Happy Yule and Merry Christmas! For Solstice we went to the local UU church for a celebration and ritual. I wasn't too sure what to expect to be honest. During the ritual they provided childcare, so the kidlins were off happily making wands and decorating Yule logs. The ritual was interesting and not entirely what I expected. Honestly it took a little bit for me to get into it - old teachings die hard, even once you turn away from them. It was nice and full of energy. One of the readings done was more Wiccan inspired which didn't do a lot for me as that's not a path that interests me, but overall it was good. People were just exceptionally nice. Afterwards was a potluck dinner (yummy) and just a general gathering of people.
On Wednesday an old and dear friend of my husbands came over for a visit. They hadn't seen each other in 7 years, and as we've moved back to the area, there was a lot of catching up to do. My mate knew that his friend wasn't Christian, but imagine his surprise to see they follow some of the same path. His friend was most pleasantly surprised as well.
Mom arrived without incident on Thursday. It's been a bit of a trick, with the mention of a "celebration at the church" and avoiding what the actual celebration was or exactly what church it was held at! But it is all good. I did have to delay my initiation ceremony for about a week. Such is life, though I have unofficially begin part of my training as it is. By next week I will have completed the ritual. I have also begun narrowing down the dieties I wish to follow. The problem is that with both a strong Scottish heritage as well as European/Germanic, I'm a bit at cross odds on a few things. I'm slowly working it out. I do know that some of the Norse gods are in.
It's been an insane and long week, and we're spending tonight getting things unboxed and so on while the kids are with my mother. Then it's to bed for a well deserved rest!
From the wind in the trees,
Siofra
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Busy Season
Well the holidays are coming - Solstice and Christmas. It has been busy, busy around here!! I have almost finished my baking, and the house is full of different types of fudge, pecan bars (almost gone somehow, must be magick!), buckeyes, banana nut bread, marshmallow pops, cookies and peppermint bark. The denim pocket quilt is almost complete for my mother in law, and I'll be making the kids pajamas tonight. The boy's are of a lime green material with red stripes, the girls are of a coordinating red material with lime polkadots. They'll look like Thing1 and Thing2, but hey, they're still young enough to think it's neat!
While at the store I found something that I had to bring home. It is a small 1'-2' tree, and a commonly used herb of rosemary. Looks like a little pine tree and is making the house smell just wonderful!!
It's a busy weekend planned. Saturday is filled with family get togethers and I'm supposed to have everything done by that night as my husband has informed me it is "Mother's Night". Sunday the kids have thier Irish dance classes (complete with "holiday party") and then later that evening is a HUGE Solstice Celebration at the local UU church. I'm very excited, and is my mate. Tomorrow when we meet for the weekly bonfire he plans on asking what one wears to such a thing. Hopefully nothing too particular - various illnesses and injuries over the two years have added a few pounds and let my wardrobe rather limited! Sunday or Monday I'll be doing my initiation ritual, which I need to do some study for. Then Monday night we'll have a semi-traditional meal of roast pork. Then it's wrapping and cleaning like a madwoman before my mom gets here on Thursday! Wow! By the following week, I can relax as my busy season will be over.
We went to the local library yesterday. I was able to get a few books on my areas of study for the next year, while adding in another area. (No type A here at all!) I've left the books in the car; the temptation is too great otherwise!
Back to work. Can't wait to see how the celebration goes on Sunday!
From the wind in the trees,
Soifra
While at the store I found something that I had to bring home. It is a small 1'-2' tree, and a commonly used herb of rosemary. Looks like a little pine tree and is making the house smell just wonderful!!
It's a busy weekend planned. Saturday is filled with family get togethers and I'm supposed to have everything done by that night as my husband has informed me it is "Mother's Night". Sunday the kids have thier Irish dance classes (complete with "holiday party") and then later that evening is a HUGE Solstice Celebration at the local UU church. I'm very excited, and is my mate. Tomorrow when we meet for the weekly bonfire he plans on asking what one wears to such a thing. Hopefully nothing too particular - various illnesses and injuries over the two years have added a few pounds and let my wardrobe rather limited! Sunday or Monday I'll be doing my initiation ritual, which I need to do some study for. Then Monday night we'll have a semi-traditional meal of roast pork. Then it's wrapping and cleaning like a madwoman before my mom gets here on Thursday! Wow! By the following week, I can relax as my busy season will be over.
We went to the local library yesterday. I was able to get a few books on my areas of study for the next year, while adding in another area. (No type A here at all!) I've left the books in the car; the temptation is too great otherwise!
Back to work. Can't wait to see how the celebration goes on Sunday!
From the wind in the trees,
Soifra
Friday, December 11, 2009
Leaps and Bounds
Well met, friends. The month is flying by with so much going on! Last week my mate and I ended up meeting a small group of like minded new friends (psst - "pagans"!). Apparently there is quite the group of them up here in Wisconsin, and we were lucky to not only meet a few, but be invited back to their weekly shindig! LOL with this being Wisconsin and all, and it *was* cold by my definition, I wore my partners long-johns under my jeans. HE got cold, I... well ok I did too but not as bad! It's funny really. We're both well into adulthood and past the pre-college era by far, but we got back and rehashed the night (I'm forever analytical to death) and we're both like "they were SO cool! We wanna be cool too! And they want us to come back! Wheee!" ROFLMAO!! (In our defense, we moved when I was pregnant with our 7 yr old and never had the opportunity to get out much or get involved and make friends due to circumstances, so yeah, it's been a while!)
In other exciting news, I received my introduction package from the AODA, complete with the initiation ceremony. While I can't go into details about it, it does look potentially interesting. They require 1 yr of study for the first level, and suggest you begin your year on one of the celebrations. That means that I'll be starting mine on Yule, aka Winter Solstice. The down side of this is that we do live in Wisconsin now, it got "warm" today and reached a whopping 13 degrees, so I'll probably have to do it inside. That's really too bad, as I'd love to go up and find a place in the forest and do it there. I really think it'd be nice if there were more advanced members around as I do think it would be great to have someone with you for it, but I can look forward to helping others with that once I pass 2nd level.
The program I'm undertaking is rather involved. Of course, I tend to make things moreso than they have to be as well. There are 3 paths to study, as well as aspects of those paths that need further study such as ogham and natural studies. Then of the 7 spires, I am to select one to study on. Being somewhat type A (and having already planned to study a couple of these this year anyway) I'll be selecting 3; poetry, divination and herbalism. At the conclusion of the year I will hopefully be finished and take my first examinations. Then it's on to a 2 yr program of study to receive my 2nd level and have the option of becoming ordained as a Druid Priestess from what I understand. (I am still very new to this, so I may be slightly off on a few specifics here and there.) ROFLOL yeah I can see sharing that with my relative who's an ordained Christian minister - "Hey C! We got something in common!" She'd probably try to perform an exorcism on the spot.
The third level is huge, and one I hope to attain - then I can actually establish a grove as well. Which brings up something rather interesting. A couple of our new friends are starting out in their Druid paths as well, only following the OBOD (which I hope to someday as well - most druid organizations play well together!). They said there was enough interest that they're contemplating forming a druids circle, which I believe would be a grove. As AODA, I would still be welcome to it, but that just seems interesting. I'll have to see how that works out.
Anyway, Solstice is coming, Christmas is coming, and I'm stealing a moment to post. I do NOT want this to be something that's started and promptly forgotten whether anyone reads it or not.
From the wind in the trees,
Soifra
In other exciting news, I received my introduction package from the AODA, complete with the initiation ceremony. While I can't go into details about it, it does look potentially interesting. They require 1 yr of study for the first level, and suggest you begin your year on one of the celebrations. That means that I'll be starting mine on Yule, aka Winter Solstice. The down side of this is that we do live in Wisconsin now, it got "warm" today and reached a whopping 13 degrees, so I'll probably have to do it inside. That's really too bad, as I'd love to go up and find a place in the forest and do it there. I really think it'd be nice if there were more advanced members around as I do think it would be great to have someone with you for it, but I can look forward to helping others with that once I pass 2nd level.
The program I'm undertaking is rather involved. Of course, I tend to make things moreso than they have to be as well. There are 3 paths to study, as well as aspects of those paths that need further study such as ogham and natural studies. Then of the 7 spires, I am to select one to study on. Being somewhat type A (and having already planned to study a couple of these this year anyway) I'll be selecting 3; poetry, divination and herbalism. At the conclusion of the year I will hopefully be finished and take my first examinations. Then it's on to a 2 yr program of study to receive my 2nd level and have the option of becoming ordained as a Druid Priestess from what I understand. (I am still very new to this, so I may be slightly off on a few specifics here and there.) ROFLOL yeah I can see sharing that with my relative who's an ordained Christian minister - "Hey C! We got something in common!" She'd probably try to perform an exorcism on the spot.
The third level is huge, and one I hope to attain - then I can actually establish a grove as well. Which brings up something rather interesting. A couple of our new friends are starting out in their Druid paths as well, only following the OBOD (which I hope to someday as well - most druid organizations play well together!). They said there was enough interest that they're contemplating forming a druids circle, which I believe would be a grove. As AODA, I would still be welcome to it, but that just seems interesting. I'll have to see how that works out.
Anyway, Solstice is coming, Christmas is coming, and I'm stealing a moment to post. I do NOT want this to be something that's started and promptly forgotten whether anyone reads it or not.
From the wind in the trees,
Soifra
Friday, December 4, 2009
Moving Forward
Today we're having our first real snow. It's actually sticking to the ground and on the roads. I guess this is what they call "flurries" up here in the North - back home it was defined as just a spitting snow that didn't really stick or accumulate. First year driving a vehicle with 4wd. And anti-lock brakes. I hate anti-lock brakes, just about paniced when they kicked in for the first time this morning! But the 4wd counters the need for them some, so I imagine I'll be a pro within the month. At least I'm used to driving in snow, though not as much.
Very excited - yesterday I sent in my application to join the AODA and begin their candidacy program. I got an e-mail back saying I'd been accepted! Yea!! Now I'm just waiting for the initiation information to come through. I will start my first year of study on Yule, which is December 21. There are 7 spirals available to study, and the AODA wants it's first years to pick one to focus on, though I am welcome to choose more. I already had a list of things to study this next year, so that made it a bit easier. I will be really starting my education in herbalism. I hope to eventually have my own greenhouse where I grow my own herbs and to branch into alchemy as well. It's amazing what can be cured without the processed pharmaceuticals! I also plan to study runes. I'm thinking this would fall under the spiral of Divination, but if it doesn't, well that's ok too. Finally, the "easy" one I'm going to pursue is that of Poetry. I'd eventually like to study all 7 spirals, and that's one that does come easy to me so I may as well cut myself a little break on that. In addition to all that, I also want to really learn Ogham and will of course need to learn the basic stuff as well. I'm very excited but need to remember that this is for after Mother's Night (December 19th). I have other things that need my attention first! Focus, focus, focus!!
Today I think I'm going to work on getting the house in order (again - what is it about 2 young children that can demolish a house so fast??) and start my baking! Tonight we have a bonfire that should be fun, tomorrow is the girls piano receital and dinner at the in-laws. And so the insanity begins! Once things are better in order, I'll probably take some pics and post of the things I've done so far. I'm still working on my alter, but it's coming along pretty nicely!
Very excited - yesterday I sent in my application to join the AODA and begin their candidacy program. I got an e-mail back saying I'd been accepted! Yea!! Now I'm just waiting for the initiation information to come through. I will start my first year of study on Yule, which is December 21. There are 7 spirals available to study, and the AODA wants it's first years to pick one to focus on, though I am welcome to choose more. I already had a list of things to study this next year, so that made it a bit easier. I will be really starting my education in herbalism. I hope to eventually have my own greenhouse where I grow my own herbs and to branch into alchemy as well. It's amazing what can be cured without the processed pharmaceuticals! I also plan to study runes. I'm thinking this would fall under the spiral of Divination, but if it doesn't, well that's ok too. Finally, the "easy" one I'm going to pursue is that of Poetry. I'd eventually like to study all 7 spirals, and that's one that does come easy to me so I may as well cut myself a little break on that. In addition to all that, I also want to really learn Ogham and will of course need to learn the basic stuff as well. I'm very excited but need to remember that this is for after Mother's Night (December 19th). I have other things that need my attention first! Focus, focus, focus!!
Today I think I'm going to work on getting the house in order (again - what is it about 2 young children that can demolish a house so fast??) and start my baking! Tonight we have a bonfire that should be fun, tomorrow is the girls piano receital and dinner at the in-laws. And so the insanity begins! Once things are better in order, I'll probably take some pics and post of the things I've done so far. I'm still working on my alter, but it's coming along pretty nicely!
Name that Holiday!
So we have our new pagan path. Generally, the rebirth of the Sun God is celebrated on Winter Solstice, which falls a few days before Christmas. Yeah, try telling the kids we don't do Christmas anymore. Heck try telling my mother that! Her reaction would take "bat shit crazy" to a new level and beyond! Which actually might be kind of fun to watch, but I digress... Anyway, I LIKE celebrating Christmas, and there are many people out there besides our little family unit who celebrate it without worrying about the Christian connotations (on a holiday that really never had anything to do with the birth of Christ in the first place if you look into it a bit!). So now, in addition to continuing on with the tradition of Christmas, we've added Winter Solstice to the mix. Because, you know, December wasn't crazy enough! LOL!
Actually I'm having a blast with it all this year! Ok, I still haven't gotten the Advent calendars finished that mark BOTH the Solstice AND Christmas (yeah, I know, they're late), but I have a ton of apple preserves ready to be sent out as gifts. We moved last summer and ended up in an area full of apple trees, so that was a great and inexpensive (and yummy!) gift to make! I still have all my holiday baking to do, which is on schedule for the next few days, and some presents to make as well. I finally mastered sewing a few years ago and it's easily one of the handiest skills I have.
Then you have the decorating side of things. Since we moved, nothing goes in the same place, so we're trying to figure out what fits where. For one of the first times, we didn't get a fresh tree. Not too sure how I feel about that, part of me LOVES a fresh tree, part of me thinks that's just a bad idea given the druid and all! I did go out and get a ton of fresh pine swags which are now hanging all over the house. Next year I'll run up to a close relations place and walk through the forest to collect the ones that have fallen, this year I copped out and bought them. Next year we hope to be in a different place. For one thing our yard literally has no trees! How can that be?? But hey, at least we do have a yard! No fence either though, so it makes creating a ritual circle a bit um awkward with the neighbors. I can see the reaction once I pull out a long dagger and point it in each direction! I somehow don't think our neighbor would let her daughter babysit here any more! LOL
Once the husband gets over his headcold that he apparently picked up over Thanksgiving, I'm going to have him cut 3 spots in a yule log to make a candle holder. Funny, at our old house we changed the doorknobs and the new ones were a little bigger. He had to go get this drill attachment that cuts perfect circles just the right side for fat pillar candles. See, things like that can ALWAYS be used for other purposes! We're definitely a "whatever works" kind of folk over here!
For the solstice, the local pagan group is having a huge shin-dig out at a local UU church. They have kids activites planned, a full ritual circle, and dancing and a general good time afterwards. Can't wait, sounds outstanding! Tomorrow night we'll go to our first bonfire. Just a casual get together that happens every week. Looking forward to that as well, though it's going to be very, very COLD! Then for Christmas we have all the usual with my parents coming up for the holiday. Which means I also need to get on the house...
Actually I'm having a blast with it all this year! Ok, I still haven't gotten the Advent calendars finished that mark BOTH the Solstice AND Christmas (yeah, I know, they're late), but I have a ton of apple preserves ready to be sent out as gifts. We moved last summer and ended up in an area full of apple trees, so that was a great and inexpensive (and yummy!) gift to make! I still have all my holiday baking to do, which is on schedule for the next few days, and some presents to make as well. I finally mastered sewing a few years ago and it's easily one of the handiest skills I have.
Then you have the decorating side of things. Since we moved, nothing goes in the same place, so we're trying to figure out what fits where. For one of the first times, we didn't get a fresh tree. Not too sure how I feel about that, part of me LOVES a fresh tree, part of me thinks that's just a bad idea given the druid and all! I did go out and get a ton of fresh pine swags which are now hanging all over the house. Next year I'll run up to a close relations place and walk through the forest to collect the ones that have fallen, this year I copped out and bought them. Next year we hope to be in a different place. For one thing our yard literally has no trees! How can that be?? But hey, at least we do have a yard! No fence either though, so it makes creating a ritual circle a bit um awkward with the neighbors. I can see the reaction once I pull out a long dagger and point it in each direction! I somehow don't think our neighbor would let her daughter babysit here any more! LOL
Once the husband gets over his headcold that he apparently picked up over Thanksgiving, I'm going to have him cut 3 spots in a yule log to make a candle holder. Funny, at our old house we changed the doorknobs and the new ones were a little bigger. He had to go get this drill attachment that cuts perfect circles just the right side for fat pillar candles. See, things like that can ALWAYS be used for other purposes! We're definitely a "whatever works" kind of folk over here!
For the solstice, the local pagan group is having a huge shin-dig out at a local UU church. They have kids activites planned, a full ritual circle, and dancing and a general good time afterwards. Can't wait, sounds outstanding! Tomorrow night we'll go to our first bonfire. Just a casual get together that happens every week. Looking forward to that as well, though it's going to be very, very COLD! Then for Christmas we have all the usual with my parents coming up for the holiday. Which means I also need to get on the house...
What it is
First, as I begin this journey, a moment of introduction. After much contemplation, you may call me Siofra Payton Eara. This is not my given name of course, but rather the name I have taken on. It translates roughly to changling guardian from the east. Fitting actually, and not too specific.(Siofra is of Scottish Celtic origin and pronounced shee-fra. Eara has the same origin and is pronounced ee-ah-rah. I hate not knowing how to pronounce things!) My husband and I have been married for 8 1/2 yrs, and have 2 children in elementary school, 2 cats and 1 very old dog. The goldfish died last month, so we currently have a fish tank with no fish in it. Hey, it's on the list! In case you didn't notice, the Yule and Christmas season are upon us and I'm just a *little* busy here! Oh, well I guess you wouldn't know that, I'll probably get into that in a bit!
First, for clarifications sake, let me just point out that a pagan is not a satanist. You may find a few satanists who identify with the term pagan though from what I understand that's not real common. For the most part, many pagans (not speaking for all or even most as I certainly haven't met "all" or "most"!) don't even believe in satan, so that makes being a follower pretty impossible! Not all pagans are into Wicca and witchcraft. That's not the right path for me personally at this time, though I've met several friends who do find satisfaction on that road. It is also possible to be a Christian and follow some pagan paths as well. Again not the road for me, but there are those out there who feel it suits them.
Once I accepted that I just couldn't get behind the whole Christianity thing, it was clear that for me the path of druidy was where I belonged. It's funny-odd really, in that I feel like I've always been a druid without knowing what to do about it! I read an interesting discussion on "what is a druid" a while back. The general consensus based on both knowledge of the "original druids" and the skills and abilities involved was that a druid is rather like a position in a village. Druids of old were versed in medicine, divination, were the judges and mediators, bards, musicians and advisors all rolled into one. There is also the nature reverence aspect as well that is rather prominant! I'm sure I'm missing a few things. Needless to say, this isn't a quick study, but rather a lifetime program of learning. I like that. Now the trick is to find the balance - that which allows us to raise our children in the path we see most appropriate without sending the rest of the family into apoplectic fits. Really, our spiritual life is none of their business, but five and seven year olds aren't known for their ability to selective vocalize either! Simply put, don't want the hassle, especially while we're still finding our way and figuring out our beliefs!
First, for clarifications sake, let me just point out that a pagan is not a satanist. You may find a few satanists who identify with the term pagan though from what I understand that's not real common. For the most part, many pagans (not speaking for all or even most as I certainly haven't met "all" or "most"!) don't even believe in satan, so that makes being a follower pretty impossible! Not all pagans are into Wicca and witchcraft. That's not the right path for me personally at this time, though I've met several friends who do find satisfaction on that road. It is also possible to be a Christian and follow some pagan paths as well. Again not the road for me, but there are those out there who feel it suits them.
Once I accepted that I just couldn't get behind the whole Christianity thing, it was clear that for me the path of druidy was where I belonged. It's funny-odd really, in that I feel like I've always been a druid without knowing what to do about it! I read an interesting discussion on "what is a druid" a while back. The general consensus based on both knowledge of the "original druids" and the skills and abilities involved was that a druid is rather like a position in a village. Druids of old were versed in medicine, divination, were the judges and mediators, bards, musicians and advisors all rolled into one. There is also the nature reverence aspect as well that is rather prominant! I'm sure I'm missing a few things. Needless to say, this isn't a quick study, but rather a lifetime program of learning. I like that. Now the trick is to find the balance - that which allows us to raise our children in the path we see most appropriate without sending the rest of the family into apoplectic fits. Really, our spiritual life is none of their business, but five and seven year olds aren't known for their ability to selective vocalize either! Simply put, don't want the hassle, especially while we're still finding our way and figuring out our beliefs!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Into the Forest
I suppose if I am going to start a blog, then maybe it would be courteous to introduce myself and the purpose of why I'm writing here. After a lifetime of feeling I was living a lie, I finally mustered up the courage and took that first step towards the dark scary unknown. See, I was raised in the bible thumping, dress your Sunday best midwest. Heck, growing up there were generations of families in our church - including mine. People who had been together and there for each other for literally years. It was a nice and comfortable environment, I'll give them that. Then when I was around 14, the head office of the church made a decision on homosexual acceptance that split the happy family of the church right into two. From what I heard, that was the result over a large part of the nation. And boy, did it get UGLY.
From that point on, I started to see things a little more clearly, recognized the snide and cutting comments for what they were, and became increasingly disgusted. By 16 I'd had enough and walked away. I did try to go back twice, each with an open mind. The first time ended when I was told that my now ex-husband was the head of our house, and that it was ok for me to work literally 4 jobs while he sat on his butt drinking expensive hooch and downloaded girlie shots all day. Instead, I walked away from the church AND the husband! The second time was after I was remarried with 2 young children. We hit a rough patch like many families do at one time or another, and during 6 months not a single person could be bothered to pick up the phone and just ask how we were doing. We'd been attending for 5 yrs. We didn't return.
In the past year my husband and I have realized that we do wish for spiritual fulfilment, and that the pagan paths are right for us. They make sense to us and they just feel right. He is currently investigating the path of the Asatru, and I am walking the road of the pagan Druid. This is still very new to us, and this blog is a place where I will probably bounce ideas, work things out, and just figure out my way through the forest.
From that point on, I started to see things a little more clearly, recognized the snide and cutting comments for what they were, and became increasingly disgusted. By 16 I'd had enough and walked away. I did try to go back twice, each with an open mind. The first time ended when I was told that my now ex-husband was the head of our house, and that it was ok for me to work literally 4 jobs while he sat on his butt drinking expensive hooch and downloaded girlie shots all day. Instead, I walked away from the church AND the husband! The second time was after I was remarried with 2 young children. We hit a rough patch like many families do at one time or another, and during 6 months not a single person could be bothered to pick up the phone and just ask how we were doing. We'd been attending for 5 yrs. We didn't return.
In the past year my husband and I have realized that we do wish for spiritual fulfilment, and that the pagan paths are right for us. They make sense to us and they just feel right. He is currently investigating the path of the Asatru, and I am walking the road of the pagan Druid. This is still very new to us, and this blog is a place where I will probably bounce ideas, work things out, and just figure out my way through the forest.
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