Week 10: Second High Holy Day Recap

Related to Requirement: #8 – High Days Attended
Required Reading: None.

• How did the rite go in terms of structure? 
• We followed the ADF core order of ritual, with added offering to the outsiders (or rather, the God who watches that boundary).
• What things went wrong during the ritual? What things went right? 
• We had a lot of trouble with pronouncing names.  No one in our grove keeps a Slavic hearth, so Amber did a lot of research and came up with the most appropriate ritual she could. However, none of her sources included an english pronunciation guide. We met before ritual and came up with a workable pronunciation for each god, as that was the best we could do. There was also no water at the shelter we were at, which we should have anticipated, but failed to do. However, there was water at a different shelter, it was just a bit of a hike to get to it.
• Nothing was forgotten, it wasn't freezing, We're starting to get pretty practiced at this whole thing. Set up went pretty quick, despite the wind, and take down was even faster.
• Who were the patrons of the rite, and who was the gatekeeper? 
• Patron: Jarilo
• Gatekeeper: Zorya
• EarthMother: Zeme
• Did you have problems with saying the words without stumbling, or did everything come out smoothly? Did you forget to bring a sacrifice? 
• Everything except the names came out pretty smoothly. I forgot to bring a sacrifice for the open offering section, but Amber brought incense for that purpose, so I was able to still do mine.
• Were you alone, or with a group? If you were with a group, did you say anything or do anything? 
• We were a group. The core 6 of us and a few others. I did the offering to the outsiders in an effort to get over my discomfort with them
• How did the rite go in terms of function and feeling? Did you feel anything during the ritual? Did you experience doubt or confidence? 
• I think it went pretty well. I didn't really feel any connection with the deities, but then I never do in group ritual. I did feel like my ancestors were present, or at least a couple of them. I'm getting more comfortable with this every time.
• Can you describe what happened? If you were with a group, what did the other people say about what happened? 
• We didn't really talk about the ritual afterwards, we were all pretty hungry and chatty. So I don't know how they felt. I don't think I'm settling into the two powers enough. I didn't feel very connected to the group mind. But i was pretty relaxed and as close to trance I can get.
• What omens were drawn (if any), and what did they tell you? 
• We drew Ogham
• Ancestors: Muin. Love, esteem, love doesn't always look like love. The honored dead have blessed us with their true faces
• Nature spirits: Idad. Age, older than comprehension, plants, animals, ourselves all die. Don't pet the squirrels. We can learn from age; wisdom from experience.
• Deities: Straif. Transformation is the essence of life; change to move forward. We have the choice to live and move forward.
• Could you feel the presence of any deities, spirits, or powers? 
• It felt like Grandma Treva and Great-Grandma Helen were around. I miss Grandma Treva. A lot.
• What else about the rite struck you, or do you want to share? 
• The similarities to the King Arthur story are interesting. Sacred twins/ spouses aren't uncommon, but at least this one has Morena getting her vengeance. I don't' feel any call to Slavic, but I totally understand why people do.

Weeks 9: Second High Holy Day

Related to Requirement: #2 – Meaning and Discussion of High Days
Required Reading:

• Our Own Druidry, p. 62 - 74 61-75 (Hearth Cultures & High Days)

• ADF Constitution, Article 4

• The ADF Core Order of Ritual for High Days, 

Optional Reading:

• Our Own Druidry, p. 51 - 75 48-76 (The Very Basics of Ritual)

• A Crane Breviary and Guide Book by Rev. Michael J Dangler: <http://www.lulu.com/chronarchy>

• Appendix 1: Resources and Rituals for the Wheel of the Year

• Step by Step through a Druid Worship Ceremony

• The "Liturgy and Rituals" section of the ADF page

• The Three Cranes Grove, ADF, outline of ritual (with example prayers)

The spring equinox is one of the main holidays of the modern/ neo-pagan calendar. In my area, spring has not reached full flower (or any flower at all this year), but the trees are starting to bud out and bulbs are starting to send up leaves.

Saga evidence shows that the Norse separated the year into two seasons: summer and winter.  The spring equinox signaled the start of the raiding season for the warriors of Scandinavia. They would hold the Sigrblót in Odin's honor at around this time of year (April 14 according to some sources) to ask the gods for victory in the season's raids. Odin, as a warrior and travel, was well placed to ensure the ships arrived safely and the pickings along the coasts (and inland, as far as Paris and Istanbul) would be ripe.

Ostara, also celebrated at this time, is a celebration of the goddess Éostre.  The goddess of spring, dawn, and fertility, Éostre is often associated with eggs and rabbits and may be the source of much of the German influenced traditions surrounding Easter. The Norse equivalent of Éostre could be either Freyja or Iöunn. Iöunn is the keeper of the golden apples that keep the gods youthful and hale.  Freyja, as goddess of love, fertility, and death is also reflected in any celebration of spring.

It is unclear if Germany and Scandinavia both celebrated both holidays or if one festival predominated in a geographical area.  It does appear that the Sigrblót was celebrated more in Scandinavia while Ostara was celebrated more in the more southern Germany.  However, it is more than possible that there was an extensive overlap that celebrated both.

Home Shrine update

Not a whole lot has changed on my Altar yet.  I've added a small cup of salt to use as sacrifice in addition to the water I normally use for my daily devotional.  I looked for something to corral larger offerings last weekend, but didn't see anything that seemed right.  I'll keep looking.  I also need to find a drinking cup to use.

I also think I'm going to hang a small shelf above my altar.  i don't have much surface space to add things to it right now and there are definitely things i want to add.

Luna has at least decided that maybe jumping onto my altar while i'm standing in front of it may not be the best plan.  Since that's at least 90% of the time when I have a candle burning or something similar, we're making progress.  Having utterly failed to teach her manners when it comes to food, tables, and counter tops, I'll settle for her not setting herself on fire.

Travel set up.
I kinda feel like i want to create a travel altar that I can just toss into a backpack or purse to take with me when I go home to visit my folks or whatever.  This shouldn't be too hard.

• tea or prayer candle
• small tree figurine (jewelry?)  Uncommon Adornments always has a tree pendant
• something??? for a well.  Possibly the container i end up using? or a film canister (do they still make those?)?
• salt in a small baggie?  or would this look too much like meth (meth is the one that looks like crystals right? not coke or crack?)?
• lighter (which i actually carry with me in my purse anyway)
• leave room for bigger offerings if necessary.

I wonder what i can find in terms of small boxes at various craft stores.  I don't think i have anything suitable in the house.  Sometimes I really really hate that the local "random cool stuff" store closed so the owner could retire or some such.

Anyway, yes.  shelf, drinking vessel, travel altar.  needs to happen.

Week 8: Meditation and Mental Training

Related to Requirement: #6 – Mental Training
Required Reading:

• Our Own Druidry, p. 93 - 99 (Druid Mental Training) 

Optional Resources:

• Meditation for the Type A Personality by Jenni Hunt
• Basic Meditation by Brenda Stumpp
• "Letting the World Slip Away" by Ladytoad
• "Laughing Meditation" by Brandon Newberg
• "An Anywhere Devotional" by Brandon Newberg
• "Dual Trad Daily Devotionals" by Tanrinia
• Sacred Fire, Holy Well by Ian Corrigan, p. 71-81;
• Training the Mind: Techniques of Trance and Meditation CD by Ian Corrigan;
• The Solitary Druid by Rev. Skip Ellison, p. 40-45

Personal Choices:

• A Short Devotional Rite
• A Daily Morning Bathroom Devotional and Meditation
• A Morning Devotional
• An ADF Nine Virtues Bead Devotional
• Mindful Knitting: Inviting Contemplative Practice to the Craft by Tara Jon Manning

I've been expecting this to be a hard part of working on DP, and so far, I'm not seeing anything that changes my mind about that.

I do think switching back and forth between the Anywhere Devotional and meditation will work well for me. Well, as long as i can resist setting my house on fire.  However, the second go run through Saturday morning was much better than the one last Wednesday.  So it might just take practice.

I'm investigating a new (to me?) form of divination for the devotionals.  I'm not looking to replace the more traditional forms of Rune or Ogham reading, however, those are both a bit more than I can manage on short notice.  Particularly since I don't have a good set of runes made up yet.  I'm keeping those for formal occasions and will switch over to runes more often when I have a set made up.

Somewhere, I read about iPod (or music?) divination. Essentially, when you reach the part of your rite where you would normally do your standard divination technique, you put your mp3 player/ full library/ iPod/ phone/ whatever you listen to music on and have handy on full random and the first song that plays is your answer.  In my head, while this is easier to cheat/ force the answer you  want (you do get to choose what songs are available), you can do that with runes/ ogham/ tarot too.  Anymore, your phone is going to be as closely attuned to you as any tarot deck.  Most people (certainly I) have my phone with me at all times, normally in my pocket. At any rate, this works for me for right now and is likely to be more convenient in the mornings.

I am going to put together a string of prayer beads. Or rather, a physical representation of the Core Order of Ritual so I have an easier time keeping track of where I am. I know what i want to use for Earth Mother, Gatekeeper, and Noble Ones, I just need to find beads that both visually and texturally represent the other beings and steps.  I have a feeling this is just going to involve wandering into a beading store and seeing what i can find.

------------------------------------

The weather is finally turning nice enough that I can be outside without it hurting.  I like this A LOT. I've got a bunch of outside projects to do (like... setting the back fence back upright.) so I should be able to spend my assigned hour outside this week.  And probably for the next several months as well.

I had every intention of spending this last weekend working on my review for my IE book.  Instead, I went car shopping with my sister and her partner, antiquing with my parents, split a few bottles of wine with my best friends, lunch for Gma's birthday, and then watching my cat terrorizing my mom's chickens while discussing home improvements and which need to happen regardless of divorce settlement and which need to wait.  Not a whole lot of time to sit down and write.

I also still need to finish up the Maitag rite.  I know which deities go where I think, so now just the plug and chug part.  I should be able to get that done... this week?  Maybe?  I really wish March wasn't so busy. Because I also need to find a weekend to make runes before Maitag. 

I'm publishing this before I freakout more about time and not enough and plans.

uh... FAIL

Did a daily devotional tonight instead of meditation.

I think the Kindreds just rejected me.  Or at least, my offerings.

Luna decided she wanted to bat at the Fire.  Twice.  I got her off the altar each time, but... yeah.
Fire ran out of oil (after ritual thankfully).
When i went to refill the oil, i overfilled it, ruining an altar cloth.
Wiping up the spilled oil... my rag caught on fire.

So... back to meditation I think.  less chance of burning my house down.

(this is all in addition to getting a ticket on my way home from picking up some more incense and candle holders.)

Bye Week therefore Housekeeping

It's a bye-week for Wheel of the Year, so updates on continuing projects/ assignments/ whatever.

Indo-European Book Review:

So I read the Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory.  I have feels, bad ones.  Not because I disagree with Eller, but because the Matriarchal prehistory folks fail basic feminist thought and logic.  I have never wished so badly that an argument was a strawman. And it's not like I'm well known for my grasp on feminist theory.

My initial review is going to be far too long.  Once I've gotten it written, edited, and privilege checked, i'll post it.  Then I'll edit it down  for DP stuff.  Or, more likely, I'll write an abstract and use that.  

At any rate, it'll be up in a couple weeks probably.  Right now, I'm still in search of sources that back me up on how racist the theory is (I've already got sources on how sexist/ anti-feminist it is).  I love JSTOR and having friends who are in academia who will allow me to abuse them for access to articles.  I've already started the blog post for it twice and it's just not there yet.  So it'll be there when it's ready.  Also, I apparently need to re-memorize MLA since I'm out of practice.  There's been at least one update come out since I stopped using MLA for everything.

Shrine Update:

Luna has been very good about staying off my altar so far.  She nearly burnt herself while I was meditating with a candle lit on it Saturday morning, but figured out that it was hot before she got too close.

I think I'm going to pick up an air plant terrarium to use as my tree.  It's not appropriate for my hearth culture at all, but sometimes hearth culture needs to take a back seat to "something I can keep alive and wont' poison my cat." I might pick up another cedar branch to use if I feel the need (the cedars in my back yard had a couple of branches die over the fall/ winter, so I can harvest those).  And, the more cedar in my wool filled house the better.

Apparently, I decided this week was going to be the week I started my rune set.  Not sure that's actually going to happen, but I'll contemplate it.

Nature Awareness:

My awareness of nature right now comes down to "it's freaking cold.  Frozen got it's EGOT, Elsa, can you please end the endless winter now?"  And making chili and potato soup.  I'm essentially just hiding in my den, and, for the most part, feel no shame in that.

Per the Weather Channel, we're supposed to warm up to the mid-fifties by next weekend.  If that's true, I'll go tramp around in the woods Thursday afternoon.  I really want to go camping, but that's just not going to happen right now.

At any rate, I really need to get the initial write up from week 5 written.  

Holy Days:

I think I need to go re-work the initial Imbolc paragraph back in week 3.  I'm not sure it hits the word count and it's certainly incomplete.

Our spring equinox ritual is going to be Slavic.  I know nothing about slavic cultures other than what I learned in a history course 8 years ago and that didn't focus much on folklore, mythology, or even the pre-christian religion.  I do have a book of Russian folk tales. I should probably pull that out and skim through it just so I have something resembling a base.

May 1/ Beltane is the Norse ritual that I'm creating.  Assuming we're focusing on the fertility aspects and not the German ancestor aspects, GateKeeper will be Heimdall on the Bifrost, DoO will probably be Frey.  I'll have to poke around some more to find the appropriate Earth Mother, nothing is sticking out at me as I thumb through my books. I'm also probably overthinking the ritual itself and need to NOT reinvent the wheel.

Library:

Not really strictly part of my DP stuff, but is happening in conjunction with, and has mental health implications.  I've started the great book purge. I know Goodreads has a scan function to add books to your library.  I need to experiment with it to see if I can get it to tag every book I scan in at a session with "Book Purge" or something similar.  It's that or type everything into a spreadsheet on Google so folks can lay claim to anything they find interesting. None of this can go live until after the divorce is finalized of course.  And I'll probably run most of them through a book buyback to see if i can get any money for them before putting them up for grabs. But expect that to be coming shortly.  There's likely to be lots of art history and books on Martin Luther.

My goal is to clear enough space off my bookshelves that I can have one bookcase (one of the short ones) dedicated to Pagan Library stuff in my bedroom.  This will also give me some more space to spread my altar out if I feel the need.  Which I don't right now but *shrug*.  It'd be nice to have the option.

Meditation:

This is... not going as well as I would like.  I'm trying to average 5 times a week (gives me a couple days to be tired or busy without fretting about it), but I'm at best, averaging 2-3 times a week.  I'm contemplating just not moving my body clock with daylight saving's time next weekend, but I'm not sure how that will work. But I do need to come up with something.  

Unless I decide to bypass meditation and just do a daily devotion.  Which is a possibility.  I don't know.  It's something to think about at least.  The devotionals will also serve to get me more familiar with CoOR. Or maybe daily devotionals and meditation.  That might bridge the gap I'm feeling.  

I think I'll try doing either a devotional or meditation every day this week and next and see which one fits in with my life better.  I'll either pick one or continue doing both throughout the year.  This also means that it's less awkward to excuse myself for 30 minutes when I have company.  I can wait until they leave and even if I'm too tired to meditate, I can at least do a devotional.  Perhaps this is where I should start contemplating prayer beads.