Practice

Solitaries are the Glue which Hold Paganism Together

August 17, 2012 By Teo Bishop

I've spent nearly the entire week working on new ways to make ADF Druidism an accessible tradition to solitary Pagans. The work is still in its early stages, and I'm piecing together ideas which I hope to share once the leaves have fallen. My backyard maple is only hinting at new color, so it will be a few months yet. Crafting religious practice gets me really excited, though. As perplexed as I was last week about the Gods (and I've been on the fence about capitalizing "god," by the way -- … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ADF, Paganism, Solitaries Tagged With: ADF, Isaac Bonewits, Paganism, Practice, Religion, Solitaries, Solitary, Solitary Druid

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

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

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

Do Not Speak, and You Will Be Heard

April 5, 2012 By Teo Bishop

Today I approached my altar in silence. Speaking the words out loud, my standard approach to a daily ritual, felt unnecessary. In my mind, in my heart, the words rang out with perfect clarity, and I trusted that whomever needed to hear them would. The effort I put into my daily practice waxes and wanes, and it is influenced a great deal by my emotional state. Some days I don't feel I have it in me to make offerings of gratitude and thanks to the Kindred. There are financial concerns, piles of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Paganism, Practice Tagged With: Ancestors, Archetypes, Daily Ritual, Gods, Humanistic Paganism, kindred, Magick, Meditation, Practice, Silence, Spirits of the Land

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

Isaac Bonewits holds me up… Pants and all.

January 24, 2012 By Teo Bishop

I'm wearing Isaac Bonewits's belt buckle. Have been for days. The pewter Pan, which once held up the pants of a great Druid, is now playing his flute just above my zipper. This seems both an appropriate and terribly dangerous location for the randy God. I've never been a devotee of Pan -- at least, not in the traditional sense. I was a bit rowdy in my younger days. As a gay man born at the tail-end of the gayest, most sexually liberated, pre-AIDS decade in the century (1979, to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Druidry, Paganism Tagged With: ADF, altar, ebay, Isaac Bonewits, Pan, Phaedra Bonewits, Practice, Ritual, Work

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

Turning Over The Earth

May 19, 2011 By Teo Bishop

The Spring comes, and my life transforms. It seems to be almost as reliable as the coming of the Cottonwood snow. It happens every year, this pull towards the world; this letting go of Winter's introspection. In the past week, I've experienced a great upheaval and shifting in my professional and personal life. Relationships are changing, and I'm doing my best to remain calm and steady, respectful of the balance between what I can do to move things forward and what the currents are naturally … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ADF Happenings, Practice, Talking the Walk Tagged With: ADF, Change, Community, Devotional, Druidism, Druidry, Practice, Renewal, Solitary, Upheaval, Wellspring

On Meditation and Devotion: Weeks 7, 8, and 9

March 3, 2011 By Teo Bishop

Week 7 On the night after I wrote my last Meditation and Devotion post I became very sick. I'd just written how my daily practice had become a central part of my life, and then I was bedridden for days; unable to maintain my normal routine. I lost about 3 days of meditation and devotion, and when I returned on February 12th, still a bit stoned from Nyquil, I felt completely shaken and unable to focus. I described it like this in my journal: "...it felt as though there was a kind of hood over my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Meditation, Practice Tagged With: ADF, Dedicant Path, Illness, kindred, morning devotional, omen, Practice, tarot