Thank you for visiting my blog which will explore the spiritual path of Druidry and our connection to the web of all life. I have always felt a deep and abiding connection to the natural world. Throughout my life, I have felt the inner spirit of the land, trees, rocks and animals in the landscapes through which I have roamed. This sense of connection has expressed itself in many ways over the years, especially when I remember to slow down, get outside and in tune with Mother Nature.
I was first exposed to nature-based religions in college and was delighted to discover that many people feel a spiritual connection to the land and the spirit-that-moves-in-all-things. At first, I couldn't really figure out how to use this new information. While I could sense there was something meaningful there for me, things didn't click right away.
In 1996, something did "click" when I discovered Unitarian Universalism and my wife and I started attending our local Fellowship. Over the past 14 years, we have become very involved in our congregation and the wider UU world and have found a non-creedal tradition that respects the inherent worth and dignity of all people and Mother Earth, supporting each individual in their own quest for truth and meaning.
Still, there was a missing piece. Humanism puts too much faith in our flawed humanity (in my humble opinion) and still leaves out that mystical, spiritual connection to a greater life force that connects all things, including people, to each other and the wonderful cosmos of which we are a part. After all, we're all just made of stardust.
Then, a bit more than a year ago, we started a chapter of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans at our Fellowship, with fantastic support from our minister and board. This, in turn, led me to stumble upon (or be drawn to) Druidry through the works of John-Michael Greer in The Druidry Handbook. Shortly thereafter, I joined the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA) and entered my time of study as a Druid Candidate.
Over the past year, I've spent time reading about Druidry, celebrating the eight holy days of the year, and dipping my toe into daily ritual and meditation. This blog is a part of that journey. I feel that it's time to take things to the "next level," learn more, focus more on daily practice and celebrate each seasonal holy day with a complete ritual based in the Druid Revival tradition.
This blog will serve as one of my journals for the year as I study and prepare for my AODA Candidate examination. Throughout the year, I'll share what insights I can about Druidry, myself, and this wonderful Living World we all share together.
Now let's begin. It's time to start a journey...
Skybranch /|\
I'm struck by a parallel in our journeys. What you describe about Unitarian Universalism is similar to my feeling about Pantheism -- when I discovered it, I felt I had found what was right for me, but as time went on, I felt there was a missing piece. And for me too, that missing piece was Druidry, as found in the AODA.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Evergreen. It's always great to connect with someone on a parallel journey!
ReplyDeleteHi! I followed your link from your posting on the AODA email list. I consider myself a Gnostic Druid. Right now, I'm still working on making my daily practice "daily", and it's a little more on the Gnostic end than the Druid end - i.e., I take time in nature and acknowledge the Wheel of the Year, but currently rarely practice the official AODA rituals. However, once I'm finished with grad school and have a little more time to devote to such rituals, I do hope to begin my Candidate year as well! Nice to meet you and look forward to reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Chadley. I've found that making daily practice "daily" is the hardest part as well. Whatever path you find yourself on, hope you're enjoying the journey!
ReplyDelete