersections of faith, history, and daily life.

However, a genuine pursuit of knowledge rarely stays confined to a single tradition. My research has since expanded far beyond those initial borders into deep esoteric study. Today, my focus centers on comparative theology, Western esotericism, Hermeticism, Gnosticism, and Alchemy. I analyze everything from the historical taxonomy of adversarial figures in ancient texts to the intricate typologies of the divine—exploring cosmological frameworks like the Sephiroth and Qliphoth, and the deeper mysteries surrounding figures like Samael, his consort Lilith, and her steed Tan'niver.

The Earthly Pursuits

While much of my writing looks toward the celestial, the primordial, and the esoteric, I am firmly grounded in a variety of earthly pursuits.

Professionally, my background includes degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science, and I operate as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Creatively, I am the author of the epic fantasy novel series, The Vhaidra Saga. 

When I step away from theological research, my interests are highly tactile. I am an avid enthusiast of vintage and re-release Tamiya RC vehicles (and a host of The RC Deep Dive podcast), a lifelong skateboarder until a recent disability ended my skating career, and contributor to independent skate magazines like Double Down, SK8, and Backside, and a dedicated player of OSR tabletop role-playing games. You'll likely find me fueled by a rather strict Paleo diet and a soundtrack of 1980s punk and new wave. 

The Author

My preferred name is Nik (though you may see me writing under the moniker "Occupant"). I am a father to three wonderful children which are the three most important things in my life, and each a member of a different generation; a Millenial adult, a Gen Z teenager, and an Alpha Generation preteen, while I am a member of Generation X. Thank you for reading, and for joining me on the journey.

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