ADF Druid Scouts Pledge

Rev. Olson shared this poem in today's class, it is used by the Druid Scouts in her home grove (the Druid Scouts are an organization that is apparently slowly spreading and will hopefully one day be sanctioned by the Mother Grove).

A Druid Scout's Pledge

To nine virtues we do adhere,

To nine virtues true and just.

With these we shall persevere,

With these we shall earn trust.

With wisdom, we find identity.

With vision, we may predict.

With piety, we seek serenity.

With courage, we fight conflict.

With integrity, we uphold ideals.

With perseverance, we have success.

With hospitality, we behave genteel.

With moderation, we avoid excess.

With fertility, we grow in love,

And to these virtues we’ll abide.

With Gods below and Gods above,

And the Kindred by our side.

I quite like it and plan to adjust it and use it as part of a daily devotional. It has the benefit of brevity and useful mnemonics for taking the oaths to heart and keeping them in mind through the day. Here's hoping I can cudgel my brain into memorization again :)

Rev. Jessie Olson's Online DP Course

Just wanted to say a quick word about this course and the valuable service Rev. Olson is providing ADF. This course roughly follows Michael J. Dangler's Wheel of the Year manual/workbook, there will also be a three week intensive course in January for those who've completed some part of the DP and need a final push.

Seriously if you can I highly recommend attending this course, the topic of each is listed in the heading on Wiz IQ but if you've missed a class do NOT hesitate to join in. Rev. Olson is great about answering questions and reviewing past progress further classes are recorded and archived for a period of time. The second class was today so there is plenty of time to get involved still. The link to her course can be found by searching for her on the WIZ IQ website or on the ADF Dedicant's Facebook group.

Ogham Draw: Day Two - Muin

Associated with the Vine, according to the DP manual it is also associated with introspection. According to Rev. Ellison's book it is also associated with prophecy and inhibition or lack thereof. I find this interesting as I'm still hesitating over actually sitting down and swearing my First Oath. Hmm. Perhaps this is an encouraging sign as prophecy may relate to the daily drawing of Ogham and the inhibition and introspection relate to my continued hesitancy.

Ogham Draw: Day One - Fearn / Fern

So in keeping with my babysteps toward a daily practice of some kind until I finish school and settle in my new job I drew an Ogham few today. I drew Fearn / Fern which according to Rev. Ellison's book Ogham The Secret Language of the Druids Appendix 1 is associated with guidance and the god Bran. Further it is associated with the Alder tree.

I should note here that I haven't yet started an in depth study of the Ogham though I have picked up, in addition to Rev. Ellison's work the highy recommended work by Erryn Rowan Laurie Ogam Weaving Word Wisdom. I've literally just skimmed both though they're on the top of my reading list (along with a half dozen other works).

So, as of now, from where I stand based on what I know I am taking this drawing to mean that so far at least I'm on the right path, and I will hopefully find more guidance as I keep working.

Flailing

So not only did I not have time / energy for the High Day I was going to do a rite for -after adapting a ritual and everything- Samhain snuck up on me too. So, instead of focusing on High Days for the nonce (particularly since I've been working two jobs recently and still doing school though in a little less than a week I start a work-at-home position with Amazon :D) I've decided to work on a daily devotional and just building a practice from there.

It seems like simply focusing on High Days makes it too easy to procrastinate and prevaricate and panic and so on and so forth so that nothing is ever actually accomplished. Also since I'll be working from home soon and will finish my degree in the next six months baby steps seems more sensible and practical. And, either way, it couldn't hurt.

Other things I'm considering to assist enhance this process, making a prayer bead set of some kind and doing a daily ogham draw and keeping a journal of some sorts about the draw and the events surrounding it. My only concern regarding the ogham draw and journal is that I've never been able to keep up on daily anythings, so that may be excellent or doomed to fail.

Whatever the case soon I will have a life of my own and a good job, excitement!