Druidism

You Can Take a Druid Out of the Woods…

September 11, 2012 By Teo Bishop

In the morning, after (almost) sleeping through a night of 28 degree weather, I headed to the edge of the water to make my offerings. Pumpkin seeds were what I had to give, for they were what I had to eat. I proceeded through the same ritual I outlined in my post last week, only this time I did it while standing in the morning sun. When I'm in the city, I sometimes lift my hands up toward the ceiling of my bedroom, my office, or whatever sacred space I've constructed, and imagine that I'm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In The World, Paganism Tagged With: ADF, Camping, Concordances, Druidism, Druidry, Granby, Meditation, Nature, Representation, Reservoir, Trees, Two Powers

The Offerings of Man, the Obligations of Gods

July 9, 2012 By Teo Bishop

I approach my home shrine in the morning and prepare my offerings. Into three small, porcelain sake glasses, which were given to me by my stepfather, I pour a small bit of sugar, oats, and oil. These were the foods that made the most sense to me, although I'm not sure why. Whether I'm clothed or naked, I drape a stole over my shoulders. The stole it green and white, and was made by hand; made by a woman I met at a metaphysical fair in the fall of last year. She gave it to me as a gift … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paganism, Practice Tagged With: ADF, CooR, Druid, Druidism, Gods, Home Shrine, Obligation, Offerings, Pagan, Paganism, Practice, Ritual

I Went Camping in the Woods and I Came Back a Druid

July 2, 2012 By Teo Bishop

Organized sports never suited me. But wrestling with my faith? Someone should give out trophies. I would have a garage full. When I left for the Eight Winds Festival, the first ADF gathering I'd ever attended, I was concerned that I may not be able to invest myself fully on account of a little religious indiscretion I had with the Cosmic Christ (if you didn't hear about that, read this or this). I thought there was some need to resolve the conflict I experienced after reading Jesus Through … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ADF, Paganism Tagged With: ADF, ceisiwr serith, Community, Critical Thinking, Druidism, Druidry, Eight Winds Festival, Gods, Intellect, Mind, OBOD, Pagan, Paganism, Personal Gnosis, Ritual, worship

When Jesus Hitches a Ride to the Druid Camp

June 25, 2012 By Teo Bishop

I've been a stay-at-home Pagan, a bookish Pagan, a CUUPS ritual-attending Pagan, and a blogging Pagan. But as of yet, I have not been a festival-going Pagan. That all changes this week. On Wednesday I shall make my way to the Prosser Ranch group campground, located just outside the town of Truckee, California, and celebrate Druidism, ADF style, at the annual Eight Winds festival. The timing of this religious retreat is rather interesting. Over the last month, swamped as I've been … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity, Paganism Tagged With: ADF, Christianity, Conversion, Druidism, Eight Winds, Festivals, Jesus Through Pagan Eyes, Know Thyself, Mark Townsend, Paganism, Practice, Religion

The Awen Moves: An Offering in the Morning

June 12, 2012 By Teo Bishop

There is an intrinsic connection between creativity and spirituality, I think. The impuse to create feels very much to me like the impulse to worship, to do ritual, or to pray.Perhaps this is why my heart sang out so loundly when I first found the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. OBOD asserts that the spirit of creativity and inspiration, the Awen, flows through me and through all things, and by learning to nurture my relationship to the Awen I can develop the foundation for a living, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Awen, Sacred Electric Grove Tagged With: ADF, Awen, creativity, Druidism, Druidry, Nature, OBOD, Offering, Spirits of the Land, Spirituality

You Say Tomato, I Say Druid.

May 11, 2012 By Teo Bishop

Ever since I took the name, Teo Bishop, and made it my own -- both in a religious sense and through the proper legal channels -- I've had cause to explain what it is that I do on this blog. My writing, as well as my deepening engagement with my own spiritual work, are both major influences on my decision to undergo this transition. Identity is interesting, and something that often goes undiscussed. What we are, how we identify, is often more experienced than it is questioned. That is, this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Druidry, Paganism Tagged With: ADF, Bishop In The Grove, Christianity, Drew Jacob, Druidism, Druidry, Identity, Interfaith, Name, Paganism, Practice, Rogue Priest, Teo Bishop

Liturgy is Sexy to this Druid

January 26, 2012 By Teo Bishop

Here's why ADF is awesome: The Core Order of Ritual. There are other reasons, too, but the Core Order of Ritual (or COoR) tops my list at the moment. The COoR is the key liturgical framework for ritual that unites the Druids of Ár nDraíocht Féin, regardless of what Hearth Tradition they've adopted for themselves or for their groves. Each group can make subtle variations to the language of the ritual, paying homage to the Gods with whom they are in relationship (Celtic, Vedic, Norse, etc.), … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Druidry, Paganism, Practice Tagged With: ADF, Damh The Bard, Druidcast, Druidism, Issac Bonewits, Liturgy, OBOD, Phillip Carr-Gomm, Practice, Religion, Ritual

A Druid in Los Angeles on the Autumn Equinox

September 23, 2011 By Teo Bishop

The weather in this town is a betrayal of my religious sensibilities. It’s all bright and warm and sunny without ceasing. This is the Land of Perpetual Summer. This town resists death at all costs; be that the death of youth, the death of popularity, the death of green. Death is frowned upon in Los Angeles. This town is in denial of Autumn. Autumn is my favorite season. It's just cold enough for two shirts, but not so cold that you can't enjoy an evening walk through the neighborhood, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Druidry, High Days Tagged With: Autumn Equinox, Druidism, Druidry, Dying, Harvest Home, Los Angeles, Mabon, Paganism

How I Arrived At Pagan

May 27, 2011 By Teo Bishop

Over the past few days I've taken great pleasure in reading and re-reading the posts of the Rogue Priest, Mr. Drew Jacob, who describes himself as, Priest of many gods. Freelance author, nonprofit professional, and full-time adventurer. I like Drew. He's intellectually rigorous, but not snobby. He's thoughtful and respectful of his readership, and he challenges us to think broader and deeper. I think I'd end up a regular at his Temple if it weren't 900 miles away. Drew doesn't identify as a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity, Druidry, Paganism Tagged With: ADF, Christianity, Community, Drew Jacob, Druidism, Druidry, Episcopal Church, Liturgy, OBOD, Pagan, Paganism, Practice, Rogue Priest, worship

Show and Tell: My Bookshelf

May 24, 2011 By Teo Bishop

My friend and fellow Dedicant in the ADF Druidry Training Course, Kristin of Grey Wren's Flight, had a mighty fine idea on Monday. She decided that in response to the disconnect we often feel between our experiences of real-life, physically manifest, grit'n'grime spiritual practice and the text-based, idea-centered, socially networked way we communicate online, she would share a photo of her spiritual work space. It is, in effect, a reminder that she does exist somewhere in the world...not just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Druidry, Show and Tell Tagged With: ADF, Bookshelf, Community, Druidism, Druidry, grey wrens flight, Kristin, Photo, Solitary Druid, Tools, Work Space