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Greywolf.
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Fyris Edwards
I am from the North of the United Kingdom – a place called Huddersfield – which is in Yorkshire. I have always been drawn to spirituality, even as a child I would often ask my parents to visit churches or graveyards, they make me feel something. Nature has been my saving grace. My need or feeling to connect to it is incredibly strong and it has healed me in times of difficulty, and as a cancer survivor at the age of 24, I know just how important our Earth is. Estoeric religions have been of great interest for me for a long while – I have a BA in Ethics and Religion, but I have not yet found my path. I have tried generalised paganism/esotericism but I am looking now for a meaning – a direction – a calling.
Historically, my roots are from Yorkshire, Scotland and Devon. Paritcularly where I grew up would have been a hotspot for the Brigantes tribe. As such, I have recently become increibly interested in the historical side of my land. I feel that my want to connect to the spirtual and to nature is not a mere a coincidence but a calling. However, the internet is full of lots of different versions of Druidry or nature religions, often behind a pay wall, often willing to give guidance. I have been looking towards ADF as I resonate with the idea of orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy. But still knowing where to start, how to find communities, what is and what is not an intrusion of Wiccan belief is very difficult. I guess all in all I am sending this message because I would like someone to talk to about their experience, how they began their practice. I was wondering if you could be the persons to help me with this – to reach my understanding of how to start and to find belonging. I often feel like traditional historical religions are seen as “silly” or role -playing and I think often when I begin with such hope it is often squashed by this fear of being seen as a bit odd… I don’t know if others have felt like this before and what advice they would give for accpeting themselves and delving into this life fully. I want community, I want to commit to a belief and spirit, I want to intune myself with the Earth, its magic, its history and all it has to offer.
I would be greatful for any conversation, advice or guidance you may be able to give.
Warmest Regards,
A Lost Soul
Dave TheDruid-3X3Your Not A Lost Soul as You Have Found Us!
:)
3X3
DowrgiWelcome to the BDO …
DowrgiYou write with honesty and courage, and it’s clear you feel a deep calling to Nature and Mother Earth. If you truly sense that connection, then it’s worth trusting. While an exact reconstruction of ancient Druidry may be elusive, traditions such as the BDO offer grounded, open approaches rooted in British and Irish traditions, without claims of secret lineages or spurious secret heritage.
As for worrying about what others think — much of what passes for ‘normal’ in our world is far from healthy. Better to be ‘odd’ in following your heart than to conform to madness, isn’t it?
Acceptance begins within: once you are at peace with yourself, those who value you for who you truly are will gather around you.
As I see it, all genuine paths are as journeys through a great forest towards the light. The forest may often be dark, yet your inner light will provide the flame to guide you. Every journey begins somewhere, and it’s fine to move slowly, knowing you can change direction if needed, but the journey also begins within.
Furthermore, feeling like a ‘lost soul’ is not a failing — it’s often the first step of the journey, suggesting that your inner flame is already alive and leading you forward.
DowrgiI hope this was of some help.
Many blessings …
Bennathow,
/|\
Dowrgi (BDO Bard, Ovate, Druid)- This reply was modified 10 months ago by Dowrgi.
rocala
Hi Fyris, I don’t really have advice other than to say, sit back and enjoy the journey. I tend to believe that the most meaningful things are rarely delivered in a neat package. My interests have always been people and nature oriented. In 2004 I started spending time at the Findhorn Community and realised that nature and community were but two aspects of a genuine and meaningful spirituality. Life was never quite the same. I studied Permaculture, it’s principles of “earth care, people care and fair share” seem very much in tune with the direction my life was taking. There has been much more but suffice to say that Modern Druidry was for me, the logical conclusion to this.
None of the above was planned, I just let curiousity lead the way. Be willing to learn and to try new things. I am a lover of books but it was through doing things, retreats, courses, workshops, meetings and so on that I got to meet kindred spirits and that is priceless. Do not let chances pass by.
Thank you all for your responses they are very welcoming and make me feel a sense of belonging!
Dave TheDruid-3X3Awens to :
Here is a Welcoming Gift to our Order of Druidism.
It is a 3X3 Triad Poem which is based on my having Bought and Read the Book “The Art Of Living” 2009 Winter Solstice, which is based on the Lectures and Teachings of the Dalai Lama.
It goes:
The Art of Living –
The Art of Living Well is due to:
– Being Contented,
– Having A Joyful Life,
– And Good Fulfillment.Motivations For Being Compassionate:
– Having Appreciation For Nature,
– Being Sympathetic Of Suffering,
– And Practising Essential Wisdoms.Negative Harmful Emotions:
– Anger,
– Hatred,
– And Unhealthy Desires.——————————————–
Contentedness comes from:
– Good Bodily Health,
– Adequate Material Wealth,
– And Peaceful Companionships.One Has Joy When:
– One Is Enlightened,
– Healthy Desires Are Satisfied,
– And When Happiness Is Achieved.What Is Fullfilling:
– Having Overcome Hardships,
– Finishing Ones Work,
– And Acceptance Of Ones Faults.———————————————
At Time Of Death, One Must:
– Have Good Peace Of Mind,
– Prepare For Ones Rebirth,
– And Having Transformed Experiences Into Wisdom.Environmental Problems Come From:
– Insatiable Harmful Desires,
– Lacking Contentedness,
– And having Too Much Greed.Emotional Thoughts Should Be:
– Useful,
– Constructive,
– And Beneficial.TheDruid-3X3
GreywolfHi Fyris,
The word ‘calling’ is a powerful one. It goes beyond a simple life choice. It implies a spirit beyond one’s self drawing the soul to a particular path. This is certainly what happened to me with Druidry. From the moment I found the path in 1974, my interest in it became profound. Through all the vicissitudes in life since, my devotion to Druidry has remained central to my life, my identity and my relationship to the universe. You mention being a cancer survivor. Traumas are often associated with a calling. My own was a severe psychological breakdown suffered when I was 18. Druidry was a powerful part of my journey back to wellness. What has kept me on the path ever since is that Druidry has seen me through everything that life has thrown at me since, including the death of my wife.
The bardic side of Druidry has a strong appeal to me as I have always loved storytelling and music. It has developed my appreciation of poetry. It has inspired my music-making and my writing.
The path can be difficult, but it has rewards. It has enabled me to change my own life and other people’s. For myself, it has taken me to America, brought me powerful animal spirit helpers and introduced me to many of the most amazing human beings I know.
One of its initial appeals is that Druidry is the oldest religion for which we have a name that originated in the British Isles, which is where I have always lived and where my family have lived for as far back as I can trace them. My family name is first recorded in the late 11th century but some parts of my family tree go back even further.
Druidry also provides a context for the weird visions I’ve had since childhood.
One of the things I’ve found about Druidry is that it impacts the whole of life in all its complexity. That’s how the BDO courses have expanded from humble beginnings to over 1.5 million words!
Which is all a roundabout way of saying,
Hale and welcome!
Greywolf /|\- This reply was modified 10 months ago by
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