My Daily Ramblings

Spontaneous Trip to Frisco

FyreChyld — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:12:09 GMT

Sunday Night I took off to Frisco. Ended up in Santa Cruz for a day. Am in Carmel now and heading back slowly to Santa Ynez. I may have found my daughter and I'm really stoked. Now if I could just find a way to bring the other woman of my heart back I be in Nirvana. Anyway I been writing on my Iphone. I been emailing it to myself in pieces. I may post it later of my trip. Loving you Family! /|\ Gypsy /|\

My Account is being hacked

FyreChyld — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:22:12 GMT

Ok I'm getting a bit tired of this. Someone has been logging onto my tribe account and keeps changing my name back to Laughing Wolfsong. I have changed it back to Gypsy several times now and have changed my password twice. I'm getting a bit tired of it. Today I have reported it to Tribe's support. I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt that its Tribe acting kooky. But if it is someone messing with my account. STOP! You will be caught. I rarely get on my computer anymore, but when I do I like to find my stuff unmolested. Has anyone else been having this problem on Tribe or do we have a hacker among us behaving like a cracker?

Nature - Going back to my roots

FyreChyld — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:11:23 GMT

This is short and simple since I have a few other posts for this morning. My favorite quote of the day. You will find something far greater in the woods than you will find in books. Stones and trees will teach you that which you will never learn from masters. - St. Bernard

Divine Misfits

FyreChyld — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:51:45 GMT

My favorite quote of the day. Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do. Steve Jobs US computer engineer & industrialist (1955 - )

Help Save Our Wolves Ban Wolf Hunting Relocate the Wolf

FyreChyld — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:19:47 GMT

Wolves have been driven to near extinction in the past, and now exist in a mere sliver of their former habitat. Since the mid-1990’s, when wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho, they have made significant strides towards reclaiming their rightful place on our nation's wild land, as a key predator and as intelligent and caring members of the ecosystem they were meant to inhabit. Today, as arguments rage about how much protection to offer to wolves, and for how long, this critically important species is once again being poisoned, shot and trapped as history sadly repeats itself. Their survival is contingent upon healthy, open, and connected wild ecosystems, a concept that has been as endangered as the wolves themselves. In fact, wolves play an essential role in reshaping and restoring habitat. Demon or benefactor, monster of nightmare or caring family member of a pack? Who will speak for the wolf? I WILL, WILL YOU? http://www.savewolves.org & http://www.petitiononline.com/wolf/petition.html

Awen & Sunrises

FyreChyld — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:40:20 GMT

Last night I had a conversation with someone who was making some choses I felt was wrong even though I had just recently made similar choses. I realize I wasn’t trying to talk them out of their choses, but was actually trying to talk myself out of them. I was also still a little hot under the collar for a message they had sent me earlier and a conversation I had with them on the phone. I was not being fair. They had called to apologize and was trying somehow to reconcile things with me so they could get on with their own life. They wanted to get back to living simple. Simple living, I knew what that was once. We got disconnected and I tried to call her back. She was trying very hard to not argue with me and turned her phone off. Then I stood there and cooled down and what she had been saying sunk in. I started calling her back to leave voice mails as I let what was bothering me pour out. The time allowed for her messages was short so I must have called her like 15 times before I was able to say all I wanted to say. Well as much as I felt she could handle without going mad. LOL She gave me hope that we could maybe one day be friends again and I really didn’t want to push it. I walked home a little sad cause I wasn’t sure if I had made the right chose rambling on like I did on her voice mail. I got home and just sat there on my futon looking around my tiny little studio. The Dead posters up on my wall and the picture of Jerry brought back fond memories of Dead Tour and all the beautiful friends I had back then. Everywhere I looked in my place I saw stuff that reminded me of the simple life I once lived that she was striving to get back to. When did my life get so complicated? Why did I let it get so? How after walking the Rainbow Trail for over 26 years & the Druidic path for 22 did I get sucked into Babylon? I know when it happened. I just don’t understand fully why I surrendered to it. Suddenly sitting there reminiscing about my own simple days I had a spontaneous thought. I grabbed my phone and ran out the back gate into the hospital parking to get a signal on my phone. I called the one Rainbow brother I new was still in the area, my friend Tony. Tony answered and was like what’s up? I was like where you at? I’m at Elsie’s, why? Cool I’ll see you in 20 minutes. He was like Right on! See you in 20!” I quickly slapped my shoes on. I was wearing a green shirt and the patchies my friend gave me and still had my big comfy brown hoodie on. I grabbed my mandolin hoping Tony could get the stubborn thing tuned for me. Like all my real life friends outside of the internet, Tony was a musician and like I is a self described Wild Rainbow Druid and refused to be attached to any Order. Anyway I avoided the freeway and just flew over the San Marcus Pass. The 101 would have taken me 45 minutes but would have been safer. But the pass only took me 25 minutes. I walked into Elsie’s and it was like coming home. Elsie’s is kinda like a bohemian version of Cheers with couches and stuff. All the local artsy types hang at it. A lot of Burners too, though most were still out of town. I instantly had fond memories. Me Tony, Merlin Bear, and a whole bunch of my family used to hang there. There was a band playing which was weird for a Tuesday night but was cool. I walked through to the back and found Tony sitting alone at a table on the patio. He hollered at me and I walked over and he gave me a big hug. Gypsy it’s so great to finally see some old family. Everyone ran off to Portland. I laughed. Yah I know. They followed me and Matt. We sat and talked about the good old days. Then I spotted another familiar face. A kinda Gothy punk friend of mine who used to work at our favorite coffee shop called Hot Spots, His name is Eric. Turned out Eric was a bartender now at Elsies. Then I saw a few others. My Burner friend Devon, who is on my friend’s list here on Tribe as Dervish. Then I saw other friends as well. I was starting to feel a little better. Dervish btw is the brother who made my Fire staffs for me. We all got to talking. At some point Tony went to play pool and we was all talking away. We was laughing about how us all being there at once was bringing back fond memories of Hot Spots. Eric who used to work there was like you know they are talking about re-opening it right? I was like no way! Erik is going to re-open Hot Spots? I thought they were going to tear it down and build a bunch of stupid condos? He was like nah! The guy screwed up and spent all his investors’ money elsewhere and pissed off some of the local bigwigs. I looked over at Tony and was like, “Looks like you getting your wish and the Funk Zone is coming back.” He looked at me and was like, “Did you ever doubt me? I been working for years networking trying to get the musicians and artist to fight to save the Funk Zone.” For those of you not familiar with the Funk Zone. It’s a part of Santa Barbara in the warehouse district that for years had been taken over by the local musicians & artist types. All the Bohemians, Goths, Musicians, Artist, Hippies, & Burners hung out or lived in the Funk Zone. Many of the warehouses had been converted into studios & workshops and Hot Spots was this large 24 hour coffee shop that was like the Funk Zone’s living room. Erik who owned Hot Spots was forced by the new property owner to shut down. When Hot Spots shut down a small bohemian coffee shop just over the Funk Zone border name Reds tried to pick up the slack. But Eric & Dervish said it never quite was the same. Dervish told me the other bohemian coffee shop called Muddy Waters wasn’t the same either. We were talking about how we used to all spin fire in the Hot Spots parking lot. Eric use to sneak out from behind the counter late at night and spin with us then he have to run back in and take care of the customers. LOL Our conversation turned to fire dancing and I was like so what is going on in town now. Any fire jams? Is Eli still doing the bonfires on the beach? They were like nah! Little things popped up here and there, but never seemed to hold. Eric was like well they are starting to do fire dancing again at Reds on Tuesdays. I was like awesome! I’ll be down next week and we will all get together. Eric was like yah! He got a little excited. Dervish was like yah that be cool. So I took my first real step to reclaiming my old life. Besides, I could afford to lose a few pounds in my belly. LOL The night wore on and we pretty much talked about different fire dancing styles and so forth. At some point Tony said. Gypsy, you realize you are an artist. I was like no I’m not. Eric was like dude you’re a fire dancer. Of course you are an artist. I never really thought about it. I just saw it as having fun spinning fire. But he’s right. We were always entertaining the customers at Hot Spots, so technically that makes me a performer which is an artist. And I can draw, am an awesome leather craftsman & carpenter, play an awesome flute and getting oh so ok on the mandolin, so yah! I’m an artist and a musician which is why I always hung out with them. Always on the fringe, but not quite a groupie. My night was getting better and better. They finally yelled last call and we all started to wander out. I had to motivate Tony cause he was a little buzzed and was flirting with some cute little trendy girl and we went to his place and talked. He was like dude you can crash here tonight. I was like nah! I think I’ll go stay on the beach tonight. I have a lot on my mind and I just need to be alone. I drove down to the beach and parked. I got out, grabbed my sleeping bag out of the back and walked on down to the beach and laid it out. I sat cross legged and just looked at the ocean, spending some time just being silent. Eventually old memories started surfacing. Hot Spots, Dead Shows, Festies, Gatherings & old road trips, then the faces of friends. Then the faces of the women I have known. All special in their own way and everyone of them a Rainbow Mama accept two. Everyone of them sharing their lives with me for a short while, then moving on still friends. One even came back to live with me for a short while in Vermont then off she went again. At some point I realize I been silently shedding tears for awhile. I just wiped them away and continued to go over my life. I had a good life. A simple one for the most part. In 2000 I was going out with a girl in LA. We had a place in Malibu. It just didn’t fit. I sold the car, paid off the rent for 3 months. Paid off one of her credit cards and bought me a bike & trailer. I told her goodbye it was fun & I took off for the 2000 Montana Rainbow Gathering. That was one of the most funnest & longest trips I ever took. When I got to the gathering I hooked up with some S.L.O. town kids and we set up a temporary kitchen up at the end of the parking area called “The Midnight Sun Cafe.” It was fun. Once the gathering got really going we tore down the kitchen and donated what we had to “The Popcorn Palace” and set up camp nearby. I had injured my knee in the ride up to Montana and decided to hitch out and traded of my bike & trailer to a cool Rainbow couple who needed another bike and my trailer was originally for a child which is why they wanted it. They traded me a phat backpack, some tapestries and a little cash. Wasn’t really suppose to do that but he had nothing else and he felt I could use the money. I hitchhike to Colorado with two mamas and their dogs. It was a fun trip. I landed in Boulder and hooked up with some other family and we went to the regional at Fort Collins. Went back to Boulder and hooked up with a Rainbow brother name Druid and we decided we was going to the Australia World Gathering. I started swinging pot to the college kids trying to raise the money and got caught and spent 30 days in their jail. They didn’t want me sticking around Boulder so they cut me a deal. I pleaded guilty to felony sales and they release me on 4 years unsupervised probation and I had to stay out of Colorado for 4 years. If I was caught in Colorado they would violate me and send me away for 2 years. Of course I took it but that meant now I couldn’t go to Australia. What money I had I went and bought this nice Jeep Cherokee and piled some Rainbow kids in and headed to California. When I got back to Santa Barbara I decided to take a break for awhile and got a job at the Chevron in Montecito. I adopted this street kid name Cassie and we both lived in my Jeep for awhile and I got her a job at Montecito Chevron. Shortly after words I hooked up with some ALF friends and suddenly found myself in prison for 2 years. Suddenly I was alone and lost contact with everyone. I felt abandoned and begun to sink. None of my friends bothered to contact me and the ALF kids never contacted me cause most of them had not been caught and didn't want to be. Only 3 of us got caught. When I got to Wasco I had level 2 points but cause I was such a short timer (I did 2 years out of 4 with halftime) they over-rided me to level 1, which meant I could go to a fire camp which would have meant no bars and living in a wilderness camp. But they decided to make an example of me because I was a liberal ass hippie and sent me to a level 3 prison that didn’t have room on its small level 1 dorm outside of the prison so I was housed with the worst criminals in the state. Everyday I got up and went out on the bus with the level 1 crew and worked outside of the prison. Then each night back to hell. Being level 1 meant the inmates didn’t like me to start with. I was a short timer with privileges and they mostly had 10 years or more. I won’t go into detail about it cause well its depressing. Needless to say when I got out I was pretty bitter and decided I wanted nothing to do with the whole counter-culture scene. That was easier said than done. I got a job and was living up in Los Padres. I decided to put aside my wild Druidic ways and joined a structured Order called ADF. But on the side I started hanging with some of my old friends again. I was trying to live in both worlds. Then I met some girl online in Texas who was so far removed from who and what I was & I tried a go at it thinking it would some how make me a normal person. It didn’t work out well and after 3 months headed to Oregon where some of my best friends lived. They tried to draw me out of my shell and at first it seemed to work. Portland had its charmed but it was still a city. I had gotten a regular job had a big house and tried to get involved in the normal non-counter cultural urban Pagan community while my friends went on making money however they could, playing music and stuff and enjoying life. I tried to merge my two worlds together but it didn’t work out well. I ended up giving up my phat house and moved in with some strange conservative strangers and withdrew to the internet. Shortly after words I met a really cool sister and we became best friends never thinking anything of it. Well that part of the story you already know from my Path of Atonement blog entry so I won’t go over that again. So her I am sitting on the beach in Santa Barbara going over all this. This girl saved me but in doing so I lost her friendship or did I? I’m not really sure. When she called me last night she was calm and very gentle in telling me she apologized for the cruel words & that she forgave me. I asked her why was it important for her to tell me this (I was still a little mad at this point.) if this was going to be the last time she was going to talk to me. She actually raised her voice that once and said, “Alright it’s not the last time we are going to talk. We just need a break from each other for awhile.” So this is what gives me the smallest hope that someday we can be friends again and she will make me laugh again which she was so good at. But I don’t know. Right now I’m more concerned with my own world as I sat on the beach last night. I was a wild Druid for 18 years before I joined ADF. I loved science and intellectual stuff but I wasn’t so dogmatic and draconian about it till I joined ADF. But even though I joined ADF the wild Druid in me rebelled and I kept avoiding having to do the Dedicant program. She was trying to tell me she didn’t feel the Druid path fit because of all the rigid rules and one up-manship that goes on in the Orders. I couldn’t seem to get her to believe me that Druidry could be simple. Which was only natural that she wouldn’t believe me cause I had become one of the complex Druids. But sitting there on the beach thinking about my life I realize I was a simple Druid & I had just been paying lip service to a system that I really felt uncomfortable myself with. So yah I decided to let my dues with ADF run out. I’ll find out whether I got the loans for the herbal school. If I do then its perfect cause its online so I can go anywhere I want. Where, I don’t know yet. I may even stay in the Santa Barbara area for awhile. But I decided I’m going to get a school bus. I found one in Ventura for $2000 though I may not have the money for that one in time. I figure if I can put a few $100's a month aside combine with my tax returns I should have a bus by next April or so, if I’m lucky, before then. I called Tony earlier and he always sees good ones for less so who knows. Until then me and Tony are going to see if we can draw some of the local Rainbow Family out of their cubby holes in Santa Barbara for some Rainbow Family potlucks in the park or something. He says a lot of them are still around just they don’t come out much anymore cause Santa Barbara is so conservative and the lost of the Funk Zone killed their spirit a little. Anyway I spent the rest of the evening sitting there watching the ocean and thinking about how I could get my old simple life back. I was still sitting there when the sun begun to rise & I sat there and just got lost in its beauty watching it rise. When the sun was high enough I took my shirt off and passed out on top of my sleeping bag. I spent the rest of they day just chilling on the beach then put my bag back in the car and went for a long hike along the beach. Letting my bare feet enjoy sinking into Mother Earth’s sand. Later I went and grabbed a Veggie Fajita and drove home. I got home and took a shower and sat and typed this post. I’m feeling much better. Though I am in a little pain, since my back is sun burned. LOL Anyway I hope everyone had a good day. I have decided not to post my dreams since I really don’t want to invest time in analyzing it yet. Busy finding my way back to Awen /|\Gypsy/|\ Sorry this is so long. Oh and hey Girl! Thanks for putting up with me for so long. I hope someday you trust me enough to put up with me again.

Path of Atonement, a offering to my friends

FyreChyld — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:29:59 GMT

Greetings! Forgive me if this seems like a strange message. I recently hurt someone very dear to my heart to the point that they revoke our friendship and it sent me into a downward emotional spiral. This person had given of their love to me unselfishly and unconditionally for quite sometime and when they needed me to be a friend the most I demanded more selfishly. Never in my life have I struck out in such a manner at someone I love, and their ending our friendship was probably the most shocking rude awakening I have ever had. I recently have been having dreams of a black wolf that I discovered is one of my oldest ancestors. At first I thought he was making himself known to me to help me in my journey. But when my friend spoke their last words to me and hung up I heard a growl deep within. I reach out thinking it was my totems seeking to comfort me. Instead I was attacked and bullied to submission. My ancestors are angered with me. Very, very angry. Most of them have turned their back on me. Even my guide Tincéir has turned away from me. I also can no longer feel Brighid’s presences. Only the black wolf Coir is still here with me but is hostile. I have not slept since, and spent all night crying and talking to three of my closes friends on the phone. My two closes, closes and dearest friends have not been taking or returning my calls or messages since May and I’m not sure why. I believe this is playing a part in what has been happening to me. The friend I just lost holds an equal place in my heart with these other two and losing this special person is what has finally broken me and is forcing me to look at the ugliness that has grown within me. Two of my friends were merely consoling to me and telling me I just needed time to heal. It wasn’t what I needed to hear. I don’t feel I can since I can’t forgive myself for what I’ve done. My friend D understood though. D is a close Chumash friend of mine who was raised Lakota. After telling him my story he explained to me what I had done. Bear with me. There is a reason for me telling you all this before I get to the point. D says because I have walked the Medicine Way (to him Druidry is a white mans medicine way) for so long it makes my present crimes extra heinous in the eyes of my ancestors. My Ancestor Coir is staying with me only cause it has fallen to him to force me back on the Path. This downward spiral I have been on begun nearly eight years ago when I experience a huge sense of abandonment by some I had work with within the Movement. I allow that to fester within me and the environment I was casts into for two years did not help. This bitter cancer grew over the years and other things have added to it over the years. Two and a half years ago a person who was to become very dear to me entered my life. As I withdrew more and more from the world outside of me this person unknowingly became my anchor. My rock. My only connection to what was real. I withdrew more and more. I began spending more and more time on the stupid internet and less in the real world. Somewhere along the way this friend expressed that they had deeper feelings for me. I panic and push them away. We continue to be friends, helping each other through trouble times, making each other laugh during better times etc… Then I begun to feel the same feelings for this friend but choose not to act on them in fear of losing a friendship that I had become dependent on. But my feelings grew. This is when the cracks begun. I begun lashing out at people in my real world and begun dumping friends. Then I began attacking friends online and losing them as well. Finally I left Oregon and returned to California. Me and this friend grew closer and closer till finally they felt safe enough to approached me with their feeling again during a time they were going through some heavy trials themselves. By this time my feelings had grown greatly for this person and my self imposed isolation had made of me a lonely person. I surrendered and let this person in when I shouldn’t have. I was in no shape to offer that emotionally and they really weren’t ready to have it in their own life. I begun back pedaling and confused and frighten them and they pushed me away in fear. I tried to recapture it in a very twisted way and pushed them further away and I gave up. This person has the deepest well of love and compassion within them though and even though their own world seemed to be falling apart they reached out to me again in forgiveness. We finally met and I spent two an a half of the most beautiful days with them. I remember thinking, “All will be ok now. I can let go of all my fears and doubts.” Then on the third day of us being together I witness something that shook me to my core and I attempted to comfort them and they gently pushed me away saying they needed space to deal with it themselves. I came home confused, then the cancer within me that I had ignored and not dealt with whispered to me. “You are being abandoned again. See what you get for trusting someone?” This person still cared deeply for me, just needed time to focus their love on one who needed it more at that moment. The part of me that loves this person deeply continued to try to be supportive of them. But the cancer demanded it be heard. I try to force this person to acknowledge me and my feelings. They in pain tried to push me away gently saying they couldn’t. That they thought they was ready, but realize it was too soon. They needed to focus on things in their life much more precious to them. That they stilled loved me deeply but needed time and space. The cancer would not give it to them. I selfishly pushed hard till they snapped and violently and rightfully cut me off. The love I feel for this person welled up in me and slammed the door shut on the cancer that had done this then I collapsed, broken. Knowing that it was too late. I stood there at my job broken and bare. Tears running down my face in front of customers, I just kept serving them. Not hearing a word they said. Every time I went to the bathroom to wash the tears away, I would look in the mirror, all I saw was a monster. Later in the evening, tears still running down my face I began calling friends. So broken and so unsure where to began picking up the pieces. Not knowing if it was even possible to pick them up. My friend’s kept telling me I was not a monster, that I was not evil. That I just needed time to heal. But they could not understand. They couldn’t know the full story. I couldn’t tell them who I had done this to or why. I couldn’t tell them how this came about as I felt like I would have somehow broken the only oath I had kept to this person. They couldn’t see how what I had done was so evil. How I had brought pain and suffering into the life of someone that showed me nothing but unconditional love. How I had broken almost every Druidic virtue I believe in. My friend D some how did not need to know the who, what and how. He just understood. D says my only course is to walk the Path of Atonement. To reach out to those I have wronged or offended in the past. He says I must contact whoever I can that I have wronged in the past and offer to make atonement to them. To do so without expecting forgiveness and not to become bitter if it does not come. He says asking someone to forgive you is a selfish act. That my offer of apology and atonement must be done unconditionally and with complete sincerity. The other thing he said I must do is continue to go before my Ancestors. To sit within their presences and accept their anger and displeasure each and everyday. In December around Winter Solstice he said he is going to have me do a sweat and guide me through my third peyote vision quest. Only this time it will be to face my darkness and over come it then to stand in judgment before my Ancestors. He says even if I succeed I may still walk away broken and it may take me years to heal. So some of you who I call friends will be receiving a message from me listing the things I know I have wrongfully said or done to you. This includes things I have said and done behind your back. That will be hard cause I don’t know how you all will react. But I must do it. Along with my apology and offer of atonement will be my full name, address, phone number and email address. In doing so I am baring myself to you and making myself vulnerable. You may choose to contact me to reject my apology, demand a geas or condition upon my offer of atonement or to accept it (accepting it is different than forgiveness) or to offer support or whatever. You may feel there are things I have done that I have not addressed so feel free to share it with me. You can do what you will with the information and my apology. It will take me awhile to get around to each and every person here as I will take each person and look deeply for answers within myself before I write to you. So if I have hurt or offended you know that I will get to you. There may be some who I have offended and may not be aware of it. Feel free to contact me here. What of the one I hurt and lost? I can’t offer them my apology and atonement as they had requested and I had promised that I would never again contact or bother them. D told me to offer it up to my Ancestors and when they feel the time is right they will bring it to the one I hurt. That’s all I can do. I offer my apology & atonement to all that I have wronged. Blessings unto you. Gypsy

Saraswati, Brighid of the East

FyreChyld — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:53:14 GMT

Sometime ago I have felt drawn to the east and I believe Brighid has encourage it and introduced me to Saraswati of India. Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, music and the arts. Like Brighid she is also a trinity goddess. she forms the Tridevi ("three goddesses") . She is the consort of Brahma, hence she is a Universal Goddess (the Goddesshead as Brahma is the Godhead ). As I said I have felt drawn to her and been studying her, but had not yet added her to my altar. A friend had warn me that the Vedic/Hindu gods are complex and I could easily get lost, so I stuck with just studying her. But Brighid is my patron and when she places my mind's feet upon a intellectual path I must follow it to its final destination. Saraswati continued to pull at my heart strings as well as my mind. She has perked my interest now she is demanding my attention. Recently I joined a group of Pagans on Stickam and met a sister of Arabic & Indian/Pakistani heritage. She was once Muslim but has felt pulled to her Indian blood and is now a Pagan. I can't mention her name cause she is well known in the Muslim community and her Pagan beliefs could cause her problems. Never the lest, I have grown fond of our late night discussion about the Middle East & India and must admit I pay the closes attention when she speaks of Vedism & Hinduism. Being of that culture she obviously has a greater understanding of it than those of non-Indian blood. She has already dispelled many misconception taught by Westerners who profess to follow Hinduism. She is also of the Brahmin caste so she is privileged to much of its lore. Though Saraswati is not my friend's patron, her sharing of her knowledge of her people has made Saraswati tug harder on my heart, demanding that I show more than just a intellectual interest in her (Saraswati, not my friend). So now that I know she will join Brighid upon my altar, how do I preceded in adding her without insulting her & the Indian people? Do I continue to pick my friend's mind and continue to study the lore I find on her? Should I seek out a Vedic or Hindu Temple here in Portland and ask. And if so, how do I approach them and get them to take me serious and not just see me as another New Age Westerner trying to steal their beliefs? Talking to my friend I know that there are some things that Western practitioners of Hinduism do that is seen as insulting to them. I won't talk about those as I'm not interested in correcting them. I just don't want to make those mistakes myself. I know I can never fully intergrate Vedism or Hinduism into my Path since there are cultural aspects I can never truly understand unless I was raised in their culture. But Saraswati is a Universal Goddess & its those Universal concept that I wish to draw from as well as honor her. To honor her & use her as a gateway into understanding my fellow earthlings of the East & their eastern mindset that is truly different from our western one. To find where the two meet yet respect & honor our differences. Below is some info about Saraswati for those who may not know who she is. Goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful, white-skinned woman dressed in pure white often seated on a white Nelumbo nucifera lotus (although Her actual vahana is believed to be a swan), which symbolizes that she is founded in the experience of the Absolute Truth. Thus, she not only has the knowledge but also the experience of the Highest Reality. She is mainly associated with the color white, which signifies the purity of true knowledge. Occasionally, however, she is also associated with the colour yellow, the colour of the flowers of the mustard plant that bloom at the time of her festival in the spring. She is not adorned heavily with jewels and gold, unlike the goddess Lakshmi, but is dressed modestly — perhaps representing her preference of knowledge over worldly material things. She is generally shown to have four arms, which represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. Alternatively, these four arms also represent the 4 vedas, the primary sacred books for hindus. The vedas, in turn, represent the 3 forms of literature: * Poetry — the Rigveda contains hymns, representing poetry * Prose — Yajurveda contains prose * Music — Samaveda represents music. The four hands also depict this thusly — prose is represented by the book in one hand, poetry by the garland of crystal, music by the veena. The pot of sacred water represents purity in all of these three, or their power to purify human thought. She is shown to hold the following in her hands: * A book, which is the sacred Vedas, representing the universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as her perfection of the sciences and the scriptures. * A mala (rosary) of crystals, representing the power of meditation and spirituality. * A pot of sacred water, representing creative and purificatory powers. * The veena, a musical instrument that represents her perfection of all arts and sciences. Saraswati is also associated with anurāga, the love for and rhythm of music which represents all emotions and feelings expressed in speech or music. It is believed that children born with that name will prove to be very lucky in their studies. A white swan is often located next to her feet. The sacred swan, if offered a mixture of milk and water, is said to be able to drink the milk alone. The swan thus symbolizes discrimination between the good and the bad or the eternal and the evanescent. Due to her association with the swan, Goddess Saraswati is also referred to as Hamsa-vahini, which means "she who has a swan as her vehicle". She is usually depicted near a flowing river, which may be related to her early history as a river goddess. The swan and her association with the lotus flower also point to her ancient origin. Sometimes a peacock is shown beside the goddess. The peacock represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, and by having a peacock as her mount, the Goddess teaches Hindus not to be concerned with external appearance and to be wise regarding the eternal truth.

My New Car

FyreChyld — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:34:06 GMT

Well as you all know I had a 99 GMC Sonoma. Nice truck but heavy on the MPG. On Feb. 9th I turned 43. The next day I had a accident on W. Burnside. Long story short it was a former co-worker who turn right then shot left right in front of me. Both vehicles were totaled. Me and him came out with only a bump. My insurance cut me a check for my truck ($1,200 more than I paid for it) and has found me not at fault and now is going after the other insurance company. Looking forward to getting my deductible back. Due to job drama & the fact that it has cost me two vehicles I quit my job as a Oregonian Carrier. I wasn't about to have it take another vehicle from me. Wear and tear took my 2001 Ford Escort, and the accident took my 1999 GMC Sonoma. Now I own my little dream car. A 1999 Subaru Outback. Thats it above sitting in front of my house. I love this little car and been wanting one for the last few years. I paid only $4,600 for it though it does have 134,000 miles on it. But if you own or have own a Subaru you know they are tough little cars and can put as many as 250,000 miles on one. Lest than 3 miles from the guy I bought it from the engine light came on and I was pissed. The guy wouldn't respond to my calls. I own a OBDII Diagnostic reader and plugged it in. Said it has a Knock Sensor malfunction. The next day I took it to Wentworth Subarucity here in Portland and had a full diagnostic done on it. Turned out she is a strong running engine with nothing major wrong with her other than she has a lot of different leaks. Though they are minor to moderate leaks they are expensive as hell to fix. Wentworth Subarucity was going to charge me over $1,800 to fix it all. They did replace the front Boots on it and it cost me $605. Also I decided to have the brakes checked at Les Swab and they was shot. I didn't like their quote and shopped around and found a awesome mechanic over on Hawthorne & 7th ( AFFORDABLE TIRE & BRAKE CO. ) Cost me $350 to have all the pads replaced and they were able to save the front rotors, but the rear rotors had to be replaced. He looked at my estimate from Wentworth and shook his head. Couldn't believe they charged me $605 to replace the Boots. He said he would have replace all 4 Boots and serviced my axils for $400. The owner of this shop is really cool. He takes you out and actually shows you whats wrong with your car and not just blow smoke up your arse. I know my way around a engine and mechanics enough to understand what he is showing me. Needless to say after looking at my Wentworth estimates for repairs he has brought it down to about $900 that he will do them for as well as service several other things including my timing chain. I just discovered that I can replace the Knock Sensore myself so I will save about another $150 right there. Oh and the windshield has a crack across it and that will cost me $135 to replace by MS Glass and been told by several mechanics that is a good price. So when I am fished I will have paid about $6500 for this car and been told I have a good strong car that has many many miles left on it. But I quit my Carrier job and am hard at work trying to find another job. Heres the problem. I'm tired of working jobs that break my back that I don't enjoy, only making enough to pay my rent and bills and demanding large amounts of my time. I really want to go back to school and become a Herbalist but I need a stable job that doesn't burn me or my vehicle out. I'm looking to move out of my house and now that the weather is getting better willing to live in my tent to save money. I like to get a job on a local Organic Farm or Ranch. Be allow to sleep in a tent and make about $800 a month. Enough to pay my three main bills. Car Insurance, my cellphone bill & a hospital bill I owe to OHSU which is $100 a month. Those three bills equal about $290 per month. The rest would pay for gas & food and slowly allow me to get my car fixed. So if you have land and you want a live in caretaker or labourer please contact me here. I have a lot of experience working the land from my youth and like to go back to that simple life. I'm somewhat quiet & don't smoke or do drugs. Have no pet and a rather neat and clean person. My profile pretty much speaks for itself but if you have any questions just ask. I am a practicing Druid but because of my old school hippy and rural country ways of thinking have withdrawn from the local Pagan community due to disagreements with the way Urban Pagans practice, so I won't be throwing any wild skyclad fetish parties. lol So if you have any leads for me please let me know. Peace! /|\ Gypsy /|\

First They Came

FyreChyld — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:42:01 GMT

I recently found this piece written by a man who had once been a stout supporter of Hitler and the Nazi Party. When he turned against them he was locked up. By the time he was freed he had become a full blown Peace Activist. He cried out against injustices. I to cry out against injustices and will not be silence even by those who mean well. I will continue to cry out against political, social & community apathy just as Martin Niemöller did. Peace can not be attain through silence but by the eradication of political, social & community injustice & apathy. FIRST THEY CAME When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out. ~Martin Niemöller~

Give me a slow Country Road thank you very much!

FyreChyld — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:46:54 GMT

All the great Holy teachers have taught us that the road to enlightenment is a narrow and twisting road. To me it’s a nice little country road like the one my friend and fellow Druidess used in her blog.. We found that road cause we looked for the signs (labels). New Agers want one big super highways so everyone can rush to enlightenment together. All them speeding people bound to be a lot of accidents along the way. And most are going too fast to pay proper attention to the signs (labels & rules) that tell you where you are at, exits and not to mention the rules of the road which most ignore. How many times have you heard people say, “Oh I missed my exit cause I wasn’t paying attention.” or “The other driver wouldn’t let me over to get off.” They also miss all the scenery (they see it but it goes rushing by to fast in the window to truely enjoy it). I walk slow enough to be able to read the signs and because of that I’m also able to enjoy the beautiful scenery along my journey. Also my actual feet touch & travel upon Mother Earth (unlike New Agers whose heads are usually lost in La la land in the clouds.). Occasionally a critter runs out in the middle of my path, but I’m walking slow enough to stop and enjoy its company for a few minutes & not run it over. I’m also walking slow enough to have conversation with everyone else who is following the same road (Tradition) as I. New Agers are all trying to rush to enlightenment on the super highway and the only connection they have with one another is the super highway itself. They all drive in their own vehicles (non-structure systems). Some race on in BMWs, others in Pontiacs and other putt putt along in VWs. They may wave at each other through the windows but that’s the closes they come to connecting to one another. Some will travel together on cramp & stuffy buses or Rvs. Other on rumbling motorcycles. But they are so busy usually focusing on their driving that they can’t actually enjoy the journey. Pulling over and stopping to check something out or what not is a chore for them and they have little impersonal stations that fill up their cars with gas (spiritual energy) and fast food restaurants with drive throughs so they can rush on through eating garbage as they race along to their intended destination. How many times have you heard people say when they get home from a trip say, “I’m so glad I’m home.” They are burnt out by the bloody journey. Me I can carry a little lunch on me and the traffic on the country road don’t hinder me getting to the side to sit under some shady tree and enjoy the food along with the fresh air and scenery. Waving at other travelers as they wander by, occasionally one stops to talk or join me for lunch. Not to mention all the great little Country Inns along the way where one can sit by a warm fire and enjoy a home cook meal and maybe a tankard or two of good ale. Maybe a Bard back in the corner playing his Lute or telling a story or sharing stories with my fellow travelers around the Inns hearth. Someone just come over the Pass and tells us its snowed in now. We all nod are heads and discuss alternative routes around it etc... We get news of the towns and villages we have not yet visited and tell our stories of the places we came from. All of us walking our spiritual path, following the wisdom & rules given to us by more experience travelers (Our spiritual Elders/teachers). These wisdoms & rules shared with us become our Traditions (for me Druidry). We walk the path worn down by others. We get to know each bend and corner, each hill and pass, each tree & stone, each village & town. These are the mysteries I get to know well (I believe someone called my getting to know them as placing them under a microscope?). We don’t just rush by them accepting that they are there & exist like the New Agers. We stop and get to know them intimately until they are no longer mysteries and become a part of us cause we now KNOW them. This is why us Druids call our Path the Path of Knowledge. /|\ Gypsy /|\

Gypsy's Lil' Store

FyreChyld — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:15:36 GMT

Below is a link to my Amazon store that list all my favorite books and some. Many of these books I either own or have owned (hope to add them to my bookshelf again). Others I have read. Others are books I have not read, but are by authors who's work I have read and greatly respect. Almost all of these books are on Druidry. In the future I plan to expand this store into other areas as I learn how to build this site. If you purchase any of these books you will be helping me to make my new truck payments. So please allow me to thank you ahead of time, any who purchase from my store. I'll create a fancy banner link later to put in my profile and other places on the web. But first I'm working on the store. I'll be adding other areas dealing with Homesteading, Sustainable living, Music and other areas that greatly interest me. So be sure to check back often. Again thank you ahead of time for any purchases you make. The faster I pay off my truck the less financial stress I have. LOL My Druidic Library http://astore.amazon.com/gypsshomeonth-20 P.S. And yes I'm a cheesy Dragonlance fan.

Ah Books! How I Love them!

FyreChyld — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:06:57 GMT

1. Grab the nearest book. 2. Open the book to page 23. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the text of the next four sentences in your journal along with these instructions. 5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST. "I have laid out a number of solutions and guidelines for ethical behavior, all of which are in active play, all of which are failing. I return to the question: is it possible to have a code of ethics that is inclusive, universal, and effective?" In Paganism, particularly in Pagan spiritualities based on the oral tradition, the emphasis on the uniqueness of the individual is paramount. Each situation, in its distinct location, witnessed by the spirits of place, the gods, the powers of nature, the elements, the ancestors, sliding through a unique moment in time, further adds to the context within which that individual's action might be judged." From the book "Pagan Visions for a Sustainable Future" edited by Ly de Angeles, Emma Restall Orr & Thom van Dooren

Science & Spirituality, unlikely bed buddies? Druids don't think so.

FyreChyld — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:55:33 GMT

We Druids are what is referred to as Natural Spiritual Scientist. The Greeks referred to us as adepts in Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature, known in Latin as philosophia naturalis. It is a term applied to the objective study of nature and the physical universe that was regnant before the development of modern science. It is considered the precursor of what is now called natural science, especially physics. Later (I believe in the 17th century) Natural Philosophy was formalized as Science. We know little of the actual practice of the Druids (though we are discovering that much can be gleaned from linguistics). But what we do know is that the Druids were the Celtic intelligentsia of the ancient European world, and its in that spirit do we modern Druids practice. Christians and most "revealed truth" religions follow the "Path of Devotion" while I believe most of my fellow (not all) Druids would agree that we Druids follow the "Path of Knowledge". We question everything, even our gods, and they would have it no other way. They gave us a whole universe to explore and exploring it we are. Our ancestors the Paleo-Druids studied things such as Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Geophysics, Hydrology, Meteorology, Physical Geography, Oceanography, and Physics. Of course such had different names back then. The Christians of ancient times hated knowledge base traditions like science cause it made folks question their authority. They didn't like that. They ended up defining what is religion, so many scientist later came up as atheist which is sad cause they have moments of spiritual Awen every time they make a discovery. To the Druids, they saw no conflict between religion and science. In fact their discoveries shaped their religion. Today one of the main fields of science that modern Druids feel drawn most to or I should say they study all the others in support of is Deep Ecology. The sudden high interest in Deep Ecology has caused a great spiritual awakening in the scientific community that was badly needed. The non-spiritual (though they do constantly experience spiritual wonder in their field) scientist is dying out. The belief that science & spirituality can not share the same bed is a Christian (and other revealed truth religions) & New Agers (who dislike science cause it follows natural laws which makes their fantasy driven pseudo-sciences invalid. Sorry New Agers! You can place a dull razor under a pyramid with a crystal on top all you want. Its not going to sharpen it. :-P ) concept. Druids, and most Pagans in general really see no conflict between natural philosophy & spirituality. In fact most embrace them as a very very valid Path. Now I'm referring to science in relations to spirituality. Science in relations to magick itself is a whole other area and share some commonality with my above piece. One area that both religion (the real meaning of the word is to "re-link or re-connect") & magick share is in liturgy (the science of rituals). But as I said, that is another whole subject which I'm sure some Hermetic or Chaos Magician would love to explain to you. LOL Final note: I believe the separation of spirituality & science is the cause of environmental destruction & religious wars. Atheist scientist have lost most of their morals & religion without logic & rationality has created a lot of religious fanatics.

The Gods have been shining on me.

FyreChyld — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:03:52 GMT

I got a new truck yesterday! Woo Hoo! Its a 99 GMC Sonoma with a shell. Isn't she beautiful?

Leaving Tribe

FyreChyld — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 06:24:46 GMT

Consider your origins: you were not made that you might live as brutes, but so as to follow virtue and knowledge. -Dante I strongly believe in this and have been judge as trying to place the mysteries under a microscope. People I thought were my friends instead of seeking to find out from me why I was so angered chose instead to join the others in attacking my character. I have decided that tribe is no longer a welcoming place for a old Druid like me. I will be looking for folks to take over moderating some of my tribes. Once I have done that I shall be leaving tribe. Please contact me if you are interested in taking over any of my tribes. Thank You. /|\ Gypsy /|\

Greg Pattillo

FyreChyld — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:20:59 GMT

It is common knowledge among my friends that I'm a Jethro Tull fanatic and play the flute though I'm very very rusty. I discovered this guy on YouTube and was just blown away. This guy Beatboxes on the flute like no ones business. His video is at the top of my profile here. Check out his other videos & music. This guy has truly inspired me to pick the flute back up and play music that isn't normally played on it just like Ian did back in the 60's. You can also find all his videos on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/freedomworksfilms More of his music at: His personal MySpace. http://www.myspace.com/pattillostyle His Duet. http://www.myspace.com/thenationaldebt His band. http://www.aoka.moonfruit.com or http://www.myspace.com/aoka His Unofficial Fan Site: http://www.gregpattillo.com

Writing a Nature Dictionary

FyreChyld — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 08:10:56 GMT

Way back in ancient times (when I was still young & in my 20's. LOL) I took my first steps on the path of the Druids. My mentor Sparrowhawk introduced me to the language of nature. Strange thing was it sounded different to me than it did to her yet the message was still the same. Language you say? Well what I speak of is symbolic language. Those who keep a Dream Journal will understand what I'm talking about. My mentor didn't believe in books on dreams or Tarot interpretation. Said that it was someone elses interpretation. A tree may have a different meaning to you than it does to me. Symbolism is the language we use to speak to our sub-conscious and we all have our own symbolic language. Much of my learning from Sparrowhawk came when we went on our nature hikes around her cottage just outside of Boulder, CO. When ever I ask her a question she would point to a tree, plant, stone or some wildlife & ask me, "what do they say?" Afterwords she tell me what they say to her, always careful to let me get my own meaning first before giving me her own so as not to influence mine. After words her meaning only allow me to expand my own. Shortly after moving in with her, she gave me a blank journal and sent me out on walks by myself & told me to meditate on different things in nature & write them down. I would come back & discuss them with her, then under my meanings I add Teacher's meanings. When I left her a little over a year later that journal was pretty full and kept adding to it long afterwards. Several years later I took that journal and expanded on it. I would list each thing, with my meaning, then her's (Later entries didn't have her meanings as she wasn't there), then I research each thing in a scientific context (text book stuff, this helps to expand ones own understanding of the object thereby redefining & expanding your own meaning of them), under that where available I would add spiritual meanings from Pagan books (like the Druidic meaning of the trees etc...). In time I not only evolved my own Nature language, but I new part of hers & learned Nature's language as understood by many Pagan traditions (the stuff written in Pagan books,). My focus was my own language as she taught me that was the most important & most realiable one. Her's & the Pagan communities different interpretation were for reference only so as to create a common language (the language of the Pagan community's collective-consciousness) we can all share when together (kinda like how the different Celtic tribes had their own dialects but also had a Traders dialect they used to communicate with the other tribes). The biggest problem with Religion is people try to force their mentor/holy teacher's personal language onto others as the common language & vice versa. Religions tries to force you to accept their common language as your personal language. The Pagan community like to think they escape this but they don't. This is one of the very things that causes witch wars. Over the years I moved alot (I lived a very nomadic life for most of my years) and somewhere along the way I lost it. But the majority of its lore is still locked away within my mind and when I visit the Nature areas (Each eco-system has its own dialect; forests, deserts, oceans/coasts, plains, wetlands, etc...) I've been to before I dust the cobwebs from my mind & remember how to read them. Each forest for example have their own dialect. I've been living in Oregon for close to 3 years now & realize I haven't gone out and learned the local Flora & Fauna's dialect. So I've dusted off a extra dusty blank journal I have and am headed out into the wooded areas around Portland to get to know the local Fauna & Flora. /|\ Gyspy /|\

5th Annual Northwest String Summit

FyreChyld — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 03:00:35 GMT

Its that time again! I'm been so busy lately working lots of over time at work just so I can go to Northwest String Summit ( http://www.stringsummit.com ) without worry about the bills. Work, Sleep, Work, Sleep and a bit of the Net in between. I know many of my friends will be happy as I been guilty of ignoring them online. Logging on long enough to check my mail, check a few tribe & if it really grabs me actually post. But over all I have been guilty of ignoring many of my friends online who think either I'm mad at them or just oblivious to them being online at the same time as me. Well now you know. Music is my life & I been looking forward to working & attending my second NWSS. I've been busy all day packing my camping gear (everything but a tent), making food for the 4 days I'll be there, doing laundry so I don't have to look at it when I get home etc.... Tomorrow I have to go see my doctor about my wrist, run out to the plasma center for my $35 for extra spending money then stop & grab my paycheck then off to North Plains, OR & Horning's Hide-out by 3pm. WOO HOO! Finally! A weekend of awesome Bluegrass music. This year I'm working checking arm bands. Easy work. Unfortunely before I moved out of my last house some one stold my tent so I'll have to sleep in my car unless some sweet lass invites me back to her tent. *smurk* Yonder Mountain String Band is one of my favorite modern Bluegrass bands & luckly neither of my shifts are during their set. Woo Hoo! See you all Monday! /|\ Gypsy /|\

Kelly Joe Phelps

FyreChyld — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 11:35:40 GMT

I started out listening to old school metal back in my teens in the 70's. Over the years my musical taste has change & evolved. In the mid 80's I took a 360 in the style of music I listened to. I went from listening to AC/DC & Ironmaiden to the Grateful Dead & CSN&Y. From there I was turned onto Bluegrass. From the Dead on I started exploring music more & more. My taste grew. Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, Rockabilly, Jazz, Grunge, Reggae, Celtic, Latin & many styles in between. I moved to Portland, Oregon a few years ago which has greatly satisfied my hunger for everymore new music. Portland's Library systems has a extradinary collections of music available. And Portland has a awesome diverse Music scene! Blues, Folk, Bluegrass & Rockabilly are holding my attention right at this moment. My most recent favorite is Kelly Joe Phelps. This Portland musicians managed to bring together all the best elements of Portland's Blues, Folk, Bluegrass & Rockabilly sound with a drop of Ragtime to boot. If you haven't heard this guy before you don't know what you are missing. His acoustic Blues guitar playing alone makes him worth listening to. I hate commercial pop music and recently have begun to delve into the world of promoting. At first I was going to focus on the Bluegrass & Jam Band scene, but as I started booking bands I started getting out and seeing bands for potential gigs I'm putting on. I discovered that Portland has a rich Blues, Rockabilly & Old School Grungy Rock scene as well. So I have taken to promoting all this really good non-media, non-mainstream music and see Portland as the next music hot spot in America. I shy away from Rap & Hip-Hop unless it has a Jazzy or old school sound to it. Yes I like the Digable Planets. And I can't get into alot of the Electronic stuff out there. I saw a great bumper sticker the other day. "A Drum Machine has no Soul". LOL But I have heard some tribal & trance stuff I like but in very small doses. I'm beginning to delve into some of the old R&B and old school Soul as well. I'm always looking for new music so if you have some suggestion drop me a message. My CD rack is almost full. Think I'm going to need to go out & get another one. LOL /|\ Gyspy /|\

Merlin and Nimue

FyreChyld — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 23:29:06 GMT

Anyone know who the artist is that did this? I'm really wanting to find out. I so love this picture. /|\ Gypsy /|\

My Beliefs

FyreChyld — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:23:41 GMT

Honouring the Earth and our Ancestors Druidry is a Celtic spirituality. Like any native spirituality that is rooted in the land, its foundation is that of the earth and the ancestors, through which are honoured the powers of nature. In honouring the earth, the soil that feeds us, the sun that gives us light and warmth, the source of our water, the plants and animals, we honour our external environment. In honouring our ancestors and all who have made us what we are, we honour our internal environment. It is this weave that gives Pagan traditions a good deal of their potency. Every indigenous tradition evolves with the colours and textures of the environment within which it lives. So, while there are similarities between Wicca, Asatru, Native American, Aboriginal, and other ancient spiritualities, they differ significantly because of climate and landscape. Druidry emerged out of the rocks and forests and rain of the Celtic Lands, and its very nature is wrapped in the beauty, power and shifting stories of all that Europe has been over many thousands of years past. Druidry is the practice of honouring the life force as it thrives, lives, dies and gives birth again within these lands. Imbas – Divine Inspiration - The Path to Enlightenment Yet the flow of life energy is ever- changing even here in America. Spring leaf buds burst open, soft in the cold rains, stretching out in the summer sun before turning gold beneath the harvest moons, then letting go and dancing free in the icy winds of winter. It is in this understanding of life like a river flowing that we are given the focus of Druidic practice: ‘Imbas’. An old Irish word which literally means ‘flowing spirit’, Imbas is understood to be divine inspiration and it is this search for inspiration that is so important a part of the tradition. Imbas is the power, the water of the sacred spring or milk of the mother goddess that is found in the Holy Grail. Imbas is the liquid inspiration and essence of all knowledge that was (or is) brewed in the cauldrons of the old gods, the cauldrons of rebirth. If, simplistically perhaps, salvation can be seen as the key quest in Christianity, then inspiration is the quest of Druidry. As animists, understanding that all creation is imbued with spirit, matter and physicality being the creativity of spirit, the Druid knows that it is in relationship, spirit to spirit, that inspiration is found. Sitting on the cliff top watching the sun slide into the ocean, our spirit recognises the essential power and beauty that is spirit, and we are inspired. Holding a pebble that sparkles with crystal, we touch and are touched by the spirit of the stone, its nature, and its history. Feeling the energy of the trees in the forest, the vitality of the seedlings we transplant in the spring, the strength of the horse that responds to our shift in weight and changes direction, feeling the silver veils of the moon on bare skin, we are inspired. In recognizing the spirit of some aspect of creation, be it elemental, plant, animal, rock or human, we are given the opportunity to know our own spirit, to respond from our own spirit, and it is this consciousness which gives us the power perceived in the old arch-etypal Druid: the blend of vulnerability and invulner-ability. For in Druidry there is no desire to transcend physical reality. The Druid explores the tenderness and beauty of flesh and blood, playing with its potential, expressing their creativity through physicality and through matter, discovering the beauty of the world around them, ever aware of its impermanence and state of constant change, ever aware of the spirit energy which is eternal and invulnerable. Where spirit touches spirit, where there is communion on this level and the energy of life is exchanged, Awen flows. It is the lightning that reaches between earth and sky, between lovers’ eyes. Yet simply breathing in the beauty of inspiration is not enough. It is then the Druid’s responsibility to ensure that this energy continues to flow, spirit to spirit, for energy which is held in the body or soul stagnates and swells with sickness or pride. So inspiration must be expressed, the energy inhaled must be exhaled, and this is done through the Druid’s creativity. Written by Emma Restall Orr An Fhirinne in aghaidh an tSaoil!

Magickal Winter Weekend & Rev. Feathers

FyreChyld — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 08:20:50 GMT

Magickal Winter Weekend In partnership with Songs from the Woods Presents Rev. Feathers Rev. Jordan Feathers Have YOU seen this Man?? Known to Incite Masses into Political Action! Performing Blasphemous Music known to be Offensive to the REGIME! Has been known to keep in the company of: Witches, Heathens, Activists, and other known "RIFF RAFF©"!! Last Seen by Officers in Downtown Portland, Oregon, in a case of Mistaken Identity, for one (1) Michael Scarpitti- AKA: TRE ARROW!!! Political and Socially Sensitive Individuals should approach this Suspect with EXTREME CAUTION!!! Suspect is known to barrage authorities and others with "Logical," "Aware," and "Empowered" Information which could cause Confusion/Disorientation and "REALITY CHECKS"!!! Guitar Playing Singer/Songwriter, Original Songs and Covers of Political, Radical, and Socially Aware Folks Music!!! Come one come all Pagans and Friends to MWW's second in a series of yard concerts. Festivities will begin at 6:30pm with music starting at 7pm. Bring a blanket to lay on or a chair to sit in while you listen to good music from local talent. A *$5 - $15 Donation* is greatly appreciated, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All procceds will go to benefit MWW '07. Visit www.magickalwinterweekend.org for more info about MWW events. When: July 22, 2006 Time: 6:30pm to 9:30pm Where: VII Firs Grove, 10800 SE Holgate Blvd Portland OR 97266 (Map Quest for directions)

Magickal Winter Weekend & the Tea Caddies

FyreChyld — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 08:09:30 GMT

The flyer here will explain. Hope to see you all there. BTW "Songs from the Woods Promotions" was started by me & Kina (from the Tea Caddies) and we are always looking for musicians who are looking for a start. We focus on Pagan & Pagan friendly musicians as well as Bluegrass, Celtic, Americana, Folk Rock, & ethnic music like Romani/Gypsy music. So if you are looking for a break drop me a message here. I'll have a website up soon for us. Magickal Winter Weekend is my present project. We are putting on 2 gigs a month up till MWW in February 2007. These are benefit gigs and I am looking for Pagan musicians for them. So if you have a gig coming up let me know so I can come check you out. I want to hear you live before booking you. /|\ Gypsy /|\ His a small taste of the "Tea Caddies" http://www.myspace.com/teacaddies and http://www.myspace.com/mattfranzen

My newest toy

FyreChyld — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 23:53:32 GMT

I believe deep down inside everyone likes to roleplay on some level. I've recently download a 3D Instant Messenger called IMVU. It is so much more fun than boring old IMing on yahoo messenger. At IMVU I'm able to create a persona/avatar and build on it to the point that it almost, and I say almost takes on a life of its own. Its nice occasionally to be able to shed ones self & let a smaller part of yourself have full rein for a short while in a safe & harmless environment. Since I'm a Druid & believe in Imbas I strong believe Brigid is using this program to teach me. To help me bring forth some of my personality traits I'm usually to shy or scared to bring out in real life. Anyway folks should check it out. If nuthin more. It is cute. http://www.imvu.com/catalog/web_registration.php?userId=1547889 go na Tiarna agus Bantiarn coill glas beannacht glas tu!<br> May the Lord and Lady of the Green Wood Bless you /|\ PdxDruid /|\