Since my canoeing retreat in August, I have returned to the "real world" and have been very busy, indeed. As time has passed in a flurry of activity, I've still made time for the materials sent by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) each month in my training course for the Bardic Grade and still find them full of meaning, insight and inspiration.
Today, I set up a small altar on a shelf in my room and have made preparations to lead the Alban Elfed ritual for the Ancient Shores Chapter of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans. The rite will be performed on Sunday and and I hope the weather holds and we are able to gather in the lawn under the sky, among the trees.
The major piece of the puzzle that eludes me so far is the formation of a daily routine which includes time for Druid meditation, ritual, and reflection. I am just so busy, especially with work and volunteer commitments, in addition to many ongoing family responsibilities that fill up daily life for so many of us. It seems that early morning might be a good time, but I am such a night owl and I've always found it difficult to arise with the sun (or before). Oh well...I fit things in the best I can for now and will continue to figure out a balance. Isn't that what we all must do always, each in our own way? Autumn has always been a natural time of reflection for me. It's time to pause, soak in the amazing beauty of the season with all my senses and make plans for the cold, quiet months to come.
Tomorrow, I will perform a solo ritual to celebrate the changing season and finish preparations for the group ritual on Sunday. I am also getting ready to head back up North next weekend, this time leading a group for a wilderness adventure on slow-moving rivers, winding through changing forests as flocks of migrating birds fly overhead.
In the meantime, I will see you, dear readers, along the trail, on the river and in the Sacred Grove.
Yours under the Changing Oaks,
Skybranch /|\
I've found that a short morning ritual in the Stone Circle, with both a short part that is always the same, then a short part that is changed, lasting only 2 to 8 minutes,has been possible to maintain for the past 8 years or so. I used to do this immediately after putting my shoes on, without getting up - that became a good way to make sure it happened - it was part of my daily routine. Later I moved it to going outside just after putting my shoes on, but keeping it tied to that time helped it become a solid habit. The contents of the practice have evolved over the years, and continue to do so, to fit the needs of the times.
ReplyDeleteIn the shortening days-
Equinox