Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the YearWeek 31: The Three Kindred: Nature Spirits : Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the YearWeek 31: The Three Kindred: Nature Spirits Presented by
Rev. Jessie “Medb” Olson
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Based on Our Own Druidry and The ADF Dedicant Path Through the Wheel of the Year
Review : Review How are you doing on:
Finishing your IE Studies essay.
Reading your modern Neopagan book?
Visiting your nature spot?
Working on building mental discipline.
Using and working in your home shrine.
Related to Requirement : Related to Requirement #7 – Nature Awareness;
#9 – Relationships to Kindred;
#10 – Personal Religion
Required Reading : Required Reading Our Own Druidry, p. 28 (The Nature Spirits);
Our Own Druidry, p. 44 – 45 (The Noble Spirits)
Optional Reading : Optional Reading "Domovoy" by Katherine Milechkine ;
"Local Nature Spirits," by Medb Aodhamair, ;
The Solitary Druid by Rev. Skip Ellison, p. 82-85
Introduction : Introduction Since Week Five, you've been visiting a place (or places) where you have worked to build an awareness of the natural world around you.
At Week 23, we talked some more about your place in nature and how you can work with nature and the world around you.
In Week 41, you will be asked to write your final essay about nature awareness for the DP, and so it's about time we started talking about the spirits of place around you.
Criteria : Criteria One essay describing the Dedicants understanding of and relationship to each of the Three Kindred: the Spirits of Nature, the Ancestors and the Gods. (300 words min. for each Kindred and 1000 words total)
Criteria : Criteria Inadequate
Word length inadequate
Plagiarism
Missing a Kindred
Misunderstanding of concept of one or more Kindred
Describes a Kindred in specific, rather than broad terms (e.g., mono-cultural; individual deities; ancestors of family only)
Criteria : Criteria Adequate
Word length adequate
Categorical descriptions of each Kindred
Demonstrable understanding of each Kindred
Understanding of context for worship of each Kindred
Criteria : Criteria Excellent
Publishable quality reviews
Deep/unique insights
Substantial personal connection with one or more of the Kindred
Comparative analysis of the Three Kindred
Discussion : Discussion The second of the Three Kindred are the Nature Spirits. Often called the Noble Ones, Land Wights, or the Sidhe (pronounced "She"), these are the elves and faeries and trolls and gnomes who have earned a prominent place in Neo-Paganism.
They are also our animal guides and our household spirits, and we turn to them to keep our worlds in order and to give them honour for their continuance of the cycles of nature.
Discussion : Discussion There are even modern-day examples of Nature Spirits being remembered in various Indo-European countries.
In Iceland, for example, roads are built around elf-homes, rather than over them.
To this day, there are actually people who are called in to make sure that none of these homes are disturbed.
Discussion : Discussion Many times, you will hear people tell about how the Naturekin like small, shiny objects or ribbons as offerings.
They also like to be left milk and honey, or a portion of your meals as an offering.
If you have a home spirit, you might want to leave them regular offerings, because they have a tendency to wreck havoc if you do not maintain a relationship of reciprocity.
Discussion : Discussion The spirits of place have always been there and always will be there.
They are part of the cycles of nature, and remembering them is very important if you want to live in this world.
A good relationship with the Noble Ones will bring you luck and protection when you need it, and part of that good relationship involves helping to keep your relationship with the natural world intact.
Discussion : Discussion Think about how you work with Nature Spirits:
do you work with specific spirits?
Do you have animal guides?
Write down who they are and what they do for you, and then write down what you do for them.
What sort of relationship is it?
How do you remember and honour these spirits?
Do you leave them offerings, or do work that protects their homes and lives?
Do you simply connect?
What is the nature of your connection with these spirits?
Write these things down in your Dedicant Notebook for future reference.
Homework : Homework Don’t forget to:
Continue reading your Modern Neopaganism book
Continue visiting your nature spot.
Continue working on building mental discipline.
Continue using and working in your home shrine, send pics to me and I’ll post them next time.