DP #0 (Apologia)
I've decided to start posting my DP writings. For those not familiar with www.adf.org, you may wish to explore. However, if you are not a polytheist or might not enjoy reading pagan theology, you might want to skip it.
I wrote this essay in early June 2004:
Apologia
Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.
-J.F.Kennedy
Somehow I feel I must preface my DP with some sort of explanation. I came to ADF for the sake of my son, who I felt could benefit from being raised in a community of like-minded folks (kinda like having the social stability and credibility of a church, without having the dogmatic authoritarian stuff). If I had found the Unitarians first, I might have convinced my husband to do the CUUPS route (and I used to attend CUUPS with our son, although it was geared towards older people). However, the more involved I become in ADF, the more I’m convinced it is most suited to the needs of my family and myself.
I am an intellectual with the philosophical abilities suited for clergy, but I feel I need more faith to take a liturgical path. But, perhaps I can be of use to the clergy through philosophical discussion. I have always been a bit of an out-dweller in that fashion, not being comfortable conforming to the norm (even the norm of Pagan culture!). Also, I feel like a hybrid among druid-philosopher, artisan and warrior. A Jack-of-All-Trades/Master-of-None.
This DP seems a bit off the beaten path, but only because of the circuitous route it took for me to agree to do it (despite Ian Corrigan’s encouragement/needling). I have resisted committing to the DP, or being “dedicated” to it because I am a devout agnostic (☺!), however polytheistic my philosophical leanings go. It seems to me that the DP is best suited for those newly “converted” Pagans who have an innate enthusiasm for their new path and are raring to learn what it is they need to discover. I, however, have been on the Pagan path for over 7 years (and longer if one counts the less formal, non-practice), without committing to any polytheological stance.
I have sporadically studied and generally absorbed quite a bit of the ADF philosophy and general historical background, and so, when I was finally inspired to go through the DP, I took a backwards route to completing it. Without picking up a book, I decided to write all the essays I could from my years of experience in ADF, just to see if I was able. And I did so over the course of 3 days (~9000 words). As of the writing of this 0th essay, I have completed all but the 5-month meditation (& essay), the 3 book reports (needing to read the books first) and the Oath.
I toyed with writing an 800-word essay on my sporadic meditative experience (knowing that it would be easy for me to spit out so many words, and realizing that I’ve had more than the equivalent of 5 months of weekly spiritual practice within those years), but I decided that I might benefit from doing weekly meditation founded upon my more recent experiences in the Chenille Canopy (which is mostly responsible for fueling inspiration for this DP) as well as my recent desire to start basic Yoga practice.
Yet I am not committing to any one pantheon or deity in a mystical fashion, unless my worldview significantly changes to that state through meditation. I feel I can legitimately complete the DP from a philosophical/intellectual standpoint on terms more comfortable to me. Even if my DP is not approved (although, from some examples I’ve seen, I don’t think that’s likely), it won’t matter to me, as I feel it is worth my effort for the personal satisfaction I anticipate. The Dedicant’s Oath may be tricky, but I think by the end of 5 months of meditation (already started over a month ago), I will be able to find an Oath suitable to my needs. I am vary wary of taking Oaths I cannot fulfill, and so even if that is the only part of the DP I do not complete, it will be worth it. It is my personal journey, not some external destination, that is important.
I wrote this essay in early June 2004:
Apologia
Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.
-J.F.Kennedy
Somehow I feel I must preface my DP with some sort of explanation. I came to ADF for the sake of my son, who I felt could benefit from being raised in a community of like-minded folks (kinda like having the social stability and credibility of a church, without having the dogmatic authoritarian stuff). If I had found the Unitarians first, I might have convinced my husband to do the CUUPS route (and I used to attend CUUPS with our son, although it was geared towards older people). However, the more involved I become in ADF, the more I’m convinced it is most suited to the needs of my family and myself.
I am an intellectual with the philosophical abilities suited for clergy, but I feel I need more faith to take a liturgical path. But, perhaps I can be of use to the clergy through philosophical discussion. I have always been a bit of an out-dweller in that fashion, not being comfortable conforming to the norm (even the norm of Pagan culture!). Also, I feel like a hybrid among druid-philosopher, artisan and warrior. A Jack-of-All-Trades/Master-of-None.
This DP seems a bit off the beaten path, but only because of the circuitous route it took for me to agree to do it (despite Ian Corrigan’s encouragement/needling). I have resisted committing to the DP, or being “dedicated” to it because I am a devout agnostic (☺!), however polytheistic my philosophical leanings go. It seems to me that the DP is best suited for those newly “converted” Pagans who have an innate enthusiasm for their new path and are raring to learn what it is they need to discover. I, however, have been on the Pagan path for over 7 years (and longer if one counts the less formal, non-practice), without committing to any polytheological stance.
I have sporadically studied and generally absorbed quite a bit of the ADF philosophy and general historical background, and so, when I was finally inspired to go through the DP, I took a backwards route to completing it. Without picking up a book, I decided to write all the essays I could from my years of experience in ADF, just to see if I was able. And I did so over the course of 3 days (~9000 words). As of the writing of this 0th essay, I have completed all but the 5-month meditation (& essay), the 3 book reports (needing to read the books first) and the Oath.
I toyed with writing an 800-word essay on my sporadic meditative experience (knowing that it would be easy for me to spit out so many words, and realizing that I’ve had more than the equivalent of 5 months of weekly spiritual practice within those years), but I decided that I might benefit from doing weekly meditation founded upon my more recent experiences in the Chenille Canopy (which is mostly responsible for fueling inspiration for this DP) as well as my recent desire to start basic Yoga practice.
Yet I am not committing to any one pantheon or deity in a mystical fashion, unless my worldview significantly changes to that state through meditation. I feel I can legitimately complete the DP from a philosophical/intellectual standpoint on terms more comfortable to me. Even if my DP is not approved (although, from some examples I’ve seen, I don’t think that’s likely), it won’t matter to me, as I feel it is worth my effort for the personal satisfaction I anticipate. The Dedicant’s Oath may be tricky, but I think by the end of 5 months of meditation (already started over a month ago), I will be able to find an Oath suitable to my needs. I am vary wary of taking Oaths I cannot fulfill, and so even if that is the only part of the DP I do not complete, it will be worth it. It is my personal journey, not some external destination, that is important.