Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the Year. Week 36: Sixth High Day Recap : Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the Year. Week 36: Sixth High Day Recap 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
Related to Requirement : Related to Requirement #8 – High Days Attended
Required Reading : Required Reading None
Suggested Reading : Suggested Reading None
Introduction : Introduction By now you've probably made it through your first ritual.
It's now time to start your essays for the Dedicant Path documentation by writing a recap of this first High Day rite.
Ritual write-up template that will help you get all the commonly needed details down in Appendix 2.
Criteria : Criteria A brief account of each High Day ritual attended or performed by the Dedicant in a twelve-month period. High Days attended/performed might be celebrated with a local grove, privately, or with another Neopagan group. At least 4 of the rituals attended/performed during the training period must be ADF-style. (100 words min. each)
Criteria : Criteria Inadequate
Word length inadequate
Plagiarism
Less than four ADF-style rites
Descriptions do not demonstrate that rites are ADF-style
Reaction without substantive explanation of rites; lack of reaction
Not all eight ADF high days included
Criteria : Criteria Adequate
Word length adequate
Minimum of 4 ADF-style rites
Objective description of ritual attended
Reaction and/or analysis to the ritual experience
Criteria : Criteria Excellent
Publishable quality reviews
Deep/unique insights
Insightful critiques useful to continual development of liturgy
Learning and incorporating ideas from variety of sources
The Calendar : The Calendar The ADF Constitution outlines the dates of the holidays in Article 4:
The High Days of the ADF calendar are the eight Neopagan High Days which are the solstices, equinoxes, and points equally between them. For legal purposes, these High Days occur on:
Cross-Quarter = November 1st
Solstice = December 21st
Cross-Quarter = February 1st
Equinox = March 21st
Cross-Quarter = May 1st
Solstice = June 21st
Cross-Quarter = August 1st
Equinox = September 21st
For ceremonial purposes, local congregations shall celebrate each of the eight High Days within one week prior to or after the aforementioned dates, or at some other time determined by Board-established policy.
Discussion : Discussion How did the rite go in terms of structure?
What things went wrong during the ritual?
What things went right?
Who were the patrons of the rite, and who was the gatekeeper?
Did you have problems with saying the words without stumbling, or did everything come out smoothly?
Did you forget to bring a sacrifice?
Were you alone, or with a group?
Discussion : Discussion If you were with a group, did you say anything or do anything?
Now, for the not so easy part: how did the rite go in terms of function and feeling?
Did you feel anything during the ritual?
Did you experience doubt or confidence?
Can you describe what happened?
If you were with a group, what did the other people say about what happened?
What omens were drawn (if any), and what did they tell you?
Could you feel the presence of any deities, spirits, or powers?
What else about the rite struck you, or do you want to share?
If you answer those questions, you've just finished another essay along the Dedicant Path!
Documentation : Documentation You cannot just turn in a number of those sheets and expect to pass this requirement.
It needs to be much more in-depth.
Get some paper and start thinking about the rite by asking some good questions.
Homework : Homework Continue:
With your book
Your Nature spot
Meditation/building mental discipline
Working with your home shrine