The Earth Path

The final path is the Earth path. This path has the most "work" in my mind.

I have to read nine books on local nature.
Awen - Elemental Life

• Soil & Rock
• Water
• Air

Abred - Incarnate Life

• Plant Life
• Animal Life
• Human Life

Gwynfydd - Spiritual Life

• Nature Science
• Nature Mythology
• Nature Spirituality

I must also combine these areas to a topic that is local to me. For instance... human life - I am reading about the Oneida Indians. I feel that Gwynfydd will be the hardest to find topics on.

I must also plant a tree and tend to it for one year. I have thought about having a bonsai tree in my house and tending to it. I would have to find where to purchase one though. I would hate to have one shipped to me. I might have to go look at the local nurseries and see what is out there.

I have to incorporate three things into my life that will help nature. I have chosen to use my cloth bags as much as I can (remember), unplug my cell phone charger when not in use to cut back on wasted electricity, and turn off the water when I brush my teeth to conserve water.
As a personal aside, I have decided (with my husband) to purchase only Energy Star products when I have the opportunity (equipment needs replaced, Energy Star is available, etc). We have purchased a Blue-Ray DVD player and a flat screen HD TV, both of which are Energy Star compliant.

And once a week I need to spend 15 minutes in nature observing. Part of my time is suppose to be spent in stillness and part should be spent in focus.

I have begun my readings and my reduction of my personal "footprint" on the Earth. I have not begun my tree tending or my time in nature. I must begin those as soon as possible, especially with my impending initiation ceremony.

I have to remind myself that while you must take at least one year and one day to complete the candidate level, many people take longer. It is better to take longer and ensure one has learned it completely than to rush through it all to make the early target and not really "LEARN" what is to be learned through this journey.

Moon Path

The Moon Path is one that I have not embraced yet. I know I need to, and I know it will help me. It is finding the time to do it all. I am hoping that my downstairs place that I make can be the place I go for it all.

The Moon Path requires meditation in any form to be practiced regularly and a journal to be kept of my meditation sessions. It also required the Sphere of Protections (SOP) to be cast regularly to become familiar with it, be able to cast it without thinking, and be comfortable with it.

I tried to meditate once, last month before the baby came. They say to start with five minutes of just sitting and trying to keep your mind free of outside thoughts. I spent more time looking to see if the five minutes were up than I did meditating. And when I was trying to meditate I kept thinking of other things. It was much harder than one would imagine.

Maybe I should put a radio down there and play music. I can clear my mind and just listen to the music. Maybe that will work.

... Now I am off to find music that I want to listen to that will relax me and not have me singing along! LOL!

The Sun Path

To ease my mind of the thoughts flowing through it, I will try to discuss the Sun Path. This path is laid out to allow the Druid a way to celebrate the stations of the sun throughout the year.

The holy days are:
Samhuinn - November 1 - Celtic New Year
Alban Arthuan - December 21 - Winter Solstice
Imbolc - February 2 - Shows the first signs of returning life
Alban Eiler - March 21 - Spring Equinox
Belteinne - May 1 - Celebrates the renewal of the Earth
Alban Heruin - June 21 - Summer Solstice
Lughnasadh - August 1 - First festival for Autumn
Alban Elued - September 23 - Fall Equinox

I need to find a book that explains the off festivals more. I understand the Equinoxes, and to an extent I understand why the others are celebrated... but a more in depth understanding would be nice.

I am suppose to complete a holiday ritual on each of these days. As you can see... Samhuinn is approaching (Monday to be exact). I have decided to complete my initiation ritual that day also. Instead of the holiday ritual I will do the initiation ritual. I don't think I can handle two rituals in one day.

I only have two more tasks to complete to ensure I have everything needed. And clean out an area in the basement. Not too much left to complete.

I thought Samhuinn would be an appropriate day. It is the first day of the new Celtic year. It is a day of rebirth. I can be reborn into my new spiritual life.

Excited and Nervous would be the words I would use to describe the upcoming ritual.
What if I mess something up? I hope it is forgiven as a rookie mistake! LOL!

My Spiral - Divination

When I found The Druidry Handbook and tore through it, I finished with the Appendix that outlined the First Year candidacy program. The reading starts with the Sun, Moon and Earth Spirals. While I was daunted with all the reading required, and the personal time I would have to choose to invest, I continued reading.

Then came the Spirals.

As a candidate you are required to choose one of the seven spirals to practice. You can choose Poetry, Music, Divination, Healing, Magic, Geometry, or Earth Mysteries. Some jumped out to me as definite nos. I have no desire to play with math. I stink at math. So Geometry was out. Graphic design and architecture do not appeal to me either. So while it might be interesting to read, Earth Mysteries was not something I wanted to learn about.

That left Poetry, Music, Divination, Healing, and Magic. Decisions, Decisions. It helped knowing that my Second Year I would be required to learn two additional spirals. So, while I might not learn it this year I do have the chance to learn it in my Second Year.

I finally chose Divination. Why... well, Tarot has always intrigued me. I always enjoyed getting readings completed on me. Wouldn't it be fun to learn how to do it myself? And Oghum... learning to read "the trees". While they are a type of rune (in my mind) they are fascinating to read about. And geomancy. I want to learn that! How can I possibly choose one to focus on!!!

Let me rewind time and say that the day I started to look into Druidry was the day I went to a metaphysical store and saw the Druid Tarot deck. It called to me so much that it was hard to walk out and not purchase it. But what did I need with a tarot deck? I didn't know how to read them. I didn't have a "relationship" with tarot. So I did walk away, started looking into Druidry, and fell across the Handbook. The rest is history as they say.

So... I chose Tarot to put my focus into. I will learn the others, just AFTER I am comfortable with the Tarot. I bought the Druid Tarot that called to me that day and have begun using it.

My requirements for the year are to make a journal outlining the meaning of every card in my deck. And I also have to perform nine months of divination - which amounts to 270 daily readings.
I have to complete an additional nine other readings throughout my year. I will complete major readings on holidays, as well as complete readings on family and friends.
I have to read three books on divination and select 30 themes for meditation from my readings.
And I have to finish with three pages of what divination means to me and role I feel it plays in the Druid path.

I have begun my readings. I draw one card each morning for my day. On Monday's I complete a three card draw; me, my influence, and the result.
Sometimes I have very clear "OMG! I can't believe that happened just like the cards said they might!" and other times it is so subtle that I am not sure why I received a card. But I keep pulling them daily and hoping I figure out why I received it.

The most surprising to date for me, was the time I drew the 10 of Cups twice in a row.
Let me explain that I shuffle the cards for minutes prior to my drawing. AND I cut the deck into three and the middle is the top section when they come back together.
So drawing the same card, two days in a row... well I got a bit freaked out.
10 of Cups - Happiness/Love/Fulfillment/Supporting a family member.
The second day I drew a second card, as support.
Star - Being tranquil amidst trouble.
I had no idea why I was getting this card. Until a few days later when I looked back and the next series of events came back to me....
The second day of the reading my young daughter was induced because of potential complications of the baby. My perfect grandson was born the next day.
The cards were very true for me. They were exactly what I needed to find within myself to help her.

It cemented the fact that this deck works for me, and that I chose the right spiral for this year.

Next year I am thinking Poetry.... and either Healing or Magic.

A Start

I have made the choice to begin studying the druid path. This is not a religious path, but a path of the spirit. A way for me to connect with the Earth around me.

I had to explain to the DH that I was not renouncing God, that my beliefs are still what they have always been. I believe there is a God... maybe not the God that Christian churches want us to believe in, but I do believe there is a God. The Bible was written by man. Man is fallible. Therefore, one can infer that there were liberties taken when the Bible was written - truth imbued with fiction for effect purposes. This has always been my belief and that has not changed.

This spiritual journey is one that will allow me to understand and connect with nature. A way to open my eyes to the world around me and understand the interweaving of it all. A way to closer understand the area in which I choose to live and the wonders that are in my own backyard that are normally taken for granted.

I have slowly begun gathering the items I need to complete my initiation ritual. I have decided to complete it on the evening of Samhuinn. It is the night in which the circle of life starts again. It is this time that I have chosen to begin my new life. I grow more nervous as the time approaches. I take this as a good sign. A change of this magnitude should not be taken lightly, so any nervousness shows me that I understand the implications of it.

One of my required studies is to keep a druid journal. I began one in writing, but forget to write in it. So, I am hoping an online blog will help me remember as most of my time is spent here. I write this for personal reasons, with no expectations that it will be read by any but me.

Good Luck A - remember when you read back on this, that you believed in yourself and you can complete this journey with one step at a time. :)