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Nine Virtues of Ar nDraíocht Féin

Wisdom
Is wisdom something one is borne with? Is wisdom something one acquires? Does wisdom exist? The argument could be made that it is a fallacy. You see, to a 5 year old, someone who can explain why there is an Easter Bunny would seem very wise. But to me, that same person would be loopy! Wisdom to me is a skill to be practiced. If you have the ability to question an issue, using logic and reason, a measure of suspicion and an open and curious mind, you could be exercising wisdom. Then you must be open to the fact you could be wrong once you have arrived at a conclusion. All the exercises above could also lead the imprudent into pig headed dogmatic, thinking as well. All is wasted if selflessness and brevity is not measured into the equation.

Piety
Participation in the ADF is very important to a dedicant. A friend of mine says he can never sit by and just observe during ritual, he must participate in order to feel pious. I do not. I feel that my presence and quiet support behind the scenes is my calling. We are witnessing the rebirth of a glorious faith. Fidelity to the members, leaders and the teachings, although not blind obedience, are all displays of piety. Devout members of ADF know that. And devotion to the Ancestors, Nature Spirits, and Shining Ones is what grounds us and marks our path to the future. Observance of the Eight Holy Days is my primary religious duty. It keeps me in tune with the Nature Spirits and gives me a sense or truly being a Druidic Pagan.

Vision
Vision, the one virtue that I truly associate as being inherent. That is to say, you have it or you don't. First, my explanation of vision is the ability to see ones goals completed, in ones minds eye. Then you can see the components of the goal as being parts of the whole. Someone with vision can easily discern the steps to achieving a goal, simply because the components of that goal are plainly obvious. This takes a disciplined and an orderly mind. So many times we get caught up in the excuses we make to ourselves, simply because a goal seems unobtainable. But when a goal is viewed as sires of components, as bits of a whole, as bends and turns in the road, the goal seems obtainable, and hope blossoms! Anything seems possible when life's challenges are viewed thusly. Too often we are confronted with naysayer and roadblocks. I say bullocks! Eat the elephant one bite at a time.

Courage
I was scared to write about this! All my life I have fought with the choice of doing what was right versus what was easy. Courage to me is, knowing you are scared, terrified to the point of paralysis, yet doing what you know to be right, hopefully not throwing up in the process. I have a lot of regrets in my life because, when I was younger, I was not very courageous. My first instinct is to take the easy road, yet I know I will feel horrid about it later, and there will be consequences. I am so very grateful that I out grew that reflex. Confronting ones fears will bring great solace to the soul. Acting fearless will bring pain and conflict. Fearlessness and courage is not the same thing at all. Courage is being scared, yet doing what you believe is right regardless of your fears.

Integrity
When a bridge collapses it is often said that the integrity of the structure failed. When a person is a known liar, it is said that the person lacks integrity. I like the structural metaphor better. When we possess integrity, we can be relied upon not to fail, to hold up under pressure, to be relied upon. The safety and wellness of a grove depends on the integrity of its membership and more importantly, its leadership. The valid scholarship of religious issues within a grove must be constantly tested and assed for accuracy in order for integrity to be maintained. If a portion of the liturgy comes into question, it should be vigorously debated until a solution is reached, based on integrity of the known and trusted resources available at the time. It would be abjectly foolish for the public works department of a municipality to argue that the cables holding up a bridge are sound because they have always functioned in the past. It is equally foolish to assume that assessment of current practices should be shunned just because they worked in the past. That way of thinking would lack integrity.

 

Perseverance
Perseverance is the tortoise and the hare, the wonderful quote the Thomas Jefferson said "Small strokes felled great oaks." I personally find the felling of any oak a sacrilege, but you get my meaning. Another of my favorites is "A mighty oak was once a little nut who stood his ground." If one was to read up on the ADF's version of vision, you would already have some idea of the importance of perseverance. In Arthurian legend, the search for the grail was embarked on by Percival, coincidence? In other words nothing good ever comes easy. Why is life like that? Why are so many good things in life so difficult to attain and sorrows and misery so easily heaped upon us? That is easy to answer, value! Why would gold be valuable if it littered every stream and river on the planet? The answer is it would be worthless. The thing about perseverance is, it takes vision. The ability to see in your mind your goals realized and the desire to attain those goals is perseverance.

Hospitality
Hospitality is welcoming guests into your home and making them feel welcome. But in an ADF sense, hospitality is welcoming all walks and backgrounds of life into your grove. I once was lamenting to a very alternative sort of friend of mine about the appearance of a kid in Bisbee who had heavy gage ear piercings, tattoos on his face and oddly colored hair and makeup. She told me that when she sees someone like that, she doesn't see a freaky person, she sees a person who has made themselves happy through self expression. So the more people she sees with outrageous appearances, the more happy people she sees in the world. With that I had an epiphany! I was able to overcome my bigotry and show hospitality to people regardless of their appearance. Hospitality in the truest sense of the word is making people feel welcome, at ease, and at home in ritual. The pre ritual brief is an open hand of hospitality to newcomers to the grove that should never be forgotten and delivered with the utmost in sincerity. There is also the other side of the hospitality coin. We have all heard "Don't wear out your welcome." This is especially important to remember when accepting the hospitality of another. In other words, know when to say when. In other words, the guest has an obligation to the host not to abuse the hospitality extended. It does go both ways.
Moderation
To me, moderation is balance. To be a political moderate, one must be able to listen to all sides and find a balance within yourself. In all activities in life that one chooses to engage in, moderation is the key to happiness. I feel very Buddhist in this virtue, simply because it works for me. It is obvious to me that drinking alcohol to excess is never a wise choice. On the other hand, I really love an old single malt Scotch whiskey, a nice claret with dinner and beers with friends. One can over do religious endeavors too. Dogmatists, zealots and jihaadists are all examples of religious excess and intolerance. When do you know you are out of balance or being excessive? I like to apply a few tests; are you doing harm to yourself or others? Are you neglecting your duties and responsibilities? Are you feeling regret or remorse? Are you feeling too much pleasure? Are you just plain unsatisfied with your situation? If I answered yes to any of those questions, I would embark on some deep introspection and attempt to identify the source of the imbalance, and then formulate a plan to correct it.

Fertility
Fertility to me in the ADF sense means to share Our Druidry and cultivate a community of accepted awareness about our budding faith. No one embodies the virtue of fertility better that my friend Kirk Thomas. I truly admire his steadfast devotion to seeing ADF grow and thrive. Our grove would still be huddling under public park ramadas, having to endure the thumping bass of a car stereo while attempting to ground and center, if it weren't for his efforts. And for that, I will be forever grateful to him for providing us a ritual space where we can flourish. For the longest time I felt barren and infertile due to the loss of my restaurant, which I labored for 12 years to create. The passion and energy that went into it was a direct reflection of myself, and to loose it all as a result of the 9/11 attacks, and the subsequent downturn in tourism in the little town of Bisbee, was nearly too much to endure. But attunement with nature, daily, helped me to see that all things will grow again. I doubt that I will ever attempt a venture that I had before, but I feel creative and alive again thanks to my faith in the Shining Ones, support form my Ancestors and attunement with the Nature Spirits.

The High Days of the Druid Year
Samhain
November 1st. Samhain is the first and most important of the Pagan high days. It is the time when the old year ends and the New Year's cycle begins. As in all in-between times, great and powerful magical potential exists. It is the time when the gates between the worlds stand open. The season between Samhain and Imbolc is a time of feasting and plenty, tempered with moderation. To be gluttonous now may mean an empty larder before the snows melt. This is the time also to reflect and honor our ancestors. Samhain is the season that corresponds to the end of life, which makes perfect sense to me that now is the best time to honor the dead. Old age is also (usually) synonymous with wisdom. So it makes sense that during the months of Samhain one should seek out activities that enhance one's wisdom such as long hours of study, cutting back old growth in the garden/yard. Speak with the elders of your grove or family or better yet, volunteer your time at an elder care facility.
Yule
The Winter Solstice represents the rebirth of the sun, which is a particularly important turning point. "The night of Solstice is the longest night of the year. Darkness triumphs; and yet, gives way and changes into light." (Taken from "The Wheel of the Year at Muin Mound Grove, ADF" by Rev. Skip Ellison.) The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year . We still celebrate Yule in a very Christian fashion in our home. We shamelessly pilfer the 25th of December as our 21st because we have many members of the family who are not Pagan. Our children have the day off from school and I have the day off from work, so it all works out. We watch the sunrise and mark the place on the horizon with a bright red apple. If it is still in the circle when we sit down for our feast, we all get a slice. If it is gone, we know that some nature spirit is happy, sharing our feast! Yule, as a Pagan father of Buddhist children is a great time of year to educate my kids in the old ways. My son Brian and I marked the Winter Solstice together in our home grove. He always has the most honest, guiless questions about my faith. He never ceases to challenge my ability to answer his questions.
Imbolc
February 1st. Imbolc means "in the belly", im - within, bolc - belly, but has many variant names. This is a sacred holiday for women, especially Brigit. Now is the time when the first stirrings of life can be felt. Imbolc is a celebration of the feminine, of the germination of the seeds in both plants and animals. It is also a time to clean the house in expectation of the arrival of Brigit. It is said that the fireplace must be thoroughly cleaned with a birch handled broom. And a dish of butter should be left out on the eve of Imbolc and a candle lit. This is the time to weave Brigits crosses too. If you have an old one, hang it in the rafters or the barn and put your new one over the door. The Christians call this Candalmass, to bless all the candles to be used for the year. I think it is another theft from a ritual of lighting great bonfires on the tops of signal hills (Tor') to honor Brigits fire of rebirth, the forge, healing and poetic inspiration. There could be an entire book written on the subject of Imbolc, as well there should!

Spring Equinox
March 20th. This is the day when there is 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Because it falls in the middle if Imbolc, it is considered a time of rebirth, of resurrection in Christian faith, marked as Easter, baring close resemblance to the Pagan celebration of the great mother Goddess Eostre (pronounced EE- ah- tra). According to one legend, the Easter bunny was originally a large, handsome bird belonging to the goddess Eostre. One day she magically changed her pet bird into a hare. Because the Easter bunny is still a bird at heart, he continues to build a straw nest and fill it with eggs. This is why we have Easter eggs today. This time of year things are budding, the grasses are sprouting and all the world seems fertile again. What better symbols of fertility are there than the egg and the hare? Some activities for this time of year are cleansing your living space, ya know, spring cleaning! Plant flowers and vegetables for Summer and Fall. Allow yourself to be swept up by the notion that anything is possible. Rejoice! Better times are coming.

Beltane
May 1 or when the Hawthorns bloom! This is primarily a Gaelic High Day named after Bel the God of light and tane, for fire. Some argue that Beltane means bright fire. Beltane was begun to mark the beginning of summer. Our Druid ancestors would light a great "Need Fire" to mark the bright half of the year, at the highest point of ground and the herds would be driven from the byres through or between the fires to purify and protect them and to bring them luck. Then the people would go through the fires too, for the same reasons and bring some of the fire home with them to relight and purify their own hearths. Of course, practicality would dictate that the safest way to go leaping around fires is without the threat of one's clothes catching on fire. So our practical and wise ancestors dispensed with the wearing of clothes while participating. Beltane is a time of youthful passion and the notion that all things are possible. This is a great time of year to participate in athletic activities, do lots of hiking and attuning to nature, planting in the garden and lots of outdoor dancing.

Summer Solstice
June 21st. The longest day of the year is celebrated in almost all cultures around the globe. In Celtic lore, it is that in-between time of magic and power, of death and rebirth. Great bonfires were lit to symbolize the sun's power and help renew the sun's energy to ensure it would return the next year. Wheels and bundles of bay leaves were lit and rolled down hills. Lighting of fires was only part of the celebration of the Solstice. Flowered wreaths should be worn on everyone's head and wreaths of sacred herbs like St. John's wort, Mugwort, Penny royal, Lavender, Wisteria, Chamomile, Roses, Wild Thyme, Geranium, Fennel, Larkspur, Pine, Elder, Hemp, Male fern, Cinquefoil, Verbena and Vervain were hung on doors as well as offered to the sacred fires. Some excellent things to do surrounding the Solstice is get married! June is a traditional month because id follows Beltane, the time of the Great Union, and it just makes good sense to follow the Gods and Goddesses.

 

Lugnasadh
End of July or the 1st of August. This day we honor Lugh of many skills, a God I can identify with. The story of Lugnasadh begins with Lugh's foster mother, the Fir Bolg Rígh-bhean or Queen Tailtiu. Tailtiu was a noble of the race of peoples who inhabited Ireland before the coming of the Tuatha De Dannan. Tailtiu was Lugh's foster-mother. Tailtiu is a goddess with the most supreme of virtues, self sacrifice. Tailtiu gave her life in a most extraordinary way. One year the Fir Bolg had a bad harvest and many were starving. Tailtiu took up an axe and began to clear a forest herself in the space of one year. Little did the Fir Bolg know that this act would kill her. At the end of her labors it is said:
"Her heart burst in her body from the strain beneath her royal vest."
Before she died she told the Fir Bolg to celebrate her passing every year on the anniversary of her death, the 1st of August. It was Lugh who held the very first Óenach Tailtenn or "Tailtiu Games" to remember and honor his foster-mother. The Fair of Tailtiu was a time of peace, first held by the Fir Bolg in their time, by the Tuatha De Dannan after them, and then by the Sons of Míl.
Tailtiu is a reminder of how much the Land gives to us, and the Óenach Tailtenn a time to remember her sacrifice for the fertility of the Land, and how much she gave in return for that boon. Even now we celebrate Lugnasadh. But where did the Óenach Tailtenn become Lugnasadh?

Fall Equinox
September 23rd. This is the midway point between Lugnasadh and Samhain. Now is the time to harvest the last of summer's fruits and vegetables, and make ready for the coming of winter. One celebrated crop is the grape. In all wine growing regions there are festivals of the crush, pressing grapes into "must" later to be fermented into wine. The full moon that occurs closest to the Fall Equinox is called the harvest moon because farmers could harvest crops even in the moon light if need be. Our Druid ancestors would celebrate this mid point by making a harvest king of straw and sacrifice it in a fire and his ashes would be spread in the fields to rejuvenate them. This could be Caesar's reference to "The Wicker Man" and probably is. Also maidens were made of straw cut from the last of the harvest and dressed in white gowns and decorated with bright ribbons in hope that spring would again return. In Scotland, the youngest girl at the harvest would cut the last sheaf to make the maidens. Autumn is a great time for giving thanks, reflecting on the years impending closure, and making ready to slow down.

Book Reports

The Druids by Stuart Piggot
Copyright 1968 and 1975, nonfiction ISBN 0-500-27363-4
It is evident very early on in this book that Piggot is attempting a scholarly work regarding the known data on the Druids and nothing more. If one were looking to read a book that romanticizes Druids this would not be it. Piggot is less than friendly to the topic of Druids with his constant reference to the ancients as "An obscure, barbarian priesthood." As with all college professors, Piggots use of validation through primary source quotation throughout the book is extensive. Which is a good thing! He breaks the text up into four main chapters and a fun epilogue. The first chapter deals with problems and sources where Piggot amasses the bulk of his 106 person bibliography by citing and cataloging a vast array of historians from classic times to present who have ever uttered the word "Druid." His next chapter , the Celtic World of the Druids is where a lot of ADF material obviously comes from. He does an excellent job outlining the sources, technology, agriculture and economy, social order and language of the Celtic people of the Druids. In the same chapter he presents the archeology of the Druids. Remember, Piggot is an archeologist, so this section seemed to be as through a treatment as you are likely to find in a book of 214 pages.
The next chapter deals with Druids in classic and vernacular texts. This is where we can really sink our teeth into what is known about the Druids from primary source accounts. Continuing on the food metaphor, you would starve to death if you attempted to reconstruct a liturgy on what is written from primary sources. The Greek and Latin texts are outlined here as well as Hyperborean. All that can be condensed regarding the Druids form ancient writing can be found here.
The Second to last chapter deals with the Romantic vision of the Druids. While interesting to see what folly can be committed through ignorance by our near modern ancestors, I found myself asking why? Why would a distinguished archeologist such as Piggot engage in such silliness? I suppose one could argue that it is a part of the Druid's history, however malodorous, to include the attempts of reconstructionists. In the last chapter he includes the best brief overview of the Druids in the form of an epilogue. It is excellent reading that I would incorage all in the ADF to read and pass along to any person who is on a path of Celtic spirituality.

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler,
Copyright1979, nonfiction, ISBN 0-14-019536-X
I read this book long before I joined ADF. I use to love Margot Adler from her NPR days. I caught a segment she was doing on paganism one day and decided to pick up a copy. It is a very detailed history of the Neo-Pagan movement in America. It still calls the movement a subculture, which I suppose is somewhat accurate, but makes up for it's politically correct verbiage by giving Neo-Pagan religions a very healthy treatment. I a movement that is moving very fast, it is almost impossible to keep up with all the Neo-Pagan activity today. That is what makes this book somewhat dated, as Adler has already published a revision in 1986. It would be very interesting to see a 2006 version! She begins with a background on the subject containing mostly interview styled bit from known Pagan authors. I like her Treatment of prejudice here. It is true that if "Witch" and "Pagan" weren't so vilified, we would be in a much better light nationally. She continues with the Pagan world view, pretty much nailing it with her assessment that most Pagans are sick to death of Christian dualism and the destruction of animism that results in the needless destruction of the natural world. Next is an exhaustive study of Witches. She goes into all sorts of Witches, more than I really ever wanted to know about. There are so bloody many kinds of Witches, is it any wonder that we have new ADF members all the time form Wiccan traditions. Adler is very through in the evolution of Gardnerian to Alexandrian to Georgian to Dianic to Continental to Traditional. And all the U-turns and squabbles in-between. I found the litany to be tedious and boring. It makes me glad I'm a Druid!
Then Other Neo-Pagans were traversed with the same thoroughness one might expect from Adler. I found the section, all 6 pages out of 584, on ADF somewhat lacking. Although we were still in our infancy in 1979, Issac's goals were clearly communicated. The other budding Neo-Pagan faiths I found to be as equally silly as Wicca. I really feel like an elitist snob saying that, but the foundation of scholarship is the backbone missing from most of them and it shows. She classified the ADF and a reconstruction organization, which we clearly are not. I suppose from the standpoint of the fact that the Druids existed in the past, she considers us reconstructionists.
The history of Pagan Europe by Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick
Copyright1995, nonfiction, ISBN 0-7607-1210-7
I can see why this is required reading for ADF Dedicants. I really enjoyed the treatment Jones & Pennick gave the subject. The introduction sets a friendly tone right off. Although I really liked Piggot's work, it was a nice switch to read such a well thought out and scholarly book without wincing every new chapter! The Greek and Roman religious history, pantheon and ritual were well presented as well as well noted, 87 referenced works alone just on the Greeks and Romans. The plates were also a great source of understanding on the period. I always love a good visual! The sections on the Celtic World were where I was really excited to read having endured the Piggot. I wasn't disappointed. They give a well rounded account of the Celtic Divinities, to even include Welsh fairies. The Sacred Year of the Celts is explained chronologically, as it evolved in the Celtic world from a two season, winter (Samhain) summer (Beltane) to what we know today. The section evolves into the Romanization of the Celts, which some would argue was a dismal failure, to the Christianization. As any Neo-Pagan Druid knows, most if not all of current Christian calendared events and to a large extent, liturgical customs are rooted in Pagan Europe. The chapter on later Celts really affirms this notion and should stand as evidence, nae, ammo, when you become cornered by your friendly neighborhood "Fundy."
I wish I had more space to elaborate on this section, simply because it is my genetic hearth culture, and Druid-centric, but there is the rest of the book to cover! Next begins a chapter on the Germanics and later Germanic religion. For some reason I find no real internal interest on the subject. But because I was this deep into the book, I pressed on. I was pleasantly surprised by the way Jones & Pennick had brought such a previously depressing subject to life. I especially liked the bit on Northern Martial Arts and it's comparison to Bushido! Again the authors morph the religious aspect of the warrior tradition of times past into chivalry and the totemic animals into heraldic devices. I love this book!
There is a wee section on the Balkans and the best section, Paganism Reaffirmed. In it one can draw upon Renaissance resurgence of Pagan images long lost to the insanity of the middle ages. Then, continuing on to the softening of Christian bigotry into the time of the industrial revolution. Then progressing into the modern era of what we now know as Neo-Pagan. This is one book I will constantly refer to and regard it as an essential part of my Pagan library.

Meditation Journal
I will begin by saying meditation is not easy. Nothing good ever comes easy I suppose. I first started to meditate in earnest about two and a half years ago. My Aunt Pattie gave me some meditation cassette tapes. I made the mistake of listening to them while driving back and forth to Tucson every day. I should explain that. I was in training for a new job with Chilis. The management training was in Tucson and I live in Sierra Vista, Arizona that is. So I had a lot of road time every day to be alone with my thoughts. I thought it would be the perfect time to learn meditation. I thought wrong! There should be a Surgeon General's warning label on those things! Listening to meditation tapes while driving should be against the law. It is never a good idea to meditate and drive! Meditation for me at that time was blindingly frustrating. I dug an old Sony walkman that played cassettes out of the garage and began my journey into frustration. I never had a good result with that program but I did take away some valuable breathing skills and a cool visualization. It introduced me to the 2-4-2 rhythmic breathing technique for mental clarity and the following visual; picture yourself sitting on the surface of the water. Then picture yourself slowly lowering into it. The state of being under water, yet fully able to breathe is a true meditative state. Granted, it's not worth a hoot for ritual work, but very cool nonetheless. No, it was the breathing that was the key for me. Forcing myself to breathe in for the count of four, hold for 2, then exhale on the count of four and hold for tow really opened some doors for me mentally. But I was still getting distracted! This went on from Imbolc 2002 to Lugnasadh 2002! I was really ready to say to hell with the Dedicant program. " How dare those luminazis dictate to me what I should and shouldn't do just to satisfy their stupid requirements." I began looking for other disaffected Dedicants in an attempt to justify my outrage and validate my frustration. It was not hard. I became a master agitator on the Dedicants list. It was easy, just toss up the ball and dozens of people would hit it out of the park. My wife got wind of my antics and, being a devout Buddhist, you can imagine her disdain. The Catholics have nothing on the Buddhists when dealing out guilt. She very carefully and loving sat me down and told me all about the joys of meditation and the value of inner peace. "Inner peace, who needs it, I'm a Druid! Haven't you heard of the Wicker Man? I got you inner peace right here." Of course, she was right, but I was still frustrated. A new job, my extended family in tatters, no time for me and on and on it went. In hind sight, I really could have used some good mental discipline at that time in my life. Sadly, this rebellion went on until Imbolc 2003. Then a funny thing happened. My mother's health declined, and it was no longer an option having her live alone. So we bought a big house, one with a beautiful cottage where she could live out her days in comfort. It is on four acres of land, enough space for my very own sacred nemeton. I took up carving triskles into native stones to sanctify my ritual space. A funny thing happened when I began cutting stone, I found my silence! I had arrived! I took what the tapes said about grounding and breathing, what my wife had told me about clarity, what I had felt EVERY time I participate in the Two Powers meditation and made it my own. It was quite a discovery. Every time I picked up my chisels and hammer I knew that I would have hours of total focused clarity. So, as in days of old, I threw up a thread on the dedicants list, which, predictably, lead to hundreds of responses. The one which really got me back on track was from Ian Corrigan, here it is in its entirety;

Jon,
In general, the meditation work is meant to teach you to begin taking
conscious, willed control of your mental state. In many ways, the 'trance'
that results is way less important than the work of teaching your brain that
your conscious will is in charge of your mental state. This is never easy -
the brain is a habit-machine, and will not be happy, generally, to have its
habits change. On that level, merely reinforcing your habits by using
something that already works is counterproductive.

The trance is useful in spiritual work, and you should learn what methods
work for you. But I have to ask, how will you use stone-carving to enter
trance during ritual? One practical answer is to use your memory. When you
are attempting to meditate, try remembering the physical and mental state
you enter when you carve. Let the somatic memory of the work flow through
your body, and remember the kind of concentration you need, and apply it to
the focus of your meditation.

In general, I would encourage students to do, and write up, the exercises in
the program for the specified time. I think a journal of your difficulties
with standard meditation would be more valuable than a journal of your
trance experiences, as a Dedicant offering, at least.

Ian

So, I now find myself using the mere touch of my hand on stone to bring me to the place where magic comes from. After each Two Powers meditation, we are asked to take away a little bit of the water from below and a little bit of the light from above and keep it in our three caldrons. Mentally, I feel the stone, and instantly I can feel the residual power left over from the last Two Powers residing in me. It is truly a beautiful thing. When I feel the need to call upon that energy to center myself during a conflict at work, at home, or when dealing with my dying mother, that power is always with me.
I have to say, I feel a bit silly looking back on the first couple of years I rebelled about meditation and mental discipline. My wife has invited me to attend a workshop on meditation, which I am looking forward to attending. I also keep my hammer and chisels next to my home shrine. The energy of creation they exude is palpable. It is if I have imbued them with magic. A mere touch on the canvas case gives me the clarity of mental stillness as Ian has suggested. I truly hope someday I have the honor of mentoring a dedicant so I can pass on the value of mental discipline and how it brings one closer to the Shining Ones.

The Two Powers
The Two Powers meditation is one of my favorites. My favorite presenter of this meditation is ADF Arch Druid Skip Ellison. I first experience the meditation presented by Skip at Spring Equinox, 2003, at the Summerlands Stone Circle. The power of his deliverance was very moving to me. As he began, I felt the cool grass between my toes. I could feel the tentacles leaving my feet, connection me to the Earth Mother in an umbilical sense. As my roots broke into the crystalline cave he described, I thought of my father, now passed, who was a geologists. I thought that dad would have loved to discover a place like this! The waters I drew up into the three caldrons of the groin, heart and mind was without question, sacred. As they poured forth, I was connected to the currents of earth. Next, the light of power from the sky I drew to down into the three caldrons of the groin, heart and mind came from my own pole star, my own celestial place where the Shining Ones are. The light warmed the waters and then shined through my umbilum deep into the earth to where the sacred waters flowed. I was awash in the raw powers of magic. In that same sense of being a true child of the earth, with my umbilical cords connected to the Earth Mother and my head connected to the Shining Ones, I felt whole and alive, and reborn. As the Light and the Water merged in my three caldrons, something happened. I felt at home in a spiritual place that I can be myself. As I write this, I can still feel the power and magic in my three caldrons gifted to me on that high day long ago. I have since attended many Two Power meditations and have gotten better at finding this raw magic. Each time I meditate on the Two Powers, the presenter puts their own personal twist on the methodology, but the result is usually the same. As intended I become linked spirit and flesh to the currents of earth and sky.

Home Shrine
In the center is a blue cloth that came with my Druid Animal Oracle cards which makes for a great altar cloth. The alter sits on my Grandmothers cedar chest.
The only thing of real value I have ever inherited. It's self is part of my reverence to the ancestors. Also for the ancestors are two small crystal skulls, one representing my father, amethyst, and one for my best friend Brian and the namesake of my first son. The nature spirits are here in the form of a hawk feather and half of a black walnut I found on a family hike in the Huachuca mountains. The shining ones are represented just by Cernunnos for now. He will be joined by others as they choose to. My well is a giant scallop shell, my tree is a root from an Ash and a pear tree tapestry and my fire is a candle, of various colors depending on need at the time.
My plans for the future is to add more small statues of Gods and Goddesses as I acquire them, more crystal skulls as I acquire more ancestors and a candle holder with three candles to be able to more easily perform solitary rituals. Also, I have begun to work on a circle which is outside. It is about 30 feet across and has oak trees planted in the cardinal directions. I have made my first shrine, to Cernunnos of course. I want completely cover the circle in sand stone and plant more trees all around, creating a true grove. I hade the notion of creating a henge with standing stones, but change my mind. I want the fair folk and nature spirits to really have a place they can dwell and play!
High Days Attended
As you read on, know that we of the Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF, follow the standard of ADF liturgy for the high days. In italics is the Grove lore as it pertains to each High Day.
Samhain 2004
This year Samhain was very moving and true to a ritual that remembers the dead. As part of the ritual, the attendees were invited to call out the name of a person, or pet for that matter, that they had lost during the year, the grove would repeat " ...... we remember." I hope this is a tradition that continues on forever. I took the skulls from my home altar and placed them on the Ancestors alter at the circle to be sanctified. I thought that was a very cool idea to bring energy of the grove back to my own sacred space. The decorations of the grove were excellent too. I left feeling very fortunate to be a part of this grove.
This is the End and Beginning of the Sacred Year, the Time of Turning when the Dark Time begins.
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We are here to offer worship to the Great Queen of Battle and Sorcery, the Morrigan, Lady of Death and the Cauldron of Rebirth.
We are also here to offer worship to the Good God, Dagda, Father God and God of Fertility.
We gather here to celebrate the Feast of Samhain, the time of prophesy and transformation. And in this Season of Death and Rebirth, we honor the Holy Dead as the ancients did, and we seek their wisdom.
So now, Children of the Earth, let me tell you the tales of Morrigan and the Dagda. Storyteller then tells of the Morrigan and of Dagda, and of their coupling in sacred space, straddling the river Unius, and of Her prophesy of the Battle of Magh Tuiredh.
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Bíodh sé amhlaidh! (BEE-uh SHAY OW-lee) So be it!
Invocation of The Morrigan
Invocation of The Dagda
INSTALLATION OF SENIOR DRUID

Yule, Winter Solstice, 2005
This year I did a solitary ritual, due to a family obligation that could not be changed, despite my best efforts to wiggle out! I got the ritual from ADF's site http://www.adf.org/rituals/celtic/yule/sol-yule-mjd.html. This was the first solitary full ADF style ritual I have attempted, so I called in sick to work on the 21st and set to the task of preparing the ritual site. My son and I stood in my backyard nemeton to mark the location of the rising sun. We placed an apple on the point of the circle that lines up with the horizon where the top of the sun broke through the sky, it was very moving. 30 minutes before sunset I began. It went ok, not great, just ok. I really think I prefer public ritual. I missed the fellowship of being with my extended Druid family. However, if I have to do nothing but solitary ritual in the future, I think as I got better at it, I may feel more at ease with it. One thing I will do is memorize the ritual in its entirety prior to execution. I had to constantly refer to notes, I lost my place and it was simply clumsy. Oh and by the way, the apple was take by some lucky critter!

"Today, the sun is renewed. The long descent into darkness is ended, the long night is halfway over. I look forward at this time, remembering what I have done, knowing what I will do. I make promises to myself and to the Gods. Most of all, though, I welcome in Sulis, the sun herself, and pray that the increase of her light also show an increase in my blessings. Hail the Sun!"

Imbolc 2005

It was a cold and blustery day and my Sierra Vista group was all in attendance. Just like the good old days. The women of the grove ran thing and did a fine job.
I felt the ritual was good, but out of balance. Not having men seemed to tilt thing unnaturally for me. I cant quite put my finger on why.
My feelings during the ritual were a bit anxious. I have this guttural detest for a certain song called "We are a Circle" and I was really thinking of excusing myself from the circle in protest. But that would have been childish and I would hate to cause a dramatic scene. The Two Powers had an interesting "Womb like" twist this time which I liked.
I came away with real appreciation for all the hard work the women of the grove did for us in attendance.
We gather here on the Feast of Imbolc, the Feast of our Goddess Brigit when renewal begins for the Earth Mother.
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We are here to offer worship to Triple Goddess Brigit: the Goddess of Inspiration, the Forge and Healing.
This is the season of the first milk for the lambs and the start of Spring, when seeds planted begin to take root.
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Biodh se!
THE AWEN
Lady Brigit
(Words by Peggy Kaan)
Lady Brigit of the Bards
Blessed Fire of Inspiration
Spark the flames within our hearts
Lead our creative exploration
Lady Brigit hear our song
As we give offerings of praise
Let Your blessings make us strong
That we may serve You all our days.
Biodh se!

Alban Eiler Spring Equinox 2005

I have to confess, that I have an affinity for rituals let by Kirk. Doubly so when Rhiannon is evoked by Kirk. There is a real passion and sense of wonder that happens when you have Druid 1 evoke his/her Patron. I guess it is a throw back when the grove was small and there weren't so many competing egos. The spring Equinox is one of my favorite High Days because I am a true optimist. And the spirit of optimism is nearly impossible to leave out of this ritual, even by the clumsiest liturgist. This particular ritual was performed by our best liturgist who made it that much more special.
We gather here on the Feast of Alban Eilir, the Spring Equinox, the Feast of our Goddess Rhiannon and Her husband, Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Lord of Annwfn. This is the time of balance, when dark gives way to light and Spring is well underway.
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We are here to offer worship to the Parents of Pryderi, who was lost and then found.

For Rhiannon's son was lost on Beltane Eve, and the Goddess was blamed by false witnesses. Lord Pwyll's love for Rhiannon saved Her, but she was sorely punished, doomed to carry visitors on Her own back from the gates of Arberth to the Court within.

But the boy was returned before he was four years old. Rhiannon was vindicated and balance restored.

So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Bid felly! (Bid VEH-khlee)

Beltane 2005

This years Beltane was much betters than last. In 2004 we had an all Scottish Beltane which felt more like Samhain. Not so in 2005, there was the dance of Nature Spirits, an enactment of Bel and Danu and the May pole dance.
I wish there was a place on a hill that we could light two enourmous bonfires and dash through them! I think all the participants should be purified by the Beltane fires in some way. So for me I felt the ritual was somewhat lacking in that regard. I did think it was a huge improvement over last year though.
So I went away feeling a bit left out, but it was a great experience all in all.

We gather here on the Feast of Beltane, the hinge of summer and the Feast of our God Oisîn (oh-SHEEN) and his Fairy Lady, Niamh (NEEV) of the Golden Hair.
This is also the Feast of Nature and of the Sidhe (SHEE), the fairies of the mounds. As our Ancestors did, so do we now. We make offering to the Son of Fionn and the daughter of the King of the Fairies in Tir na Nog.
Now the earth grows green again in fact, warmed by the power of the Sun and the rains of Spring. Beltane is also the Feast of Purification, when the herds were driven between bonfires on their way to the summer pastures.
In elder days, the folk left their work and went into the fields and the greenwood. They roved among the blossoms and made love to one another to celebrate the Power of Life.
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Bitheadh e mar sin! (BEE-uh ma-SHIN) So be it!

Alban Heruin Midsummer 2005

This was a fun midsummer! We all spent the night in the circle and did a short ritual to welcome the sun at sunrise. Wow, can some people snore! For some sill reason, my fellow Grovie Burt, decided to shave his head. Mabey to have the power of the now dying sun imbue his shiny noggin. One piece of Sonoran Sunrise Grove lore that is my favorite above all is the story of how Taramnis came to the Rincons. I look forward all year to hear it told in the circle and this year did not disappoint. I hope we can work it into a play one year. It was a great ritual all around.

We gather here to celebrate the Feast of Midsummer, and to honor our Gods, Taranis and Cernunnos.
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We are here to offer worship to the Lord of Thunder, Bringer of Storms. We also offer to the Lord of Prosperity, guardian of great wealth in the Underworld.
Now the Sun has reached it's strongest point, and will begin its journey back to the darkness of winter. We will call on Cernunnos to grant abundance to our Grove and our members, while the sun is at its height.
The heat of summer is here! The Land is dry and parched. We will call on Taranis to bring the Monsoon!
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Buetid Ita! (Boo AY' tid - EE' ta) So be it!

Lugnasadh 2005

What a great High Day this was! And blessed be for sunscreen! We had out first Warrior games and I came 3rd in the caber toss. After the games was the ritual, in honor of Lugh of many skills, UH! I still give a grunt after saying Lugh and my Pagan friends who aren't affiliated with ADF always give me a weird look! This is one of a few rituals I got to participate in. We practiced and practice the warrior dance and discovered some white guys have no rhythm! It still went off without a hitch. I looked out at the faces in attendance and they were moved. After this, I think I may volunteer to participate in ritual more often.
As our Ancestors did, so do we now. We gather here on the Feast of Lughnassadh, the Feast of our God Lugh the Many Skilled. He is the one who led the Gods in victory against Chaos.
The Sun is declining from the heights of Midsummer as it makes its long journey to the south. This is also the time of the First Harvest, when the First Loaf is made.
Lugh Samildanach (SAW-vil-da-nach) Himself established this Feast in honor of His Foster Mother Tailtiu, whose sacrifice brought fertility to the land. And so we also worship Her, the Queen of the Fir Bolg.
When Lugh first came to Tara, his many skills earned Him His place. Tonight we shall also recognize the many skills of our Grove.
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Bíodh sé amhlaidh! (BEE-uh SHAY Ow-LEE) So be it!
We all come from the Hung God, HUH!
And to Him we shall return,
Like a drop of semen - HUH!
Flowing to the Sacred Well.
Hung God, Hung God, Hung God, HUH!
Throbbing branch of knowledge - HUH!
Lugh of Many Skills - HUH!
Celebrate You now - HUH!
HUUUUUUUUUH!
Alban Elfed, Autumn Equinox 2005

Alban Elfed this year was great! The story of Manawydan was played out. The story was from the Welsh Mabinogi of Manawydan and Pryderi, and how
Manawydan rescued Dyfed by being a shrewd and fair judge. There was even a very cute mouse!
I felt the ritual was very well done. Having so much effort being put into the telling of tale really connects the attendees with the tale. This is passing of lore at it's roots. I really feel the grove should do the same story each year. There are different people in attendance each year that could benefit from this tale. I'm just sad to think I wont see that bit of the Mabinogi done again.
This ritual had the effect on me of feeling like a true Pagan!
We gather here to celebrate the Feast of Alban Elfed, the Autumn Equinox, the time of balance. Let us remember that autumn's grain is the spring's new seed, and what now ends shall begin again.
As our ancestors did, so do we now. We are here to offer worship to the Clever One, Manawydan, Who Sees Clearly.
We are also here to offer worship to Pryderi, the young God, imprisoned and released, like the Mabon.
In this time of balance, the season of light begins to give way to the season of dark. This is also a time of harvest.
So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in joy and reverence!
Bydded Felly! (BUH-thed VEH-klee) So be it!

Attunement to Nature,
Ever since I was very young, I have always felt very connected with nature. In the seventies, I use to listen to John Denver and dream of living off the land. Grizzly Adams was my favorite TV show when I was a little kid. I truly believe that my love for nature has put me on the path of Druidry. I was also a very active member of the American Mountain Men, and attained full membership. If anyone reading this should want to look into the requirements, they can be found here; http://roxen.xmission.com/~drudy/amm/bosloper.html
The ease in which I now find myself when alone or with others in the natural world, I think, has led to the ability for the following to occur; in about 1992, I was camped in a dense forest in the Sawtooth wilderness in central Idaho. I remember the place well. It was next to a stream in a clearing of willow, mountain ash and aspen trees, punctuated with lodge pole pines. The ground was soft and giving. I sensed a presence. I began to reach out, mentally to that presence. It was the heart of forest that had made Herself known to me. I later came to know Her as the Earth Mother. It was a very nice introduction. I felt that She was someone who had been calling to me for years but now I was finally listening. She is with me now from the forests, deserts, oceans and plains I have visited, in my own back yard and every minute of every day. In fact, my live changed that day because I consider myself one of Her children, not some consumer of "Things." When on a hike, I and my family always pack out what litter we find and we are constantly aware of our surroundings and walk with respect.
In Southern Arizona, we are all very aware of water, because we have so little of it. Where I live, all our family's water comes from our well. It is dug to a depth of 200 feet. We usually see the depth gage at 70 feet or so, which is really good for our area. The well head is at the base of a massive alluvial fan caused by the erosion of the nearby Huachuca Mountains and to the east, is on the edge of the San Pedro River riparian area boundary. For the past recent few years, there has been an effort to halt growth in the San Pedro River Valley due to a shortage of water. I always get a kick out that assertion. My Uncle owns Bella Vista Water company, founded by my grandfather on my mother's side. Although I have not read their confidential studies, he knows from the company's water level data that there is no shortage of water. We discussed the hand wringing over what some environmentalists have brought to light and why he has not raised prices due to the "Shortage." He told me "I'm not in the oil business!"
Another very interesting bit of trivia is my family ties to the Sierra Vista Waste Water Treatment Facility. In the mid 1970's my father submitted a plan to use effluent to recharge the aquifer and produce agricultural products. His first Idea was to cultivate tumbleweeds. When ground and pellitized, they burn at a very high heat. That Idea was traded for alfalfa which is still being grown today. The aeration lagoons have become a popular wetlands, now called Sierra Vista Wastewater Wetlands. It is even a listed stop for the long list of birding spots around Cochise County. Adjacent to the Sierra Vista Wastewater Wetlands, is the solid waste facility. There is a fantastic composting operation which actually generates a profit from the collection of organic material. The recycling efforts are a bit dubious here though. They do have segregated collection set up, but it all goes to the same place, buried in our landfill. I keep my ear to the ground as to when that will change. Very soon I hope and pray. I am very lucky to live in an area now that has a thriving hawk population. In recent years, I have taken to saluting them whenever I pass one. It is a strange habit I know, one which causes some motorists to stare, but this simple gesture seems to be well received by a certain Harris' hawk. I swear he has taken to bowing back. I look at the hawks as a barometer of the health of the desert around me, and it makes me very happy to see so many. I have always had a very strong curiosity of the plants, animals and geology of any place I happen to find myself. I was lucky to be raised by parents who were both geologist. My father was also an avid gardener who had the single highest water bill in the county! His love of botany has been imparted in me. I have always had an appreciation for plants, their taxonomy as well as their chemistry. Identifying the topography and navigating unaided is something I learned, and practice in the Marine Corps and is one of the subjects I teach as an instructor for the U.S. Army.
One of the most important endeavors I am embarking on is my education in Permaculture. Granted, my learning is in the embryonic stages, but until I can attend a national design course, I am relegated to self study. In a nut shell, it is permanent agriculture. Think of an old growth forest versus a monoculture tree farm. It is way too vast of a subject to go into here, but my goal is to create a system of urban development that employs the systems of Permaculture, i.e. a vast leap beyond the pseudoscience currently masquerading as sustainable development. In closing, I view the Earth as a sacred, living, holy organism. We are it's parts, not an occupying superior race to take dominion of it. I find that notion of dominion utterly absurd and offensive. It is an attitude and feeling that accompanies me in every ritual I participate in.

The Three Kindreds- Nature Spirits, Ancestors, The Gods & Goddesses
Nature Spirits- Nature is full of spirits. They are not really Gods & Goddesses or "Ghosts" but rather the soul of place. If you have ever gone to a certain place and had a feeling of, for lack of a better word, personality about that place, you have just been introduced to the nature spirits of that place. I can remember the individual personalities of various rivers I have fished, mountains I have hiked and so on. I like very much the nature spirits in my back yard grove. My poor little Oak in the north of my circle was dead and brown. I prayed to the nature spirits to inhabit it once again. Then the monsoon rains came and brought it back to life. Now I feel its warmth every time I pass. I really hope it makes it through the winter. If I am in a place that I do not know, I usually attempt to greet the Nature Spirits of the place. For instance, if we go hiking to a new place, I offer tobacco and ask their permission to pass without harm, promising to remove any trash we find. I know there are nature spirits in urban areas too. I have a tough time feeling their presence, say getting off a plane in a strange airport. But that doesn't mean that they are not there, it just means I am being ignored. This in some urban areas could be a good thing. If I was a nature spirit in the Newark airport, I would be pretty pissed. I was in Central Park once and felt overjoyed to be with so many interesting and diverse nature spirits. If you stay in a place and feel unease, or something amiss, try making a small offering to the nature spirits, acknowledging there presents and their holiness. Be sincere and reverent and ask their permission to be there. Sometimes, that is all that is needed to reduce the ill will.

Ancestors- My ancestors are Irish and lowland Scots. I really feel a genetic pull toward the Celtic culture, in music, food and the love of laughter. I use a web service to dig up branches of my family tree for my two sons. It is very interesting to see where you come from and some of the stories learned from those passed. It makes me think of a Bob Marley lyric where he says "...don't know your past you wont know your future." Just like the old quote, "Those that forget the past are condemned to repeat it." It is critical to remember ones ancestors for the sake of your own future. It grounds us and makes us feel like we are never alone. My father died when I was 20. I was home on leave from the Marine Corps when he had a fatal heart attack. I did CPR on him for 20 minutes waiting the EMS to arrive. It was later learned that nothing could have saved him, it was total heart failure. I remember this huge piece of sapphire my dad collected. Seeing any blue crystal always reminds me of him, so I have a bluish crystal skull on my home shrine, in memory of him. My best friend, Brian was taken in the prime of his life after loosing a 10 year battle with AIDS. I named my first son Brian, and his love and spirit live on in my own son. Granted, he wasn't a blood relative, but I loved him like a brother, so to me, he will always be family. I know those last to examples may lead the reader into thinking that I am a very depressing person. On the contrary, those examples are meant to illustrate my reverence to my ancestors. We also have ancestors of Our Druidry. Thankfully, they aren't dead yet (Insert Monty Python quote here) however, they are a part of what we, as ADF dedicants are doing. I will do my part in the future to see that they are properly revered and remembered.

Shining Ones- When I first started out on this path, I wished I would have had a book that outlined what Gods did what, and what Goddesses did what, and now I'm glad I didn't. My relations with the shining ones are deeply personal. In fact, when I take the wreath and make my offerings during ritual, I do so silently. I have taken to announcing that to the attendees, so as to avoid and uncomfortable silence. So now I find it difficult to write publicly about this aspect of my worship and devotion. Forgive me if the following seems guarded. I have established a relationship with Cernunnos out of need for financial stability. He has answered all of my prayers very favorably. I see the Horned God as very omnipresent in my life. Furthermore, the only shrine I have built in my home grove is to Him. I don't know yet if he is my patron per say, but I feel as if we have established a relationship of trust. Living in Southern Arizona, it goes without saying that I pray a lot to Taranis.
I always feel the presence of a female deity in my life. I have ever since I was a very young boy looking up at the Virgin Mary in Catholic school. It seems that the Goddess for me is more of a Gaia figure with a bit of Brigit and Rhiannon tossed in the mix. Regardless of what we puny mortals call her, She is sacred to me. Her presence humbles me and I never ignore her portents. That would be absolute stupidity on my part! In fact, when She speaks, through meditation, dream or omen, it is palpable and crystal clear, like a message from your hand to pull it out of an open flame! There is no ambiguity and it's not up for discussion. I am confident that She will, in some way allow me to build her shrines in some sort of likeness, someday. I really do believe that She feels no need at present. Maybe she is waiting for me to finish construction of my grove? I do know that when, or if, the time comes, I will know.

Hearth Religion
My practices as a Druid center on the Celtic. I was in search of a faith about 15 years ago and decided to open myself to all comers. I swore to myself I would not reject the answer to the great question, regardless what my preconceptions were. I read about all the religions I could find, Islam, Buddhism, Native American, Judaism and Pagan. My motive was to learn as much as I could, then listen very carefully for a calling. What rang out like a bell was Druidry. I didn't have to listen hard at all! I knew I found my path and I was very happy to sprint down it. I later learned it is better to walk, slowly even. You catch more detail that way.
I now practice Druidry mainly by public ritual at the Sonoran Sunrise Grove, ADF in Tucson, Arizona. Of course, I have a home shrine and a nemeton in my yard that I use every day. I really love nature magic and my little grove is really a magical place. The Nature Spirits are thick there.
It is where I practice my daily meditation. Usually by sitting on a stool and carving Druid imagery into stones.
I think what has attracted me to settle in with ADF is the value the organization places on study. In a new religion such as Neopagan Druidry, there is bound to be loads of contention, conspiracy, and conflict. Relying on solid scholarship is a great way to overcome conflict and move the whole thing forward. Not to mention the solid foundation for growth such reliance on scholarship can give to us. If we are to really become a valid world religion, it must be a basic requirement of ADF to be completely grounded by rock solid scholarship, which I'm glad to see, is generally the case.
I have to confess that when I first started the Dedicants Program, I was a little put out by some of the requirements, such as a meditation journal, essays on each High Day to name a few. Then I started to really read the laments and responses on the Dedicants List. I quickly learned that I was not alone. I have always had issues with "Sticktoitivness." My Sierra Vista contingent formed a study group, which quickly degraded into a social hour rather than scholarly discussion. Then I let my competitive nature get the best of me when two of my friends completed their Dedicant Program work, I thought I may never finish. But then I had a moment of clarity and thought "I refuse to toss together some bare bones pile of papers just so I could lord around the grove, or more embarrassing yet, use it as a tag line on email correspondence!" I want this to be a beginning, not an end to my work as a Druid. I have many interests in allot of the Guilds within ADF. I know which ever specialty I choose, if any, I need to be conscious of my intolerance of stupidity, egocentric people and my own knack for biting off more than I can chew. The journey through the Dedicants Program is a very rewarding one on a very personal level. I can only hope that future sojourns into the ADF will be as rewarding.

Dedicants Oath

I took my dedicant oath during Summer Solstice 2004 at Sonoran Sunrise Grove's Summerlands Stone Circle. There were 5 of us from Sierra Vista who travel up together to the Grove most every high day. We also have our own Dedicant Program study group that we do weekly, most of the time.
Because of our close ties to each other we decided to do our oaths together as a symbol of our dedication to each other as well. We took our oath after the return flow and stood in a clockwise circle clasping our right hands in the center. As we each said a part of the oath rite, we stepped out and faced the attendees then stepped back into place. When we came to the part where our personal oaths were made we left the group and walked about the circle stating our oaths and making appropriate offerings to the kindred.
Statement of purpose:
Bert: We come into the sacred grove, and approach the gods, as seekers of blessing.
Jon: We bring offerings in honor of the kindred.
Monica: We come to make an oath of dedication to the path of wisdom.
Mark: As the ancient wise did before us, so we seek to do now.
Jessie: May every holy power hear us and look kindly on our oath.
All. We ask them to bear witness to our oath and guide and ward our way!
Individual offerings:
Jon: As is the custom with most, the offerings are done out loud and for all to hear. I am a very private person and my offerings were done silently. I did explain to the grove my custom of making offerings silently. I know the others that will include this in their journals will have what they said spelled out. I have included only the placeholders for the purpose of accountability. The content is private. I apologize to the reader of this work; however, I will not reveal the contents of my oath as it is mine alone. In fact, part of the oath itself was to keep its contents secret, so by expounding on it further here would constitute breaking of the oath itself.
Ancestors - Secret
Nature Spirits - Secret
Shining Ones - Secret
Druidic Prayer of Unity: (in unison turning into an outward facing circle, to face the congregation).

We swear by peace and love to stand
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Oh Shining Ones, hear us now,
Confirming this our sacred vow.
Summary of purpose:
Monica: These oaths we have made by the sacred well, by the sacred tree, and by the sacred fire
Jessie: These oaths we have made to the ancestors, the nature spirits and the shining ones
Mark: We have made offerings to the kindred and sworn to serve them as they serve us,
Bert: We have

Who knew this was here! How cool is this! I cant wait to start playing with this.