#dpwoty

[chronarchy]

It’s a constant cycle of work, re-work, and finding ways to open again and again. It’s deeply rewarding.

There’s so much more to do.

[adfdruidry]

Have you thought about studying Druidry? We're embarking on a new year; maybe it's time to take some steps on the journey. It's full of benefits... here's a graphic of a few you might find on the way, provided by the ADF Dedicant Path.

Thanks to @Chronarchy for the infographic!

Learn more about Druidry at ADF.org

[Image Description: non-binary druid, with benefits of working a path of study in ADF across it, including: bright memory, insightful vision, a voice of wisdom, a centered fire, a well of inspiration, helping hands, a journey in fellowship, and a natural connection]

[tangledwyrd]

A Solitary Norse ADF Core Order Ritual

Awhile back I posted the ritual script I use for my short morning devotional rituals. That ritual was really just a shortened version of the liturgy I use for my High Day rites, which you can find later in this post. 

This ritual template has evolved from my very first rituals using the ADF Core Order of Ritual. The beauty of the ADF Core Order of Ritual lies in its modular nature. I don’t necessarily need to reinvent the wheel every time I plan for my next High Day rite, I just write a new Statement of Purpose and invocations for the deities or beings I will be honoring for that particular ritual. If I do need to revise the template, I can revise it a step at a time without having to rewrite the whole script.

The liturgy that follows has served me well, and has produced powerful solitary ritual experiences for me.

1: Initiating the Rite [Ring bell three times at shrine] Say: "A child of the Earth has come to honor the Kindreds!" [Perform Two Powers meditation] 2: Purification Say: "The waters of the Earth flow within me, the light of the sky shines within me, cleansing me and making me whole."

3: Honoring the Earth Mother

Say: "Hail Jord, hail Nerthus! Goddesses of the Earth! Your blessings of abundance and peace flow over the land, giving life to all. I stand upon you with gratitude and I honor you. Be with me in my rite. Jord and Nerthus, accept my offering!" [Make offering] 4: Statement of Purpose

Say: [A short statement of the purpose of the rite]

5: (Re)Creating the Cosmos

Say: "And so it came to pass that Odin and his brothers slew the giant Ymir: Of Ymir's flesh the Land was fashioned, and of his blood the Sea; crags of his bones, trees of his hair, and of his skull the Sky. Then of his brows the Gods made Midgard for sons of men." (modified from original translation)

Say: "Hail to the Fire! Flame of the hearth and tribe, fires of creation and destruction, light of the Heavens, shining forth from Asgard, home of the halls of the Gods, radiant with wisdom, order, and inspiration!"

[Make offering of olive oil to the Fire]

"Sacred Fire, burn within me!" Say: "Hail to the Well, the triple Well, deep beneath the earth! The Well of Hvergelmir, source of all waters, near the Halls of the Dead, the Well of Mimir, deep pool of sacrifice and wisdom, the Well of Urd, the spring of fate, where the gods hold court, and where the Norns determine the fates of gods and men!"

[Make offering of silver to the Well] "Sacred Well, flow within me!" Say: "Hail to Yggdrasil, the World Tree! Standing tall in Midgard, connecting all Nine Worlds together, from Helheim below to shining Asgard above, from deepest root to tallest branch, the center of the cosmos!" [Cense and asperge Tree] "Sacred Tree, grow within me!"

[Renew center]

6: Opening the Gate(s) Say: "Hail Heimdall, son of nine mothers, all-seeing and all-hearing guardian of Bifrost Bridge! You stand at the threshold of Asgard, guarding the realm of the Gods from those who seek to destroy it. Be with me in my rite. Heimdall, accept my offering!" [Make offering] Say: "Heimdall, aid me as I open the gates! May this Fire become a gate, opening to Asgard, realm of the Gods! May this Well become a gate, opening to the Halls of the Dead, realm of the Ancestors! May this Tree become a gate, opening to Midgard, realm of the wights, and connecting all Nine Worlds together!"

Say: "May the gates be open!"

[Make an opening motion with hands, envisioning the gates opening in the Sacred Center]

Say: "The gate is now open!" 7: Inviting the Three Kindreds Say: "Hail Ancestors! From the line of Ask and Embla, to the line of my Alfar and Disir, with wisdom and stength you guide me from realms above and below, with wisdom and strength you guide me from within my blood. I honor you. Be with me in my rite. Ancestors, accept my offering!" [Make offering]

Say: "Hail Land Wights, spirits of forest and field, spirits of stone and stream, shining elves and earthen dwarves! You guide me as I walk Midgard, teaching me the lessons of nature. I honor you. Be with me in my rite. Land wights, accept my offering!"

[Make offering] Say: "Hail Gods and Goddesses, Aesir and Vanir! From your halls you shine bright and brave, illuminating me with wisdom, bestowing me with courage, sustaining me with abundance. I honor you. Be with me in my rite. Gods and goddesses, accept my offering!" [Make offering] 8: Key Offerings Praise offerings:

[Make offering]

Being of the Occasion:

[Make offering]

9: Prayer of Sacrifice Say: "Ancestors, Land Wights, Gods and Goddesses! In the Sacred Center I have given you offerings, in the Sacred Center I have given you my devotion! Mighty Kindreds, I honor you! Mighty Kindreds, I praise you! Mighty Kindreds, accept my offering!" [Make offering]

[Renew center and feel the flow returning]

10: The Omen Say: "Hail Odin, All-father, ruler of Asgard! Nine nights you hung from Yggdrasil for the secrets of the runes, nine nights you hung on that windy tree, sacrificing self to self. Odin, All-father, wielder of the runes, let the Kindreds speak to me! What blessings do I receive in return for my offerings?" [Draw three runes] One for: Ancestors Land wights Gods 11: Calling for the Blessings Say: "Mighty Kindreds, offerings have I given you and your blessings have been revealed! A gift calls for a gift to complete the exchange of hospitality. Mighty Kindreds, may your blessings flow into this horn, so that I may drink deeply of fair return!"

Say: “Give to me the Waters of Life!” 12: Hallowing the Blessings [Trace runes on the horn] [Visualize the traced runes glowing with power, sinking into the cup, into the beverage, and glowing within the liquid] Say: "Mighty Kindreds, your blessings flow into this horn. Behold the Waters of Life!" [Drink] 13: Affirming the Blessing Say: "Mighty Kindreds, your blessings flow through my head, my heart, and my loins. Hail to the Kindreds!"

[Renew center]

14: Workings

[Magical workings are done here]

15: Thanking the Beings

Say: “[BoTO], thank you for your presence and blessings in this rite.” Say: "Gods and Goddesses, Aesir and Vanir, thank you for your presence and blessings in this rite." Say: "Land wights, spirits of the land, thank you for your presence and blessings in this rite." Say: "Ancestors, kin of my blood and spirit, thank you for your presence and blessings in this rite."

16: Closing the Gates Say: "Heimdall, my work here is finished. May the gates be closed!" [Make a closing motion with hands, envisioning the gates closing] Say: "The gates are now closed." Say: "Heimdall, son of nine mothers, all-seeing and all-hearing guardian of Bifrost Bridge, thank you for your presence in this rite." 17: Thanking the Earth Mother Say: "Nerthus and Jord, Goddesses of the Earth. Your blessings of peace and plenty flow over the land, giving life to all. I stand upon you in gratitude and I honor you." 

[If there are leftover offerings:] 

Say: "I return to you that which remains."

[Give leftover offerings]

Say: "Nerthus and Jord, thank you for your presence in this rite and your rich bounty."

18: Closing the Rite

Say: "I go forth with the blessings of the Kindreds. This rite has ended!"

[chronarchy]

Spirit of Integrity

Establishing the whole from many parts,

Drawing together the constituent fragments,

Completing and maintaining the structure of the cosmos:

Spirit of Integrity, I call to you.

There are times when the world seems

That it cannot be held together:

That the scaffolding may collapse,

And that we may fall again to earth.

But we also know that we are in control:

Our word remakes the world when kept,

Our service will steady us against howling wind,

And our community reinforces us.

Spirit of Integrity, stand firm with us

And remake my world through solidarity.

[chronarchy]

Each year, we Cranes light up the darkness at Imbolc. May your year be blessed by the Sun's midwife, Brigid!

Learn more about Druidry at ADF.org

[skylark913]

“Reflections on Prison Chaplaincy”

It’s amazing how serendipitous life changes can really affect your spirituality and the ways that you interact with the world.  Since becoming ordained in 2015 I’ve had an interest in pursuing professional chaplaincy, but as a minority religion there are even more barriers in place that there would be otherwise.  Even then, I thought I’d like higher education or hospital chaplaincy, and was…

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[anotherdedicantjournal-blog]

Vision

Vision, like piety and wisdom, can be hard to pin down.  ADF defines vision as, “the ability to broaden one’s perspective to have greater understanding of our place/role in the cosmos, relating to the past, present and future.”  (Introduction).  Whereas Webster’s Dictionary defines vision as, “a : the act or power of imagination; b (1) : mode of seeing or conceiving (2) : unusual discernment or foresight” as in “a person of vision” and “c : direct mystical awareness of the supernatural usually in visible form.”  (Webster entry on Vision).  I personally like ADF’s definition much better.  It is specific, easy to understand, and short, all of which make it easy to remember.  I do think that one thing missing from ADF’s definition is something about imagination, because everyone I would describe as being a “visionary” usually has a great imagination.  The people I think of when describing this virtue are Albert Einstein, J.K. Rowling, Steven Hawking, and Amelia Earheart.  All of them had the understanding and imagination to dream of something much bigger than themselves, plus the willpower to make it come true.  All of them have made a large and lasting impact in our culture, one way or another.  I believe this should also be included in the definition.  If you have the understanding to truly know your place in the cosmos and the impact you can make, then I believe there is a sort of responsibility set upon such a person to use it to change the world for the better.  Additionally, it is this last point that I believe makes this a true virtue and worthy of striving towards.  

[anotherdedicantjournal-blog]

Piety

Piety is similar to wisdom because it can mean many different things to different people.  ADF defines piety as the virtue of “correct observance of ritual and social traditions; the maintenance of the agreements, both personal and societal, that we humans have with the Gods and Spirits.  Keeping the Old Ways, through ceremony and duty.”  (Introduction).  Dictionary.com defines piety as having “reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations.”  (Piety). Both definitions focus on the actual practice and observance of religious rules and ritual.  To that I would include reverence for the Gods, because to practice and observe religious principles and rites without reverence for a god would be empty of meaning.  Additionally, to revere something is to respect it and I don’t think even the highest ranked priest can be pious without respecting the deity or deities they serve. However, I do not think that piety would be viewed as a virtue by everyone.  Since the word is so tied up in religion and there has been a large shift away from religion in the United States recently, I would think that many people would view this as an archaic trait.  Those who have had bad experiences with a religion may even view piety as something contemptible.  Overall, I think piety is a virtue so long as it does not crossover into zealotry.  Piety is something that should be done with humility.