"Ditzy Druid?" Why the Name Change?

Hello readers!  I'm back, safe and sound, from my wonderful weekend at Wellspring.  I'll post more about that later. I have a lot to share! :)

Right now I wanted to explain the name change.  When I first started this blog, it was called "Grey Catsidhe's Den."  This was really a place holder until I could find something better.   When I moved to Northern NY, "North Country Pagan" seemed okay for a time.  Indeed, I was once considering making Pagan culture in the North Country (or lack thereof) the focus of this blog.  However, things did not turn out that way.  This quickly became a place for my personal progress, reflections, and rantings.  It became more general.  I wanted a better title but I couldn't think of one.

At Wellspring, the annual ADF Druid festival hosted by Stone Creed Grove at the Brushwood Folklore Center, I had the pleasure of seeing old friends and meeting people I've only ever known online.  I was full of emotions - insecurity, excitement, joy, and shyness.  I found myself occasionally saying things that, upon later reflection, seemed really goofy.  Most were because of excitement and/or sleep deprivation.  I lamented to my husband, let's just call him Weretoad, that am so ditzy.

Now my husband has often told me that I'm ditzy.  This isn't really insulting because he also tells me I'm quite smart - and I know I'm smart in some ways.  I have a college degree, have completed my DP, am very self-motivated, and love to learn.  All the same, I say and do goofy things that make me look, well, ditzy!  Can a Druid, an icon of intelligence and eloquence, also be ditzy? This blog will help me explore my own faults, growth, and the fun I have along the way.

"But Grey!" you cry, "By calling yourself a 'ditzy Druid,' you'll be giving yourself a label that will possibly stick!  Is it really okay to be so self depreciating?"  I asked Weretoad what he thought on the way home, before I made the change.  I explained to him my concerns but he thought the title was perfect.    Really, it is.  I am a ditzy Druid - a mixture of eccentric silliness and child-like whimsy with serious respect and study.  Perhaps, by accepting this aspect of my personality, my insecurity will improve.



[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]

'Twas the night before Wellspring...

I guess I'm as ready for Wellspring as I'll ever be.  I spent the last several hours rushing to get tags on my dolls, clothes packed, and a car rented.  It's supposed to be in the 80s all week and I just can't tolerate being in a hot car without AC for five and a half hours...

I emailed Skip last night about just giving him the W-9 rather than scanning and emailing it.  I feel weird emailing something with my social security number on it, you know?  A game account of mine was recently hacked and it made me feel concerned about security.  I haven't heard back from him about it so I hope it's okay!

Ok...  here's hoping I can get some sleep!  I'm so excited to meet other ADFers and have a fun, Pagan time!

[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]

Musical Meme - A Place

Here is today's song of the day!  It's a song that reminds me of somewhere.  It's called "The Old Ways" by Loreena McKennitt.  Whenever I hear it, my mind wanders to Cornwall.  It's probably one of my favorite places in the world.  I was able to explore a bit of Penzance, Mousehole, and Marazion.  It was alive in a very different way than London, and I really felt closer to the native Nature Spirits there.  It was also my first and last time swimming in the ocean.  I miss it terribly and hope to return with Ron someday...




Day 01 - Your favorite song
Day 02 - A song that makes you happy
Day 03 - A song that makes you sad
Day 04 - A song that reminds you of someone
Day 05 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 06 - A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 07 - A song that you can dance to
Day 08 - A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 09 - A song from your favorite band
Day 10 - A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 11 - A song that describes you
Day 12 - A song from your favorite album
Day 13 - A song that you listen to when you're angry
Day 14 - A song that you listen to when you're happy
Day 15 - A song that you listen to when you're sad
Day 16 - A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 17 - A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 18 - A song that makes you laugh






[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]

Gardening Update

The cucumbers and peppers are in their pots.  I added some companion flowers/herbs to some pots.  Transplanted the zucchini into a bigger pot and added a bean.

I need more soil.  The long container I got for the carrots is half full of soil.  I also have a few more pots and will require one or two more large ones for the other seedlings still in the art room!  I've saved a few large tin cans.  I think I may use those...



[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]

Musical Meme - Catching Up!

Oops...  I've fallen behind.  I hope you don't mind my playing catch up!






Day 02: A song that makes me happy









"Alive" by Omnia. It makes me want to kick my shoes off and dance outside rain or shine! (Eee! Wellspring is so soon!)


Day 03: A song that makes me sad




"If You See Her, Say Hello" - originally by Bob Dylan






Day 04: A song that reminds me of someone




"Old Friends/Bookends Theme" by Simon and Garfunkel.

Ok... So only one of them was very Pagan.  :P

Day 01 - Your favorite song
Day 02 - A song that makes you happy
Day 03 - A song that makes you sad
Day 04 - A song that reminds you of someone
Day 05 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 06 - A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 07 - A song that you can dance to
Day 08 - A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 09 - A song from your favorite band
Day 10 - A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 11 - A song that describes you
Day 12 - A song from your favorite album
Day 13 - A song that you listen to when you're angry
Day 14 - A song that you listen to when you're happy
Day 15 - A song that you listen to when you're sad
Day 16 - A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 17 - A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 18 - A song that makes you laugh


[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]

Lost - One Pagan's Perspective on the Magical Finale

Obviously, if you have not yet seen the series, please disregard this post due to spoilers.




I was finally able to watch the finale of "Lost" on Hulu last night.  I was really happy with the conclusion of the series.  Hell, I loved the whole story - plot holes and all.  More on that in a moment.

"Lost" had everything a typical Pagan would love: mythical references, characters who seem like protective spirits or deities, unique legendary creatures, ghosts, multiple worlds/universes/dimensions, a compelling story with wonderful characters, magic, and mystery.

That last characteristic, the mystery, is what has kept people watching for so many years.  It's also what has some audience members up in arms in regards to the finale.  Sure, some of the unexplained plot devices are a bit annoying.  For example, where was Walt at the end?  But for the most part, I can live without knowing a lot of the answers.  In fact, I was happy that they didn't tell me where certain structures came from or how The Man in Black somehow lost his powers before his death.  As I've already said to some people, most explanations would, I'm sure, feel contrived.  And as someone who reads and revels in mythology, I am perfectly content with magic and mystery.  Will we ever know the creation story of the Celts, for example?  If we don't, we will be fine.  In fact, it makes for a less dogmatic, more engaging religion in my opinion.  A religion is not the same as a television show, at least not at this point in history, but I hope you see what I mean.

So what if we don't know what the numbers meant, who built the temple, the wheel, and the well which was the source of light?  Isn't life full of mystery?

The final scene occurred in some sort of church but it wasn't of any denomination.  The creators made sure that the camera scanned over several religious icons and tools - crucifixes, menorahs, Buddha, Krisnha, etc...- to show that the Otherworld/Purgatory environment everyone had created was beyond creed.  Even in death, the characters did not know what the "right" religion was.  The biggest mysteries of life in general were still unanswered.  That dwarfs so much of the mystery of the island which, in the end, is a symbol for the macrocosm of mystery in life.  Who are we?  How did we become stranded on this planet and why?  The adventures on the island, while seemingly so important, happened because of what people believed - and in the end we don't know which of those beliefs were correct.  Everything is left up to human interpretation and, often, this led to error.  In our own lives, we go through our day making offerings to Gods that appear to us but not to everyone.  We feel that we are doing what is right but, in the end, who really knows?  We play the lottery and we may win.  Was it luck?  Fate?  Neither?   Is that drink you consumed in your initiation ceremony full of magic and energy?  Was it only in your head? We cannot know.

In the end, the characters, who struggled through so many moral mazes on that island, reach a point where they are able to let go and realize that the unanswered questions, the puzzles, and the rituals were only vehicles towards the bonds they formed with other people.  That was the point of the show - to exhibit that despite all the uncertainties in our lives, one of the only significant things we can come close to understanding and really experiencing are the relationships we create with other people (and animals.  Yay Vincent!).

I cried during the final scene.  How poignant to imagine that, after everyone you love has died, you are able to come to terms with the hurt or the unanswered questions, and just celebrate what you did share and know together before moving on to new uncertainties to explore.  To me it was very magical and optimistic.


[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]

Gardening Update

Most of the bush beans are doing well.  The largest container is thriving and I already see tiny beans starting to grow.  The smallest and medium sized containers have flowers or buds.  One of the other medium containers doesn't look well and I can't figure out why.

My tomato seedlings are coming along.  The two patio tomatoes I bought seem limp.  It's possible that it could be root rot or something called verticillium wilt....  I have to get them bigger containers anyway so I'll see soon enough I guess...  In the meantime I need to find some sort of organic fertilizer.

The herbs and oakleaf lettuce is growing.  The three sisters container is slowly coming along.  Cucumbers, peppers, marigolds, carrots, and radishes are growing slowly but surely.

Like I said, I need more containers.  I also need more soil and some sort of organic fertilizer.




[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]