Initial Response

Well, I officially participated in my first druidic ritual in a group. So many interesting people were involved, and I've made a good few new connections. I look forward to, at the very latest, seeing them all again at Yule, but due intend to join some in the ADF Dedicant Studies and others in studying some other areas of personal interest, right now being Kabbalah and Chakra theory.

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We all drove to a suburb just off island - one of the members let us use her backyard. Her suburb was tolerant of small campfires and she had a large tree for us to enjoy the presence of. We began around 8:00pm and finished around 10:00 pm on the 31st of October. Mel and Sarah served as Senser and Asperger. Other members there included Jamie and Selina. I think we were about 8 all in all, 9 if you consider Jamie's little son who kept coming and going.

We made an offering of meat to The Morrigan, and oats to Donn (whom I know very little about.) I especially liked the major working, in which we made an offering to a chosen ancestor with the drop of a stone rune ("Gebo") into the Sacred Well. I wonder if, in the future, we could bring an additional offering. I should have been louder in speaking my dedication to my ancestor, to include everyone in my act. As a Grove. I know for next time.

For the Omen, Rob drew 3 runes ; "Fehu", "Aurochs", "rune of Death" - so I'm assuming that's Fehu, Uruz and Eiwaz? Hagalaz? I'd like to double check that one. I know enough about runes to usually understand their symbolism. Rob interpreted it as positive, that our offerings had been accepted.

Rob gave us a great "cheat sheet with the chants, which I've saved. I didn't quite catch most of the tunes, so I'll have to look them up. I noticed that they areavailable at the ADF website.

Apparently we're carrying on the SilverFox tradition of Toast, Boast or Oath at the end of rituals - to make one of the above and take a drink from the horn. I think it's supposed to help everyone unwind and enjoy each other's company. Enjoyable,but difficult when it's so chilly!

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Last night, upon returning home, I requested membership to ADF. I'd forgotten how inexpensive it was, only twenty-dollars, and with the Canadian Dollar being so I there's virtually no change in price. Maybe an additional 40 cents.

It was a good ritual, made me feel sort of new again. The uncertainty, the reading from the page, not knowing the tunes to the chants... It's humbling. It could have been better - we were working outside, it was quite cool and damp which hampered our fire. We're all new, and even Rob, our Druid Clergyman, is much less familiar with Celtic Ritual (being a proud Norseman.) It will be nice when we all get organised, start meeting regularly, start becoming more spontaneous.

The feeling is so different too, though. This reminds me of why I began turning away from Druidism in my personal practice. Now, while I don't consider myself Wiccan, I do use alot of Wiccan ritual structure, simply because I find it effective. The feel of the circle, the cone of power, the ebb and flow of the energy - I missed them during the Druidic rit. Yet the basis of Druidism is very different - there is no spell working, no use of will. Rob described it as more "mellow", but that doesn't seem quite right to me.

I think I'll go as far as to say that ADF Druidism is simpler, is more basic. We honour the land, we honour the Ancestors, we honour the Gods and Goddesses. It is a path that worships nature.

I do need to work on understanding the sacred well and the sacred fire. I am also curious about how the group dynamic and energy will change, and how it will come to feel when we get in the swing of things.

... a time to reap what we have sown, and be thankful. I can't help but feel like I only just planted the seeds - where has time gone?

I find it so difficult to differentiate and uniquely celebrate the Harvest festivals of Lughnassah and Mabon. Perhaps this is due to the fact that, where I live, summer has only just begun? Here in Montreal, we had snowstorms in early April, and the torrents of never-ending rain have only just subsided. So far we've had maybe three weeks of fabulous summer weather.

Fall in Quebec is an event in itself. Falls brings the changing colours of the leaves. Local apple orchards open for the picking, the delightful availability apple juices, butters, jams, and ciders. 'V' formations of geese flying south for the winter can be seen across the sky. To me, these signify the time of Harvest. They come around September, October. The first frost usually occuring in November (although with global warming, we had our first snowfall in January last year.)

I've made a point to celebrate the wheel of the year according to my own observations of the great land where I live - for I do indeed love my home. et I most strongly associate Harvest with All Hallows. Whgat of the two other Harvest sabbats?

Mythically, early August is a time where the god Lugh honors his foster mother, land goddess Tailtu, with games and competitions. Lughnassah is a time of bounty, celebrating how our hard work has brought us an abundance we should take the time to enjoy.

Brocolli, onions, carrots, fresh herbs, corn on the cob and tomatoes that are grown locally are all abundant and inexpensive now. I can leave them to stew while I think about all the changes I've set into motion in the last year that I should be thankful for - moving out with my boyfriend, starting university, being more physically active, the progression of my spiritual studies, how I've unbelievably managed to keep in touch with my closest friends through it all...