Hmm. to much thinking today. druid schools and studies, my store.. Subbing with nothing else to do!!!!

I think that I have found the Druidry school/studies that I want to do. It's through the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids in the UK. They seem to have a program that fits what I would like to do including getting my priestesshood. They also work with AODA in the US which gives me a closer place to attend events and such, though going to the UK is in my plans in the very near future to see my very close friend, Karen.

This program is an earth based Druid group with studies of the old religion but they also are not only tolerant but encourage the spirituality of all. They will not discount me because I am American and/or not completely of Celtic descent. They also encourage personal path and free thinking. It should be good, just have to find the money.

If anyone is interested in checking it out, their site can be found athttp://www.druidry.org/. Looks really good to me.

It's interesting listening to the people talk in the Facebook group about their gifts and the different things that they do. I am new to this and the open-mindedness is amazing. There are many things that I plan to never do like astral projection and such. Sounds scary and a little to far out for me. I am just here to help people, to help myself be a better people, and to be able to live through this life in a way that gives me a better one in the next.

While i am an herbalist, many are very surprised that I don't use them like a drug, to get high, etc. I like tea... i use them to control things like my thyroid, depression, and am getting ready to start loosing weight again using herbs along with my eating habits. I do not have any desire to be or get high... to do astral projection which truly makes me wonder about the getting high, or anything else. I am fine being myself in all aspects of my spiritual growth and other then meditation, don't really feel it's healthy or conducive to being healthy and taking care of my body to get high.

What am i writing about today? I am subbing and between lunch and prep, have about an hour and a half of down time today. Also, showed a movie to one class this morning. So here I am.  Can't get on facebook. Could write a daily herb and daily tree things for late but really don't feel like it so here i am.

I learned that one of my best customers is opening a store of her own. That is fun. I know she will be respectful and not take my customers. Just shows the need, however, to get my own brick and mortar open... Really need to find a way to get this done. I wish i has some way to find the money.. I would not even mind a loan that I would have to pay back. Just have no idea where to get it.

hmmmm. lots of thinking today. To much thinking today. What should I do next. Maybe i will play with my runes. wonder if I can get a good reading here.  Lets try it out..

Queston: will i open my store this year?

So I got Fehu R, Nied, and Othel R.

Reversed fehu says that i will be disappointed if i continue on in this manner.
Nied says that there are delays and that things may not look good but to have patience, they will work on in their own time.
Othel R says that if I try to move to fast, I am going to be disappointed, things may not go as planned or needed to be.

Question: What do I do about my customers opening their own stores?

Eihwaz, Raidho, Lagaz

Eihwaz says that while there may be an obstacle in my way, if I set a reasonable goal, I will reach it. be patient.
Raidho says there will be a journey
Lagaz says i should follow my own intuition.

Question: Is someone going to help me with money to open my store?
eihwaz says that while there may be an obstacle in my way, that if I set a reasonable goal, i will reach it. Be patient.

So, what I get from this is that when the store will open is unknown. I need to stop trying to rush, things will happen when it is time. Other stores are going to come and go. It's going to be a journey to get there and i am not yet ready. I need to follow my intuition about things and while working hard id good, stop trying to rush things so much.

Will someone help me? I do not feel this questions was answered. 

Wondering

Ok, so i have been requestion that Goddess that I have been working with to revele her identity and I haven't heard anything specific. I have always been drawn to the Morrigan and am currently reading a book called Celtic Lore and Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess: Invoking the Morrigan.
Really good by the way. But I have been reading about invoking the Morrigan and Macha... So I am wondering if one or both of them (some see them as one and the same, I am not sure at this point). I have been trying to pay attention and have not seen any signs. I haven't dreamt, at least not anything I remember and I even have my pen and paper next to my bed to write just in case. So, not sure what to do now. Does anyone reading this have any suggestions? Or have i already been given the sign by being drawn to Morrigan? Hmm. Interesting...

Druidry Lesson 20 ~ Sacred Space

Questions:
When conducting solitary rituals, do you use the same level of ceremony as when working with others? Have you ever conducted or participated in a “public” ritual, where there were observers unfamiliar with what was happening? If so, did you change the nature of the ceremony in anyway?

A year ago I did participate in a very informal small Ostara ritual but I do not feel it was something like what is talked about with coven and groves. It was more like a prayer among about 15 people. The leader cast a circle and there was an ask for blessing by each person and then the circle was closed. This is the only thing I have done that was not solitary. And... I was the one who was unfamiliar with what was happening. I do not feel that I changed anything other then being there with a bunch of people I did not know.

What are the legends associated with the place in which you live? How well do you relate to the locale, its stories and spirits?

I really do not knkow anything about the lore where I live. I have not been here very long and until now I had no intention of staying. I plan to look into the area's history. We have several Native American Tribes in the area including Chehalis tribe, and Quillyette, and some other but that is really all that I know at this point. I do not know how well I ift in as I have not tried to fit in. There are not enough trees here, I feel lost most of the time but I have no way to change my locale at the moment. I have not really found anyone here whom I really relate to other then my sister and, well, I don't know. I have not found anyone here whom I would call a close friend. I feel over edcuted with most here, I miss the trees and my walks in the woods. I miss the quiet of the city.. yes that sounds crazy but I have not had a quiet night here yet. It's like crawling out of some kind of a whole but never making any progress.

Spirits, this area seems to be very empty of the nature spirits. I have found only a few starved whom I have tried to help by giving my energy but as there are so few trees from which I draw my own energies, I have very little to go.

Can the holiness of a place be spoilt or desecrated? If so, how? If it can be violated, can it also be restored (and by what means)?

I do think that the holiness of a place can be spoilt or desecrated. If enough negative energies are thrust upon a place, the holiness of this, I think will move away to someplace more appropriate ofr survival. I also feel that it can be restored with the right energies but am not sure that it could be restored to its original glory.  


Practical exercise:

If you have completed this book and haven’t totally lost interest in the topic, this is the time to leave the theory behind and start on the practice! Create your sacred space, choose the venue carefully and get on good terms with the spirits there. Conduct your first ritual ~ to mark the season, to honour the local spirits, or simply to celebrate Life itself.

Druidry Lesson 19 ~ Poetry and Storytelling

Some questions for to think about:
What stories do you have within your own family ~ tales about relatives living or dead, major upheavals you may have lived through (wars, emigration etc)? How are these stories kept alive within the family, or does hardly anyone in your family know much about past generations?

We do not have any such stores in our family. There were not really any handed down traditions and because of my father, we were kept away from our extended family.
What do you regard the central and important stories of your culture to be? Are you more familiar with old Pagan myths than with the stories told by the wider culture in which you reside?

I do believe that these stories are important to ours and any culture and many are still used today to teach children many things. We use Red Riding Hood to teach our kids not to talk to strangers, The Lion and the Mouse to help others, and Rumplestilskin to not be hasty in making deals, read everything! There are many more still in use today. However, they are considered fairy tales, stories, not anything real or that was ever real. We do not think of symbols of the Gods, maybe the characters were magical fairies who helped the cobbler, or the Gods being seen as animal spirits. Thses are things that were lost through time and stories and beliefs forgotten.

Stories in our culture are used to teach manners, ettequette, good decision making skills, and especially in Native American Cultuer, histories of the ancenstors.

If a god has no surviving myths or stories, how might you go about learning their nature? Are stories actually necessary?

I belive that all we have to do to learn the old stories is ask the Gods about their stories. Are these stories the way they want to be remembered, what were the real stories? If we listen, they will answer us.

Practical exercise:

Write a poem in one of the above metres. Alternatively, tell a story at a festival, pub moot or other gathering.

The Englyn Milwr... A moral poem which consists of three rhyming lines, each of 7 syllables. The 1st and 2nd lines describe the topic, and the 3rd line gives the moral or spiritual message. Before aiming for the division of meaning, just try writing three line verses with 7 syllables in each line (each syllable is represented by the symbol #.)

# # # # # # A
# # # # # # A
# # # # # # A

An example of this (rhyming syllables in bold print) is:

Forgotten lies the old god,
Deep beneath the useless sod,
No grave this, but sleeping pod.

Here is my poem written in the styles as above. It's not great but happy I think!!! 

The morning sun rise up high
Give the land a cheery sigh
As the clouds they do pass by

Beginnings

A story I wrote for a friends writing contest on facebook... I think it's pretty good.. lol...

Beginnings

I sit in the middle of my bed, concentrating hard on not concentrating because all I want to do is make the connection that I know is there just waiting to be made. The never ending rain drips outside on the holly rattling the leaves only to drip again as their little cups tip the water onto the ground. The faint scent of sandalwood and lavender helps me to clear my mind. I can feel  tendrils of the scent wrap around me, pulling negative energies asunder as I release the stresses of the day.

The flame flickering from the white taper in my hands warms the air in front of my face as I stare into it.

“Am I alone here” I think into the flickering flame. The flame stills to a stead glow telling me the answer that I already know. No, I am not alone.

“Do I have ancestors here with me tonight?” The flame goes wild.

“Have I met these relatives, ancestors who are here with me tonight?” The flame is completely still for a few moments, and then gives me two flickers. There is more than one with me here tonight.

“My Goddess, my soul, myself, my being, are you here with me tonight?” The flame sits motionless.

“My dear girl, of course I am here. I am forever here for I am you, I am within you, as you are me and are within me.”

A tingling spreads through my body. I have no question who owns this new voice. The voice inside my head, around my room, filling my sacred space. I have never heard it before but I have dreamt it. I have felt it in my very being, in my soul, in my mind,  in my body.

“I have been waiting for you. I have been waiting for you to find your way, your way to your true destiny, you way to your true self. I have been here waiting for you all along. Now that you are here, you are part of me as I am part of you and we will change this world together.”

There was a swirl of light wrapping me in a warming embrace. I felt the light push all of those energies, those feelings, those things that stress our days away. Putting my hands flat on the bed, the earth pulled the light from me into the ground, trapping the energies to never worry me again. I felt my heart enliven, my body tingling, and my mind spinning trying to grasp what was happening to me.

“You are a Goddess in me and I will never leave you. “

As I looked into the flame, the feeling grew inside me and to this day it has never left me. I speak with her daily even if just to say good morning. Now as I plunge daily into my studies, she guides my hand and my mind to where I need to be as we are one, forever one.

The Morigan and Morgan LeFay

Ok, so I have been doing my reading, and my studying, and my meditating... and I am thinking it is time. I do not name, or haven't named any particular diety or dieties in my path at this point but as I am going through my studies, I am thinking it is time. I have always been drawn towards Morgan... throughout my life things have always drawn my back to her is so many ways including dreams, movies, stories, and ways I can not think of right now... :-) So, as I am reading I am finding that there are actually two goddesses with similar names and while they have differences, they also have many similarities... so now I am confused about if they are the same but different for different cultures.. or what. There is Morgan LeFay (yes, most notably known in the stories of Arthur) and there is The Morrigan. Does anyone know anything about eithe one... a book maybe... (I read a lot)... Just curious. love them both and wondering if others think that they might be one in the same...

I am currently reading a book called Celtic Lore and Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess... It's so good but I am right at the beginning. I have been told about a couple other books to read when choosing a goddess, or deciding which Goddess to invoke as my Goddess... Anxious to get through them... one is at the library. The other two I will have to wait and buy when I get the money... We'll see.

Going to start meditating on choosing a Goddess in the evenings.. Also about a craft name for myself. I am guessing that this will wait until I have chosen an official Goddess to follow but maybe not. We'll see when it happens. Of course, I can't put my craft name here but you all know me as Journey anyway... so it's all good. Looking forward to learning more about The Morigan though.. Yay!

Esbat Ritual

So the full moon happens tomorrow and I've been feelings so down. So... yesterday I wrote a new ritual... spell to release me from the stress and negative energies that have been dragging me down these past few days.

So tonight I did the ritual spell. It was amazing. I didn't cast a circle or anything, just sat in the middle of the floor with my herbs, candles and such and cast.. Meditation was amazing and the spell left me feeling refreshed... though tired (it is bed time after all). The strain in my shoulders is leaving quickly and by tomorrow I should be back to normal. Sleep will be amazing tonight... If I decided to, i will share my spell here once I get it put into my own book of shadows.

Blessed Full Moon to all who worship it... Brightest blessing for a stress free life...

My new handmade Runes... Made by me!

Ok, so I made these awesome runes all by myself. So excited. They are made of Apple wood given to me by a friend... Made them today... Can't wait to cleanse and charge them tuesday during the full moon. Yay!!!


Also retipped my wand with a new Amethyst stone... Gold plated wire wrapping, won't lose my stone this time... :-) 

Druidry Lesson 18 ~ Fate and the Justice System

Some questions for you to think about:

In the modern world what is more important when dealing with wrong-doing (be it serious crime, badly behaved children, or whatever)... making the wrong-doer suffer, recompensing the victim, rehabilitating the miscreant, scaring other people off from committing the same crime, or something else again?

I feel that this depends on the person and the crime. In society today, I feel that the victim is forgotten. Some kind of punishment is dealt but this does not always help the victim at all. Badly behaving children, usually having them applogize and do something nice or help another to make up for what they did can be a lesson on how they should behave. With children it's all about teaching them what is appropriate, not teaching them violent inapppropriate reactions.

I do believe that crimes of theft and such should be recompensed. The victim should be paid back in some way. Actually harming another should be a combination of the two... recomense... pay back the person by doing something fo them, or for someone else. But for violent crimes i feel there should also be punishment or detainment. Many will re-offend otherwise. This needs to be a case by case basis.

The troscad is an example of ancient people taking responsibility for making justice happen within their own communities. What methods are available to you for bringing some miscreant (wether they have broken the law, or just offended your moral sensibilities) to justice?

Protesting is very popular now as it was in the 60's and 70's. Sit in's, the Occupy trend right now, is a big way to get people to do what they want. I do not think that things on the large scale of Occupy the Ports or Wallstreet really has much effect but smaller scale protests such as petitioning a prison sentence or making a specific government official leave office can be very effective.

Boycotting is another way to make people change their ideals...

Hinduism has the idea of karma, and Christianity the idea of Heaven and Hell. Do you feel that the Gods take any part in the administration of justice (punishing the wicked, rewarding the good etc)? If human justice fails, and the innocent are wrongly punished or the dishonourable get away with things, is there any other force that can put right what has gone wrong?
I believe whole heartedly in Karma or the three fold law, however you want to look at it. What goes around, comes around. What you send out, comes back to you three fold. If you are good, good will come, if now, bad comes. This, while does not relieve the victims, is always a definite. They will eventualy get theirs. I would not say this is punishment dealth directly by the God's but is definitely indirect.

Practical exercise:

Take part in a campaign for justice. This could be something like working for Amnesty as a letter-writer, or it could be going on a protest march for some cause you believe in, or trying to put right some injustice which you have either suffered or caused. The amount of time you devote tot his is entirely up to you.

If you have the opportunity, sit in the public gallery during a trial (doesn’t matter what for) as a means of seeing how the justice system in your country works. In the same vein, consider becoming a prison visitor in order to learn about that aspect of justice.

Druidry Lesson 17 ~ Druids and Magic

Some questions for you to think about:

If a person doesn’t know a spell has been cast on them, will it still work? If they know, but think it’s all a load of rubbish, will that make them immune?
I do beleive in spells working even if the other that are part of it do not know it has been done. I found it difficult and wrestled greatly with myself over it but eventually did cast a spell on someone else who was hurting someone badly, emotionally and physically. The spell worked and this person has stopped for the most part and they know nothing about it. Neither one of them knows about it. I do not like to do this but decided that it was to the greater good of the person who was being hurt.

I also cast a banishing spell of all negativity on my last classroom. It was amazing becaue while I did not cast this on any one person, there was a person who I was hoping to stay away. She did... To this day, it has been a year... and I left 6 months ago, she has not stepped into this room. the spell was not on her, but the room and she knows nothing of it. But as she was the negativity, she has not entered that room. The new teacher there is greatful!

No, I do not think that disbelief to the person a spell is aimed at will effect it's outcome. It is about the intent of the spellcaster.


Is there a situation in which it might be acceptable to use magic to force someone to act against his or her own wishes? What are the ethics of binding spells?
As noted above, i did a spell on someone who didn't know it for the benefit of the person he was hurting. I did not like the idea of casting on someone without permission but did it anyway because things were so out of hand and getting worse. Things are better... I did do a binding on this but not to harm, just to change direction. When this person feels the need to be mean, he feels slightly nausiated. No harm, just a little icky...

Ethically this is wrong. Harm non and do what you will... I do not feel I harmed and that, if fact, I saved, maybe him also. You should not mess with the dirretion of peoples lives and I suppose i was wrong with what I did but I will stand behind it because of the situation.

Do some creatures, plants, objects etc have their own innate magical force? What happens if a magician tries to use some object in a spell that goes against the nature of the object?

I do think that creature and objects, different items, have their own powers but also believe, that if needed and allowed but the object, these can be changed. If we treat a plant, animal, or object appropriately and it sees that our need is great, it will aid us in our needs as best it can, even if it changes or does not fall with in its normal power.




Practical exercise:

Find somewhere quiet to meditate. Visualise a huge snake with the horns of a ram curling from its brow. The snake is coiled-up asleep but, as you watch, will begin to stir and lift its head. The eyes open, the tongue flickers. Try to be conscious of how you feel as the creature moves and shifts. It is of no threat to you and, having awoken for a few minutes, will then return to sleep.

Whilst engaging in this exercise, you may feel the urge to chant, sing, clap a beat with your hands, or do various other activities. Go with the flow, and see how the sensation of this creature awakening takes you.

Druidry Lesson 16 ~ The Ogam Alphabet

Some questions for you to think about:

Have you ever tried using an alphabet (ogam, runes, hieroglyphs etc) for magical or ritual purposes?

I use the Celtic Tree Oracle for Diviniation and also always inscribe my candles with used Runes in spells.
Have you ever created your own (or purchased, or been given a) divination set? Do you divine much for yourself, or for other people?

I did create my own Rider Waite set of Tarot Cards that are amazing. I am, just this weekend going to create my own Rune stones out of Holly Wood... I am also going to create runes sets to sell. I do divine for others though I find that I can not dvine well for myself. I find myself skewing the results to what I want. The only divination I do for myself is my pendulum... Very basic yes/no questions to my pendulum.

Have you ever thought about how magic works? Is it simply a matter of getting into the right frame of mind, or do such things as ogam-chants have a power all of their own? How might reciting a spell actually effect someone?
I feel that using runes, ogam, just like herbs, candles, etc, all strengthen your intention. For magic to work, you have to be able to put all of your energies into what you need or want to happen. All of these things help to increase and strengthen your intent and focus. I do some magic without... the I need help right now stuff but prefer, when there is a great need to create the whole ritual setting with the candles, herbs, runes, etc. This lends power to what I ask and also helps to keep me connected with the divine.


Practical exercise:

Create a set of ogam staves, if you do not already possess such a thing. If you do own one already, find a suitable time and place to sit and chant the names of the ogam. Try chanting in different tones to see which “feels right”. Keep a record of any sudden insights, visions or experiences gained whilst chanting.

Will do! Holly staves now on the agenda for this weekend!!!

these are not mine.. will post pics of my own after they are made!

Druidry Lesson 15 ~ Sacred Trees

Some questions for you to think about:
Have you a favourite species of tree? If so, what is it about that tree that you most like?

I love all trees but if I had to pick a specific tree, it would have to be the willow, specifically the weeping willow. I have not been around a lot of them in my life but have found I have always been drawn to them. They call to me and someday if I ever own my own house or property, I plan to grow several of them. They make me feel at peace, calm, and connected.

Are the feelings you get when walking in a woods different from those when walking on the beach, in the mountains, through a town etc? Do you get different feelings in different types of forest ~ such as between deciduous and coniferous?

Most definitely. I love to walk in the woods, especially if things are particularly stressful or out of sorts. The trees give me energy, clear my mind, and give me a feeling of serenity and calm. The beach gives me a feeling of excitement and a little fear, while walking through town makes me feel connected in a different way, excited, though sometime overwhelmed and stressed. I am not sure about different types of forests, I just know that at certain times, when I need to replenish... I need lots of trees.

Have you ever planted a tree to mark a specific event in life ~ a birth, marriage, death etc? Did you plant whatever tree was available, or choose a particular species because it suited the occasion?

I have planted a couple of trees with no success. They were not for any particular event, just really to plant trees in my yard. All died unfortunately and I have been afraid to try again. I also have not had any place to plant a tree lately.. moving around, rentals and apartments.

My brother planted a tree for my sister-in-law for her son who was killed in Afganistan last summer. I did the blessing on this tree... asking it and him to please care for his mom, Theresa, and he is there still to this day, with the tree, doing just that.

Practical exercise:

Find a tree and talk to it! Spend time quietly meditating... make offers... compose poems in honour of it... sit and listen to what it says, what images come into your mind. In the longer term, try going back to the tree in different seasons and keep a diary of how its moods change. Try to talking to other trees of different species, to see if you can pick up on distinct qualities.

Druidry Lesson 14 ~ The Use of Herbs

Some questions for you to think about:Have you used herbs before to any extent ~ in cooking, brewing, healing, spells, incense making etc?

Over the last year, I have started to use herbs for everything I can where appropriate. I have replaced all medications (dpression, thyroid, etc) with herbal remedies for a couple of reasons, lack of insurance and health. I drink medicinal teas daily including dandelion for thyroid, chamomile and scullcap for sleep, St. John's Wort as needed for depression.

I have always cooked with herbs, both dried and fresh as I like spicy foods. I am just now starting to use incantations to bless and spell our food as i learn more.

I use herbs always in formal spells where I actually sit at my altar, wherever that may be. When asked what kind of a witch I am, I tell people that I am an herbal candle eclectic witch.. I use a little of everything. I also love to burn fresh herbs on coal as homemade incsense. yummy...

Have you ever attempted to communicate with a plant, or felt any sort of sapient presence from one?

I will admit that verbally communcation with the plants is new to me. It's interesting that I read that in this lesson today and last night in the Ann Moura book I am reading, Green Witchcraft I. I will be doing this from now on, especially when planting and harvesting. I even drempt about this last night. Guessing this is something I am suppose to be paying attention too.

Have you ever gone vegetarian, or changed your diet in anyway to include foods that you thought might be healthier? How did you feel?.

I am not vegetarian but eat a low fat diet. I eat lean meats, fish, seafood, and a lot of fruits and vegies. The plants are definitely the main part of my diet with meat as the main proteins. I feel so much better as long as I get my fruit and vegies every day along with my medicinal teas... When I forget my tea, I can feel the difference for a couple days, even after I start drinking it again...


Practical exercise:

If you haven’t already got one, create a herb garden (use a trough if you live in a flat.) If you already possess such a thing, use edible herbs to create a healing concoction for yourself, a pet, or another person. Check that none of the herbs would be adverse tot he person being treated first!

As noted above, I am treating me own medical ailments completely with herbs. I use dandelion to control my thyroid, St. John's Wort for depression as needed (this is rare since I have embrased my spirituality), and othes for variuos things. A big one is sleep which I use chamonile (fresh dried, not store bought tea bags) nightly with scullcap and/or valerian as needed.