My ISP Intention Letter

Just in case you were curious.



1: What draws you to the path of Initiation within ADF?
When I stumbled upon ADF it was during a time that I felt I was in a sort of spiritual limbo. I knew that Paganism was the right place for me but the generality of the term was not enough. I had left Wicca due to academic dissatisfaction. After finding ADF, I thought about its message for several months before joining, and even then I waited several more before seriously starting the Dedicant Program. I didn't want to jump in – I wanted to wait and make sure that this was right for me. The more I meditated on it, the more I realized how right it felt. I recognized a calling from the ancestors and the Old Ones of Ireland. I began my journey through study and, even before I had finished the Dedicant Program, I knew that I would want more.
Once I completed that first step I took some time off from academics and essay writing to accomplish a few other things in life and to think about what I wanted next in my Druidic studies. I did not want to jump into anything I wasn't truly called to.
After a lot of deep thought I came to the conclusion that I should take a serious step towards greater involvement and greater knowledge of the Kindreds. Although I am a Dedicant I realize that there are many things left to learn. The Dedicant Program has helped me find a home within ADF and I am beginning to satisfy the academic side of spirituality I so craved. However that was only the beginning of my journey and I am aware of my weaknesses. I find myself desirous of improvement, especially in regards to the spiritual side of religion – the mysticism. I realized that, having dedicated myself to this religion, it is important for me to continue learning, growing, and improving myself. Druidism has become so important to my life that I want to show my elders and the Kindreds my commitment to its beauty. I feel that taking the path of initiation will help me to grow, learn, and give back to the Kindreds and my community.
2: What does being an Initiate mean to you?
Being an Initiate means that I am committed to Druidism and to the Kindreds. It means that I have a desire to learn more. It means that I seek inner improvement. As an Initiate, I would take the lessons I learned and, to the best of my capabilities, give back to others through ritual, teaching, and support. This brings me to community. Taking this step towards greater involvement means that I will grow in intimacy with my spiritual community, especially in fellowship with others who are working to develop a modern, Druidic "current."
3: What services do you hope to provide to your community with this training?
I am hopeful to provide for my community in many ways. I recently started to become more involved with ADF. I have submitted a few pieces to Tribeways and am now an editor for Oak Leaves. It is my hope to contribute more to these valuable publications and I have no doubt that my work in the Initiate Study Program will inspire me to produce essays fit for sharing with others.
In addition to producing more material for ADF, I am interested in taking on more responsibilities within my grove and providing more support for the senior Druid. When I first began attending Muin Mound I was very quiet. After awhile, I was invited to participate in ritual in small ways. When I completed my DP, Skip encouraged me to call to the Gods in ritual. I felt honored to be asked and, once I had done it, I found myself feeling closer to the Kindreds and to the grove. I would like to do more, and feel that further study would help me. Practice with trance and meditation would aid me in leading the Two Powers. Divinatory studies would give me confidence to take omens. Perhaps one day I will even lead a ritual for the grove.
Finally, I am opening up to the idea of teaching. Although I know that I will always be a student, I have found a confidence in myself and recognize that I do have knowledge and skills. As I am a teacher in a public school, teaching is part of my identity. I enjoy doing it and would be open to helping others complete their Dedicant Programs, and perhaps lead workshops at festivals. Perhaps one day I will even become clergy. Becoming an initiate would help me refine my studies and skills so that I would be better prepared to help others in these ways.

Happy Times!

Three things to mention before a busy evening:

1) Spring!  Spring!  Spring!  The sun is shining, the earth is getting warmer, I hear birds singing, and I see buds on the trees!  (I'm sorry if this exceeds my bubbly quota.)

2) I'm actually going to go to a CUUPS meeting tonight.  I'm dragging my poor husband because I'm nervous about going by myself.

3) I was officially accepted into the Initiate Study Program!  EEEE!  I need to order more books!

Bits and Bobs

A few days ago I did a ritual to transfer the energies from my original oath ring to another.  You see, the first one broke.  :(  I stumbled across an old ring a few weeks after and it struck me as 100% appropriate for my oath ring.  It has swirls, the archaic symbol I am so drawn to.  It came from my mother who wore it herself as a young girl, so it has a "family treasure" aura about it.  I went about the ritual as a way to reaffirm my oath.  It was a very positive experience.

I used the Druid oracle cards for my omen and drew the deer, cow, and swan from the Nature Spirits, Ancestors, and Gods respectively.  I feel that my Nature Kin, especially the unseen variety, are inviting me further into the hidden places of the forests within and without.  I feel that the Ancestors are calling me to their hearthways.  They also offer comfort and maternal understanding.  The Gods, I feel, are telling me of a transformation I must go through to progress through my Druidic studies.

How are my Druidic studies going?  Well I'm currently being discussed by the Clergy Council.  If I really think about it, the process puts knots in my stomach.  What are they saying about me?  Am I up to snuff or do I have to fix items in my DP?  Do they think I have what it takes?

My progress through the Artisan Guild study program is slow.  I'm waiting for my sister to bring some of her old art history books to me to take a look at before I decided if I should just buy one.  I'm studying the lore and folk practices connected to Brighid which is incredibly fascinating.  There are so many things I didn't know or hadn't thought about before.  A lot of it is clicking.

It's a beautiful day in the North Country!  The sun is out and the snow is melting.  I was just outside for a minute to see how cold it was.  It's not hot but there is a definite warmth in the air!  I think it might just be a denim jacket sort of day!

The weather has put a song into my head and, even though it's not Lughnasadh, it seems appropriate:

"Feed the flame and set them dancing.
Hail the sun and hail to life!"
-Omnia - "Lughnasadh"

Hoping to try CUUPS

Ok.  I emailed the liaison for CUUPS in Watertown.  According to the website, they meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month.  I would hate to go and find out it was rescheduled, though, so I wanted to email and get some details about what the topic of discussion will be and if I'm expected to bring a dish.  I'm really dedicated to going this time.  If people really rub me the wrong way, I just won't go back.  If it's  iffy, I'll take my friend Katrina's advice and go a few times just to make sure.

Quite simply, I would really love some Pagan contacts up here.  I would love to make a friend.  I cannot find anyone on my own it seems.  There's the store Moontide but the shopkeeper is New Agey - not Pagan.  Meetup.com doesn't list any groups.  Facebook yields similar results.  I'm not about to send private messages to complete strangers on Witchvox.  I want to meet in the relative safety of a group.  Something sanctioned by the UU puts me at further ease.

Sooo...  Here's hoping (if the meeting is on) that my husband is willing to go with me (I am SO not going alone) and that it is mostly positive.

On the Vital Importance of Pagan Community

Jason Pitzl-Waters from Wild Hunt posted a fascinating and alarming blog entry today about an evangelical  Christian group called Repent Amarillo and their bullying tactics against anything they perceive to be immoral, including Paganism. *  This is very frightening to someone living in a predominantly rural setting with, in my opinion, limited safe havens for liberals.  I'm surrounded by Christian churches.  Right now, they seem more welcoming and peaceful than anything else, but there's always that fear of what they would do if they knew about my beliefs.  What could I do to protect myself?

Jason writes:

That doesn’t mean we need to out-militant them, but it does mean that Pagan communities, especially small and vulnerable Pagan communities, need to prepare for the coming storm. They need to come out of the “broom closet” now to their employers and family before they are outed by these “soldiers”, they need to be prepared when the faux-military trucks and loud-speakers roll up to their events, they need to know the law and how to use it, and they need to be ready to network with the larger Pagan community and other sympathetic minority faiths so we can get the word out, show solidarity, give aid, and withstand these bully tactics. They may have come for the swingers first, but if we show no shame, and stand up, it can end with the Pagans.

At the moment, I stand with one foot in and out of the "broom closet."  I'm very open with close friends and family.  I was very open in college and where I used to work.  In my current field I'm extremely reluctant to confide this side of me in anyone.  I'm lucky enough not to be the only vegetarian at work, but I don't want to tempt alienation anymore after such a short time there.   (For the record, my diet has not alienated me, but it was something I kept to myself until I learned of the other.)  I suppose, if I were faced by the "coming storm," I would have to first research and make certain my boss and HR people weren't involved with any such militant organization.  Then I would probably request a small meeting with my boss, HR, and even mentor to let them know what I am and that I want to be up front and protected.  I would hope that my actions now would speak volumes about who I am and that an added label wouldn't damage my reputation.

In the meantime, I'm not going to go into a panic about it.  Everyone I've met is, for the most part, a wonderful, welcoming, helpful person.  Barely anyone has even attempted to discuss religion with me, and when they do it's fleeting - what kind of wedding they plan, etc.  At the moment, I'm not worried.

That said, I do wholeheartedly agree with Jason about networking.  The Pagan community is fractured and it is such a weakness in these instances.  We've been able to put aside differences and work together to get pentacle headstones and throw lovely Pagan Pride Days...  But thats only the start.  It's what I'm hoping to get going in NY State with the transitioning MVPN.  I would love to see the forum become more of a networking site for Pagans all over upstate NY.  We need to come together as a community instead of wallowing in our perceived isolation.  We need to have bonds so that, if we ever get negative press, we have solidarity.  We need to know who in our community are lawyers, cops, and politicians.  We need to know who we can turn to and what their reputation is from the get-go.  We need physical meet ups to feel comfortable.

So those are just some thoughts.  As always, thanks again to Jason for a thought-provoking and informative article.

*http://wildhunt.org/blog/2010/03/first-they-came-for-the-swingers.html

In case any fellow Northern NY Pagans didn't know...

North Country Goes Green” Irish Festival From March 11-14, Watertown plays host to their annual “North Country Goes Green” Irish Festival, at the State Office Building. The festival, promising three days of constant musical entertainment, supports Project Children, raising money to bring children from Northern Ireland to Northern New York for four weeks in the summer. This year’s festival features a lineup that includes the very popular Dublin City Ramblers, The Glengarry Bhoys, Cliudan, Searson, Tartan, Seanache and The Terry Mostyn Band. Admission to the festival is $6 per person, with children 12 and under admitted free if accompanied by a parent. For additional information, visit http://www.ncirishfest.com/