Inspirational Vision and Memory

Magic 1 – Approved

chellyisme — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:14:55 +0000

Magic 1 has been approved, I am working on Divination 1 and Trance 1 simultaneously. I will be submitting both of them by months end hopefully.

Thanks to Cáer for her help with MLA stuff, and showing me where I hadn’t fully answered questions <3

Magic 1 – Submitted!

chellyisme — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:34:48 +0000

So Magic 1 has been submitted, all of its pages are updated as well. They will be updated with the changes when that happens. I am a very happy chelly though. My reviewer dropped for the GSP and he requested me back, which means I have my fast turn over reviewer back, who knows about my oath. He is also very thorough and really constructive with his criticism which for me is great because it makes me want to do the changes

If you go through my stuff and find an issue (for those that know me) you can send me an e-mail with the problem, or you can leave comments on the pages if you don’t have other ways of contacting me. Most of you will have the ability to contact me however, through one channel or another

Magic 1 – to be edited

chellyisme — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:19:39 +0000

I am 3 questions away from finishing Magic 1. I *finally* got past the question that was killing my progress (ok the one after it may also kill *some* progress but not as badly) I have updated the work on the pages however none of it is edited. My references aren’t in proper MLA format right now either, I know this, still need to fix this. However things are moving. I am also close to Div 1, which will get finished as soon as this one is done. Current timeline is to be done Magic 1 by Monday evening, and Divination 1 by the next week.

Status Update

chellyisme — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:32:13 +0000

Magic 1: 4 questions remain

Divination 1: 6 questions remain

IE Myth:3.3 questions remain (god I hate this course it’s soo huge)

My friend Kylara(who did my omen for my DP oath) is coming over on monday to help me fill one of the requirements of Divination 1. I am also still working on my Trance 1 practical work.

Foundations: The Three Realms

chellyisme — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:47:24 +0000

This is the third in a series of 30 prompts called “30 days of Druidry” please see the other posts under this tag for more.

Inpired by Dancing Lights Grove “Three Realms” section written by Cáer which was inspired by A Ritual Opener written by Ceisiwr Serith

The land supports us, the trees grow thick and wild in forests
Shrubs and flowers interspersed, where sun comes through the canopy
Ferns grow fiddle heads, as they unfurl themselves throughout.
Deers and wolves they make their homes, within their natural habitat.
Wilderness surrounds, and animals run wild.

The land supports us, in farmer’s fields with sheaves of wheat
Feed for human and beast, and where rows of vegetables grow
Potatoes, tomatoes, berries and squash.
Seasons come and seasons go, and farmers see them most.
Cows and pigs are housed, used to feed society.

The land supports us, in cities and towns the concrete jungle,
Domesticated plants flourish, where we make our homes,
Nature unseen by many, and taken care of by few,
Manicured lawns by the suburb full, seasons are complained about,
Squirrels and cats are plenty here, where much of society lives.

The land supports us, our home among the cosmos.

The sea surrounds us, the water which supports this world,
Filled with corals and algae, giving homes to those within,
Fish and eels swim these waters, and things deep within the unknown.
Depths unexplored and unknown, hold the wilderness below,
Watery depths hide the light, and flow among the world.

The sea surrounds us, the waters flowing through the lakes,
Connecting us all to the watery depths, the closer, but still unknown,
Trout and salmon are fished, for society to take,
Pleasure-craft boats hum through the waters, disturbing peace,
Society flocks to sandy beaches, for tans and fun.

The sea surrounds us, the waters flowing through the rivers and creeks,
Companies pollute them, as they dump their waste,
Many ignore, the small tributaries, running through the suburb,
While some try to clean them up,
Frogs and toads are plenty, but really for how much longer.

The sea surrounds us, teeming with otherworldly life.

The sky stretches above us, from clouds to the edge of space.
Jet stream blowing, causing weather around the world.
Rain brought through the clouds, and the sun obscured by them
Drought and sunshine, with no clouds in sight.
Nothing lives this high in the sky.

The sky stretches above us, just beneath the clouds,
Trees stretch into the sky, seeds blow through the air,
Insects buzz, as they travel from plant to plant.

Birds swooping amongst the trees, completing the food chain.
The natural world is around us, showing us what it wants to be.

The sky stretches above us, that which we affect,
Car emissions hang heavy here, affecting how we breathe,
Companies spew toxic smoke, from smokestacks high above,
Rain falls through the air, filtered by toxic waste,
We must change how we treat the air, so it may carry our voices.

The sky stretches above us, displaying the order of the gods.

3.Foundations: Nature and Earth

chellyisme — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:35:42 +0000

This is the third in a series of 30 prompts called “30 days of Druidry” please see the other posts under this tag for more.

I was raised as a child of the earth, loving nature and not being afraid of insects and worms (arachnids are a different story entirely). I was one of those children you would have to wash repeatedly to get the dirt off of because it was just so much fun to play in it. Making mud pies, helping my mom tend the plants, and really overwatering them when she let me have the hose. I was taught to determine birch trees from maple trees, from pine trees, from oaks, and to know the call of a blue jay (hahaha they sound so funny so that one is easy). I was taught to love the earth, to recycle and to try to not harm it as much as was possible. I was taught you don’t cut the middle out of a tree, and what blackspot is, and how everything is part of the circle of life.

As I look back on my childhood, with my parents not being devout anything, and raising me to love nature, it is no surprise to me that as my spirituality evolved it evolved into Druidism. I feed the squirrels and birds that live around my home, tend the plants in my back garden and in my room, love animals, and still love the Earth, but now she gets a capital E. I have noticed the spirit in the natural things that I interact with. The spirit of the place that I live in, and the spirit of the world as a whole. The Earth deserves our respect and love, and to stop the people who believe it is just a planet on which we live with resources for the taking. As I used to say when I was little “stop cutting off the earth’s hair, long hair is pretty!!!!” hair = trees, yea I knew there was a spirit to the earth even back then, and I thought she was prettier with hair

Earth Mother, we honour your body,
Earh Mother, we honour your bones,
Earth Mother, we sing to your spirit,
Earth Mother, we sing to your stones.

Schedule Revamp!

chellyisme — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:37:36 +0000

So my old schedule was as follows:

November Magic 1- 10 questions Myth – 5 questions Trance 1 – 2questions
December Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 1 – 10 questions
January Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Studies- 5 questions
February Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Language – 2 questions and phrase book
March Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Bardic – 6 questions and bardic piece
April Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 2 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question
May Trance 2 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question
June Trance 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question
July Trance 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question
August Trance 2 – 2 questions
September
October

I am slightly revamping this. I ended up getting the job that I had applied for(btw thanks Cáer for saying “What if you get a job?” during my challenging, I knew this would happen as soon as you said it ) and have been slightly tired, and ended up realizing I needed a book half way through a course. So the revamp is going as such:

December Magic 1- 6 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 1 – 10 questions
January Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Studies- 5 questions
February Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Language – 2 questions and phrase book Myth 1-2 questions
March Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 1 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Bardic – 6 questions and bardic piece
April Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 2 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question Myth 1-2 questions
May Magic 2 – 2 questions Trance 2 – 2 questions Divination 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question Myth 1-2 questions
June Trance 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question Myth 1-2 questions
July Trance 2 – 2 questions Practicum – 1 question
August Trance 2 – 2 questions
September
October

I am already part way done IE Myth, and Magic 1, and Divination 1 (pages are forthcoming within the next probably hour or two) and am happy to have a 4 day weekend for Christmas, which I will be working on Magic 1 and Divination 1 for probably 3 of those days! I decided to break Myth down a bit more than I had since the questions that are left are so extensive (7 parts to some of them with 100 words a part)

My Oath

chellyisme — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:12:25 +0000

I have been asked to post the text of my oath that I made at Samhain before my grove mates, the kindred and the folk about the timeline IP completion. The text is as follows:

Three years ago this night I swore to live by the virtues given by tradition, to strive to live will and do good. To keep the feasts and observances of the Druid way, keeping the wheel of the year. To seek the truth of the elder ways, and to learn the lore and meaning of our ancestors wisdom. Tonight I come before the Kindred and folk once more as I continue to do that. If I am accepted, and when I am accepted as I will reapply, into the initiate program I swear to complete the book work within 1 year. If I fail I will not attend any festivals the next year, and may the three worlds rise against me. To my Kindred allies!!! (offering given)

As per the discussion during the challenging of this oath I will also not attend grove camping events although showing up for rit is allowed. So, since my acceptance came through 2 days after this oath, I have until October 31, 2012 to do the bookwork of the Initiate Path or Wellspring 2013, Three Rivers 2013, Chenille Fall gathering 2013, and all grove camping events in 2013 will be out of the question. For those who wish to know my schedule of, as Cáer lovingly put it, self torture, I have included that as well

November
Magic 1- 10 questions
Myth – 5 questions
Trance 1 – 2questions
December
Magic 2 – 2 questions
Trance 1 – 2 questions
Divination 1 – 10 questions
January
Magic 2 – 2 questions
Trance 1 – 2 questions
Divination 2 – 2 questions
Studies – 5 questions
February
Magic 2 – 2 questions
Trance 1 – 2 questions
Divination 2 – 2 questions
Language – 2 questions and phrase book
March
Magic 2 – 2 questions
Trance 1 – 2 questions
Divination 2 – 2 questions
Bardic – 6 questions and bardic piece
April
Magic 2 – 2 questions
Trance 2 – 2 questions
Divination 2 – 2 questions
Practicum – 1 question
May
Trance 2 – 2 questions
Divination 2 – 2 questions
Practicum – 1 question
June
Trance 2 – 2 questions
Practicum – 1 question
July
Trance 2 – 2 questions
Practicum – 1 question
August
Trance 2 – 2 questions
September

October

This schedule as you guys can see gives me 2 months at the end in case of any hiccups along the way, such as getting books or making my tongue pronounce Irish

Being Shushed

chellyisme — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:14:49 +0000

Why are things that are different so shameful to some people? Why are they shushed and secluded into private lives? Why are they given funny looks as if to say “that is NOT talked about in public”?

These three questions and a few more that I cannot think of currently have been on my mind quite frequently. I do not have to hide my spiritual side from my family any more as I do not have to worry about my Grandma finding out, yet there is a member of my family who thinks I should. She is all questioning and putting up the facade that she wants to understand, but then says things like “that’s stupid” and shushes me in public when I say “I just found the perfect offering for the Cailleach” and gives me a “you don’t talk about that here” look.

Why is there shame for anything? Religion, how you dress, what you say, why does it matter so much to be “within the norm”? Paganism is part of who I am. Talking about the gods, ancestors, and nature spirits is part of my paganism and is part of me. Why does that need to be hidden in the line at the grocery store or looking for things at the farmers market? It doesn’t. It’s not like I am shoving my religion down anyone’s throats, I am merely commenting to a person who is normally open to me saying things about offerings and the spirits. I think this is one of those “figuring me out” things that I have been trying to work on and am seeing resistance.

Well world through writing this I think I know what I am going to be doing when this happens: not care. Like I don’t care about fashion, or what other people think of the way I dress, I am not going to care if I am shushed and looked at funny. I am going to just keep going the way I have been trying to, opening up to the world around me and allowing the Kindred into my every day life.

Samhain Ritual and Initiate Program Beginnings

chellyisme — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:17:17 +0000

This year I was able to camp out with my grove mates for Samhain, and although some what chilly it was an awesome time. We stayed up with the fire a good chunk of the night, journeyed to the Otherworld to commune with the ancestors who we did not know the faces of, and brought offerings to those we did, Donn, Morrigan, and An Cailleach.

During Dancing Lights Grove‘s Samhain Ritual I asked if I could make an oath before the folk and the kindred regarding the Initiate Program. I was challenged by my grove mates and members of the community(Cáer & Lugaid led this and helped explain the process of challenging an oath and why it’s done to the rest of the folk) and after being given the option the folk and my grove mates all stood with me while I took my oath.

I recapped part of my Dedicant Oath and stated that when I was accepted to the Initiate program (I would have reapplied at a later time if I was not approved) that I would complete the book work in a year or not attend any festivals in the year following and have the three worlds rise against me.Part of the challenging dealt with that wording since my grove does camp outs during the light half of the year and at Samhain. Festivals include these camp outs but I would attend for ritual and ritual only.

Yesterday, I was checking my e-mail just after I ate dinner, and saw an e-mail from the preceptor of the Initiate Program, I had been approved.

So! The initiate program commences, there is a new tab, and I will be working steadily to complete my oath and have my book work completed by October 31 2012!

During this ritual we also pulled lots via a piece of bannock to find out who would be caring for An Cailleach for the winter, creating the doll and giving her offerings over the winter to hopefully have her be kind to us this winter. This was done after the oath and I had a rather random feeling I would be the one caring for her, almost a “You gave an offering to your Kindred allies at the end of your oath, here is our way of making sure you fulfill one of your practicums.” I pulled the first piece of bannock and pulled the full piece of the burnt mark, making me her care giver for the winter. I will be keeping an eye out for good dark chocolate to give to her and a nice strong coffee