My name is Sarah Veale and I am a writer and religious studies student in Toronto, Ontario.
You may know me from my work in journalism or maybe one of my blogs. It’s possible you don’t know me at all. Well, here’s your chance to change that.
Shall we begin?
I am currently a religious studies student at York University. That sounds very stuffy and boring, but my goal is to pursue graduate work in the emerging field of Western esotericism, an area of academic study which covers such diverse ideas as Neoplatonic philosophy, divination, mysticism, and other practices which fall under the rubric of magic. I am a member of the Golden Key Honour Society, the Dean’s Circle of Student Scholars, and my research paper on the Kabbalah was awarded the Israel Mida and Family Award for Excellence in Jewish Studies.
Prior to returning to university, I was a freelance writer who contributed to several web and print publications. At the height of my career, my work was read by over two million readers each month. My most notable work was with View Magazine, Hamilton’s weekly alt newspaper, and the nationally published Inside Entertainment. During this time, I talked to a lot of really cool (and famous!) people, learned a bunch of new things (and got paid for it!), and guest lectured at Mohawk College on the writing process (obviously, that made me feel really, really important). I’m not going to lie to you, being a writer kicked a lot of ass.
In addition to my “official” work as a writer, I have been blogging since 2003. My current blog is Invocatio, which details my experiences as a student of religion interested in Western esotericism. An irreverent take on reverential topics, Invocatio is read by academics, students of religion and occultists around the world.
Since moving to Canada in 2002, I’ve increasingly learned the importance of community involvement. I am a past member of both the Keep Hamilton Clean Committee and the Hamilton Cycling Committee. More recently, I established a resident’s association in my neighbourhood. In addition to my duties as association chair, I was also responsible for our online presence and coordinating action efforts among residents. My current volunteer work, as a Peer Advisor at York University, focuses on helping my fellow students achieve academic excellence.
In my free time, I like to watch funny movies and listen to music. I often pretend to not drink nearly as much coffee as I do, and I wish I were better at accessorizing. A proud native of Chicago, I root for the White Sox and whomever is playing the Cubs.
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