Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the YearWeek 46: The Three Kindred: Final Essays : Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the YearWeek 46: The Three Kindred: Final Essays 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 is your work with nature going?
Have you been working on your books?
How is your work with your home shrine going?
Reminder : Reminder 6 weeks left!
Related to Requirement : Related to Requirement #7 – Nature Awareness;
#9 – Relationships to Kindred;
#10 – Personal Religion
Required Reading : Required Reading Our Own Druidry, p. 26 – 28 (Nine Holy Things)
Our Own Druidry, p. 43 – 45 (The Spirits in the Land)
Introduction : Introduction Over the past 48 weeks, you have spent time in intimate contact with:
the Nature Spirits,
experienced festivals devoted to the Ancestors,
and done right worship to the Goddesses and Gods.
By now, you should have a good understanding of these three Kindred.
This week, we will work on articulating that in your final essay about these three groups.
Have your notes from weeks 12, 32, and 43 handy.
Discussion : Discussion #9. 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)"
Discussion : Discussion Examining this requirement, we have a simple breakdown of one major essay in three parts.
This is listed as one essay because these three Kindred are interwoven and tied together; they are not three separate groups that act independently of each other.
In this essay, you will be expected to write about each of the Three Kindred:
§ The Spirits of Nature
§ The Ancestors
§ The Gods
Discussion : Discussion For each of the Three Kindred, you will be expected to show not only an "understanding" of who/what they are, but also talk about your "personal relationship" with these Kindred.
This means that it is not enough to simply speak in general terms about them, but you will need to speak personally about what they mean to you.
Discussion : Discussion For each of the Three Kindred, think about the following questions (not all may apply, but taking a moment to think about them might help you articulate something):
§ Which of the Three Realms is this Kindred associated with?
§ Which of the Three Worlds is this Kindred associated with?
§ Which of the ritual Gates (Fire, Well, Tree) is this Kindred associated with?
§ Which power(s) in the Two Powers meditation is this Kindred associated with?
§ What places are sacred to this Kindred?
§ If you are not in a place that is sacred to this Kindred, how do you contact them from there?
§ Where can you contact this Kindred?
§ Are there myths or legends about this Kindred that give you insight into its nature?
§ The Kindred often have many titles. What do these titles reflect?
§ What sort of offerings do you give to this Kindred?
§ What do you call on this Kindred for?
§ What is the nature of this Kindred's relationship to humans?
§ What is the nature of this Kindred's relationship to other the other Kindred?
Discussion : Discussion Think of times that you personally have interacted with the members of this Kindred.
What sort of feelings did you get?
How did you interact with them?
Did your interaction with them change how you saw them?
How are you related to this Kindred?
Is there a time when this Kindred has really helped you out?
Is there a time when you felt a real connection to them?
Discussion : Discussion How do the myths portray this Kindred?
What do the cultures you have studied have to say about them?
Does what they say resound in you?
Discussion : Discussion Make sure you address each of the Three Kindred in turn, and that you describe both your understanding and your experience of the Kindred in question.
Some general talk about the Kindred will also benefit you (such as similarities between them, or wide differences).
Now, the hard part: boiling all of this down into one essay.
You need to provide at least 100 words about the Three Kindred in general, including their relationship to each other.
Beyond that, take all those questions that we applied to the Kindred above, and boil them down to 300 word responses about each.
Remember to talk about your personal relationship with them!
Once you've done that, you'll have your essay done on the Three Kindred!
Homework : Homework Remember to continue your meditation.
Go to your special spot in nature.
Keep reading your book!
Keep working with your home shrine.