As the latest addition to the BoA staff of columnists I thought I might offer you, gentle reader, a few words of introduction to my life's work, mystical studies and philosophic leanings.

For as far back as I can remember I have been curious about the not-so-easily explained events and artifacts of this crazy world. Most of my life has been spent studying literature, philosophy, metaphysics and the occult. I am an astrologer, a journalist, an internationally syndicated writer and a practicing psychic. First and foremost, however, I am open-minded. As a writer and as a researcher I am not so very complicated, I suppose. My rules are simple: question everything and never be silent. And certainly I have been known to study obsessively and to speak my mind clearly, abundantly and without apology.

Creativity and spiritualism are clearly my passions. Over the 48 years of my life I have consistently opted for friendship over ambition, wisdom over knowledge and, hopefully, compassion over material gain. Even though I grew up surrounded by traditional ideas and practical people, I have always felt my calling to involve the examination of high strangeness and the unearthing of the truly mystical. I do, ironically, come from a long line of accountants, lawyers, doctors and judges which, in my view, only proves that God has a sense of humor.

Over the years there were many opportunities for me to train in any one of these highly respected vocations. Being the visionary sort, however, I took the road less traveled and was originally trained as a poet. In the grand scheme of things this means one of two things: either I am bold and cynical or, alternately, I am idealistic and childlike. On a more practical level, it means I usually can't pay my rent.

Generally though, for me it has persistently meant that the truly worthwhile moments in life are the personal and deeply felt ones: an unexplained encounter, a rare coincidence, a fear finally conquered. These are the things that give life it's texture and meaning. After all, a belief in angels, UFOs or monsters in the woods is most keenly felt by actually witnessing one. Call me romantic, call me flaky…but I think we learn best through the actual, heart-pounding, real life, have-nightmares-about-it-later type experiences.

Far too often writers prattle on with their theories and research. For me, although someone else's ideas are interesting, they hold no personal significance. All I have in this world is my mind, my senses and my need to learn. Ultimately, curiosity is the only tool we are given. After all, if these esoteric concepts have real meaning, if they are really part of the mainstream human experience, then they must actually appear in our lives somewhere.

Perhaps it is my drive to understand all things otherworldly that has brought many clients, friends and colleagues into my life who have endured unusual and strange events: shadow people, space portals, ghosts, aliens and other dimensions, to name a few. To them, these encounters did not take place in a book, in a library or in a film: they happened in their own back yards, in their showers or at moments of great emotion. They were visceral, real life experiences. And, I must admit, I have had some rather powerful encounters with unearthly entities myself. Someday I hope to discover the source and importance of these experiences.

And so, gentle reader, I hope you will visit this column often and, if so motivated, email me with some stories of your own. I promise to spend my precious time on the pages of BoA writing from my own intimate perspective. I promise to reveal the real stories of when and where the esoteric has appeared in my life, influenced me or furthered my understanding. I have spent many years gathering insight about ancient mysticism, astro-theology, extra-terrestrials, conspiracies and the occult and I would very much like to explore my experiences with you. Above all, keep an open mind and please think of these pages as a journal of cryptic moments, as a postcard from beyond or, in some cases, as a catalogue of the truly bizarre.