I just realized, I have never posted this here.  This part of the DP really was the hardest part for me.  I have made oaths to a God before and was forced to break them.  I don't like that fact, but fact it is.  I spent a great deal of time trying to find words that I knew I wouldn't be likely to break in the future.

Dedicant's Oath Rite

Opening the Ritual of Oath taking:
*Ring the bell three times*

I pray to the three Kindreds, that any mistakes made during this time be excused.  I pray that this action will bring honor to me and mine.

*Wash hands in bowl of water while doing a quick breathing practice*

*Light a Stick of incense*

To the mother of all, Blessed Earth on which I stand, bless me as I take this next step on my path.  Thank you for all you have given me, including the space for this work

*Deep cleansing breath*

Ancestors, Spirits of Nature and of this place, Gods and Goddesses worthy of worship, I come now to stand before you, ready to offer myself to this path and to dedicate myself toward walking forward as best as I am able.

*Light the Candle wicks (it is a three wick candle)*

Creature of fire, you who shine to the heavens and carry your light to the Divinities, bless this rite, I pray.

*Offer incense to the fire*

*Place Silver chain in the well*

Creature of water, you who go deep into the Earth and into the land of my ancestors, please, I pray that you bless this rite.

*Pick up the incense and wave it over the tree, dip finger into the well and sprinkle the tree*

Sacred tree, your roots go deep into the Earth, and your branches high into the sky, you span the three worlds and connect us all. Please bless this rite.


Mother Hecate, you guide Persephone down into the underworld when it is time for her to rejoin Hades. You also lead her back again when the time comes.  You walk the three worlds and serve as keeper of the crossroads in this life.  I pray and ask that you will come and serve as gatekeeper as I call out to the three worlds.  Help me, I pray, to open the gates, that my voice may be heard clearly, and that communion with the Kindreds will be possible.  I offer you this beer in exchange for your help.  May it honor you and feed you.

*offer beer to offering bowl*

Blessed Mother Hecate, Open the gates!

*hold up bread*

Blessed Ancestors I offer this food from my table, that it may feed and honor you.  Please draw near by way of the gate of the well.  Ancestors accept my sacrifice.

*hold up honey offering*

Spirits of Nature, and of this place, I offer you this sweet honey that was freely given to me.  I offer this so that it may feed you, and honor you.  Please join me here by the gate of the tree.  Spirits of Nature, accept my sacrifice.

*Hold up offering cup of oil*

Shining ones, bright divinities worthy of worship.  I offer this oil to you, in hopes that it will honor and feed you.  Please draw close to me by the way of the gate of fire.  Gods and Goddesses of old, accept my sacrifice.

*deep breath*

I have come today, in the presence of the three Kindreds to pledge myself to this path.  I vow now to my ancestors that I will strive to bring you honor and to seek your help as I step out as a true druid and follower of the old ways.  I vow to the spirits of nature and of this place, that I shall ever strive to keep the old bargain.  I will work to honor the land and to be in harmony and accord with its rhythms. I shall also work to decrease my footprint on the back of my mother, the Earth. To the shining ones, the Gods and Goddesses of old, I vow to seek you out and to serve as asked for as long and as far as this path takes me.  May I be a person who brings you honor and pleasure.
*Hold up wine offering*
 
I offer this wine as a gift to seal this vow between us.  Kindreds of the three worlds accept this vow and my sacrifice.

*pour into offering bowl*



*Omen taken with these three questions*
Do the Kindreds accept this vow and sacrifice?
What do the Kindreds ask of me?
What do they offer in return?

*Hallowing the Blessing by pouring water into the cup and speaking the words of what was offered over it.*

*Affirmation of the Blessing*

I take this blessing into myself as well as seal my part of the vow taken today by drinking this water of blessing.


Thank you Shining Ones, your presence has been a blessing. The gate of fire calls, for it soon will be closed by Mother Hecate. I thank you again for all you have done for me.

Thank you Spirits of Nature and of this land, Your presence in my life is a blessing

I wish to thank you Mighty Dead, blood of my blood and flesh of my flesh.  Your guidance is always appreciated.  The door of the well calls, for Mother Hecate will close the gates soon.  I again thank you for your many blessings. 

Mother Hecate, you who always offer us a choice.  I have taken this time to choose the path of the druid, and you have helped to make that possible.  I thank you for your service and help in opening the gates.  It is time to say goodbye.  Mother Hecate, let the gates be closed.

*deep breath*

Thank you Mother Earth for witnessing this rite.  Your blessings are too many to count.  I thank you with all my heart.

*Hand over the Fire*

Let the fire be but fire

*Hand over the Well*

Let the well be but water

*both hands palms out toward the tree*

Let the tree return as it was, this rite is over.

This oath rite has been the hardest part of the Dedicant’s Program for me.  I take vows very seriously, and had a nasty breakup with one abusive God and church, so I think I was feeling a bit skittish to make a vow like this.  I meditated a great deal over the way I wished to word this, and in the end was pleased with how it came out.  The performance of this rite actually was a blessing that I wish I had allowed myself sooner.  Much the way wedding vows can change a relationship between two people who have been intimate for some time before the ceremony, I feel this rite and the vow in it have changed how I view my relationship with this path.

The omens I drew were taken from Philip Carr-Gomm’s Animal and Plant Oracles.  For the first question, “Do the Kindreds accept this vow and sacrifice?” I received the Otter. I cannot think of a more positive Omen I could have been given.  The otter is the symbol of play, joy, and fun. I feel the Kindreds are telling me that the rite, vow, and sacrifices were acceptable and brought joy to all.  The Omen for the second Question, “What do the Kindreds ask of me?” was Garlic.  Garlic purifies and influences the taste of those foods it is cooked with.  I feel that this means that the Kindreds are asking me to be a good and pure influence to those around me.  The last Omen and answer to the question, “What do they offer in return?” I received the Wolf.  The wolf is the symbol of loyalty, intuition, and learning.  I feel that the Kindreds are offering me the gifts of insight needed to be a positive influence on those around me, as well as their loyalty in helping me to grow and learn.



Every group of people, no matter how well intentioned and organized, will eventually come across a dragon.  Dragons are people who, while they don’t necessarily mean to do ill, often cause drama and stress.  In a church of 200-300 people, they can cause a great deal of damage, but rarely do they kill the church.  In a grove or circle of 3-30 people, they can wipe out all remains of what was once a spiritual home.  My new sapling grove is very important to me, and I want it to grow healthy enough to last well after I am gone.  This means that as a leader I need to be prepared for the dragons that are a guarantee at some point in the future.  Thankfully, I have not met with too many dragons so far.  My grove has been very fortunate on this score, but again I feel it is only a matter of time before a scaled beastie shows up.

There are no book sources that I have found that are written from a Pagan perspective.  Pagan groves and circles have a very different dynamic than larger Christian churches, but some of the same techniques for dragon taming can apply. For this reason, I have been investing in several books that describe how best to deal with, and maybe even tame a dragon in a manner that will not burn the congregation (even if a few singes may occur).  The first step is in identifying what type of beastie we are dealing with. 

I am going to list some of the types of scaly creatures there are, but I am still in the process of researching how best to deal with them in a healthy manner.  I am afraid that for this reason I am not really able to give much advice on how to handle them.  Not all people who exhibit the traits of a dragon are a real beastie. Nor are all the dragons exclusively in the congregation. They can be leaders as well. The real dragons burn hot and cause fires that are hard to ignore.  It is often by the amount of damage that is occurring that we can truly identify a beastie. 

The first book that I have read on this subject, and where I get the term dragon from, is a book called, “Well-Intentioned Dragons,” by Marshall Shelley. This book provides an excellent description of the various types of dragons that tend to show up in groups, no matter what the size. 

First, we have “the bird dog.”  These are the people who scout out issues that are probably not really issues that need attention.  They like to scout out the gossip and then point the leader to the individuals that they find offensive.  My mom used to call ‘em busy bodies, but bird dog sounds much nicer.  These are people who really do feel that they are doing the right thing and helping out.  They tend to couch what they are doing in spiritual terms.

“These people like to give the impression they have more spiritual perception than anyone else.” (p.38)

The Prussian General von Moltke once divided his officer core into categories: 1) Mentally dull and physically lazy.  2) Mentally bright and physically energetic. 3) Mentally dull and physically energetic, and 4) bright and lazy (Gratzon, p.46).  The first group he viewed as harmless. The third group he dismissed out right, because they tend to be very dangerous people. The second group he sequestered to smaller leadership positions, because these are the types that tend to micro manage.  Bird dogs are most likely to be in this second type. Bird dogs tend to do little real harm to the group, especially if given other tasks to distract them from what others are doing. 

Next, we have “the wet blanket.” These are the people who find so much fault in any idea or project that the group gets bogged down to the point of motionlessness. They sap strength and energy to the point that a small group is often disbanded.  The wet blankets are easier to loose in larger groups and can be kept in check by numbers, but very few Pagan groups are lucky enough to have those types of numbers. This is a dragon I am still trying to figure out how to deal with in an affective manner in a small group setting. Thankfully, I have yet to meet one in our grove.  Any ideas of how you have dealt with them in the past left in comments would be very helpful.

On the opposite side of the wet blanket we have the entrepreneur. This is the person who uses the group as the focus for business adventures.  They will use the phone lists to try to sell their latest product.  These are much less destructive in a small group than the wet blanket.  They can be irritating, but rules put in place that state explicitly what phone lists and ritual get togethers are really for, help to keep this type of person in check.

In General von Moltke’s third category we often find Captain Bluster .  This is the type who knows it all and how it should be done.  They wont hear the other options and often steam roll the opposition.  If you don’t agree whole heartedly with them, then you are an enemy that needs dealing with.  They also seem to enjoy watching the fires that they start. This is one dragon I have felt the heat from first hand, and it was not fun.  The best advice I can give from my experience is do all in your power to be sure that the Captain has no power or authority in the group.  How to deal with one who already has such a position is another issue I am trying to figure out how best to deal with.  Thoughts are always welcome in comments {{{HINTHINT}}}

Also lurking in the dark woods are the sniper and the bookkeeper. The sniper talks smack about everyone else, while the bookkeeper will record every little transgression perceived to use for later ammunition.  These two are often shadowy figures that are often hard to spot in the process of starting a fire.  I am getting the impression from my readings that these two are best dealt with in open check in type meetings.  These type of meeting require everyone to be very open and trusting.  Ground rules for how people are allowed to speak can also help.  For example, the use of “I” language exclusively would have to be a requirement (“I feel hurt that such and such was said about me”, instead of “when you said blah”).


Dragons are unfortunately a part of group life. They can be very hard to tame, but can often be turned into powerful allies and members. How have you dealt with them?

Sources:

Gratzon, F. (2003). The lazy way to success. Fairfield, Iowa: Soma Press
Shelley, M. (1994). Well-intentioned Dragons: Ministering to problem people in the church. Minnesota: Bethany house publishers

Last time I asked what I needed to work on in my life.  I was looking at my weaknesses.  This time I am looking at what my strengths are. I like balance. Plus, who doesn't want to think about what they are doing right?

The Ancestors gave me woad. 

The keywords for this card are freedom, bardistry, and warriorhood.  I really wish I could find a picture of the actual card, because that darn boar shows up in the background of the card.  He seriously seems to keep making himself known.  I'm beginning to think I need to do some deep meditation and trance work with the boar.

I feel that the woad plant is pointing to my creative skills and willingness to struggle toward the final product of my imaginative mind. Stories, drawings, and various other creative endeavors have been coming fast and furiously lately and I am loving it.

The Spirits of the land and of this place gave me the Dog.

Keywords for the Dog are guidance, protection, and loyalty.  The dog is often seen as the guardian of the mysteries, this being represented by the dark cave in the background.  

I pray and hope that I am providing spiritual guidance for my wee ones.  I know I am extremely protective of what has been given to me.  I'd say this card fits very well with the story of how I view myself.  I also can truthfully say that it gives me warm fuzzies.

The Theoi gave me the Goose.  Now my ass is red and sore.


The keywords for the Goose are vigilance, parenthood, and productive power.  

I like this quote. "The goose, with its strong attachment to its family, combined with its ability to fly extraordinarily high from one continent to another, shows us that it is possible to be both grounded and spiritual in our daily lives."

This is a quality I have strived to developed in my life. Maybe I am succeeding.  One can hope.

This is my intention letter for the IP. 
===

1: What draws you to the path of Initiation within ADF? 

What is most important to me is the deepening of my faith and understanding of the religion that I belong to. Religion is often the most intimate side of who a person is, or at least I feel it should be.  My religion and faith choices affect not only me, but my family as well. By committing myself to this path, I am changing who I am, and how I view myself.  I would never consider making this type of commitment without getting as much information on what Druidry means. I see the Initiates Path as a pathway into a deeper understanding that will expand my connection to the Kindreds.  I expect the IP to provide a framework for both intellectual and spiritual exploration. Looking at the course work required, I see weaknesses in myself that are in great need of brushing up. The magic aspect is something that is going to be a challenge to me, but one I am very much looking forward to. I have finished the basics, but now I want more. I want a way to show and express my commitment to my faith and church.

2: What does being an Initiate mean to you? 

Initiation to me is a bit like a marriage. It is the commitment of myself to this particular religion and form of spirituality at a much deeper level. I see the work required to finish the program much like the relationship that leads up to the ceremony. The DP was a great first step, much like a first date. The generalist path seems to be more of the, “we’re dating,” step.  I’m ready for the cohabitation part. I want a new, more intimate understanding of what being a druid is really about.  I want the intimate knowledge that will allow me to represent my faith to the best of my ability.


3: What services do you hope to provide to your community with this training? 

In many respects, I am the first person that people in my community encounter who is a self-described Druid, let alone an ADF Druid.  The deeper my understanding of what druidry is about, the better I can represent my religion with integrity. I also am the leader of a small, and hopefully growing protogrove.  The people of my sapling grove deserve someone who is able to help them walk this path as well as deepen their own spirituality.  As I deepen my own walk, I hope I will be able to act as a guide to others. The mental discipline work, as well as academic work, will be extremely helpful no matter if my grove grows or not.  I feel that if I am not working toward this step in my spiritual evolution, then I am doing myself, and my community, a huge disservice. 


Here is the email I received tonight

===

Congratulations!  This is an e-mail to inform you that the preceptor of the IP Study Program has approved your enrollment.  
Blessings,
Rev. Crystal Groves (Crystal Groves)

Needless to say I am over the moon tonight and ready to dance in the streets!

Digging in the dirt.  Who could possibly think of a better way to connect with the land and its spirit inhabitants?  When I  planted a garden I found that the wheel of the year began to make more sense. The wheel became relevant to my daily life. The life I was attempting to foster and cultivate in my garden depended on where in the wheel we stood and my ability to make use of that information. At this time of year my heart is dancing in the brighter sunlight, and my head is making grand plans about what to place in my yard.

Normally, it is after Imbolc that I begin to scan my yard to find the wee new shoots of green.  This year I found them well before Imbolc.  The tulips are starting to get their hearts into this whole above the ground thing.  By Ostara I will finish collecting the broccoli and brussle sprouts that are currently growing the strongest.  The raspberry stalks will need pruning, because it wouldn't be Beltaine without fresh raspberries. Can you say apple trees?  I know I feel a need to plant a couple.  What better way to celebrate Mabon than by picking apples?  Sam hain harvest will be made all the more meaningful by the planting of a Three Sisters garden.

The herb/ wild prairie flower labyrinth will need a major over haul this year.  I did not keep the path very well defined last year, so now it is all but un-walkable.  I wouldn’t mind the path going away, except sometimes I want to use the mountain mint and mugwort that grows in the center.  I can see small shoots of the elfwort, and I know this is one plant that will need some huge reworking.  

I can feel the new life stirring in the bird calls around me.  The squirrels have started their high pitched trilled chirps that help mark out who’s territory is whose. The spirits of this land and of this place are beginning to quicken their movements from the slow hush of winter.  This is a time of possibilities, and I love it.  It feeds my soul.

Oh, and provides great photo-ops for my kidlets.

When you ask the Kindreds a question, you should be prepared for an answer.  I had some time before the baby came over this morning, and so pulled out my oracle deck and asked the 3 Kindreds one single question.  What do I need to change about myself?  Yes, I am a glutton for punishment... er, I mean bettering myself.

The Ancestors offered me the Cow in reverse. This card when reversed is all about how I give my energy and gifts to others.  Awww, isn't that nice?  The cow is pointing to how I give well, but don't receive so graciously. 

"You can only give if you are also able to receive.  How easy is it for you to receive the love and concern of others?"

OUCH

Even more so, because this is something that keeps getting pointed out to me from various sources (including a few friends).  I have no issue with giving to others, and caring about their problems and issues, but I get extremely uncomfortable when people try to help me with my stuff.  I have no idea why, but I am hoping I can work on it anyway.

The Spirits of this Land and Place gave me the bear in reverse. 

"Bear gives a clear warning that you must take care not to be overwhelmed by the ferocious mother, by the berserk warrior- by forces of anger and primal ferocity..."

It takes a fair amount to make me angry (my anger tends to turn into depression within seconds of the initial flash point).  When I do get riled up, it burns extremely hot and tends to turn into the grudge from hell.  I think the Bear points to this part of me, but more so in that I allow the anger of others to overwhelm me.  I tend toward the empathic and it is easy for me to pick up the emotions of others and internalize them.  I need to find a way to pull back and stand separate. I need to find a way to do this not only for my own health and safety, but for those around me as well.  I need to do this so that healthy relationships may grow in directions helpful for all concerned.

The Theoi gave me the Bee.  Yeah, a card not in reverse! 

The Bee is a call for celebration, organization, and community.  I think I am being asked to allow more joy and recognition of what I have done so far. I sometimes forget what I have accomplished and tend to think more about what needs doing.

Although, I bet Brian would say I need to work on organizing the house more and now the Gods are commanding it.  I think instead I will see the Bee as a call to dance and rejoice in life and friends. So there :P

Come join us as we celebrate the Equinox in ADF Druid style. As always, feel free to bring what ever sacrifices you wish to give to the Kindreds. Also feel free to click the picture and register your coming attendance on our Facebook page.


Time: Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 4:30pm
Place: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka
          4775 SW 21st Street. Topeka, KS 66604

To quote one of my all time fav childhood comic books, “I am the best there is at what I do.”  I’m so good at druid-id-id-ing that oak trees spring up from the ground after every step, and people I walk past instantly find that their clothes have turned all white and flowy.  Yes, yes..coughcough... Anyhoo.  I know my weaknesses and understand the fact that everyone can alway benefit from additional learning and training.


One thing that is a bit of an issue with being isolated from other druids who have been trained to lead ritual, is that I am going purely from reading about what needs doing.  This is fine, but it does not beat seeing first hand what ritual really should look like. This is why I drove to Michigan last fall for the Midnight Sun Grove’s festival.  I wanted to see ritual done by those who have been doing it for years.  ADF is about what you do, and I want to give the people of my small sapling grove the best I can.  They deserve a trained ritualist who is able to led with all the tools available.  

When I saw that Michael Dangler and his coconspirators were hosting a weekend workshop on ritual work I knew I couldn’t pass that up.  Here was a chance to get the face to face training I need to provide the best I can for the small group of people whom have endured my leadership style. So I packed the car, and at 6:30am Friday morn I began the 13+ hour drive up to Ohio.  To spare you the details of the drive, I will just say that the rock troll in drag holding the daisies tied to look like a club was not my fault, and I take no responsibility for it at all.

The lodge where the program was held was a perfect space for the gathering and I can see why Three Cranes uses it for rituals. The idea behind the Pagan Fire Seminar was to be general enough to apply to all Pagan paths, but with a Druid slant.  There were a few who attended that were not druids, and even one who wasn’t even pagan, but most there were ADF. Much of what was covered was information that I have already found out in the trial by fire that is the starting of a new grove, but it felt good to hear what I have been doing somewhat well.  I also know now what basics need brushing up.

 The covering of the different forms of prayer, and how to pray by a good fire, started the day off perfectly. We were given a chance to write and share a prayer.  I find that when I am in a new space where I do not know many of the people gathered, I tend to go into introvert observational mode. I enjoyed hearing what others offered in words so much more eloquent than I could provide. What I enjoyed more was watching the change in their body language as they shared.  I saw backs straighten, and voices take on what I call the preacher’s tone.  It always intrigues me how differently we speak when we do something of a religious nature. Even if we are doing public speaking, the moment you add a Deity or one of the other Kindreds as the addressee, the voice and language changes to something quite different.

Michael led us in an exercise of opening the gates of our hands, hearts, and mind.  This is something I don’t think I will be doing in public ritual anytime soon.  I felt my vision change into the mosaic of colors that happen in deep trance, and I am certain that if he had held the practice longer than he had, I would have been into full visions mode. This would be fine if I were alone, but it is not something I tend to do with other people present and out of the context of what should be happening.

One practice that stands out as a highlight of the day was Kirk’s leading us through the circles of being.  We started out by becoming aware of our own bodies, then to feel our bodies and the presence of someone standing close to us. We then threw this awareness out into the whole room. The final exercise was to feel the whole room, plus the invited Kindreds.  In that moment I felt Athena and Hades take my hands (Athena on the left, and Hades on the right). I felt them standing next to me and just letting me know they were there and pleased with what I was doing.  My hands were tingling as they held the space with me.  I was very sad when the time came for them to step away.

Pointers for the future, should those who presented see this post... I know that time constraints did not allow this, but in the future I would love to see more of the participants stand up and do what you are speaking about.  If you are talking about addressing a crowd in the round, have people stand up and speak to a group in the round.  I think that the doing of the actions being discussed with comments and helpful criticisms would be extremely helpful for people like me.  Again, I understand that there wasn’t time enough in one day to do this, and cover all the topics.  It might be necessary to either cover less, or make this a three day event (I don’t think two would be enough either).

After the seminar ended I was given the chance and the honor to watch Drum become an ADF initiate.  It truly was an blessing to be able to witness the completion of the Initiates Path by a man whom I consider the most influential to my physical Druid path. There would not be an Ad Astra Protogrove if it hadn’t been for Drum’s gentle prodding. When I needed desperate help, he was the only one to call me and offer advise.  He is a man whom I hold in very high regard and I am so very happy for him.  Drum dear, if you read this, I would like to say that it is a great blessing to have you in my life, and I am very happy and proud of what you have done.  May the Shining Ones continue to bless you.  May the Ancestors hold you high on their shoulders, and may the Spirits of this Land and of this Place continue to walk beside you in community.  So be it!

I will end this by saying, the 13+ hour drive was well worth it!  I am glad I went, and would go again in a heart beat.  Thank you to those who presented and helped to make this seminar happen.

These are the omens given in tonight's ritual in honor of Hades, Persephone, and Demeter.  Hecate acted as our Gatekeeper.

The first card drawn tonight in answer to, "Are our sacrifices accepted?"


The Hind is the symbol of Subtlety, gracefulness, and femininity.  The Hind also looks beyond the superficial to the heart of things.  In many stories the hind is goal in long chases.

I took this to be favorable toward our sacrifices, and that they had indeed been well received.

The second question asked was, "What do the Gods ask of us?"

The Fern was drawn.  This card is the symbol of life force, sensuality, and fertility.  I took this card to mean that the Kindreds were asking us for new, healthy growth.  

The book has this to say as well, "you are being blessed with life-force and energy at the moment...remember that it comes from the essentially spiritual nature of all creation."

This card also seems to be asking us to tune into the natural rhythms around us as we grow.

This darn Boar seems to be showing up a lot for me lately. Guess I better pay attention to this one. 

Tonight he was the card drawn for the question, "What do the Gods offer in return?"

The boar is the warrior spirit, a spirit of leadership, and direction.  I took his presence to mean that the Kindreds were offering us the strength and skills to protect the new life that the fern has called for us to grow.

"The boar can help you find your direction in life.  A wild and powerful animal. He calls you into the forest to discover a secret about yourself and about the world."