A quick note on how my Nature Awareness is going…

I’m really enjoying my time out there. As the time goes on, I’m taking note of what’s going on. I’m loving the sunlight on the leaves, how everything dances in the wind, the smell of the air… and taking the time to do nothing, or what feels like ‘nothing’.

Over the course of the past week and a half, the temperatures have become unbearably hot. It’s in the 100s every day now. Even the Green Ash in the front yard is showing signs of heat stress. I have been watering my trees so I don’t lose them; I’ve also had to water the foundation of the house to help prevent the slab cracking. I’ve enjoyed hand watering, just watching the play of the water and the smell of it as it dances out of the end of the hose and sparkles and rainbows in the sunlight.

Mr. Teddy has been outside with me, too; I fill up a small wading pool {when he’s done, I use that to water the plants}; he runs and plays and splashes, and then digs into the sand in his sandbox and rolls in it. It’s fun to watch him do this, and just – play.

Sin e! – I know what I’m going to do!!

I just had a big newsflash – I do get these brilliant little ideas now and again, and the last post I made solidified it. That note about getting restless and bored when doing the same thing over and over with no variety works terribly against my natural personality. So, here’s the deal…

There has GOT to be at LEAST 23 different types of meditation out there. The requirement is 23 weeks, and to meet the requirement, I must sustain the practice at least once per week, for those 5 months or so.  For the first 10 weeks, I will pick one different type of meditation, practice that type daily for one week, then move on to the next type, for a total of 10 weeks. I will post my research and experiences with the different types to my Meditation Journal and my experiences with it, at LEAST weekly. For the last 13 weeks, I will repeat those types of meditations / practices, at least once per week, or more if I find that effective and if I need it, to meet the requirement.

This does several things. It brings in variety of experience. I get to test things out, and find out what works. I get to explore the unknown, and through experience, learn things about myself that I would NOT have known prior to this little testing. Plus, I know that I can live with anything for a week. (Well, just about. Any reasonable thing, anyway.) There is enough to keep me engaged and learning, and then, after the 10 weeks, I can pick and choose my favorites for the remainder of the time. Also, later, when I aspire to building a Protogrove of my own and apply for Clergy status, I have a good arsenal of meditation techniques not only for myself, but to aide others in their own quest, when they come to me for leadership. Glè mhath!

Initial thoughts on Meditation / Requirement

As I stated in another post, I’ve not started the 23 weeks of meditation requirement. Its true purpose – mental discipline and personal growth – leaves me feeling unprepared to sustain it. I know I can; but I have some resistance to it. Perhaps I need to –meditate– to find out what that resistance is?!! Har de har – I kill myself sometimes. *wipes tears from laughter out of eyes*. Okay, enough of indulging my weird sense of humour.

I intend to pursue a number of different alternatives, which I am researching and will also post to this topic, so that if I become restless and in danger of failing the requirement, once begun, I can switch to something else. This, after all, is part of knowing myself. I have a Cancer sun with a Sagittarius moon, Gods help me. All that water with its ebb and flow, which includes my energy levels and ability to stay focused; plus the Sag tendency to want freedom and lack  of restraint, and not really care overmuch. Lordy be.

In the past, I’ve done Tai Chi; a Light Body meditation from OBOD; of course grounding and centering, and several other types of meditation, moving and otherwise. I feel the need to research and understand my alternatives, and as I work on this project, really get to know what works, and what doesn’t. I have trouble sustaining, because I have a tendency to rigidly pursue just one thing at a time, on a daily basis, until I get so heartily sick of it, or experience a problem, and quit. I need to pay attention to this little tidbit of self-knowledge, and learn to make it work for me, instead of against.

Chap 4 – Druids through Celtic Eyes

I had a lot of problems with this chapter. Mainly, I couldn’t remember a word of it. My mind was like a sieve when it came to this chapter. The chapter starts off with the Song of Amairgen, and speaks of poetical incantations and the Irish sagas. I’m a horrible Druid. I just don’t care about those old tales much. I am so bored by them; I go cross-eyed, and when I’m not bored, I’m irritated. I’m sure that’s an incredibly unpopular position to be in, but at least I’m truthful.

He goes through a laundry list of Druids found in the literature, including Findgoll Mac Findemas, Tosdan, Cabadios, Cathbad, and more.

He also goes on and on about how Druids were probably tonsured.

He also discusses how Christianity impacted the Celts and the view of the Druids.

What to do for Summer Solstice?

The next High Day, my second, is rapidly approaching here, and I have a couple of choices. I am, at this point, either going to write my own private ritual for use here at the house, and focus on my own ‘normal’ type of ritual, or, I’m going to just attend my Wiccan college’s online ritual. I think, right now, it depends on how I feel. I’m very drained and exhausted, the heat is over 100 degrees, and my energy is so low that the online ritual may be the best way for me to celebrate the High Day.

Sacred Mist’s Online Litha ritual is June 21; this might be the only ritual I’m up for. This is actually next Tuesday; I only have one more weekend to prepare for the ritual, and as it’s a Solstice, I need to acknowledge the correct astrological time, no matter what ritual I do.