Nine Virtues

1. Wisdom

Definition by ADF: Good judgment, the ability to perceive people and situations correctly, deliberate about and decide on the correct response

Wisdom usually brings to mind the movie 'Bambi', when Thumper is asked by his mother, "Thumper, what did your father say?" And he answers her, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
One truly needs to think before they speak. Your judgement to know what to say, when and where to say it will take you far. You merely need to think first, before opening your mouth. Being polite really IS the correct thing to do! And with this ability you will indeed need to learn how to be able to know whether to inject into certain conversations or leave them and walk away. Perhaps that IS a discussion among friends and not an argument. How do you tell? Listen. Take time to be a good judge of people. Wisdom to do this isn't learned over night. Yet, it is truly learned. Once you understand that you "can" take a few moments to think before you speak, observe a conversation without butting in and be a good judge of situations and people around you...you will have gained a knowledge, a mature wisdom, that will live within you and hold you in high regard of and to your peers for the remainder of your days. (233)

2. Piety

Definition by ADF: Correct observance of ritual and social traditions, the maintenance of the agreements (both personal and societal) we humans have with the Gods and Spirits. Keeping the Old Ways, through ceremony and duty

Piety. Devotion. Dutiful. Religious. Wherein you find yourself in accordance with keeping the Old Ways. I could wrap this all up neatly and tie a spiritual bow around it, but so much would be left out. There is the sanctity of your family, spiritual and blood; your friends. Obligations, in every aspect, to your religion. Recognizing and honoring the Hallows, the Realms, the Kindreds.For myself, I completely believe that I must give honor where honor is due, without fail. If I leave off one observance related to a turn of the wheel, I have failed myself, my Gods, the Spirits. I have a duty to uphold the sanctity of traditions. I have to respect those who join me in my rituals as well as the community as a whole. If I cannot be correct in my duties, if I cannot be respectful of self and others, if I cannot or will not honor the traditions and Old Ways, then I have no business wanting others to believe that I am devotional, well learned adult that knows the true meaning of balance and respect of anyone or anything.
      Where is ADF without Piety? What is the point if no one will give fealty to the Gods in their rituals? Why are we here if we disrespect ADF by not celebrating the High Days? No where! We have chosen to lay Piety aside and dishonor everyone from ourselves and ADF to the Kindreds. I am here to dignify not only ADF, but observe and keep all, in ceremony, duty and ritual. To be pious is to live pious. No matter your path, you have chosen a faith to follow. To uphold a quality of Piety that not only represents your religion, but yourself. I have chosen the Druid path. My Piety through traditions, rituals and honor I dedicate to ADF. (345)

3. Vision

Definition by ADF: The ability to broaden one’s perspective to have a greater understanding of our place/role in the cosmos, relating to the past, present, and future

To have Vision is not only to be able to see what is, but also to be able to see what could be. It is understanding the possibilities that may occur from anything and the repercussions that may arise due to anything. One must recognize it as the ability to link with the moment, yet also realize the consequences of what you're putting forth may have ahead in time. One can make a difference in the future with ideas of planning for a better world, a better neighborhood, bettering yourself. It merely takes ideas, dreams and acting upon them. Much creativity and beauty have been brought to fruition from the past and the present, and will well into the future, with great Vision.
Without Vision, I wouldn't be this far in learning about my spiritual self. My husband and I planned ahead to own our home and we do. We both took experiences from our past, changed them to fit raising our four children and now again have had the foresight to see what to change in helping in the lives of our grandchildren. I have a beautiful role in this life. My role was sent down to me by my Celtic Ancestors. Sharing laughter, love, teaching, nurturing, light and life in the present with my family. Sharing and continuing what I have begun with my children, with my grandchildren and making sure they know how to tend and appreciate the Earth Mother they have inherited. To me, that is Vision. (280)

4.      Courage

Definition by ADF: The ability to act appropriately in the face of danger

There is always a time and place for true acts of Courage. The Courage of strength that might be needed in a show of force, if you are able to display such. The Courage to stand up to one's family or friends if the need should arise in a verbal confrontation. The Courage to tell your adult child you may not approve of his/her choices at that time. The Courage to face your boss on something gone wrong at work. The Courage to walk away from an angry neighbor. The Courage to leave a relationship gone bad. The Courage to face our own fears and take chances. Every day in our lives there is an opportunity for Courage. There is a chance we may have to find our own Courage and use it to some level. Be it in need or decision, Courage is there. Courage IS inside of us all. We just have to know how to use it wisely and to let our fears go to be able to use it at all. One cannot always walk the well lit, safe path to get directly home. Every once in awhile, we do have to muster the Courage inside to step out of our safety zone and try that new path, that one that goes beside the dark forest, even if it's just to see what is on the other side. It takes Courage to change our old habits, too. When you find your Courage in your daily lives, you'll know it. You'll also know when and where to use it and just how much in each and every situation it is called for. For me to be courageous is to go forward out of my comfort zone. Courage isn’t just about me facing my fears and doing things with others, it is also about conquering fears I have within myself. Perhaps I won’t be liked. Maybe no one will listen. What if I hear people saying the ritual was awful? I don’t run and hide. I stay and face one of my worst fears, criticism.  I pull that from deep inside of me and grab hold with all I have to face everyone with a smile on my face and continue. Courage isn’t just about being brave. It is asking your deities for help when you need it. It is in the way I interact with people on a daily basis. It is knowing when to be humble and not gloat over anything. It is also knowing that I will never be perfect and in the knowing that I don’t want to be. I have my courage and it’s just right for me. (470)

5. Integrity

Definition by ADF: Honor; being trustworthy to oneself and to others, involving oathkeeping, honesty, fairness, respect, self-confidence

Integrity is keeping one's character, beliefs and principles intact when provoked. Being honest, trustworthy and respectful of self, others and the Higher Beings. Integrity is nurturing and continuing in your oaths to your spirituality, yourself, your family and your friends. I see no reason to take an oath in pretense. It is the worse broken promise. When one takes an oath, you are to take it with all of your being and to uphold that oath with every ounce of your fiber. When you factor in self-confidence, which I have an issue with too much of the time...and fairness, which I do strive to be a fair person...I know in my heart I need to work on me to be more confident and more fair in all areas of my daily life and interactions.
Without Integrity I am not whole and I need to be in learning and living my path. The virtues in me need more work as do I as a person as I continue, day by day, to become the best person I can be, in my religion and in my life. (205)

6. Perseverance

Definition by ADF: Drive; the motivation to pursue goals even when that pursuit becomes difficult

The continuation towards a final goal even when you don't think you can take another step. The dedication to being successful and standing strong in that conviction despite opposition. When what you believe in isn't the popular "norm", yet you stay peacefully strong and walk your path despite the ridicule and harassment. Taking that dedicated first step to follow through and complete what you've started.

Rosa Parks, in a period in time where women and African Americans really had no say, despite all odds, stood her ground and became part of a great change in history. Rock Hudson, a handsome actor, became ill with a mystery illness, yet when his life style was revealed as the cause, he held his head high and continued to be who he was until the day he died. These wonderful people do not even begin to touch on those from past to present that regardless of the odds against them, the difficulties, had the motivation and determination to stand up and be counted; to keep moving forward.

I come from a fair income to sometimes poor home, with an abusive mother and loving, but alcoholic father. Very dysfunctional. Oldest of six children. It was a hard road unlearning how I was raised and I walked it, every single step of the way and have four beautiful, well adjusted children to prove it. Through sheer motivation to become a better parent through example, my children are wonderful parents. They learned to laugh love and be fair, They have learned to work for what they have and that it's not always easy, but never give up, by watching me and their dad. I never gave up and I appreciate every day that I have, what I have accomplished, and who and where I am today. I truly have persevered! (319)

7. Hospitality

Definition by ADF: Acting as both a gracious host and an appreciative guest, involving benevolence, friendliness, humor, and the honoring of 'a gift for a gift'

To be gracious and welcoming, a delightful host and content guest. To be appreciative, kind respectful, entertaining, friendly and honoring of gifting, but not in opulence. In the either capacity, THAT is where I will find Hospitality.
Be you host or guest there must be a harmony in the role of each. The comfort and grace of being a guest, but not being intrusive upon your host. The willingness to give and share being the polite host, but also not giving or sharing overly of yourself or above your means.
Be a Hospitable host in the abundance of quality. What you are and what you have is more than enough. Be a Hospitable guest in conscience thought of being respectful and thankful to be where you are and surrounded with such warmth and good company, as you be what you are and who you are.
In being a host it should never feel like a job or chore to have people in your home. I make each person feel happy to be here. We share laughter, love, music, to always feel welcome and comfortable in my home. When I am a guest, I have been thankful, gracious, asked if I could be helpful and I've always hoped it wasn't to the point of being obtrusive.
My door is always open, day or night. There will always be companionship, laughter, love, singing, food and shelter here. As a guest I will try to be the guest that I see enter my home. (278)

8. Moderation

Definition by ADF: Cultivating one's appetites so that one is neither a slave to them nor driven to ill health, (mental or physical), through excess or deficiency

In Moderation one must pay strict attention to their volume of overindulgences. This does not just merely apply to simple food or fluid intake. Not in the least.
How much time to you spend doing absolutely nothing versus movement? i.e. Watching TV, lying on your sofa, sitting on the porch swing? Compare that to time spent in earnest exercise. When was the last time you left the house and tried a new restaurant instead of eating hot dogs again? Have you ever tried a smoothie instead of getting that 32 ounce soda? It doesn't really matter what it is, you should find a way for you to balance Moderation between too much and too little for your life to be happy and healthy. Your whole life should have Moderation in more than one area, at more times than not. And living a life like this, well, there is NO Moderation healthy or otherwise.
Once you learn Moderation in your life styles, you will see an over all happier, healthier you.
Your excesses can continue to have control over you or YOU can have control and use your sense of Moderation.
I have learned Moderation in many aspects of my life, but I still have many that I fight with. Food, weight has always been one I struggle with to moderate. But, I strive daily to gain control over this. I come from a long line of alcoholic Irish folk, my dad being one of them. It is too easy for me to not be moderate in my drink, yet I try to watch my drinking or just away.
I will continue to be a work in progress with Moderation on my side. (311)

9. Fertility

Definition by ADF: Bounty of mind, body and spirit, involving creativity, production of objects, food, works of art, etc., an appreciation of the physical, sensual, nurturing

Immediately the first thought when anyone sees this virtue goes directly to reproducing, having a child. I don't feel this should be accurate. My grandparents talked about the "fertile" soil of their huge gardens. I've heard teachers say, "That child sure has a fertile mind!" There are reasons a child may not be in a family. Those gardens kept us in fresh vegetables and berries for a lot of years. That child was my only, baby brother and he is a master carpenter, and creates such beautiful pieces out of recycled, dead trees. A delight to the eyes.

Fertility covers so much; creation. Be it mind, speech, singing, hands, gardens, arts, creation is endless. Sure I have four children. I did reproduce. But, they are not my only creations. I have crocheted for over forty years. What I create in crocheting are absolute works of art. Creating my pond gardens, flower beds, writing songs, rearranging furniture, planning a family gathering, the fertility of my mind grow and expands with each and everything I decide to do. To be able to create even happiness wherever you go, that, is beyond measure of all things fertile! (221)

High Day Essays

Essay--Meaning of Samhain Feast

Samhain comes during my time of year. It begins at Mabon. When the leaves are falling from the trees and you can smell the snow hiding in the air. This time of year begins getting cooler and the days darker earlier. There is the celebration of "Halloween", where Samhain has become a happy festival for children and families. Costumes, candy and fun parties, for example. There are lighted, cut-out pumpkins at every turn and weird-nose making monsters standing in yards. All Hallow's Eve, Samhain, has long traditions and none of them are modern "Halloween". The veil is the thinnest between the worlds of the living and the dead. For many this is the time to host or have a "Dumb Supper". This is the Celtic New Year. A time to reflect and talk with who has passed from my life. It's when I remember the Druid Mael and that he is the most Ancient of my Mullen Ancestors. *We* talk and laugh of by-gone days, eras, centuries. Living, harvesting and making sure all is well and set for the darkest part of the year. I remember the times I heard about their winters and look to my own impending winter ahead of me. I celebrate what I have because they lived...the knowledge I have been gifted. The knowledge to prepare, before Samhain, for the cold days to come. For without the flour, apples, late vegetables, wild game...their own stores...they would have been gone long before I was able to be here. I say good-bye to them, one more time. For one more year. Knowing that next Samhain, we will visit again. (278)
Essay--Meaning of Yule Feast

This is a most wondrous celebration. Yule. The Winter Solstice. The longest night of the year. In many traditions of Paganism and Neopagaism, there is a battle between the Holly King and the Oak King. At Yule, the Oak King wins, bringing us back into the light, the Sun, and remains until Litha, the Summer Solstice. Then there is another battle and the Holly King wins this one, to bring the dark, the changing seasons, and remains until Yule. This is the twice a year, Solstice battle, between the light and dark months.  An electric fire place, but a fire place just the same. A mantle to decorate with greenery, red, silver and blue ornaments. Sparkle ice cicles hang off the long bow of green. OH, the Yule tree, dressed in red, silver, green, blue and gold. Old ornaments and new. Lights. More clear, sparkle ice cicles. Holly ribbon. A star on top. *sigh* How that makes this High Day just shine in the eyes of each child and adult. To see the glitter and sparkle.
This isn't all Yule is. I come from a huge family and have a large one myself. This is family time, being together as the cold gets colder. We talk and remember that we will go through all of this together. From the darkness to the light. We share foods; turkey; glazed-pineapple ham; mashed potatoes; sweet potato casserole; green beans and corn; gravy; hot rolls; desserts. The fruits of the last harvest around Samhain. This feast brings families together in the darkness, to celebrate the coming light. We, of course in this modern age, exchange gifts. We adults give hand crafted gifts to each other...a reminder that this is a time of love. We choose gifts for the children and teens, young adults, with love...knowing his or her likes and dislikes. This High Day is among the most memorable for many reasons. The feast we have shared, the warmth of the Yule log (real or candled), and the time we have together. The time of the Wheel, the cold and snow, the sparkle and decorations, feasting and the family time. Yule is a blessed time of new memories made and for me, remembering how far I have come over the centuries. And for knowing that I will be soon stepping from the darkness into the light. (396)

Essay--Meaning of Imbolc Feast

With Imbolc I found I look more forward to the natural world, away from the darkness and cold. As Brigid is one of my deities, I celebrated this as her festival, also. Since it was still cold outside, I made a fabulous pot of potato soup. I add onions, simple dumplings and cream of celery soup, plus milk, to make mine. Crackers and cheese on the side. With some nice, fresh bread for dunking. What a delicious meal it was. Celebrating this High Day with Brigid, is moving, as I am a mix of Celtic ancestry. Knowing, some of my ancestors actually knew her, humbles me to no end. This brings this High Day closer to me than any of the others. I was inside on this day, with it snowing and very cold. But, I was in the sun room, able to see the world around me and connect with the Kindreds. Spend time with my husband, knowing that The Wheel has turned towards the light. Each Imbolc will pull on my soul just as much as my first Imbolc celebration. (186)

Essay--Meaning of Ostara Feast

According to Bede, Eostre was the Germanic goddess Ostara. Her feast day was held on the full moon following the Vernal Equinox...the Spring Equinox. This is the time of year to start your seeds for planting. Start the soil for your herbs for later planting. A time of the year where the balance of night and day are equal.
This is a time of renewal and rebirth. Our natural world as well as the animal kingdom begins to come alive with new growth and new borns. The ever increasing sun light warms the Earth as we begin to plant our gardens for future harvests. I love this time. The fun of children with egg hunts and family feasts of ham, salads, eggs...lots of eggs, vegetables, desserts. It all lets us know that our season of rebirth is upon us. Family outings will be more frequent due to the beautiful, warmer weather.
Ostara and fertility go hand in hand...the eggs, the Earth, the animals. A culmination of why winter was left behind to create the completely new for us. I will be outside more often, as I make the garden and flower beds ready for planting. I will sit outside, by the hour now, reading, crocheting, watching my dogs sleep and play, and enjoying the birds, bees and butterflies. (225)

Meaning of Beltane Feast

There are few celebrations surrounding fertility as Beltane. Beltane is a season of fertility and fire. Festivities typically begin the evening before, on the last night of April. The focus is nearly always on fertility. It's the time when Mother Earth opens up to the fertility god, and their union brings about healthy livestock, strong crops, and new life all around. Bonfires are lit at Beltane and is it traditional to take the livestock between two lit fires. People would jump over the fires, but for the most part, they now walk between them. And again, this is a focus on the Pagan beliefs in fertility and the rites at this time, associated with it. For Beltane, celebrate with foods that honor fertility of the earth. Like perhaps light spring soups, fertility bread loaves, and more. (140)

Essay--Meaning of Litha Feast

And ancient solar celebration, agricultural societies marked this high point of summer in some way. From some chronicles written by early Christian monks and with some remaining folklore, some practices of the ancient Celts survive. It appears Litha/Mid-Summer/Summer Solstice was celebrated on hill tops with bonfires. The battle between light and dark, summer and winter, the Oak King and the Holly King begins now. The Goddess Epona of fertility is celebrated. A wonderful feast of of summer foods, early harvests, are traditional. Fresh vegetables of all kinds, fresh fruit, summer squash, meats like chicken and pork, drinks such as ale, mead, fruit drinks, herb teas, breads, especially Pumpernickel. Modern NeoPagans have barbecues with friends, family, etc., to mark this event and the summer ahead. (130)

Essay--Meaning of Lughnasadh Feast

"When we, as a culture shifted our focus to city living, we lost a sense of the community oriented celebration that was with our forbearers in the old days and that still exists in smaller communities."
Lughsanadh
[by] Kathleen Dupree
www.keyline.org/cra/articles/lughnasadh.html

This is a feast around the traditions of the harvests. The lean times of the year have ended and the bountiful times of the year have begun. The Lughnasadh feast is normally held on August 1st or the Sunday just before. The modern Irish spelling, Lúnasa, is the name of the month of August in Irish Gaelic. 

The Celts celebrated as did the Sun God Lugh, for whom this High Day is named. A festival of funeral games in honor of Lugh's foster mother, Taillte. The Celts also had marriages knows as "Tailltean Marriages" and the couples stayed together for a year and a day or until next Lughnasadh. These were trial marriages and at the end of the year and a day, the couples could choose to stay together if this pleased them both OR stand back to back and simply walk away. Often, in Ireland, the Lughnasadh celebrations are called the "Tailltean Games".

This feast shows me the community at and in the Farmer's Markets where I go to get my fresh produce at this time of year. The beauty and bounty of the harvest that was planted in the spring and that now will sustain us throughout the darkening of the months ahead, until next light. (260)

Essay--Meaning of Mabon Feast

Mabon is the Autumn Equinox and the harvest is almost over. Crops have been gathered and are being finished stored for winter. Since Mabon is a mid-harvest festival, this is the time that we will honor the changing seasons, celebrate the second harvest and give thanks for all we have. Whether crops or Blessings. The Mabon feast was and is one of hospitality. Cattle was brought down for the winter, grains made into bread, your drinks were made. Celebrating with and sharing of your harvest, preparing for winter was not only neighborly, there were and still are the very people you may have need of help from in the dark months ahead, should an emergency arise or you find you cannot make it to get groceries. (130)

Essay--Meaning of Lughnasadh Feast

"When we, as a culture shifted our focus to city living, we lost a sense of the community oriented celebration that was with our forbearers in the old days and that still exists in smaller communities."
Lughsanadh
[by] Kathleen Dupree
www.keyline.org/cra/articles/lughnasadh.html
This is a feast around the traditions of the harvests. The lean times of the year have ended and the bountiful times of the year have begun. The Lughnasadh feast is normally held on August 1st or the Sunday just before. The modern Irish spelling, Lúnasa, is the name of the month of August in Irish Gaelic. 

The Celts celebrated as did the Sun God Lugh, for whom this High Day is named. A festival of funeral games in honor of Lugh's foster mother, Taillte. The Celts also had marriages knows as "Tailltean Marriages" and the couples stayed together for a year and a day or until next Lughnasadh. These were trial marriages and at the end of the year and a day, the couples could choose to stay together if this pleased them both OR stand back to back and simply walk away. Often, in Ireland, the Lughnasadh celebrations are called the "Tailltean Games".

This feast shows me the community at and in the Farmer's Markets where I go to get my fresh produce at this time of year. The beauty and bounty of the harvest that was planted in the spring and that now will sustain us throughout the darkening of the months ahead, until next light. (260)

Book Reviews

Indo-European Studies Book Review--Comparative Mythology by Jaan Puhvel

Comparative Mythology, I will say, is not a book to be jumped into for light reading. While well read and versed with the mythos and comparisons between cultures throughout the ages, the extreme scholarly vocabulary, euphemisms and page to chapter jumping for definition and re-explanation could and did get terribly confusing. For example: page 228, Traditions-Baltic and Slavic Myth "It affords a crucial third dimension to the myths of the Divine Twins, otherwise attested mainly in Vedic India and ancient Greece (cf. chaps 4 and 8).; *names, page 174, Traditions-Celtic Myth "Mercurius", "Nantosuelta", "Rigantona", "Dea Arduinna", Boduognatus". Flipping back and forth in this book for "reminders" and trying to pronounce the names of the past in myth, does not bring one forward and truly wanting to continue into reading onward.

However, this book is dead on explaining how amazing the mythology is so associative between culture, after culture, after culture. It is quite an eye opener. From the very distant ancients all the way to the modern people/societies still sharing these myths.

Over all, once you begin to learn Jaan Puhvel's pattern of writing, you do come to enjoy this book and what you are being told. He is teaching you to listen and learn mythical comparisons.

The content as a whole is very enlightening. To know and understand [aside from Puhvel's own interruptions], who throughout our cultural history has had the same beginnings, middle and ends to their myths. I truly never realized the generations nor miles in mythology that actually had everyone so drawn together, until modern day barriers divided and separated all societies.

Would I recommend this book? Could I recommend this book? To other Dedicants? While yes, it IS a great resource to ADF, students and intellects alike, I feel that this piece of literature gets lost in itself, ie, too many academic explanations and revisits of who, what and where. So, no, I would truly have a difficult time recommending this particular book to any student of the Dedicant Path. (344)

Hearth Culture Book Review--A Brief History of the Druids by Peter Berresford Ellis

The Druids is a bit confusing, as it seems Ellis is arguing with himself at times. He rambles on and on, incessantly about who wrote what and what their "versions" or "explanations" meant to that individual person. There is such a small segment on actual Druidry, that I wasn't sure why the book had "Druids" in the title at all. I wasn't worried about the manner of anyone's hair. Whose Roman mother was named "Driadia"...a name meaning Druid, mentioned to prove what? That the Roman's had not truly forgotten the Druids? It is believed there was a "Druid in the outhouse?"
In each chapter, Druids are in the title. I see more history on what went on with what Strabo had to say, who were the Brahmins, Pythagoreans, Hyperboreans, and so forth. Page 144, Rudyard Kippling had a statement to say about man's first words being lies? I truly was very lost in this book. A *brief* history of the Druids is in fact all you will find in this book. The rest is a listing and telling of historical, archaeological and scholarly resulted quotes from famous research and peoples. The true search for a brief history of the Druids gets lost in Ellis' torture of wanting to display where he has found all of the evidence he put together for this book.
I can't say I was overly impressed with this one. I REALLY had to force myself to finish this one. It took me over 6 months to read it. Ellis may be a brilliant man, but perhaps a better suited "history" would have been for him to write. I find more history on the Druids, floating around the internet, than I found in this book.
I realize this is part of the required Dedicant Reading, but no, as far as being able to gain any real knowledge, other than being scholarly confused...I truly do not recommend this book to any Dedicants. (340)

Modern Paganism Book Review--Drawing Down the Moon; Witches, Druids, Goddess Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today by Margot Adler

Drawing Down the Moon, written by Margot Alder, whom I understand is not only an author but a wonderful journalist. 
I will say that I feel she well represented numerous views of many Pagans, which is very refreshing. I liked Chapter 9 about re-constructionist religions. So many I had never heard of.
From my view point I don't understand asking anyone "How did you come to be a Pagan and a Witch?" (pg. 136) That would be like asking, "How did you come to like sushi?" So, you tried it and you liked it? One merely doesn't just 'become' anything, in my experience.
I also don't understand what I would call a "witch gene". Is there such a thing? To be a "hereditary witch"? (pg. 136) I have ancestral blood that was a Druid. That does not make me a "hereditary Druid". I also got confused when referring to the "Craft" in Wicca and Witchcraft. (pg.s 10, 11, 19-10, 137, etc.) MANY Witches are 'of the Craft', yet I'm understand that is who 'Wiccan' are also?
NeoPagan "religions". Isn't this a huge blanket statement? Many will and do take offense and strongly disagree referring to themselves or being referred to as being of the religious. I, personally, refer to myself as Spiritual and I know many that do. (ex. Ch. 9)
I do, whole heartedly, agree with her quoting Isaac Bonewits (pg. 153), "as intellectuals, we have been raised to have a knee jerk reaction to such terms as 'magic', 'the occult', 'ritualism', 'the supernatural', etc., so that can only think about these subjects in the ways we are supposed to."
Chapter 14, 'Living on the Earth', is one I was completely engrossed in again; the views and view points made. Spirituality/religions do become a way of life for many, yet we are still biased, critical, vocal, overly expressing humans, dwelling upon this earth in city and country side.
Overall, this was a long, if not well written book, that I did find hard to put down at times. I have few criticisms for work, and do say that I am please to have had this as required reading and highly recommend this to all Dedicants. (389)

Home Shrine

Home Shrine

A brief description, with photos if possible, of the Dedicant's home shrine and plans for future improvements. (150 words min)

My home shrine was a small, almost square table, with a bottom shelf. I copied a pattern of oak leaves and acorns, and burned them into each corner on top. I also burned and "egg"/oval into the top center.
In a huge vase, standing behind that table, there was a tall bamboo plant that was the "Tree". A terra cotta bowl, painted blue and green on the outside was the "Water" vessel. A five-headed dragon incense burner, along with four small dragon candle holders - each one with their stones the corresponding colors of the Elements - are "Fire". Two small pewter bowls for offerings. A candle snuffer. Sacred crystals and stones. Two chalices: one plain for the Outdwellers; and one dragon chalice, four-sided with stones the colors corresponding with the Elements, for myself. A tiny bell for signaling the beginning, ending and other pertinent places during ritual. The table itself is bare, or covered with a hand-crocheted dragon cloth.
I keep dragons with me and use their wisdom, at all times.
I now have a bigger table that holds more/has more space OR I can make my shrine as simple as I choose, per High Day/ritual. With my shrine facing the East and waking sun, plus being in the sun room, it is very easy to have a peaceful morning ritual. A beautiful place for meditation, relaxing, speaking with the Kindreds, contemplating the Cosmos, Mother Earth, the Ancients, Ancestors and Shining Ones, and enjoying a cup of coffee as I converse with my deities.
I have a long, low-ish cabinet that I will be replacing both the tables with, just the right height for standing or kneeling. I'm very happy to be doing this, as I will now have the shrine space to create the sacred space that I have truly wanted it all to become. (330)

Original shrine


Dragon shrine cloth


Next shrine


Soon to be new shrine


I have moved into an apartment and the long, low table is now my shrine

The Two Powers

Two Powers Essay

When I first read the Two Powers, I wasn't sure how this simple 'process' could bring such peace of body to anyone. It is stated, “This is a basic meditation intended to link the Druid's spirit and flesh to the currents of Earth and Sky”. Just seemed to easy, to me. This time, I guess I was ready. Ready to listen, feel and see. I had been using some imagery in my meditation, but this is direct imagery. And it truly is amazing. Once you *see* what the Two Powers is, you know you can meditate with this concept.
When I first tried it, I honestly pulled water so far up in me, I thought of drowning. I couldn't find the balance. I waited a few days to try it again. I took it slowly, did the breathing and then I saw it. I saw this river, this body of water below my feet, as if I were a giantess standing above a beautiful, but dark cave. This giantess wiggled her toes and felt the waters ease her body. She lifted her arms, as a trees branches, towards the sky, towards a light with the warmth of a welcoming fire. Her body absorbed this light into her very being. The light and dark met and become a glow, in the well of her center. A glow of comforting, calming, soothing peace. Such relaxation came over the giantess.
The balance wasn't overwhelming at all. The flesh and blood, heart and mind, became fluid and bright. There was no night or day, good or evil, feast or famine, there was only mindless joy at the culmination of the of the combined within creations. New and whole, old and separate. One can try to describe their own experiences using the Two Powers meditation all they want. Each person is going to be different, yet we are connected in this. We are all going to see and feel something so wonderfully our own, yet tied together in the true balancing act of the universe and within ourselves. I have used The Two Powers before and after rituals. The pleasant mediation of using The Two Towers before a ritual really does help me to attune myself and be more able to focus on what I am getting ready to do and that is honor myself, Mother Earth, the Universe, the seas, my deities and everything that I hold dear in ritual. Using The Two Powers after a ritual gives me a quiet release to the energy that I built during ritual. I am refreshed and don’t feel that my ritual has ended. I feel that I am a part of each ritual and a continuance, even when it done. (484)

Mental Discipline

Mental Discipline

It's the end of July, and I am brand new to ADF. I can't say I am sure how to begin. I know I don't want to set a day aside, make meditating a scheduled part of any given day. To me, that isn't going to be, well, comforting, relaxing. That would just be another part of my daily regimen or perhaps a bi-weekly regimen. I want more than that from learning to meditate, from meditation. I want to be able to find my mind enjoying the time spent alone and silent. I want to find that I AM in that moment. I am able to release and control my time of meditation. Not just setting there like a lump, hoping for something to happen. I will be a complete part of meditating or not participate at all. I read the Two Powers, I listened to the Two Powers recording, and I still am not too sure I am ready to do this. I think I'm going to have to wait to begin. I have realized my body and mind are just not ready to work together towards a greater understanding and improvement of each other.

It's September now. I didn't even attempt meditating in August. I knew I wasn't ready, still. My mind is so busy all the time. I have to figure out how to let myself go. Let myself relax and go where I need to take me. Mabon is now approaching. I can feel the changes beginning in the weather, in the season and I feel that I am ready to try. To try to meditate and let the experience happen. In reading the Two Powers again, I find that I am more understanding not only of the "process", but what to expect of myself. I have a nice, over-sized, bean bag chair that is just perfect to meditate in. I saved "Druid chants" for myself on Youtube, in a play list. I turned that on low. There are many of them, so that is able to play, over and over. I sat, still, silently, eyes closed, hands on my lap...and nothing. I couldn't erase or clear my mind. I couldn't picture or envision anything, no matter how hard I tried. I found my eyes wanting to open. Every single noise had me wanting to see what was going on around me. My first attempt to me, was a bust. Until I realized I had lost some time and had been sitting there for over 15 minutes and I thought I had tried for barely 5. Learning! I will keep trying.

October and I am now able to understand what I need to do to meditate. It is in Me that it has to happen, as much as the preparations. So, I am now becoming more comfortable with meditation and what it all means for myself, my body and my mind. I've had to skip the Two Powers for now and decided to try JUST meditating, if you will. I'm using the "Druid chants", still. As I listen to this *music*, listen to to my breathing, I found myself becoming the sounds, music, voices, until myself and that are one. I then, finally, found the black, the nothing, my mind cleared. I have found that I could just, be. It took me over a month to find this, but I did. In this, at first, I merely began to weightlessly float. It was peaceful, nothing frightening. Relaxing, I found. Almost as if I had set a timer, I would wake up. I would think it was 5 minutes, 10 minutes and I had been 'under' up to 20 plus minutes. Now, I have to learn control.

November and December, such beautiful awareness. I am more. I am. I listen and learn in my subconscious. A beautiful mix of the music, my mind and timeless control. But, now...even though I am somewhat aware of my surroundings, nothing gets in and disturbs me. I can understand more and more of the release of meditating. Of the mental aspect of being able to be. To set yourself and your mind at ease and gain the peace we all need to have within and of ourselves. I now take myself to small planes of understanding, of learning. I know that I am going to continue to grow in my meditations, as I become more and more comfortable with letting my own mind go. Letting my mind relax and find release. I look forward to having complete discipline during meditation. I know this is not something I can learn in just a few months. I have time. I am still in training, still learning. I can and will get there. 

January, such a deciding month in my life, as I realized I can meditate. I am able to just be. To be in tune. To attune myself to be within myself. I am able to release and cleanse my mind and spirit. To have been able to take my angry person, my angry spirit and bring in the calm was very amazing to me. I’m human and I’m going to get mad, but I don’t feel the anger of a bar fighter who has just been released from being in prison half his life. When I’m mad, I say I am and why. That is very refreshing. I never knew a life could exist without being that angry when one gets mad or upset. Yes, I can truthfully say that to “try” to mediate in less than 5 months won’t cut it. You have to be diligent in the time you give of and for yourself, in order to be able to learn mediation. I’m on the right track.

I really didn't know what to expect when I began on this path. Started meditating as one would do for betterment of their body and mind. I'm not even certain I understand it all today. But, I will say I believe I am on the right track to becoming a better me, through meditating. I started my meditations at once a week and set myself time at 4 times a week. I did average no less than 3 times a week and some weeks 5 times. I gave myself no time limit, during these times as I allowed for a few hours to myself to mediate. I prefer the quiet of the evenings, after 6 pm. I am not harried nor hassled for anything after this time. If I would call it normal, my meditations normally were no less than 15 minutes and many times over 30 minutes. As I grow in my meditations I know time will have no meaning, yet I will still have time set aside for just that. (1,140)

Nature Awareness

I was raised a farmer's daughter until I was seven years old and that is when my dad got a factory job. I started my life barefoot, walking through family gardens, snapping beans and pea pods when I was four years old, watching dad "shake" cream into butter in a gallon jar. I swam in ponds, creeks and low rivers. Used an out house and shared a galvanized tub of bath water with one sister and an uncle, younger than me. Wood stove for heat and straight well water. This is a lifestyle that I never lost.

I never had air conditioning until my oldest children were seven and three years old. No lights on during the day, windows cracked open, tin foil or newspaper over them, a fan backwards to draw in one window and plenty of cool baths during the day. This life teaches you that nature is there. Whole, pure and needs our care. In the summer, it teaches you to live WITH nature, keep your utility bills lows by making sure you turn off everything electrical that is not needed on.
My mom's parents had a rustic, two-room cabin from the time I was five until I was 14 years old. There I was still always barefoot (my mom's mom was a part Cherokee woman and rarely wore shoes, I think I got it from her). Learned the cycle of life of bull frogs in the creek out back, year round. Learned to watch out for the little bones, as we ate every fish we caught and appreciate the bounty of the catch, very much. Learned controlled burning of the undergrowth and that dead leaves created new life out of the ashes. With no TV, some board games and being outside, all we truly had was nature and loved it!
In 1986 my world changed with moving to the city. I never gave up hoping that I would have a yard big enough to have nature all around me again and twenty years ago we bought this house. I have transplanted two small trees into the yard to help have shade over our old house. They are SO big now. My lovely plants and flowers range from native to exotics and are never without bees, butterflies and small birds. From time to time there will be a garter snake as it travels between yards and that is really something for our grand-kids to see.
We started using the energy saving light bulbs about four years ago. I felt we needed to do more of our part on the inside, since our area has such high electrical bills. Our youngest has just graduated from high school and is still at home. She is very responsible with helping in keeping lights and other electrical items shut off when not in use.
We make use of rain drainage for extra watering and keeping the ponds filled. Instead of chemicals on the yard, I have learned to use simple sidewalk chalk to draw lines around the foundation to keep those tiny ants out of the house. We finally got our recycle bins and take them to the recycling center. We can now recycle more than just soda cans. Yesterday I emailed, locally, about both sides of our family adopting a street or section of inner highway to clean up in loving memory of our loved ones lost to cancer. We use several homemade products for cleaning inside the house. Essential oils for room fresheners.
With me, it's a must that I am able to be outside. My backyard can do, when I don't get to go a block north to the wooded area there. I have worked hard to create that space back there that is nature, comfort and peaceful. I can be barefoot there. I can work with my hands in the soil, knowing that what we are doing here and started when we moved in has made an impact, no matter how small on our efforts to work with nature in not only our neighborhood, but our community as well. My own love of being with nature I have passed onto my children and now they to their children.
I don't garden here, but I do go to the local Farmer's Market now, that is open two days a week, in season. I have neighbors with gardens that share with us, plus one that cans and also shares.
We do recycle the store containers that can be reused. The other store containers now go into the recycle bins.
Our neighborhood is fairly *green* and we will continue to do our part to keep it growing in that direction. In doing this, there will not be any chemicals used on the lawn that could wash into the waterways. I don’t use anything but vinegar to kill nuisance weeds. After I first wrote this, I started to garden. It’s small, but I just love it. To keep pests away, I have used filament/line to hand cds from my tomato cages, as the squirrels were eating more than we did. I have learned to use/set out Marigolds to help against bugs in the garden and around the yard. I encourage the area birds by having 3 feeders in the yard. And, from when I had small birds, I have 2 wooden nesting boxes that I have turned into bird houses and mounted them on the back fence. I don’t throw away starts off of the trees in my yard, I offer them to people for free. Rose of Sharon, Maple, Mimosa, Oak (my lady oak has now gifted me with several saplings) and there are 2 more I’m not familiar with, yet. I believe what I’m doing here is showing and helping, as I have watched 2 neighbors add bird baths, butterfly plants/flowers and more “outside” friendly things to their homes. I’ve noticed the neighbor across the street is using vinegar for his sidewalk weeds as I can sure smell it when he does. I’m thankful and grateful to have this opportunity to see our lovely old neighborhood coming around, especially on our street. I am truly blessed to have begun this path and I eagerly await to see where it takes me. (1,048)