Week 2 Assignment

My First Oath




I actually took my first oath on Saturday 9/11/10. This all happened by chance. I received my new member packet the day before, I was heading out the door to go camping with my boyfriend. I decided to bring it so I could start reading Our Own Druidry. The spot we picked to go camping ended up not working out. We actually had 3 spots picked out and decided the order we wanted to try to get the spots, and named each one so it would be easier to identify when we talked about them. Our next one was one we called pagan place. We chose that name because when we first found it there was a circle of stones surrounding a big tree. Every thing about it felt as though this spot was used as a ritual area. This area was a thing of beauty with a river flowing by several tall trees kinda like a grove. Hmm...



So here it is Saturday morning I got up early got a fire going and was sitting warming up reading Our Own Druidry. I got to the first oath they have in there. After I read it I stoped to contemplate it. I took in my surroundings and realized I had a natural alter. The time just seemed right. There was a fog coming off the river. The sun rising above the mountains. I couldn't pick a better time to do this. I didn't do a ritual or anything I just did what felt right. I again read the oath aloud this time taking into heart the words and the meaning. After I felt like I needed to do something more. As I stood before the river I felt as though I needed to make a sacrifice. I reached into my pocket and found four quarters. So with each one I took the oath again before the four gods I have always felt a bond with. Dagda, Brighid, Morrigan, and Taranis. I said I take this oath before you Dagda..ect and after I said it for each I threw in a quarter.



I felt pleased with myself and with my oath I felt it was from my heart and the Gods knew that. I went and set by the fire again to contemplate more on what I just did. What happened next I'm not sure if it was from the Morrigan or just a coincidence and I'm not going to worry about it but take it for what it is. A black bird came down to a branch next to me and made its presents known. The raven is a form of Morrigan's.

The Accused

I didn't write this poem but I love its message and I can totally relate to it.  Thank you RavenLynnBrown for writing it!!


*The Accused*




You stand before the court

Accused of Being

Because

Somewhere along the line

Everything you are

Became a sin

And you wonder

What kind of madness

Overcame the world

Or at least your corner of it

So that even

As the child is born

It is considered guilty

Of some Ancestral Crime



And they stand before you

Demanding your response

Are you guilty

Or are you innocent



And you open up the book

Because you are confused

And so you think

What are they asking me?





And you look up the definitions

And the places those words came from

Find guilty means to owe a debt

And innocent means to have done no harm



Then you return your eyes to them

Those whose hawking gaze

Search for that little bit of flesh

That small vulnerability

That they can feed upon



And you declare

You accuse me of simply being born

Of liking the feeling of my own flesh

Of having loved someone of mine own gender

Of honouring Gods other than your own

Of thinking for myself

Of not submitting to your will



And then you answer them

All the things

You say of me are true

I was born

I like the feeling of my own flesh

I have loved folk of mine own gender

I have worshipped Gods other the one you told me to

I cherish the ability to think for myself

And the only will that I submit to is my own



But long ago

I vowed to do no harm

And none of these acts

Of which I stand accused

Has brought any



So I declare that I am innocent

And as for guilt

You owe me an apology



Written by: RavenLynnBrown

Week 1 Homework

Why have you chosen to take the first steps on the Dedicant Path?


Because it will give me the chance to learn the basics, so that I am able to decide if this path is for me.





Is this a step on your path, or will this become the Path itself?

I believe that this is just a step.



What do you expect to learn?

The beginnings of druidism.



What would you like to get out of this journey?

To develop a kinship with my ancestors and the natural world around me.



Do you know where this path will take you?

I had to chuckle when I read this question because it reminded me of something a friend said, “Life is like a box of chocolate you never know what your gonna get...except this one cause its got a map”

Any way back to the question I would like to say that I know where this path will take me but if you truly think about it you never truly know were any path will take you because you can have certain things arise that will change your direction. So no I don't know.



If you have just joined ADF, why have you chosen to work on this

immediately?

Now is as good as a time as any. Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today.



If you have been in ADF for a long time, why are you starting only now?

I just joined.



Does it look hard or easy?

I don't really see it as hard or easy just some things will take more work than others.



Which requirements appear to be difficult to you now, and which appear to

be easy?

I think that the book reports will be a little tough for me along with the meditations. At the same time I think the rituals will be fun for me because I enjoy writing them.



Do you have doubts, questions, or concerns that you need to ask about?

Not yet but I'm sure I will.

So it begins...

I will so begin my journey through the Dedicant path with ADF.  As I wait for my packet to arrive, my excitment rises when I see my mailman walking down the street only to be dissappointed when I relize it isn't here yet.  *Sigh*