A mystical soul with just the right amount of irreverence to keep him grounded
Andrew is a mystical soul with just the right amount of irreverent rogueishness to keep him grounded and practical. His esoteric education began at the age of 13 with the purchase of a copy of Crowley’s Magick In Theory and Practice at a Psychic Fair. He was consumed by an overwhelming fascination with the disciplines and practices he had discovered and began a lifelong study of the Art Magickal.
Shortly after his introduction to magick, Andrew began to study the Tarot which became a constant source of divinatory wisdom for him over the last 15 years. His many spiritual interests have led him to explore various branches of esoteric discipline including Shamanism, Chaos Magick, Ceremonial Magick, Vodoun, and Lukumi/Santeria. Andrew is also a member of various initiatory orders of the Western Esoteric Tradition.
He immerses himself in the world of sensate experiences, though he has been known to endure the odd hermitage or retreat for fasting, meditation and personal development and holds many different perspectives on life through his various personal experiences.
A graduate from the Ontario College of Art’s Sculpture program in 1996 and 10 years of exemplary Juijitsu training and experience makes Andrew an Artist in both visual and martial arts fields. He’s put his skills to work in the corporate arena starting as a mailroom clerk working his way up to a department manager and ultimately a graphic designer prior to opening his own graphic design firm, Sharkbait Design, in 1999. His intimate knowledge of the challenges and blessings to be found in self-employment infuses all of the work he does on both an esoteric and exoteric level.
Andrew’s studies of Peer, or Co-Counselling as its known, in 1998 were born out of a desire to develop emotionally, professionally, artistically, and spiritually. He feels that the honesty, growth, and clarity that came from this work benefited him greatly and they led him to take on a leadership role in creating the Wide Open series of gatherings, which are now in their 6th year of successful operation.
Andrew has moved on to other projects, but Wide Open gatherings continue to be held throughout Canada and the United States. Andrew continues to co-create public events and rituals as a result of his experiences and the Thelemic Sweat ritual which Andrew co-created continues to provide an important and powerful tool for healing for those who attend it.
Wit and wisdom shared in equal measure are a part of Andrew’s life philosophy and he holds a firm belief that laughter is the best tool for undergoing challenge and ordeal.