Merry meet, everyone! Hope you're well and social distancing!

This is an introduction of sorts. My online persona is Scooby and I've been on Hive for a short while now but this is my inaugural post for my blog, which I intend to use as my journal for the documentation required to complete the Dedicant's Path in Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF), A Druid Fellowship. At least once a week, I'll post an entry here detailing my personal experiences in ritual, meditation, and study. I also intend to post anytime I see a symbiosis of technology and Paganism. I believe that harmony between the two will help save the earth and hope that my progress in the Dedicant's Path will allow me to see better ways to participate, myself.

Thankfully, there is no time limit to complete the steps in the Dedicant's Path. Here they are, laid out in detail from the Dedicant Manual:

Journal Requirements

• The date, location and intention of any Druidic ritual or meditative exercise you perform. If possible, write a short summary of how you felt as a result, and any other outcomes you find important.
• A record of the divinations you may do or omen that you take, and notes toward your understanding of the symbol system you’re using.
• Notes on the High Days, their meaning and symbolism, as you do the preparation for each day.
• Notes on the books you read–name, author, subject and a few words on your reaction to the book.
• Notes on your understanding of the Nine Virtues, as they occur to you or as they arise in your work.
• Notes on your understanding of the Three Kindreds as you begin to work with them, and as they become more aware of you.
• Notes on the land on which you live–land and water, air and resources.
• Some of these are things you must record while memory is fresh, but you can spend time just talking to yourself by writing about your understanding of Our Druidry.
• Plan to make an entry at least once per week in your journal. Such an entry should include any rituals or meditations you worked that week, and any other topic on which you might write some musings.

Required Reading Selection

While only 1 from each section is required, I haven't decided yet which one I will read for 2 of the sections.

Indo-European Overview

• In Search of the Indo-Europeans: Language, Archaeology, and Myth by J. P. Mallory

• History of Pagan Europe by Prudence Jones

Preferred Ethnic

• Poetic Edda by Lee Hollander

Modern Paganism

• Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler

• Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches Today by Ellen Hopman

Required Documentation

• Written discussions of the Dedicant's understanding of each of the following nine virtues: wisdom, piety, vision, courage, integrity, perseverance, hospitality, moderation and fertility. The Dedicant may also include other virtues, if desired, and compare them to these nine. (125 words minimum each)
• Short essays on each of the eight ADF High Days including a discussion of the meaning of each feast. (125 words minimum each)
• Short book reviews on at least: 1 Indo-European studies title, 1 preferred ethnic study title and 1 modern Paganism title. These titles can be selected from the recommended reading list in the Dedicant Program manual or the ADF web site, or chosen by the student, with prior approval of the Preceptor. (325 word minimum each )
• A brief description, with photos if possible, of the Dedicant's home shrine and plans for future improvements. (150 words minimum)
• An essay focusing on the Dedicants understanding of the meaning of the "Two Powers" meditation or other form of 'grounding and centering', as used in meditation and ritual. This account should include impressions and insights that the Dedicant gained from practical experience. (300 word minimum)
• An essay or journal covering the Dedicant's personal experience of building mental discipline, through the use of meditation, trance, or other systematic techniques on a regular basis. The experiences in the essay or journal should cover at least a five months period. (800 words minimum)
• An account of the Dedicant's efforts to work with nature, honor the Earth, and understand the impacts and effects of the Dedicant's lifestyle choices on the environment and/or the local ecosystem and how she or he could make a difference to the environment on a local level. (500 word minimum)
• A brief account of each High Day ritual attended or performed by the Dedicant in a twelve month period. High Days attended/performed might be celebrated with a local grove, privately, or with another Neopagan group. At least 4 of the rituals attended/performed during the training period must be ADF-style. (100 words minimum each)
• ONE essay describing the Dedicants understanding of and relationship to EACH of the Three Kindred: the Spirits of Nature, the Ancestors and the Gods. (300 words minimum for each Kindred and 1000 words total)
• A brief account of the efforts of the Dedicant to develop and explore a personal (or Grove-centered) spiritual practice, drawn from a specific culture or combination of cultures. (600 words minimum)
• The text of the Dedicant's Oath Rite and a self-evaluation of the Dedicant's performance of the rite. (500 word minimum)

I started along the Druid path a few months ago. I have always felt religious, even if I wasn't comfortable with the religion I was born into. Before becoming Pagan, there was even a time I considered joining the Methodist seminary. Reaching such a position of knowledge, experience, and the responsibity towards my fellow man appealed to me then and does even moreso now. Over the next year or so, I hope to complete the aforementioned requisites and further my personal priesthood.

Progress may be slow, but I hope to keep it consistent. Between the pandemic and my work as a mail carrier, I don't have as much time as I did in college for academic study. That said, I have managed to achieve a few goals, already.

I have a functioning altar on my dresser.

And a somewhat decorated maypole in my front yard.

I've felt a calling from my Germanic heritage and have leaned in heavily to the Norse Pantheon. Freya, in particular, strikes something within me. In keeping with that, I have 4 handcarved wooden statuettes of Freya, Odin, Thor, and Loki on their way to me from the Ukraine that I am very excited to put on my altar. I'm also in the process of carving my own runes to use for divination. As I said before, progress is slow, but I hope to keep it consistent. And I will record my updates here for anyone to see and comment on. For the next week, my focus will be on practicing the Two Powers meditation, reading the Poetic Edda, and performing daily devotionals at my altar.

See you all next time! Be safe and merry part!