Areanna

Initial Thoughts on Wisdom

2007-03-13T23:58:39Z

ADF DP book: "Good judgment, the ability to perceive people and situation correctly, deliberate about and decide on a correct response"

First phrase that comes to mind: "instinctive knowledge"

Exercise 1 - A list of wise people
The first person that came to mind was Mahatma Gandhi, but then I questioned whether I thought of him more as wise or as noble.
The next people that came to mind were the old herbalist or apothecaries who knew all the herbs and how to help people.
That got me thinking....

When you say "is that wise?", what does that mean?
My initial response was that you are saying "is that a smart thing to do?", but that doesn't really help because now I need to define smart. I don't question that smart and wise have much in common (though I do question whether they are true synonyms), but this doesn't bring me any closer to answering my question...

Typically, I make a distinction between wisdom and "book smarts", but the more I think about it, the more it seems that making that distinction excludes learned knowledge from the concept of wisdom, which just doesn't seem quite right.

I guess wisdom is more about being able to apply knowledge than just having it.

A Comment (thought) About Having A Public Journal

2007-03-13T22:41:46Z

I've been concerned about writing finished works here, but it occurs to me that I will get more beneficial feedback if I write as I'm thinking. I think that will help readers understand my thought process behind the writings that I come up with.

Flow and Ebb

2007-02-28T20:10:34Z

I found this chant the other day. I really like it and would like to work it into a ritual, but I don't know where it would fit.

Flow and Ebb

We are the flow, we are the ebb,
We are the weavers, we are the web.
We are the weavers, we are the web,
We are the spiders, and we are the thread.
We are the spiders, we are the thread,
We are the flow, and we are the ebb.

According to www.en-chant-ment.ca "This is a circle dance or can be used for going into a meditation. It is also good for magickal/ritual weaving and embroidery. It is listed on other websites as "We Are the Flow" or "We Are the Weavers". It is written by Shekhinah Mountainwater. Find a recorded version of it under the title "We Are the Flow" on the Reclaiming Collective CD Chants: Ritual Music ©1987. A recorded version of it (partial lyrics) appears on Moving Breath's CD She Changes ©1991. It is one of the chants that make up their "Heal the Mother Spirit Medley" track arranged by Valerie Girard ©1991."

The First Oath

2007-02-28T00:08:36Z

I thought for quite awhile about what my first oath would be and what it would include. Not knowing much about Druidry or about oaths, I decided to keep it simple. In the end, I used most of what was in the book. This is what I decided on:

I, Areanna, declare myself to be a Pagan, a seeker of the Old Ways, and a worshiper of the Elder Gods. With this holy oath I set my foot upon the path, the Druid's Way, and I vow to make my dedication plain. I vow to seek virtue in my life, to do right by my kith and kin, and to keep the rites and works that call to me. I vow to deepen my understanding and to fill my mind with the truths of the Elder Paths. These things I swear to the Gods. So be it.

I also want to share some of the questions that came up while I was writing this:

Which name(s) should I use?
What does "make my dedication plain" mean/entail?
What does "make my Paganism real" mean/entail?
If you declare yourself Pagan (or Druid, or whatever else), is it a contract or an affirmation or both?

And this is why I don't make plans...

2007-02-23T01:33:19Z

So, I get to the week where I'm going to work on nature awareness and guess what... random snowstorm.... figures.

Now, I'm rearranging my schedule again.

Jan 27- Feb 3: Week 1 - Personal Religion and an Introduction

Feb 4- Feb 17: Week 2 - The First Oath

Feb 18-24: Week 6 - First Book Started: I-E Studies

Feb 25-Mar 3: Week 7 - Home Shrine

Mar 4-10: Week 13 - The Nine Virtues: Wisdom

Mar 11-21: Week 3 - The First High Holy Day: an explanation

Mar 22-24: Week 4 - First High Day recap

Mar 25-31: Week 12 - Ancestors, the Mighty Dead

Apr 1-7: Week 8 - Meditation and Mental Training

Apr 8-14: Week 14 - The Home Shrine (revisited)

Apr 15-21: Week 11 - The Two Powers

Apr 22-28: Week 5 - Nature Awareness 1

Apr 29-May 5: Week 9 - The Second High Holy Day: an explanation

May 6-12: Week 10 - Second High Day recap

Norse myth & music

2007-02-07T01:55:46Z

http://www.odins-gift.com/

Schedule Through Beltaine

2007-02-05T22:56:06Z

I am using the DP Through the Wheel of the Year as a guide, but since I started at an odd time, I've had to rework the order a bit. This is the schedule I've set for myself for so far.

Jan 27- Feb 3: Week 1 - Personal Religion and an Introduction

Feb 4- Feb 10: Week 2 - The First Oath

Feb 11- 17: Off

Feb 18- 24: Week 5 - Nature Awareness 1

Feb 25- Mar 3: Week 6 - First Book Started: I-E Studies

Mar 4- 10: Week 7 - Home Shrine

Mar 11- 21: Week 3 - The First High Holy Day: an explanation

Mar 22- 24: Week 4 - First High Day recap

Mar 25- 31: Week 12 - Ancestors, the Mighty Dead

Apr 1- 7: Week 8 - Meditation and Mental Training

Apr 8- 14: Week 11 - The Two Powers

Apr 15- 21: Week 13 - The Nine Virtues: Wisdom

Apr 22- 28: Week 14 - The Home Shrine (revisited)

Apr 29- May 5: Week 9 - The Second High Holy Day: an explanation

May 6- May 12: Week 10 - Second High Day recap

Imbolc

2007-02-01T18:40:53Z

Imbolc is coming up so soon and I still don't know what to do this year. The weather has been so strange here in Western New York that it hardly seems like time for Imbolc yet. We only got our heavy winter snow starting about 3 weeks ago instead of in November. I know I'll find something to do, but I'm not sure what. I'm so new to Druidry that I'm not sure I could do much with that and what I usually do doesn't seem appropriate for the weather.

Week 1 Questions

2007-01-31T01:02:00Z

I was going more for idea than grammar, so these are a bit rough....

Why did you join ADF?

When I first found ADF, I was searching for a group where I could learn online that I felt a better connection to than I did with Wicca. I looked at Druidism orginally because I thought I may be able to connect with that better, being of Celtic descent myself. I found the ADF website, and looked around, and it looked interesting. One of the first things I looked at was the sample ritual video/script. It was because of this that I decided to join right away. It seemed more comfortable than what I had seen so far and I was intrigued by all the things I didn't quite understand. After looking around the site some more, I decided that I could see myself being comfortable with and contributing to the group, once I understood more.

Why have you chosen to undertake the Dedicant Program?

Initially, the point of joining ADF was to learn, hence to me the DP was a necessary part of being a member. The more I learn, the more I realize the DP will also be an excellent way to learn more about myself and my environment.

Is this a step on your path, or will this become the path itself?

I cannot say at this point whether this will be my path or just a step. My thought at the moment is to continue through many of ADF's programs.

What do you expect to learn?

I expect to learn about Druids, both ancient and modern. I expect to learn about who and how the Druids worship and celebrate. I expect ot learn more about myself, my personality, and my spirituality.

What would you like to get out of this journey?

I would like to get a better understanding of myself and my spirituality. I would like to understand more about Druids, as well as the environment/universe/cosmos. I would like to use this to develop a religious/spiritual practice that fits me.

Do you know where this path will take you?

I really have no idea where this path will take me. So far, I've found it best to keep opinions open and see what happens.

If you have just joined ADF, why have you chosen to work on this immediately?/ If you have been in ADF for a long time, why are you starting only now?

I joined ADF about two months ago, so I didn't start right away, nor did I wait particularly long. I started now with the thought that the sooner I started, the more I'll have time to learn.

Does it look hard?

Some of the things look challenging, but it doesn't seem too hard. Probably the hardest part will be doing the actual writing.

Which requirements appear to be difficult to you now, and which appear to be easy?

The virtues and the Kindred essays look the most difficult. The journals look the easiest. I'm sure things will look easier after I learn more.

Do you have doubts, questions, or concerns that you need to ask about?

My concerns here are the same they are nearly everywhere. 1- Will I finish this as I intend? 2- How will I relate to and understand the Deities/Kindred/what-have-you?

Books

2007-01-25T00:18:38Z

Today I ordered the books I'm going to use for the book reports (and a couple others too). This is what I picked:
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
A History of Pagan Europe
A Brief History of the Druids

I also picked up:
The Druids: Celtic Priests of Nature
Keeping a Nature Journal: Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You

I've never read any of these, but they sound like good books.

Post #1

2007-01-24T04:34:14Z

It's always challenging to start a new journal. I'm never quite sure what format to use. I suppose that's the kind of thing that really has to evolve with time though.
Newho...

This is the begining of my journal for the ADF Dedicant Program. I've been a member of ADF for about two months and I figure it's time to get to work. My goal is to start tomorrow and use the DP Through the Wheel of the Year publication as a guide.