{"id":1078,"date":"2013-06-09T17:33:49","date_gmt":"2013-06-09T23:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/?p=1078"},"modified":"2013-06-09T17:33:49","modified_gmt":"2013-06-09T23:33:49","slug":"acadia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/2013\/06\/acadia.html","title":{"rendered":"Acadia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>
Acadia National Park on a rainy day<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

I\u2019m fond of saying we all live under the same Sun and we all gaze up at the same Moon. While that\u2019s true, it\u2019s also true that different places in the natural world have different spiritual qualities about them. Whether that\u2019s due to land spirits<\/a> or ley lines or simply a by-product of the geography, each place has its own unique qualities over and above its physical characteristics.<\/p>\n

My house sits about 300 miles from Galveston, which I think is the closest I\u2019ve ever lived to the ocean. Although I\u2019ve seen the ocean, sailed the ocean, and been in the ocean numerous times, I\u2019ve lived my whole life inland. I am completely fascinated with oceans, coastlines and especially tides.<\/p>\n

After spending four days in Boston with a mission to explore history, we drove to Bar Harbor, Maine with a mission to relax and enjoy Nature. Much of that time was spent in Acadia National Park on two very different days. On Wednesday it rained all day and between the rain and the fog, visibility was very limited. Thursday was warm and clear and you could see forever.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
artist at work<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On Thursday afternoon we stopped at Thunder Hole, so named because when the tide is coming in the waves hitting the rocks sounds like thunder. While I think there\u2019s a little hype for the tourists in that name (or maybe the tides were unusually gentle the day we were there), it was still quite enjoyable to watch the waves hitting the rocks and see the water level steadily rising. There were close to a hundred people at the overlook, some watching intently, some enjoying the Sun, some taking pictures, and one either drawing or painting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
a Druid in his temple<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I didn\u2019t have to go far to find a quiet place. No more than 20 yards down the road was a small path leading to some open rocks. The sound of the ocean drowned out the noise of the crowd (who weren\u2019t making that much noise anyway \u2013 everyone seemed to understand this was a special place), so I found a nice perch and started taking pictures.<\/p>\n

After a few minutes, I heard an inaudible voice say \u201cthat\u2019s enough pictures.\u201d I put the lens cap on my camera, took off my sunglasses, and began a centering prayer. I poured a small libation to Manann\u00e1n mac Lir. Don\u2019t tell me this isn\u2019t his ocean \u2013 once you get past Nova Scotia, the next stop is Ireland!<\/p>\n

I had been following the \u201cgods and superheroes\u201d debate<\/a>. I had also read several books with a magical emphasis \u2013 some fiction and some not. As I processed the ideas and concepts and inspirations, I was questioning my place in all of it. In particular, I was questioning my place in the Three Centers of Paganism. I\u2019ll have more to say about that in my next post, but sitting there at the intersection of Land, Sky and Sea, the message could not have been clearer.<\/p>\n

I am a Druid, a follower of wild wisdom<\/a>. I am a priest of Nature and the gods of Nature. The outdoors is my temple. These gods have called me to assist them with their work toward the Greater Good. I\u2019m not sure exactly what that is, though I have some pretty good ideas. In the end, though, I just need to do what I\u2019m called to do and to do what I know in my heart is right.<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t a classical mystical experience. There were no visions or auditions, no loss of time, no melding of the self with the Whole. But it was strong, and it was real, and it was right. When I got up to continue our exploration of Acadia, I felt both peace and commitment.<\/p>\n

All of Nature is beautiful, powerful and sacred. But whether they are especially powerful or if they are simply different from the places we are used to experiencing, some places make it easy to connect with the Source of Life itself.<\/p>\n

Acadia helped me remember who I am.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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