Endings, Part 1 Endings are often just that – endings. If one is fortunate, however, endings are just a pause before a new beginning. I have had a few endings recently, and in one case, it is a continuation. In another, it is a new beginning. When my father passed away in 2018, I envisioned a series of books, written by the ADF Clergy Council, entitled Transitions. The titles are Beginnings, followed by Endings. Unions would come next, then Dissolutions.... Read more
Persevere The Goddess of the Forge All things that come into being, Anvil and hammer come together, And creation ensues. The Goddess cites the Bard, And speaks his word aloud: Du musst Amboss oder Hammer sein You must be anvil or hammer. In these challenging days, As the darkness slowly Cedes to the light, The hammer rings true. Bend the metal, Bend the will, Come into being, No matter the hardship. From the beginning of time, To the present day,... Read more
Distant Fires Two fires, Distant flames, Across a country, Across the world. One is the fire of renewal, The days are visibly longer, The fish stir in the stream, The Sun rises sooner. One is the fire of thanks, The bountiful harvest, Waving like believers in the fields, Basking in the Sun. In one world, life begins, Coming into being, Fire lit in the greater hearth, Water in the well. In another world, life abides, Grain flowing in the field,... Read more
Let the Waters Fall A Prayer for California Rise from the ocean, Rise from the sea, Rise from the rivers, Rise water into the sky. Gather the waters that rise from the ocean, Gather the waters that rise from the sea, Gather the waters that rise from the rivers, Gather the clouds to hold the bounty of waters. Let the waters fall, to extinguish the fires. Let the waters fall, to end the destruction. Let the waters fall, to end... Read more
Looking Back, Looking ‘Round Many people take the end of the civil calendar as a time to look back over the past twelve months. This takes a very linear view of the passage of time. Myself, I prefer to look at the past four seasons to look around, and not just to look back. There is no question that we move forward in our understanding of time. The serial succession of days follows from one to another in... Read more
Keep the Lights On In the Northern Hemisphere, the days are already getting longer, slowly, minute by minute. While the holiday lights are still up, I think it would be prudent to keep the lights on for a while longer. Imbolc may be long enough, but maybe the Equinox would be better. During the Vietnam War, families would leave Christmas trees and holiday lights up until their family members in service would come home. It was a time to extend... Read more
I write today to my friends and compatriots who are disappointed, dismayed, or despairing about the results of the recent American election. For those who voted, we did what we could: one person, one vote. We voted with hope and with expectations. We have been fortunate in recent years to live and express ourselves and to practice more openly than ever before. Now, the future seems uncertain. We must now turn to our friends, families, and Kindreds for strength and... Read more
Lange Nacht de Religionen When I first heard of the Lange Nacht de Religionen (Long Night of Religions), I was immediately intrigued by the name. I knew that our two German congregations, Holuntar-Hain and Adrana Hain Protogroves, would be present. The international ADF community has been an important part of my focus as Archdruid of ADF, and I thought it would be excellent to show my support for our German groups by attending. Berlin I had never been... Read more
A Change of Place When my mother passed away on February 29, I had to change her place in my daily workings from one of healing to that of the Ancestors. The transition is not always an easy one – from this side of the veil. The first part of my daily working has to do with healing. I call to three healing Goddesses and Gods, in order, for their help in bringing about a healing situation or maintaining a... Read more
For Eva. A Lingering Solstice We measure the solstice and equinox by scientific means. Not all things happen exactly as planned on the date preordained. One thing that I noticed this year, and other years before, is a lingering solstice. Practice and observance A lingering season may affect an ongoing practice. My own practices are slightly fluid, and do occasionally change depending upon the High Day, but an important part of one’s practice is more than just the “doing”. It... Read more
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