Friday, December 20, 2013

Why I Write - Conversations with Author Reverend David Robert Cobbb

As an author, I draw upon my vast knowledge of occult sciences that I have studied and practiced over the last 25 years. However, I do not consider myself as an expert in any one field, but I would say I am well versed in many practices and belief systems.

Credit for my knowledge comes from many authors. Most notably from early 20th century, occult science authors such as Aleister Crowley, A.E. Waite, Israel Regardie, among others.

I believe my greatest skills as a writer lies in my ability to be able to find any information that is required for my work effortlessly. Whether the information comes from printed material, over the internet, or just a “knowing” as if inspired by an unseen muse, everything I require has a way of presenting itself to complete my project.

I believe in presenting any occult knowledge in simple terms so that everyone may understand the concepts and information that I am presenting. This, of course, is difficult in some cases, because esoteric knowledge, for the most part, is written the seeker to be discovered on his or her own through meditation and practice.

One could say that most of my works are written in a simple understandable format like the popular “For Dummies” or “For Idiots” books. However, these reviews are usually from those already versed in the occult arts.

I see writing as a form of service to the community that I belong, the Wiccan and occult community, to provide education, insight, and self-awareness. 

It brings me joy knowing that I am presenting information that has been lost, forgotten, scattered throughout many books and other forms of media, or misinterpreted in other author’s works.

Many of my readers have asked me what provides me inspiration for writing. This is not an easy question to answer, since I live mostly secluded from the outside or non-magickal world. Some of my inspiration comes from my small community consisting of other metaphysical practitioners, friends, and colleagues.

However, much of my writing seems to come from Divine inspiration, compared to almost for lack of a better word, like channeling. There are times during my writing sessions that I will go back and re-read what I have written, and am amazed in what I have written, not remembering writing anything that I have wrote. Other times, my mind cannot keep up with my typing or writing, which has increased my words per minute almost doubled in the last few years. 

Communing with nature also is a contributing factor in my inspiration to write, since so much of nature reflects the awe, beauty, and power of the Divine. I try, as much as I can, since I live in the city, to visit places in nature. Parks, nature preserves, greenways, and rural areas, especially near a water source such as a running spring, lake, or river relaxes and frees my mind from the mundane and allows me to focus on the Divine, which is the basis for most of my works.

I also believe that one of the greatest skills a writer should also have is reading. I am an avid reader and read almost everything that I find interesting. I have to confess that my favorite authors are Stephen King, Robin Cook, Piers Anthony, and of course J.K. Rowling. By reading a wide variety of books from many subjects, not just the subject matter that you the author typically write about, an author can learn different styles of writing.

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