1.reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations: a prayer full of piety.
3.dutiful respect or regard for parents, homeland, etc.: filial piety.
I, unlike many others involved within the Paganism movement, was not raised in a religious home. I was not baptized or christened - to be Catholic would not allow for Protestant Godparents, and to be Protestant meant to promise to attend Church weekly (and my parents weren't going to lie.) Religious piety is not something I was every raised with.
Filial Piety, this brings food for thought. I take this to mean the respect, love and duty I feel for my family. When my mother's side - her parents and siblings - moved to Canada with very little money, they stuck together because they only had each other.
As they each married and had families, they still remained close as did their children. I think this is really reflected in how when I visited my cousin at Samhain 2007 and had a laugh how I was just like my mother in my mannerisms. He used to be in my place, being in his early twenties, visiting his aunt and her little daughter - me.
In comparison, I always thought I didn't have as close a relationship with my father's side, but that's not true at all. I realize this the more I am exposed to the families of others. I am actually quite fortunate.
In my family, we respect each other, we feel a duty as family to be a part of each other's lives. We feel we're lucky to have each other, and enjoy each other's company. We also realize we must mind our own business and be polite to each other, and this is where we differ from many others. (In fact, I do know other families that believe they should be more polite and accepting of strangers than each other. I am proud my family does not feel this way.)
Given this, I do have some personal experience with Piety as far as my family. How is religious piety different from filial piety?
Religious piety also requires respect and commitment, but becomes more complicated.It is defined as following in the DP Manual:
Correct observance of ritual and social traditions; the maintenance of the agreements, (both personal and societal), we humans have with the Gods and Spirits. Keeping the Old Ways, through ceremony and duty
Some people say they don't want to one of those "Only Pagan 8 times a year" types - people who only observe the High Days.
I am always a Witch. It's always at the back of my thoughts, often without my being aware. My noticing of changes in weather and in the land, in animal patterns, an awareness of omens. Prayers of need, or of thanks. Certain things I began doing intentionally as I started my path are now natural habit.
I would certainly call myself "spiritual". I observe most of the High Days. I understand them well. I rarely have other rituals - I do not do spellwork as one would do a ritual. I am not simply "Pagan-8-times-a-year". In contrast, I do not consider myself "pious". Joining ADF was part of my attempt to integrate more frequent acts of religious piety in my life. I feel that this is lacking.
Duty, humbleness, awareness and acknowledgment, devotion, responsibility, commitment, intention followed by action - these words make up my understanding of Piety.
This is a draft of what I'm considering for my first oath. It's
written under the assumption that I will declare it first alone - I may
adapt it for declaration before a Grove (probably for Imbolc 2008.)
I, Mana, born Amanda Giovanna, Descended of families Mancini, DeGroot, Teoli and Stoter, Do declare myself, before the world and the Otherworld, a keeper of the Old Ways.
With this sacred oath I set my foot upon the path and vow to make my dedication plain.
I commit myself to the study of the ways of old. I vow to seek virtue in my life, to do right by my kin, my friends and my community, I promise to honour my ancestors, the land, and the Gods.
Before the Gods and Spirits, and before these witnesses, these things I swear.
I want my oath to reflect my commitments to
specifically developing a connection to my ancestors
study and learning, which I have always found fulfilling and pleasurable.
to improve myself as a person, by being virtuous.
I
specified 'land' and not nature spirits specifically. You'll have to
forgive me - I don't actually believe in "nature spirits ' - the Sidhe,
gnomes and fairies and things. I do believe that natural areas have
their own... means of perception, memories of experiences, expressions,
but I don't have enough experience yet to define this as "nature
spirits." I'm sure I will learn more about this as I go on, but in the
meanwhile I don't find it appropriate to refer to this uncertain
element.
Since I always encourage others to ask questions, I thought I'd reflect upon these. They came up in the ADF Dedicant's Program "Through the Wheel of the Year" Working Guide by Michael J. Dangler, with the help of other dedicants.
Why have you chosen to undertake the Dedicant Program?
Years ago, I found ADF and thought it was amazing, with it's encouragement of scholarly study. I'd lost faith in pagan publishing - I think Sirona Knight's Guide to Celtic Druidism would do that to anyone.
At the time, I was too young to join - underage, no credit card, not confident enough that ADF was actually safe. I was being cautious and wasn't as confident about the beliefs I was exploring.
The recent emergence of Island Willow Protogrove in Montreal by acquaintances of mine from CEGEP (Quebec College system) reminded me of that interest of ADF.
I met with other dedicants during one of their rituals. Now living independently and with the Canadian Dollar being of such good value, becoming an ADF member was suddenly so very possible.
I am now a Dedicant because of how much I enjoy religious study . The program develops good habits, forces us to read, question, learn and grow. I always found it a great program, regardless of whether or not one was a Druid.
Is this a step on your path, or will this become the path itself?
To be honest, I'm not quite sure. I'd like to work with my local grove, commit to taking part. I find the symbolism so meaningful and the ritual format to work well with groups.
As far as my personal practice, done solitarily, we'll see. I happen to enjoy my practice just the way it is, and will likely combine Druidic elements with it.
What do you expect to learn?
To work with the nature spirits, the ancestors, and the Gods. You might be reading this and asking "Well, what the heck have you been doing all this time, then?!" My practice has always been about the self, the will, the local land. I work with energy and change, and it has often been fulfilling. ADF Druidism feels different, being based upon humble worship, not the power of the self. This piety is something I want to bring into my life.
What would you like to get out of this journey?
I would like to develop a hearth practice around the Etruscan Pantheon. I would like to learn about Etruscans through my own research and construct an ADF-structured honouring of them.
I would like to fill in some of the holes in my path - meditation, historical study, daily observance, practicing with others.
Do you know where this path will take you?
No, but isn't that what's most exciting? Does it matter? I expect to be wiser and with new friends.
If you have just joined ADF, why have you chosen to work on this immediately?
The Dedicant Program is actually a major reason why I joined ADF. It's a study I knew I would enjoy - and I am. I know it's not the kind of thing that must be completed within a certain time frame. It's my pleasure.
Does it look hard or easy?
Neither here nor there, but let me explain:
Not difficult but not fast - after all, the meditation journal asks for 5 months of progress, not to mention that we must meditate regularly - and always - in order to maintain our level and continue to progress. Writing our experiences celebrating High Days will also take at least a year. It may take long, but they'll be enjoyable, not "hard".
Which requirements appear to be difficult to you now, and which appear to be easy?
Right now the book reviews look to be quite a commitment. I've picked through works by Pennick and Adler and quickly lost interest - not that I don't have many other interesting choices.
The High Day writings are proving difficult to articulate. Samhain's just passed - I do know about it! - Why is it so hard to write a good, informative blurb about it? I'm probably hesitating because of the sources I know I'll have to sift through andpossible disagree with.
The cultural practice component will be difficult, but only because of my own doing. I'll have a lot of research to do - enjoyable, but definitely NOT easy.
Easiest, the Nine Virtues. I indeed see the value in all of them and look forward to exploring them in writing.
Short book reviews on at least: 1 Indo-European studies title, 1 preferred ethnic study title and 1 modern Paganism title. (325 words min. each)
Comparitive Mythology. Jaan Puhvel.
An Introduction to Roman Religion. John Scheid.
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Ronald Hutton.
A brief description, with photos if possible, of the Dedicant's home shrine and plans for future improvements. (150 words min.)
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 words min.)
An 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 over at least a 5 month period.
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 words min.)
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 min. 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 min. for each Kindred and 1000 words total)
A brief account of the efforts of the Dedicant to develop and explore a personal (or Grovecentered) spiritual practice, drawn from a specific culture or combination of cultures. (600 words min.)
The text of the Dedicant's Oath Rite and a self-evaluation of the Dedicant's performance of the rite. (500 words min.)
