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    • Mission & Vision
    • Our Leadership
    • ADF: A Druid Fellowship
    • Photos
  • Services
  • Calendar
  • Resources & Social Justice
  • Membership
  • Blogs
    • Prairie Tidings (Church Blog)
    • Rev. Badger's 2019 Stoic Blog
    • The Practical Bard (Rev. Missy's Blog)
    • Little Druid on the Prairie (Rev. Lauren's Blog)
  • Policies
  • Contact Us
Mountain Ancestors Grove, ADF

Prairie Tidings: Our Church's Blog

Questions from the Folk: Reciprocity

11/25/2015

 
What is Reciprocity? 

Reciprocity is the very soul of Hospitality, in a similar way in which our own soul is at the core of our own expression/presentation in the material world.  

At times, reciprocity is referred to in our practice as *ghosti, an assumed  Proto-Indo-European word, roughly meaning, “to be in reciprocal relationship with…”, as well as the Latin, do ut des, “I give that you may give.”

Let’s look at how this works: If we accept, while considering that we’re talking about our religious practice, that simply moving through the worlds, we WILL be interacting with other beings, so the developing of relationships are inevitable, and your goal is to be in right-relationship with the other being, human or otherwise, then in order to achieve the most excellent result, we apply Hospitality, inspired from its soul of do ut des… so in short, what we’re doing is creating an opportunity for the other being to respond in the same spirit which you’re offering.

We’re creating an inviting space, through gracious, reciprocal Hospitality, where another being can be their most excellent.

Sometimes it challenging to be present enough so that we offer others our most Virtuous self. In those times, I tell myself it’s an obligation… a strong word, I know, but the idea of the obligatory nature of Hospitality goes back to the beginning, in as many cultures as there are people that have ever been.

Let’s take it back to the lore... to the traveler, and the obligation of hosts, the expectations of a guest, the spirit of a safe-place, and an opportunity to be at peace, and perhaps, even comfort. The idea of safety may be seen differently then is was to many of our ancient ancestors. This was in a time when human life was not necessarily as valued as it is now. Back in ancient times, Hospitality was the ultimate gift… it was a showing of respect for the humanity of another.

The goal of building all these relationships isn’t to create a homogenous mass of humanity. It’s to be able to let our own agenda and identity go long enough that we may come to see and honor that same humanity in another. It’s not a puree, it’s a gumbo.  While it’s its own thing, it’s still got individual elements of things… and it’s those things’ relationships to the rest of the things that makes the whole what it is.  

When we talk about reciprocity in this way, we try to see everything in terms of relationship, and try to enter into things with gratitude for the opportunity to create a space for another to be excellent, rather than an expectation of something in return… before your gift was even given.  

​
Throughout this process, we remember to be gracious. You have a choice to either judge a person based on an idea of perfection that you oneself couldn’t manifest all the time, or you could choose to be gracious, accepting, and interested in a moment of diversity.  Remember, it doesn’t make one more honorable to be indignant than to be gracious.

From The Bee: a Working of Healing Energy to EarthMother

11/13/2015

 
Healing for Our Mother, Colorado

The following working is a sending of energy to the Earth for healing. Here in Colorado, Weld County does more fracking than any other location in the country. Traveling down US-85, the sense of distress from this terrible harm is evident for miles. It is after driving through the center of this place and feeling the cry for help that I wrote this piece:


A Working for Healing Energy to the Earth Mother

Hold Aloft a Pitcher of Water

Children of Earth, for we are Children of the Earth Mother,
It is on her behalf that I ask for your aid on this day.
We pray often round this Fire to “tread lightly” upon the bosom of the Mother,
And many of us have tales of our accomplishments in reducing, reusing, and recycling.
But, many, many more of us do not. 
I don’t know how many of you have had a chance to drive from Greeley to Brighton on US-85.
If you haven’t, please make sure you are prepared before you venture there.
This road goes through the heart of Weld County, and the results of the supposedly harmless fracking process are evident here more than anywhere else. 
There are more frack wells here than anywhere else in the country, and some of them are in corn fields.
The corn in these fields is allowed to grow right up to the wells.
Some of the wells have pools of steaming water next to them. 
The horses in the fields are emaciated and sickly-looking.
The smell is atrocious, especially when you get up to the slaughterhouse.
The land is broken here. Our Mother is broken here.
As stewards of the land, As the Children of the Earth Mother,
It falls to us to do what we can to heal her wounds.
Not all of us are called to activism, but those of us who feel strongly, I encourage you to speak out for what you believe to be right.
For now, let us join our voices together to share in our health and blessings,
Given to us by the Earth,
That she may feel our love and devotion during this time of pain and sorrow.
Find your center once more, my friends.
From this place, draw up the intention for there to be healing for the Earth.
Join your voice with mine as I walk around and gather our love and devotion into this vessel that she may receive them.

Celebrant to lead a toning of raised voices and walk around the circle of folk to allow each of them to directly place their energy into the vessel. Once the Celebrant has completed the circuit, a final toning is raised with pitcher held high, and then the toning is ended.

With pitcher held aloft:

Earth Mother! Your Children hear your cries, and offer you this gift of healing!
May the thoughts and intentions we have placed into this, the Waters of Life,
Find their way to those wounds and bring you peace and strength!
Earth Mother! Accept this gift we give of ourselves!
Earth Mother, we honor you!
​
Sing with me now as we pour these waters!

​
Sing the Waters onto the Earth by leading an Earth Mother chant as you pour the contents onto the ground. Suggested songs include: Earth Mother, We honor your Body; Oh, Ma, Ma, Ma; Mother Earth Be With Us, and etc.

    About the Name: Prairie Tidings

    One of the many names for a group of Magpies is "a tiding" of magpies. In 2015 this blog was used as a place for Rev. William, and Rev. Missy to share their experiences as church leaders, as well as goings on at the grove, opinions, and essays. After we got some dedicants trained in our unique work, it was unanimously decided by our board of directors to open the blog to all members of our church. So, we're a group of "MAGpies" (a tiding) sharing news, happenings, and our thoughts (tidings) with you all. 

    Thank you all for your continued support and interest in our work!

    ​MAGpies, please make all blog submissions to Rev. William, as he's managing the website. 

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