Thoughts on the Virtues - Piety

Now for Piety.  At first glance, this one isn't very hard. Then again, it is. Our society isn't exactly pious anymore, and those of us who practice solitary don't even have others to meet with who are pious. If we are lucky, our significant other is pious so we have that shared thought in our home. Unfortunately, I rarely hear of this happening.   

The first exercise in the Virtue guide involves listing pious people.  I have been trying to think of some, but I can't say I KNOW of anyone who is.  There are always people who claim to be and aren't the only ones I can think of who are regularly pious I know online or long distance, so I don't feel I should list them. It's difficult to describe a person's piousness when you aren't around them. As for myself, I try, but I know I could do more.  Although, I suppose that is always true. I know I am more pious than most of the people around me, simply because I am the only one who works with the gods & spirits on a regular basis and I am the only one who observes the holy days. I don't always observe the moons. I admit that. That is generally due to some sort of fibro or lupus flare that gets me so sick that by night I am in bed.  I am working on some sort of substitution for those times. I suppose that is a form of piousness - the fact that I am trying to find a way to observe these times even when ill. The simple truth is, someone who doesn't have these issues can't understand how it hits you to the point that you lose days and miss things. I do feel that my gods, my spirits, and my ancestors understand this.  I have had plenty of times when I could "feel" that understanding and times when I have been guided towards ways of substituting for what I wanted to do. In the end, I feel that someone who keeps that connection on a regular basis, regardless of the physical acts involved, is far more pious than someone who happily does all the rituals, but then keeps distance between themselves and the gods the rest of the time.

Our Own Druidry defines Piety as follows: 

"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."

The Macmillon dictionary is a little different:

"strong religious belief and behavior"

I can go along with these.  I have discovered over the years plenty of people who profess strong religious belief, but in no way act on it. It doesn't matter to me if their ceremony is private or with others. I feel the only thing that DOES matter is observing and behaving as is meant for their faith. After all, there are plenty of places in the world where a person can't openly practice their faith, either through lack of place to do so, or through danger to one's life if they do.  I realize that many feel we must be open, but I don't believe our gods want us to needlessly die or face serious harm. After all, the reason the Old Ways managed to be passed down is because so many were willing to hide the knowledge and only practice in secret with family and/or friends.

The phrase "maintenance of agreement" is what catches me and what I feel many ignore.   It really is easy to go to rituals and have fun seeing your friends.  Yet how many keep to their faith the rest of the time? How many are willing to tell the Gods they will keep them in their hearts every day?  How many are willing to make an oath to live in a way that honors the Gods?  In my experience, very few.  THIS is where I feel most don't follow the virtue of piety.  Doing things where others can see isn't pious. Not really.  Piety exists within your own heart and soul.  It is what you do when no one is looking.  It is living quietly in a pious way, not screaming on rooftops to make sure everyone sees you be "pious".

I have not always had the most pious life, I can admit that.  On the other hand, I have usually been more pious than most other people I know.  As a child I knew I was meant to have a special relationship with the Old Gods but it took many years before I could fully understand that role. Over time I have developed a stronger connection and have worked to find a path that worked for me and my physical limitations.  I know the day when everything really clicked for me...

I was a member of a Wiccan church in the clergy training classes.  When I joined, I was told that it was open to all paths and was flexible enough to allow for my personal practice.  Things changed and one day I was there in class when several things hit at once.  They no longer honored the Old Gods in ways I felt gave true honor, they no longer would allow my path and the type of piety it needed, and I did not feel that the role of clergy there was the path of true piety anymore.  I had already known my path was taking me to clergy, but this gave me the chance to really look at that role and decide how I felt it should be. I learned a lot from those people - mostly how NOT to act, In the end, that may have been my most important lesson in all the years I was there. I learned what my view of piety is and made the stand that I would leave my entire life if that's what it took to stay true to my Gods.  And I did it.

I consider this an important virtue for anyone who wishes to keep the Gods in their heart, and especially important for someone such as myself who has the goal of becoming clergy to them.  I also see this as important for families to instill in their children.  Regardless of the path children take when grown, it teaches them there is something greater than themselves and helps them feel that web of interconnectedness.

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/piety

The Journey So Far - 2016 Has Begun

I joined the ADF close to a year ago.  I was hoping it would be what I have been seeking for so long and I would finally find "home". I started the DP immediately and haven't regretted a moment.  There have been plenty of setbacks over the past year, but I consider them more as roadblocks set by the Gods to help me be sure if this really is what I want.  After all, I could have used any of them as a reason to stop.  I'm proud to say I have instead used them as moments to step back and look at what I am doing with new eyes granted by the situations.  It has been a year of far too many funerals, medical emergencies for myself and others I care about, financial nightmares and stress from directions and people I had never expected.

Here I am at the beginning of a new year.  2016 is a year of great things coming.  I am getting married in three and a half months, we are buying a house I have loved for years and making it ours, we are creating the sacred space I have always envisioned right out my back door, and I am finally getting to see some medical specialists I have long needed to hopefully get my health better under control.  Along with all this, I WILL complete my DP. It has become far more important to me than I could have imagined.

I am farther behind than I would like, but I will do this.  I may not complete it in a year as I had hoped, but I would rather take longer and gain as much as possible from this journey than rush it and miss important stepping stones.  I am looking forward to where I go from here.  It feels like I am rising from my pause beside the warm fire and bundling up before heading out on the next trek through the woods.  I have my sturdy staff, my journal, and supplies. Now off I go with a smile on my face, a nice wind at my back, and an eye on the rising sun!

Sometimes We Must Stop Everything to Care for Ourselves

I disappeared from here for over a month. No it does not mean I stopped with anything ADF.  I have happily continued my meditation and trance work on a nearly daily basis.  I have continued to read and study. Each time I sit down with a book I enjoy it more. I have even made the decision to continue on until I become ordained clergy.  So, if I love the ADF and its studies so much, where did I go? Simple. My hands didn't want me to type.

Anyone who knows me or has read this blog knows I have health issues.  It is very frustrating to me, but I have come to terms with it.  Sometimes my hands swell so much or are in so much pain that typing is a nightmare.  I have had a lot of difficulty resting as much as needed.  I tend to push through the issues and try to ignore them. Of course, I always pay for it.

We live in a society that tells us to pretend we feel great and nothing is wrong.  Chronic illness is a weird little dirty secret.  I refuse to live like that.  I admit to my needs. People know what is up.  Of course I hear plenty that I am "trying to get attention." Ummm... no.  Speaking up for my needs is taking care of myself.  Needing a comfortable chair or something to drink when it's time for my meds has nothing to do with attention.  Yet that's how it is viewed.

I'm trying to take care of myself, so I willing say  --

Sorry I've been gone. I simply couldn't type.  I made the choice to take care of myself instead and now I feel much better BECAUSE of it.  I did what was right for me. I'm not telling people to go around being selfish, but ignore this awful stance in society. Take care of yourselves instead. Remember - we only have so many spoons to go around each day.

Virtues -- Wisdom

My definition of Wisdom is a combination of that from the ADF and the Merriam-Webster dictionary.  I see it as not only “good judgment”, but also knowledge gained by experience and an understanding of things that others do not have. There are many in our lives we can consider wise, but we must remember that there are many types of wisdom. My grandparents are wise in that they understand the secrets of the land.  I had a wise professor in college who taught us that no one is insignificant.  Everyone has a gift and they all have an important part in the world.  

I also find wisdom in our stories, such as the story of Fionn who gained great wisdom from tasting the Salmon of Knowledge. I see this as a reminder that wisdom can be found in any age, and can come from many sources or experiences. We can also look at Odin hanging from Yggdrasil from nine days and nights in order to gain the knowledge of the runes. In this case, we are shown that we must sacrifice in order to learn. Wisdom is not just given to us. We must fight for it and be willing to give up some part of our selves in order to gain it.  

Wisdom is perhaps the most important of the nine virtues. As I reviewed the virtues, I took a deep look at wisdom and realized that each of the others require wisdom in order to properly fulfill them. It is the foundation of the virtues, on which all other must stand. As for the triad, living a life with Wisdom allows us to better observe proper Piety and see with true Vision. These three form the internal aspects of ourselves and Wisdom binds them together.

I do my best to live my life with wisdom to make good choices.  Of course, like everyone else I have made bad choices in my life. The key is to acknowledge I did so, then spend serious time reflecting to see what I can learn from this bad choice. No matter how awful something is, there is always good that can come from it. We must look into them and learn, finding the wisdom in the moment.

Thoughts on the Virtues - Wisdom

Wisdom: good judgment, the ability to perceive people and situations correctly, deliberate about and decide on the correct response.

There are many in our lives we consider wise - teachers, religious leaders, family members, or even people in the public eye.  Saying that, there are many types of wisdom. My grandparents are wise in that they understand the land.  They know when change is coming, they understand what the growth of certain plants and trees in a place means.  They know where to find water.  They understand the relationships of insects and plants as well as companion planting.  They are wise in ways of the world - not the world of technology and advanced sciences, but the actual world Herself.

I once had a professor in college I considered very wise.  He is an anthropologist and had seen and done amazing things all over the world.  He learned from the people most ignored.  He studied with the village elders in remote Brunei about traditional ways and the histories of their people that were still passed down only in memories. He spent almost 10 years on an island in the south Pacific that no longer exists due to first a hurricane in the 70s and then flooding due to the rise of the oceans.  He learned all parts of these people's lives and has recorded a way of life that is now gone from our world. From him I learned that no one is insignificant. Everyone has a gift and they all have an important place in the world.  

From the Merriam-Webster dictionary --

• : knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life
• : the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand
• : knowledge of what is proper or reasonable : good sense or judgment

These definitions overall I can agree with, except for the first.  I have known young people who have great wisdom, and elders who don't seem to have any at all.  The rest I can basically agree with. My wording may be different, but the intent I can see. 

I also find wisdom in our stories and the stories of those who came before us. I focus on Celtic hearth, so I looked first at the story of Fionn and the Salmon of Knowledge. When young, he was sent to study with the poet Fineagas. They encountered the Salmon of Knowledge and cooked it knowing that whoever tasted it first would become wise and a great hero. Fionn was watching it cook while his teacher slept. Three drops of oil splattered on his thumb and he sucked it to stop the burn. This tiny taste  was enough and gave him the knowledge that his teacher had intended for himself.  I have heard different meanings for this story, but I see it as a reminder that wisdom can be found in any age, and also that knowledge can come from many sources and many experiences.  We never know what could become a moment that grants us a great deal.  That means we should embrace all experiences, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

We can also look at Odin hanging from Yggdrasil for nine days nad nights while pierced by a spear in order to gain the knowledge of the runes. In this case, we are shown that we must sacrifice in order to learn. Wisdom is not just given to us. We must fight for it and be willing to give up some part of our self in order to gain it.  The two stories together show us a great deal.  We must always be open to opportunities to gain wisdom, but at the same time, when that chance comes, we must understand that a sacrifice is expected. 

I am doing my best to live my life with wisdom and use this virtue to make good choices.  Of course, like everyone else I have made bad choices in my life.  I'm only human after all.  For me, the key has been to acknowledge I did so, then spend some serious time reflecting on what would have ACTUALLY happened if I had done things different (after all, situations tend to explode in our mind even if in truth it was fairly insignificant), and finally to see what I can learn from this bad choice. After all of that, I can finally look back at the whole thing and find the good that came from it.  No matter how awful something is, there is always good. Missing a job opportunity could lead to deepening a friendship that is worth more than anything. Getting very sick could lead to finally making yourself enjoy life in ways you had always put off.  My fibromyalgia and lupus have certainly taught me this last lesson. There are endless situations and good things that can and will happen. We cannot dwell. We must look into them and learn, finding the wisdom in the moment.

It is true that we all have a special time when wisdom strikes. For me, a major moment happened during initiation into a magical tradition. I prefer to keep the details to myself, but I can say that I suddenly could see clearly into my whole life as to who were friends and who were using me. I knew without a doubt I needed to divorce my husband.  I also knew that I was on the wrong spiritual path and would have to get back to my old way of Druidry. This supposedly "strongly-Druidic" version of Wicca wasn't at all Druidic and was actually taking me away from it. I realized that weekend that I had been misled by many in my life. This one unwise decision led to many that not only taught me wisdom, but changed my life for the better.  Thank goodness I went with my intuition!

Wisdom is perhaps the most important of the nine virtues, in my view.  No matter what else we do, wisdom is tied up in it.  As I reviewed the virtues, I first looked at them in the triads. Then I took a deeper look at wisdom and realized that each of the others require wisdom in order to properly fulfill them. This is the foundation of the virtues, on which all other must stand. After all, how can we live with Piety, see with Vision, act with Courage, live with Integrity, move with Perseverance, understand both sides of Hospitality, live with Moderation or understand the balance needed in Fertility without Wisdom?  As for the triad, living a life with Wisdom allows us to better observe proper Piety and see with true Vision. These three are for the internal aspects of life, and Wisdom binds them together.

Our Own Druidry: An Introduction to Ar nDraiocht Fein and the Druid Path (p. 62). Tucson, Arizona: ADF Publishing (2009).

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wisdom

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandsstories/finnmaccoolandthesalmonofknowledge/salmonofknowledge/index.asp

Sometimes it all Comes Together - Why I am Called to the Order of the Dead

I have known for a long time that my spiritual path wasn't quite right.  I wasn't getting smacked upside the head by the Gods or anything - not until recently anyway - but I just Knew.  Most of that changed when I joined the ADF and started studying with them. Suddenly the things I believed my whole life made sense and I was with a spiritual people who agreed with my  view!  All the years I studied with Wiccans (because they were all I could find) I chafed at their explanations. They seemed close but not quite right.  Once I started to realize this and decided I had to find the right path, I was guided to the ADF and I could feel some of the pressure release.  My steps were finally getting onto the right path.

Yet still, I often felt like I was walked beside my path instead if on it.  Things changed a couple days ago.  I was in my online chat for the Dedicant Path students and while discussing the Ancestors, it came up that around here I could tell something wasn't right. They weren't mad exactly, more exasperated because I was missing the something.  Knowing myself, I had a feeling it was something obvious. It was. It came up that I spent several years of my life as a Forensic Anthropologist and during that time I began to feel that the Dead needed to be honored.  I was dealing mostly with the skeletal remains of Native Americans (over 1,000 years ago, so no tribal affiliation) and I always felt bad for them. All that time ago they had been cared for and buried with honor, but since the 1920's they have been wrapped up in newspaper and paper bags and stuck in boxes. All because we wanted a road to go through their burial place.

The Order of the Dead came up in this online conversation. THAT is when I felt the smack upside the head. Ah. Of course. Where else does a person who spent years literally working with the dead and trying to restore their honor belong? It didn't stop there.  That night, I was flooded with images of all the times over the past few years I had received messages that my path is with the Underworld.  Then yesterday morning I was reading my long-awaited copy of  Sacred Fire, Holy Well. I reached the part discussing Danu and Bel. That was when the last piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Finally, an explanation that made sense to me! I wanted to take some time thinking about it, but I keep feeling there is no need. I was just delaying the inevitable and I needed to get off my butt and do it.  So here I go. It is time to join the Order of the Dead. I can finally feel relief and pleasure from the ancestors around me.

Settling in with the Two Powers

I've been working with the Two Powers and adding it into my regular practice. I had thought it would be odd to add in, but I am discovering that I am far more balanced by including it.  For the first couple days, I tried the full long version but it didn't work. It was lovely, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't exactly right for me.  It is so strongly pushed that this is the most amazing meditation ever that I was surprised I didn't have a stronger reaction.  I finally realized my problem wasn't the meditation, but the way it is written.

I decided to try something different - I stopped with the audio file. No more listening to the way it is thought to be.  My mind has already absorbed the points, so instead I simply close my eyes and let my mind go through the steps on its own.  I can't adequately explain the difference quite yet.  The closest I can say is that I now actually feel the connection to the cosmos during this practice.  It goes from a simple way to ground and balance to a method of not only remembering just how amazing the cosmos is, but becoming a part of it.

I can't always take the time to go into this version of the meditation, but I discovered a short version in the Wheel study book that I love by Ceisiwr Serith:

The waters support and surround me.

The land extends about me.

The sky reaches out above me.

At the center burns a living flame.

This has become a sort of affirmation for me, It is short and sweet, yet a perfect way to quickly remind myself of the connection and give me a quick balancing check. I am going to memorize it so I can more easily use it and see how that goes.