A large part of my Call to clergy, and my vocation, is focused on caring for others. I have felt myself drawn to this kind of work across the story of my life. Growing up, all the way through high school and college, I was often the confidant for friends going through a hard time. In my first profession teaching high school, that vocation of caring for others dovetailed with my other primary vocation of teaching & mentoring others. Then, while working on my Initiate work, the Call to priesthood hit me like a freight train, and I came to understand that I could blend those vocations, caring and mentoring and teaching, together in my priest work. I continue to lean into that blend in my current occupation and education as a chaplain working towards board certification.
Now, vocation is a term that gets tossed around, especially in clergy circles, and we don’t always explain very well what it means. The word vocation comes can be traced etymologically through various languages. Beginning with PIE root *wekw, meaning “to speak”, to Latin vox, meaning “voice” and vocare, meaning “to call”, to Old French vocacion, meaning “call, consecration; calling, profession”, to Middle English vocacioun, meaning “a spiritual calling, summons, urging” (Harper), and now in modern English meaning “a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action. especially: a divine call to the religious life” (“Vocation”).
When we examine vocation as this “divine call to religious life”, it goes beyond what we do for work or as an occupation, and moves into what feeds our spirit in return. As a religion with reciprocity as a core value, being able to find something in our lives that feeds our spirit is essential. Additionally, when we look at vocation as a piece of the ghosti relationship we build with the world, it becomes something that everyone can have or find, not just those of us who are called to clergy work. That call to clergy is one cluster of vocations, and varied even within that. But there are certainly as many different vocations as there are different people, and that diversity in interests helps strengthen us as a community and humanity as a whole. It also helps us begin to understand that our vocation is just one piece of what we do, who we are.
There is also a balance to maintain though: when your vocation wraps up into your professional work, it is both a blessing and curse. It is amazing to feel Called to what you’re doing, however it also puts you at a higher risk of burnout if things go sour, or if the job you considered a vocation begins to include too many things that are what you find fulfilling. There is a kind of grief that comes with that mismatch, often linked to the feelings we have around our own identity and worth. And so, it becomes that much more imperative to care for ourselves in a way that helps maintain that balance. This is especially difficult if your vocation is one, like mine, that revolves around the relationships I build with others.
Having good self-care habits are the key to building the kind of resiliency that can sustain you through difficult times when your vocation and actual workload are going through a patch of mismatch. I say “habits”, because these are practices that we build over time, and that I think we, as Druids, are especially well-poised to develop. I’m not talking about the quick-fix, pop-culture self-care that is rampant in late-stage capitalism. I’m talking about the habits that take time and dedication to implement and maintain. (And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find it annoying to do them sometimes).
So, what do I do to care for myself, so that I can continue to be fulfilled by my vocation of caring for others?
- I have a regular devotional practice. Most mornings I say at least a short prayer and light a candle. I take an omen a few times a week. I do trancework a few times a week.
- I do my best to take care of my physical body. I try to keep a regular sleep schedule and get an adequate amount of sleep every night. I try to eat foods that nourish me on a regular schedule. I try to drink enough water everyday. I try to move my body everyday.
- I make time for things that bring me pleasure and joy without an ulterior motive. I read books for pleasure. I make art for the sake of making art. I sing, make music, and dance just for the joy of it.
- I spend time in nature. Sometimes this is just my brief walk into work where I intentionally notice the trees, bushes, and flowers on the way in. I tend my garden. I stop to admire the sunrise and sunset. I spend lazy weekend mornings on the porch drinking coffee and petting my dog.
- I connect with my friends and family. I share meals with them. I engage in deep conversations as well as sharing silly memes. I tell them what I’m feeling and experiencing, and they do the same. As a priest, part of this has also been intentionally cultivating a friend group beyond who I serve as clergy.
These are good self-care strategies for everyone, though you need to define the specifics for yourself. Not all devotional practices look the same, and they shouldn’t. Not everyone’s body needs exactly the same things. People find joy in different activities, and should pursue the ones that are personally fulfilling without guilt around lack of productivity. Depending on where you live and your mobility, access to nature will look different for different people. And finally, as humans we need community to survive and thrive, but how much and the ways we engage with our people may look different based on things like our personality and our history.
I encourage y’all, especially as it relates to your spiritual journey, to reflect on what your vocation might look like, and what strategies you can use to keep that vocation meaningful and fulfilling for you.
Bibliography:
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of vocation.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/vocation. Accessed 29 August, 2025.
“Vocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocation. Accessed 29 August, 2025.
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