A brief account of the efforts of the Dedicant to develop and explore a personal (or Grove-centered) spiritual practice, drawn from a specific culture or combination of cultures. (600 words min.)

 In progress, but thought I'd put up what I currently have done.

When I was a kid, I was fascinated by the myths that I read in school.  It was, at the time, mainly Greek myths, but it started to feed something inside me – something I couldn’t even identify yet.  While I was raised Presbyterian, I had replaced all of the angels and/or sub-deity types in the Christian theology with the various Greek gods (which was the only pantheon I knew – don’t blame me, I was way too young to know any better :-p).

Skip to high school, where I met my first self-proclaimed ‘witch’.  Now, whether he was, or was not, to this day I am not sure.  I do know that he – with or without his mother’s help – calculated my very first astrology chart.  Skip again, to college, where I met my first roommate and ‘borrowed’ her copy of “Spiral Dance” by Starhawk.  While possibly not the greatest work out there, it was one of the first ones readily available in the early 80’s.  I fully blame this book for my introduction into Paganism in general.

About this time, I had gotten more information about my own ancestors, mainly my maternal roots, as I was pretty certain of my paternal roots.  On my paternal side, I am very nearly all of Germanic/Austrian descent.  On my maternal side – well, that’s more of a Heinz 57 – but with concentrations in Ireland, Scotland, Norway/Sweden and even a bit of France.

Skip forward many, many years, to the late 1990’s / early 2000’s.  I became involved in the Berkeley/Oakland pagan community and met my first group of Norse/Asatru heathens.  By this time, I had already been noticed by a Welsh Goddess (Arianrhod) and two Celtic Goddesses (Brigid and the Mhorrighan) and felt a very strong tie to the Celtic path, but suddenly, the Norse path was nearly as strong a pull.

So, here I was.  I could have joined a Gardnerian group that friends were in (since I knew the entire coven), but that just didn’t feel right for me.  There was an Asatru group that would have welcomed me, but did not allow for cross-culture worship – so I would have had to leave the three Goddesses that I was already working with.  So, I chose no path, and to continue to seek – and still hang out at Asatru campouts (oh are those just soooo much fun!!)

Then in steps ADF.  I had heard of it before, but this time I really read through the information about how the structure allows for cross-culture worship and practice.  The feeling of ‘Home’ set in.  I don’t have to ignore parts of my soul – but I can embrace all of it.  I can be Celtic, Welsh AND Norse.  While currently I don’t feel that any of the Norse deities have tapped me on the shoulder, or tried to hit me across the back of the head with a hammer, I do hear them often, and want to be able to give them the honor that they are due.

I know this seems to be rambling, but it explains why I am what I am.  Over the past months, I have begun doing daily devotions, with each day honoring one of the seven Gods that has spoken to me – Arianrhod, the Mhorrighan and Brigid as my personal Deities and after an intriguing Midsummer ritual, adding Odin, Thor, Freyja and Gefion as new connections.  Because of these devotionals, my connections to each of these have changed, in some cases deepened, and in some lessened. 

For the Holy days, I am currently splitting them between the two cultures, mainly because I am still discovering where my path lies.  Therefore, on the  cross-quarter holy days – Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain - I’ll be celebrating within the Celtic framework while the solstice and equinox holy days will be within the Norse framework.  For now, I’ll continue to work as a solitary, with the hope that I’ll be able to at least visit another Grove or two for a High Day ritual at some point in the future.  I have not yet decided if I wish to continue into the priesthood path, but it is a strong calling.  I am already finding that many people seek me out just to talk to me, seeming to know that I will listen.  (717 words)