As we come together to continue the good work we do as One Sacred Grove,
Let us remember that all here are Children of the Earth.
As we speak, let our voices carry respect;
As we listen, let our ears hear honestly;
As we think, let our mind seek what is best for the community.
So be it!
Breathe deep, finding your center. Let your body relax. Breathe deep, feeling the tension drain from your shoulders. Breathe deep, feeling the tension drain from your face. Breathe deep, feeling the tensions drain from you arms and legs. Breathe deep, feeling the tension drain from your hands and feet. Breathe deep, and just be for a moment.
Apollo Mantikos, Prophetic One,
I seek to know of omens.
Let your truth be told through me.
Apollo Aphetor, Oracle Giver,
I seek to know of gifts.
Let your wisdom flow through me.
Apollo Leskhenorios, Converser,
I seek to know of messages.
Let your voice speak through me.
This sonnet was written as an interpretation of a divinatory reading. I asked “How might [person] find peace in their current situation?” I received Epsilon, Rho, and Tau. The first quatrain interprets Epsilon, the second quatrain interprets Rho, and the third quatrain interprets Tau. The final couplet is the three taken together. I would like to experiment with this style of reading more. I’m drawn to the idea of “prophecy in verse” and enjoy working with Euterpe in this way. It requires a certain amount of time to write the sonnet after taking and interpreting the omen, but I found it worthwhile, and it allowed me to delve deeper into meanings and explore more poetic language as a Seer.
“Seeking Peace”
Come together now and tell of your dreams:
Of desire and the fire within,
Of cool waters, the deep and flowing streams
Shining with blessings as they swirl and spin.
Know sweet Nature’s song is quiet and strong:
A patient voice that nurtures. It carries
on the wind, whispering that you belong.
Walk this path slowly, as the way varies.
Companions by your side, they come and go
as they must, each teaching you a lesson.
Be not afraid, for as they leave, you grow.
A tree: reaching the dawning sun again.
Join with a patience, the long view showing
Peace in acceptance, even when going.
Many of us hope to live in such a way that we will leave the world a better place that we found it. But even if this is the case, even if you manage to leave some lasting, positive impact, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be remembered for it. It doesn’t mean you’ll be remembered at all.
One of the things that I find the most comforting about Our Druidry is the concept of Ancestor veneration. When we die, we don’t have to lose touch with those who are still alive. And when we’re alive, we don’t have to lose touch with those who have died. We may lose touch for awhile, especially close to the time of transition, but transition is a confusing time, and we often lose touch with people when one of us is at a transition point in our live.
We maintain contact with our Ancestors by remembering them, honoring them, and sharing their stories. This is one of the reasons I think Bardry is so essential to My Druidry, to my practice as a pagan. This importance is two fold. As a bard, it is important for me to be able to learn and share the tales of those ancestors. They are remembered and honored when I tell their stories and share the works they have done. When I continue to participate in and pursue their Vision, I honor them. As a bard, I also hope that my own works will be remembered after I have died. The songs and stories and essays that I sing and tell and share. They are a part of me and a part of my practice and a part of my Vision. I hope that I can be remembered through them.
Last weekend I and four other ADF bards spent a large chunk of our time at the Trillium Festival learning a song by Bess Closs, the daughter of Anna Gail. She died a couple of weeks ago in a car wreck, just shy of her 19th birthday. This song, “A Kindred Prayer,” she wrote when she was 12. It starts out with a fairly simple melody line, and then adds in harmonies and counter-melodies as the song progresses. We learned all the parts and sang it at the memorial for Bess, as well as recorded it.
The five of us have already decided that we are going to again rehearse it and sing it at Wellspring this year. We’ve added it to our repertoire to be sung when we are together. And through that continued sharing, Bess will be remembered and honored, and share in our continued honoring of the Kindreds.
“I sing of your virtues, I sing of your flaws.
I sing of your life so that you may live on.
Live through my words and live on through my line.
Love will circle ‘round and keep your soul alive.”
~ from “A Song for Your Passing” by Rev. Jan Avende
Trillium was, once again, a wonderful festival. The weather was fantastic (and unexpected) and the fellowship was delightful. I went to Trillium the first time a few years ago, and had a really good time, and so was very happy to have been able to make it back this year. I drove with MJD, and let me tell you, there is nothing like being in a car with someone for 10-12 hours to really allow for deep and engaging conversation. Bonnie and Luke also deserve a special shout out for their exemplary hospitality. They welcomed me to their camp to stay with them all weekend. There were many workshops throughout the weekend, though I only made it to a couple.
One of the workshops I attended was Monika’s on “Differentiating Between Mental Illness and Spiritual Experience.” I was fantastic, despite some technical issues, and I really want the extended version to get into some real discussion about it. It is extremely useful information, especially for those in leadership roles. Michael and I were talking about bringing her to Columbus to do a long workshop, possibly at a Leadership based Pagan Fire Seminar.
The other workshop I attended was Kirk’s on “Sacred Gifts.” A lot of the information he presented was stuff that I was already familiar with, but I really enjoyed the discussion that grew out of it. One of the folks there brought up Animism, which is not something that I typically think about, but it was interesting to consider how your relationship with spirits may change if you broaden the definition of what you consider a spirit and who you might give offerings to. I also really like discussing the nature of sacrifice in general. I know Kirk has a new book coming out soon about it, and I will definitely be adding it to my library.
I attended 4 rituals over the course of the festival: Opening and Closing, as well as the Main Ritual where we honored the Earth and planted a tree, and a memorial for Bess.
Photo by Rev. Crystal Groves
The main ritual was done by the clergy of ADF, and it was somewhat surreal to be included in that group. I called forth Inspiration, and also took Bonnie’s Dedicant Oath Renewal alongside Carrion.
Photo by Jane Wayson
That was a powerful experience. Bonnie had asked me if I could bring the Grove’s sickle with me so that she could maintain that tie to our Grove as one of her formative experiences as a Dedicant. Like a true Crane, she took her oath with the sickle at her neck 😉 and her hands held Carrion’s Oath Ring. I tapped into the Current while she was oathing, and connected her and her words to the sickle and to the Grove.
Photo by Rev. Crystal Groves
The memorial for Bess was also very moving. Nancy led it down by the Ve. We called to Bess’s patron’s and passed a horn, speaking words to honor her memory and share her stories. Then we sang. Luke, Bonnie, Emerald, Sara, and I had spent a good chunk of the day learning a song that Bess wrote: “A Kindred Prayer.” It has a simple and catchy melody that has been stuck in my head for days now, and as the song progresses it adds in harmonies and countermelodies. We intend on singing it again as a group at Wellspring. Bardry is one of the ways that immortality can be pursued.
Photo by Rev. Jan Avende
One of the interesting things that I noticed (an yes, found annoying as often as I found it pious) was that I continue to wake up about 15 min before Dawn, even without an alarm clock. Dawn in Cross Junction, VA is about 30 minutes earlier than it is in Columbus, OH, but that didn’t even phase my body. I still got up to greet Her and do my morning devotional. I noticed it when I went to go visit Thom in Colorado as well, and that is a 2 hour time difference, and in the other direction. But even there, I still got up and was able to greet and honor Ushas. I even tried to give myself a few days off this weekend, a few days to sleep in. It just didn’t happen, despite haven’t stayed up way later than I should have.
I aso had the chance to have some in depth conversation with many of the folks that I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like. Nick and I chatted at length about secret squirrel IP stuff, which was awesome. We’re trying to get a meeting together at Wellspring so we can sit down with other initiates and talk thorough some housekeeping stuff, as well as actually do some work. I chatted with Carrion about ADF coursework and the various ways we do magic, which was pretty awesome. I think we perform magic in similar ways, at least to a point. There was also some (slightly) tongue in cheek discussion on creating a “piss bucket servitor” so that you didn’t have to stop socializing to go pee. Heh. Additionally, I think Bonnie and I are running about even on lives right now 😉
The Bardic Circle was wonderful, as always. I think Trillium and Summerland have the best Bardic Circles of the festivals I attend. They’re very relaxed, and anyone who wants to can perform. It is great for building confidence, and we get to see the crazy amount of talent that our ADF Bards bring to the table. I am honored to count myself among them. I once again stood entranced by Wayne’s poetry. Bravo, sir!
On the way home, Michael and I stopped at Sideling Hill to stretch our legs for a bit and take in some of the sites.
Photo by Rev. Michael J Dangler
It was gorgeous. I love looking out over the mountains and seeing the way the peaks and hills seem to be shrouded in a blue film the further away they are, and the way you can see the mists rising and floating in the valleys.
Photo by Rev. Michael J Dangler
Photo by Rev. Michael J Dangler
All in all, it was a wonderful, and extremely rewarding and fulfilling trip for me. I hope to be able to make it back again next year to enjoy the first festival of the season.
Photo by Rev. Michael J Dangler
I greet my Ancestors this morning.
Those of my blood and my bone, who have given me life.
Those of my heart and my hearth, who have guided my steps.
Those of my friends and my folk, who strengthen and deepen my relationships.
Those Mighty Dead, poets, priests, and bards.
The Apotheothenai, Heroes among the ancestors who have shaped our world.
It is to you I call out to and to you who I make these offerings.
Bright greetings of the morning, my Ancestors!
Loss is weird. It is silencing. It is listening. It is support. it is grieving. It is numb. It is every emotion rushing back in to fill that void all at once. It is ripples. It is a network. It is the darkness. It is a flickering spark. It is empty. It is full. It is shock. It is heavy.
The world lost a beautiful soul this weekend. Bess was a flame that shone so brightly that you could see her glow, and feel her light whenever Anna Gail spoke of her. I heard stories about her long before I met her. I had that pleasure when she came to Columbus last year. She scooped up Tally, and played with her, and loved her like family. Her bright heart and bright spirit and unfailing courage are phenomenal, and will be dearly missed. As Traci has declared: when we do something brave, from here on out, we will be “pulling a Bess.”
When I went to the memorial on Sunday night, I was not expecting to speak. I didn’t think I had the words to do it, everything felt numb and empty. I did. I don’t remember what I said. Not exactly. I know when I called to the Spirits of the Land I called them all. I called to the laughter of our loved ones in the trees. I called to the breath of our loved ones in the wind. I called to the tears of our loved ones in the rain. I called to the warmth of our loved ones in the sun. I called to the Earth, who cradles us all, always.
As the ripples from her death spread, like a shockwave, I recognize the numbness I felt at first, the shock. And now, as the dust is settling I’m seeing how much has been knocked down, and shattered. As this tragedy spreads through our family and community, please take a moment to read this, giving you some words to say (and not say). Additionally, there is some good information here on supporting those in grief.
Mist to Open. Mists to Bind. 