(Taken from Our Own Druidry pg. 18-19)
In the first Oath the student pledges to take up the tree ways that are the core of ADF's work. 1. Virtue: to do right and to live well. 2. Piety: to keep the customs and work the pagan ways. 3. Study: to seek to increase Pagan knowledge and skill.
Before you begin, close your eyes and think about the First Oath and what it means to you. Envision what it means to you to live a pagan life, and what it means to live a virtuous life. Think about all of these things, and whenever you are ready it is time to begin:
(Some people like to open the gates and include the hallows. In this example I will not be doing that.)
"I (name) before this assembly, declare myself to be a pagan, a seeker of the Old Ways, and worshiper of the Old Gods. With this holy Oath I set my foot upon the path, the Druid's way, and I vow to seek virtue in , my life to do right by my kin, my friends, and my community. I vow to make my paganism real, by keeping the rites and works that call to me. I vow to deepen mu understanding of the old ways through study to fill my mind with the truth of the elder paths. These things I swear to the Gods with those gathered here as my witness, Esto (so be it)!"
Friday, May 11, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Wheel of the Year: Week 1
I have been working through the book by Rev. MJD "The Wheel of the Year", and I am very happy that I found it. I love that it set up a outlined path on how to approach the DP work. I know that at times, before I found this book, I would sometimes become overwhelmed with the course load and how to approach it. I started reading this book and I seen that it had homework to go along with it, so I figured it would much easier and effective to just journal it here on my blog, so without further ado, here is my homework for week 1.
1.) Why have you chosen to take the first step on the Dedicant Path?
I have chosen to walk the path of ADF because the structure and the system resonates with me personally. I love the way that the structure is set up and how the COoR is presented. To me the ritual format and the scholarly aspect is essential to a fulfilled practice.
2.) Is this a step on your path, or will this be the path itself?
To me the DP is just a mile stone upon my path. My steps within this course of life has brought me to a place and time where I can actually spend an adequate amount of time on the course load. I know that the DP will help me lay the foundation to the path that I walk and will support me along the way. It will help strengthen my foundation and knowledge of my personal practice and how it evolves from this time forward.
3.) What do you expect to learn?
I expect to learn as much about myself as I do my Hearth Culture. I know that for every question that I find the answer to, there will be three more questions that will present themselves. I am looking forward to learning and growing, and the seasons change and the night becomes day.
4.) What would you like to get out of this journey?
I would like to obtain a better understanding of my hearth culture and their pantheon. I know that there will a pluthra of information for me to process, and I am hoping that I will obtain some of the answers that I am looking for.
5.) Do you know where this path will take you?
This path is going to lead me to exactly where I am suppose to be. I know that I have been lead to ADF, because it is what my life needs at this time. The structure, in what short time I have been using it, has provided me with the missing pieces that I have had in my previous practice. I know that the whole picture is not complete at this time, but half of the fun is learning where and how all the pieces fit together.
6.) If you have just joined ADF, why have you chosen to work on this immediately? If you have been with ADF for a long time, why are you only starting now?
I wouldn't consider myself new to ADF, because I knew several people who where members before I joined, however I have not been a member for long. I joined about three months ago, and I have been wanting to start my DP yet I didnt know how to approach it. I didn't know where to begin and how to go about starting, so I was setting myself up for failure before I even let myself begin. Then I found this book, and the structure breakdown of it week by week has helped me keep track of my work and provided me an open on how to start on the DP.
7.) Does it look hard or easy?
There are parts of this work that look hard, and then there are parts that look easy. I love to journal so that seems easy, I have been a practicing pagan for years now so keeping the High Days is not a new concept to me. The hard parts I believe is going to be writing my virtue papers, writing a collaboration of my hearth culture and personal practice, and documenting my book reviews. I know that they are not impossible to do, but it will require work and perseverance
.
8.) Which requirements appear to be difficult to you now, and which appear to be easy?
9.) Do you have any doubts, questions, any concerns that you need to ask?
1.) Why have you chosen to take the first step on the Dedicant Path?
I have chosen to walk the path of ADF because the structure and the system resonates with me personally. I love the way that the structure is set up and how the COoR is presented. To me the ritual format and the scholarly aspect is essential to a fulfilled practice.
2.) Is this a step on your path, or will this be the path itself?
To me the DP is just a mile stone upon my path. My steps within this course of life has brought me to a place and time where I can actually spend an adequate amount of time on the course load. I know that the DP will help me lay the foundation to the path that I walk and will support me along the way. It will help strengthen my foundation and knowledge of my personal practice and how it evolves from this time forward.
3.) What do you expect to learn?
I expect to learn as much about myself as I do my Hearth Culture. I know that for every question that I find the answer to, there will be three more questions that will present themselves. I am looking forward to learning and growing, and the seasons change and the night becomes day.
4.) What would you like to get out of this journey?
I would like to obtain a better understanding of my hearth culture and their pantheon. I know that there will a pluthra of information for me to process, and I am hoping that I will obtain some of the answers that I am looking for.
5.) Do you know where this path will take you?
This path is going to lead me to exactly where I am suppose to be. I know that I have been lead to ADF, because it is what my life needs at this time. The structure, in what short time I have been using it, has provided me with the missing pieces that I have had in my previous practice. I know that the whole picture is not complete at this time, but half of the fun is learning where and how all the pieces fit together.
6.) If you have just joined ADF, why have you chosen to work on this immediately? If you have been with ADF for a long time, why are you only starting now?
I wouldn't consider myself new to ADF, because I knew several people who where members before I joined, however I have not been a member for long. I joined about three months ago, and I have been wanting to start my DP yet I didnt know how to approach it. I didn't know where to begin and how to go about starting, so I was setting myself up for failure before I even let myself begin. Then I found this book, and the structure breakdown of it week by week has helped me keep track of my work and provided me an open on how to start on the DP.
7.) Does it look hard or easy?
There are parts of this work that look hard, and then there are parts that look easy. I love to journal so that seems easy, I have been a practicing pagan for years now so keeping the High Days is not a new concept to me. The hard parts I believe is going to be writing my virtue papers, writing a collaboration of my hearth culture and personal practice, and documenting my book reviews. I know that they are not impossible to do, but it will require work and perseverance
.
8.) Which requirements appear to be difficult to you now, and which appear to be easy?
9.) Do you have any doubts, questions, any concerns that you need to ask?
Friday, May 4, 2012
Ancient Symbols Modern Rites.
I have been working through this book now for a few weeks and I find it enthralling and enticing at the same time. The way that this book completely breaks apart the COoR is wonderful. I feel that I have a better understanding on why things are done at the time in ritual that they are. I feel that I have a better understanding of the Hallows, the Kindred, and the GateKeeper. Not to mention the Prayer of Sacrifice, I had done a few ADF style rituals, yet I never really knew the real meaning behind some of its ritual practices. I will have to say that I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to understand the COoR, or use it to help establish their own OoR. I am currently using my notes and some of the things that I learned to format my own devotional rituals and rites. I will post them when I have them completed that way you can take what you will from them.
Khaire!
Khaire!
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