I think of myself as being largely disconnected from my biologic family beyond the household I was raised in. On my mother's side, I only have one living relative who I'm not close to. On my father's side, both grandparents have since passed. After especially my grandmother's death and a family crisis, that side of … Continue reading Week 12: Ancestors, the Mighty Dead
dedicant path
Week 11: The Two Powers
I’ve been keeping up with a regular meditation practice for a few weeks, which I’m really excited about. I can feel subtle shifts in my mental, emotional, and even physical awareness the more I practice mindfulness and return to the breath. This week, we’re building on our meditation and mental training to introduce the … Continue reading Week 11: The Two Powers
Week 10: Winter Solstice Recap
This was the first ADF-inspired ritual I have done on my own for several years. I say "inspired" because while the Core Order of Ritual was my inspiration, I went in without a script and did what I remembered from the COoR without stressing over the details. As such I don't have a script to … Continue reading Week 10: Winter Solstice Recap
Week 9: Winter Solstice explained
The Winter Solstice is a difficult holiday for me. My own experiences with growing up Christian and my more recent experiences of religious decorations in the workplace for "the holidays" have made the time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere at least) difficult for me to feel very festive. I am still struggling with how … Continue reading Week 9: Winter Solstice explained
Week 8: Meditation and Mental Training
Meditation has often been a sticking point for me; I can't begin to count the number of times I've started a meditation routine but was unable to stick with it for more than a week or two. Part of that is my severe anxiety where any opportunity to slow down and be quiet is filled … Continue reading Week 8: Meditation and Mental Training
Week 7: Home Shrine
I'm playing catch up with my work, so this week will have several weeks of work condensed into it. Surprise! I've just come back from solstice/Christmas vacation with my spouse where I got to meet one of my long-time partners-in-Brigidine-crime - Aster Breo, who along with Gilbride and myself is one of the founders of … Continue reading Week 7: Home Shrine
Week 6: IE Studies Book
This is going to be a short post because I'm simply announcing that I have started to read A History of Pagan Europe by Nigel Pennick and Prudence Jones for the DP. The reading list for the Dedicant Path does not seem to have been updated since I first attempted the program in 2010 with the exception of … Continue reading Week 6: IE Studies Book
Week 5: Nature Awareness 1
This week is the beginning of our foray into Nature Awareness for the Dedicant's Path. I live in New York City and it is early December, so the months ahead will be dark and cold and the accessible parks few and far between. In Rev. Dangler's Wheel of the Year study guide, he suggests that … Continue reading Week 5: Nature Awareness 1
Week 4: Samhain Writeup
Even though we're three weeks and some change out from Samhain, I've always felt that the Fire Festivals lend themselves to an entire season. These three months are the time of Samhain, a space for the Ancestors to take prominence again in our lives. We continue descending into the dark and cold in the months … Continue reading Week 4: Samhain Writeup
Week 3: Samhain explained
For this week's homework we are meant to reflect on the first High Day of our journey through the Dedicant Path, and for me that was this past Samhain. I actually re-embarked on a druidic path the night of Samhain, after the ritual shared with my spouse. This post will be about Samhain as a … Continue reading Week 3: Samhain explained
Sage and Starshine 