Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the YearWeek 12: Ancestors, the Mighty Dead : Dedicant’s Path Through the Wheel of the YearWeek 12: Ancestors, the Mighty Dead 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 Are you still be doing regular meditation practice?
Did you try adding the Two Powers meditation to your regular practice?
Are you writing it down?
How is it working for you?
What have you had trouble with?
What parts are coming easy to you?
Related to Requirement : Related to Requirement #9 – Relationships to Kindred
Required Reading : Required Reading Our Own Druidry, p. 126 - 127 (Kindred Attunement Work)
Our Own Druidry, p. 28 (The Ancestors)
Suggested Reading : Suggested Reading "Ancestors Invocation" by Jennifer Ellison
"A Beginner's Guide to Genealogical Research: or How I Connected to My Ancestors" by Meghan E. M.
• "Ancestors For Those Without Ancestors" by Renee Rhodes
The Solitary Druid by Rev. Skip Ellison, p. 85-86
Introduction : Introduction The Ancestors begin our work with the Three Kindred: the Shining Ones (Deities), the Noble Ones (Nature Spirits), and the Mighty Ones (Ancestors).
We honor the dead for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that we only exist because they did.
When we think of ancestors, though, we might only think of our parents, or Great-Great-Grandpa Winston who told the greatest stories, or Grandma Olga who introduced us to folk magic.
Introduction : Introduction But there are many types of Ancestors:
Blood-kin
Heart-kin
Hearth-kin
Mentor-kin
Introduction : Introduction Blood-Kin:
These are ancestors of your blood, such as Grandpa Winston above, or your mother, or you sister, or your child.
All of these are Ancestors, or would have been considered so by the Indo-European peoples.
Introduction : Introduction Heart-Kin:
These are the close friends with whom there are ties of love, respect, and strong friendship.
They are family, even if there is no blood tie
Introduction : Introduction Hearth-Kin:
These are people who have shared your hearth religion, though they may not be close friends or blood-relatives.
Introduction : Introduction Mentor-Kin:
These are teachers, guides, and friends with whom you share an intellectual lineage: perhaps you learned something from them that profoundly affected your life, or you are following in their footsteps in learning.
Introduction : Introduction There are many ways to honor the dead.
Don't forget them. Learn stories about their lives, either by asking them to tell the story, or by piecing it together through newspaper articles or secondhand accounts.
Make an effort to put together a family tree of sorts. Organize it however you wish. Add in your friends and mentors, ancient Pagans you may idolize.
Visit grave-sites and leave flowers or place flags on their graves if they were veterans.
Remember them on secular holidays, such as Memorial Day.
Set a place for them at your table each Samhain.
Place a box on your altar, and fill it with things that remind you of your ancestors.
Tell the stories you know. The Norse often said that you didn't die until you were forgotten, so keep them alive through your words. A good story will travel forever.
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
Homework : Homework Think the Mighty Dead in your life.
Do you remember stories that you like to tell?
Does your family do anything special to commemorate those who have passed on?
Do you think that your ancestors watch you?
Consider how you think they would like to be honored.
Write these things down in your Dedicant
Notebook for future reference. Include some stories about your ancestors, maybe a photo or two.
Homework : Homework Remember to keep visiting your site for observing nature.
Have you noticed any changes as the seasons go by yet?
Are there landscape changes?
Do you feel a connection to the land?
Write these in your Dedicant Notebook for reference, also.
Finally, write about your fifth week of meditation: experiences, breath pattern, difficulties. . . all these things are good to write down.