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Here is our nation's page of frequently asked questions. Anything you may be wondering about the Domain: such as the seriousness of our micronational project, what our intentions are in the world today, and various other inquiries, can be found here. We hope this FAQ avails you of any confusion concerning the Domain and Realms. However, if there are any questions that you have that aren't addressed here, feel free to write the Imperium with whatever questions you may have.
"Why were the Domain and Realms formed?"
The Domain and Realms were formed to bring together people who believe in all things magickal, mysticakl, wonderous, and otherwise unexplained into a community whose common goal is to help bring a better understanding of the otherwise "unexplained" aspects of Reality; and to help bring magick back into the world a little at a time. This can extened to a broad spectrum of individuals: anywhere from Christianity and Wicca, to paganism and Buddhism; from therianthropes and sanguines, to seers and mediums, from scholars and teachers, to those who just believe;... and beyond. In the years since the Domain was formed, It's spectrum has expanded a little, but the purpose remains the same.
"Is the Domain and Realms a roleplaying group?"
While there are some elements of description in the Domain and Realms that are taken in part from fictional sources, they are solely for the sake of describing certain things and places from a Domani point-of-view. The Domain and Realms is a serious community project with real citizenship, real goals, and a real purpose. No one and nothing about the Domain and Realms is a joke.
"Is the Domain and Realms a separatist/soverignity/sedition movement?"
The Domain and Realms is the type of micronation whose core purpose is to bring together a community of like-minded individuals to work towards a common goal. Our nation sees no real need to claim land or property in order to come together as a community. In many ways, we pattern ourselves after the Society of Creative Anachronism(SCA). While we do name different areas of the world where Domani can be found as Realms, this is done solely to give our project more of a sense of realism,... and not to lay claim on anything. We have no need to secede from our countries-of-residence, assert our soverignity, or start a revolution of any kind to be a nation united. We are soverign in ourselves, united as a nation, and have faith in our purpose and goals. Nothing extreme is needed to do that. Simply believing in what we do suffices.
"Are your population numbers real or just made up? Your population says one number, but there's not a whole lot of people who are actually in your forum."
All of our citizens are real, down to the last individual. But like all micronations, we also suffer from inactive citizenry. In the years to come, we hope to change this, so that everyone can participate in and enjoy the benefits of the goals we're working towards. But like all things worthwhile, it takes time and work to get to them.
"Is the Domain strictly an online community, or do you have plans to have it grow beyond online?"
In the beginning, the Domain and Realms was an online micronational community. However, with the advent of the annual Feis Domani celebrations(to take place every year on the Autumnal Equinox), we took a step into the real world. We plan to continue having more Feis Domani events in the future, so that Domani will feel that they're more a part of the community than just along for the ride. It will also bring us more into the eye of the magickal community, so those who may be looking for a group or community to belong to can look to us as well as other groups in the magickal community. That way, we're doing our part to help bring magick back into the world: a little at a time.
"What are your nation's goals and endeavours? what services do you offer to your community and the magickal community?"
Our goal and endeavour is to help bring more magick, mysticism, and wonder back into the world for the betterment of the world. To do that, we've taken up a few projects geared towards that goal.
1) The founding of our own educational system, embodied in the Domani School of Belief and Magick, the Library of the Domain, and the Domani Healers' Hall.
The Domani School is being worked on even as we speak, by its Headmaster: Lord Flint Luchtaine ap Nine Death Storms, who rules the Domani Realm of Sil Magra. We're working on the curricula, semesters and scheduling, and gaining teachers to teach those who may wish to enroll as students.
The Domani Library was made to be a repository for any and all documents dealing with subjects of a magickal, mystickal, occult, pagan, or paranormal nature,... to be utilized freely by the magickal community. Everything from spells, workbooks, poetry, stories, songs, and various other documents have been donated by Domani and non-Domani alike to the Library. Submissions are ever and always welcome, and we hope to have the well of information within the Domani Library grow for the benifit of the magickal community.
The Healers' Hall was founded by High Queen SnowaideneHigh Queen Snowaidene herself. Its purpose: to gather all information concerning healing together, as well as those who are experienced in all forms of alternative healing - whether energy, herbal, magickal, etc. - for the benefit of the community as a whole.
2) The revamping of our newsletter, Dreams and Faith.
For several years, the "Dreams and Faith" newsletter has been sent our to Domani citizens only, keeping those who cannae' always come online abreast of the goings on within our primary medium of communication: the Domain Forum. In that time, it was realized that more could be done with the newsletter than what was being done with it. So the Dreams and Faith E-Zine was formed by former-Lady Aratacia Galanodel ni Twilight, former ruler of the Faerum province of MountainMist. The e-zine is able to be viewed by not only the Domani community, but the magickal community as well: letting everyone know who we are, what we're about, and how we're working to do our part to bring magick back into the world. And while we have yet to have a printed version, we recently started providing the Dreams and Faith Podcast, so that sound can be give to word as we reach more people.
3) Contributing to the economic well-being of the magickal community.
In the beginning, going this route eencompassed only one branch. Nearly all the pages and design aspects of the Domain and Realms main website are possible due to the work of Shadows WebDesign: a webdesign company run separate from the Domain by the ur-Lord himself. So all the updating and maintenance of the site is taken care of on a daily basis. Shadows WebDesign has also designed personal pages for other people in the past. For the most part, Shadows WebDesign had been little more than an email address. But it currently has its presence on line, complete with a list of rates and a "portfolio" of examples of the work that can be expected from the company, and its services will be available to the community: magickal and otherwise.
That was the beginning.
Shadows WebDesign is now part of something bigger. Something separate from the Domain but that will work in partnership with us. Something that, hopefully, will help the magickal community to grow.
That something is called Deep Dreaming...
4) Our involvement in real world events.
The Domain has been involved in activist movements which directly affect us and our goals. One concerns the planned "development" of the legendary Tara-Skryne Valley, where the Hill of Tara: ancient Celtic holy place and seat of the High Kings is situated. The Irish government has plans to develop this sacred area, running a tollway through the center of the valley and developing a waste management site there. Another situation involves the senseless killing of wolves - the Domain's national animal - by aerial shooters in the wilds of Alaska. And in recent years, it came to our attention the years-long legal battle for the American Veterans Administration to recognize the Pentacle as a valid symbol of belief for soldiers serving in the Armed Forces.
The Domain and Realms has thrown its support with the groups who are standing against these injustices, to stand for the sanctity and safety of nature, sacred places, and respect of personal beliefs everywhere. By standing with groups such as the Save Tara/Skryne Valley Campaign, Defenders of Wildlife and Circle Sanctuary, we do our part to help save these resources and rights for future generations. However much, however little, we do our best to help.
We hope that this page has answered some or all of your questions about the Domain and Realms. More questions and answers will be added to this page as they arise. In the meantime, if there are any questions this page did not answer, feel free to email the ur-Lord himself, and he'll do his best to answer any questions you may have.
Good Dreaming and Blessed Be.
© 2002 The Domain and Realms of the Shadows and the Darkness...
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