In my clinical pastoral education program for chaplaincy we were asked to examine an ethical framework that resonates with our faith tradition and personal inclinations. I found myself reading through various ethical frameworks, from Consequentialism (ex: Jeremy Bentham) to Deontology (ex: Immanuel Kant) to various Pluralistic Theories (ex: WD Ross, John Kekes). After a thoughtful conversation with our Clinical Ethicist on staff, I found Virtue Ethics, which resonated well, though I don’t align with strict Aristotelian ethics, and have a slightly more pluralistic view.
Continue reading “Examining ADFs Virtues through a Study of Virtue Ethics”reflection
Annual Clergy Report for 2025
This report is designed to be a reflective process for each priest. This is an opportunity to reflect on the year. Each priest’s work is as unique and individual as they are, and as such we expect the responses to this report to be just as varied.
Covering January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
Categories of the Report include: A celebration of and reflection on our accomplishments; detailing and reflecting on how we’ve kept our Clergy Oath this past year; detailing and reflecting on continuing educational opportunities we’ve done this past year; a reflection on our cClergy Order Work; and a general reflection on how we met goals from last year and what we plan to do in the coming year.
Continue reading “Annual Clergy Report for 2025”On Community, in Times of Horror
From the Archdruid of ADF, regarding the atrocities of ICE in the USA
Hey y’all. I recorded this as an internal message as Archdruid for my ADF folk, but I know that many in my various communities look to me as their Priest/Spiritual Leader regardless of whether or not they’re part of ADF. It’s taken me awhile to find the words as I’m struggling with my own horror, but I wanted to reach out to folks and offer what I can.
I’ve cleaned up and expanded the transcript for this post, but initially I needed the authenticity that comes with actually speaking, and not trying to write. Also, I think actually hearing someone verbally say these things can carry more weight than the written word alone right now. So have a listen, and then read the expanded bit below:
(The link is unlisted, since I was mostly addressing the ADF community in this, though you are welcome to share it with whoever you think needs to hear it)
Continue reading “On Community, in Times of Horror”Together we can shoulder this heaviness, share the load, and survive.
Spiritual Experience, Daydream, or Mental Illness
It is not uncommon for me to field questions and concerns around the theme of “I had this really intense dream/meditation/trance, and I’m worried I might be crazy” or “such and such spirit came to me and told me things, and I’m pretty sure it’s true, but it doesn’t match anything that’s written or anybody else’s experiences” or “Am I just taking myself on wish fulfillment, fantastical adventures in my head and believing it’s true?” As pagans, we work with spirits (including the gods and dead, and those who defy categorization) who are often fairly close to the human world (or share it with us entirely), and in a post-colonial Western society we don’t have a good frame of reference for what is “normal” in spiritwork.
So, how do you find the balance between mental illness, your imagination, and a spiritual experience (or UPG – Unverified Personal Gnosis)? How do you know what is “real” and what is maybe just daydreaming? If you’re already neurodivergent, how do you navigate spiritual experiences while honoring your brain’s very real differences?
Continue reading “Spiritual Experience, Daydream, or Mental Illness”The Gift of Obligation
During the Charging of the Stole at Rev. Oleg’s ordination, I reflected to those gathered about the role of ADF priests, and the way that role relates to the Gods, the Folk, and the Land. In light of those outward, ceremonial reflection, I have also spent some time processing my own experience through this lens.
Continue reading “The Gift of Obligation”Reflections on My Installation as Archdruid
There are rites of passage that happen throughout our lives, and sometimes they pass without much fanfare, but other times they are spiritually significant and marked as such through ritual and community engagement.
At Wellspring this year I was installed at the 7th Archdruid of ADF at the main rite. I planned most of the rite and scripted portions of it, but there was also a very real sense of “this is something that I need to let happen to me, and not control the experience.” That’s hard to do for a very liturgical and spiritwork focused Priest. 😉 I’m used to making these experiences meaningful for others, but in this case I trusted others to make it meaningful, not just for me, but for ADF as a whole.
Continue reading “Reflections on My Installation as Archdruid”Annual Clergy Report for 2024
This report is designed to illustrate how each individual priest has chosen to fulfill their oath to love the land, honor the deities, serve the folk, and continue in their studies as best suits their individual vocations.
Time covered: January 1 2024 – December 31, 2024
Continue reading “Annual Clergy Report for 2024”Queer Grief and Ancestor Veneration
Queer Grief and Ancestor Veneration
originally published for Oak Leaves Winter 2024
“As our ancestors did before, so we do now, so our descendants may do in the future.” This is what we say in every ritual, in every statement of purpose and precedent. But how do we live it?
[cw: this article will touch on themes of death, grief, transphobia, homophobia, epidemics, and suicide]
Continue reading “Queer Grief and Ancestor Veneration”Beltane Behind Bars
Yesterday was amazing. I had coordinated to bring three of my Grovemates, Joe, Jeff, and Mike to ORW as volunteers for Beltane. I wanted to make it kind of like a mini-festival day for the inmates. So we had a morning of workshops and then an afternoon ritual.
Continue reading “Beltane Behind Bars”Reflecting on the ‘Total Eclipse of the Heartland’
This past week I had the privilege to travel to Tredara with my family and many other pagan (and pagan-adjacent) folks to experience the totality of the solar eclipse that stretched across the United States on April 8th. “Tredara is a 22-acre facility owned and operated by druids of Stone Creed Grove. It features multiple nemetons, an Ancestor Mound, a shrine to the Nature Spirits, and many other sacred spots” (Stone Creed). Every time I have visited Tredara has been amazing, especially because they always seem to have new shrines each year (this year was a lovely Hekate shrine), but it was especially wonderful this visit because experiencing Totality is absolutely awe-inspiring, and then to see it on sacred ground amongst my spiritual community was ineffable.
Continue reading “Reflecting on the ‘Total Eclipse of the Heartland’”
Mist to Open. Mists to Bind. 