User:Torc
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Torc, P.A.C. Bloos was born in Belgium (07-08-1966) and grew up in a very small place, Loksbergen, which is part of the Hageland-route - known for its nature and wide range of fruits. He grew up in a Roman Catholic environment which he found inspiring until he became a teenager. He became a punkrocker and after a while also a vegetarian. For 12 years he was part of the alternative music scene in Belgium, playing in different bands as a bass-player and performing light shows and working as a roadie on occasion for befriended local and international bands. At a certain point things stagnated, the local meeting point was closed and besides going to shows he was becoming bored with his life.
A deep inner calling emerged and some time later he decided to become a vedic brahmin in the Srí Gaudiya Vaisnava Tradition. During these 12 years he learned a lot from different teachers and received his last initiation in 1999. He loved the philosophy and ritual aspects of this tradition very much but was disappointed how many people are misguided and fall into a system of blindly following rules and regulations instead of developing love, which is after all the central focus of this tradition.
In 1999 it also became clear to him that he had to do something with Druidry. After 2 years of denial (too busy with his students, ...) and meeting up with Philip Carr-Gomm (Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. He started the Bardic Course (OBOD) and his life changed completely. Now, 7 years further, he finds himself fully inspired, busy as never before, with the Amsterdam Seed Group (founded in 2004), our Dutch Magazines Dryade and Nemeton, co-organizing the Dutch OBOD membership weekends, doing workshops and rituals, writing articles, teaching and work full days and being a father to 2 children. He founded the Order of the Aspen, the first Dutch druid order in May 2005 and in September 2005 the druidic Eadhadh Foundation that is active in the Netherlands and Belgium. He is a member of the druid Order of the Yew, the Dutch local member coordinator and a Staff member for the Druid Network after meeting up with Emma Restall-Orr (also known as Bobcat) in 2005 and also became a Council member of The New Order of Druids who run an online Druid College called Grove of Dana.
Currently he's working together with some like minded persons to present a course in which people are introduced to several old traditions in a practical way, including Shamanism, Druidry, Wicca, Asatru, Song and Dance (as a way of expression). With this project they hope to bring a message of harmony as there is more that these traditions bind than that diverts them from each other. This course will start April 2006.
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