I find I am mainly interested in Irish Celtic Druidism. (If I may call it that.) I was greatly impacted by the essay done by Erynn Laurie. I was also greatly impacted by the "Ritual of the Mists" done by John K. Gibson. I loved the simplicity of his ritual and it has effected the way I hold many of my rituals. You can read this beautiful ritual on my Ritual page. To me this seems right and feels best. I love OBOD's approach to Druidry and feel the Bardic course is perfect for me, but I wish to modify my practice by being more Celtic Traditionally aligned.

So far I am practicing meditation techniques at least twice a week and holding solitary small rituals (Bardic circles) in the OBOD tradition at least once a week. I am also using the OBOD's form and the ADF's form of Centering and Grounding. They both work great and leave me feeling balanced and relaxed for ritual work. Both techniques use visualization and breathing to increase awareness and I enjoy using them both. I am currently working and meditating with the elements, in order to give me a more personal understanding of them. But here lies my problem.

Erynn Laurie states the Celtic Traditionalist should spend more time and hold the three Realms of Sky, Land and Sea as more ritually important then the four, Greek in origin, elements. I believe this to be true. I have held small rituals and meditated on my own way with these three Realms. My question #1 is should I use the three realms in ritual. My question #2 is, when I am opening, casting the circle and welcoming the four corners/elements prior to ritual work. Should I instead be opening, casting and welcoming the three realms instead?

One thing I am doing is holding my rituals in a place near the three realms. I hold all my rituals near a rushing stream along a beautiful nature-hiking trail. To me this encompasses the Land I stand on, the Sky above me, and the Sea that surrounds us. For no where can you stand on land that is not surroundsd by Sea. I give reverance to the Three Realms before my Rituals and thanks afterwords.

For the Sacred tree and cauldron, I usually dig a hole next to an oak tree. This hole has a rounded bottom and I line it with smooth round stones from the stream. I fill it with wild fresh picked flowers, herbs, acorns or other things, I gathered on my hike. Each time I hold these small solitary rituals it is usually in a different place each time along the stream bank. For some reason as I hike along with my walking staff, I just stop near an oak tree along the stream bank in an area that feels right for me. Many times this is a different area then the week before. I feel this allows me to connect with the many different and varying land spirits that abound along this gorgeous nature trail.

The only ritual tools I carry are: a hand carved cedar walking staff (which I made), a small curved Knife very scythe like, a triskele, a double spiral, a hand spade, and a water skin. I do not wear a white robe; instead I wear a plaid shirt, blue jeans and hiking boots. I go garbed in this fashion, because I live in a very religious intolerant town and I feel I would probably loose my job due to my beliefs. I try to keep my rituals very simplistic and I carry all my tools in a small leather belt pouch. I use fire very rarely in my rituals and if I feel my ritual requires it, I use visualization instead. To light a real fire on this beautiful nature trail would be a heinous crime, if it got out of control.

There have been many times, while holding these small rituals, nature itself has come to say "Hi". One time I actually had a Gray Squirrel sit in a tree, less then 6 feet from me, and watch me for about 15 minutes. While I was doing my ritual. Is this a Celtic Deity come to watch or Mother Nature giving her approval? I do not know, but appreciate her curiosity.

Sometimes I don't even hold a ritual while on these walks/hikes. I will find a comfortable place to sit and will read my gwers, books or poetry, either Yeats or haiku to a beautiful tree. I often end my nature-hike by stopping at the beautiful waterfall/swimming area and spend an hour cleaning up all the trash people have left from their picnics. Believe it or not the next week I am here, the trash usually reappears in greater magnitude.

When I actually hold my Rituals for one of the Eight Festivals. I usually do them in the same way, but I write down pertinent dialog for the festival in question, from the supplemental gwers, to say during the ritual. These I often change or add to so the Ritual in question feels right to me. I also carry whatever items I may need for the ritual, as well as bread as a offering to the land spirits.

Question #3: Is my method and approach to Druidry wrong? Am I doing too little or not enough? I do not know. I read as much as I can and am hoping to soon be able to afford three good books. "The Druid Source Book" by John Matthews, "The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries" by Evans-Wentz, and "A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year" by Ellen Hopman. Something new I am trying to do is Pathworking as described by Steve Blamire's in his book "Glamoury". I hope this will give me a further grasping and closeness to the Celtic heroes of Ireland.

I love gardening, but the heat here in Texas is hanging at 100 degrees for to long in the summer and winters tend to be either to cold or change to quickly. This means everything I try to plant dies quickly. OBOD has a Grove/Tree planting program. I would greatly enjoy planting a grove, but I live in a duplex and can't afford the land it would take. I do have a small wall shrine set up in the center of my house with two Bonsai plants. This is an idea I got from ADF's Dedicant packet and from the IMBAS's page. I find sometimes with my busy schedule, I am not able to head to the nature trail. So a short ceremony/ritual held at my home wall shrine sometimes has to do.

Question #4: I am looking for a good book on the relationships, mythology and tales of the Irish Celtic Gods and Heros. I believe this will help me write more effective rituals. If you know of a few good books out there, please suggest them to me.

As for Divination and Divinatory tools, I often practice with The Druid Animal Oracle created by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm. I practice by reading the meanings of each card and by meditating with each card individually. I am surprised by how often I can look at a single cards beautiful artistry and see something I missed before or something that stands out more to me this time then before. I practice many of the spreads and hope that skill will soon follow my dogged attempts. This is not a traditional tool used by the Celts of the past, but it is one I hope to learn. I am also interested in something called "Druid Sticks". I first heard them mentioned by a person in a thread about Divination on the NOBOD's mailing list. They are supposedly four pieces of wood with celtic knotwork engraved on them. They can be cast with a possibility of sixteen different outcomes. They said more can be learned about them in the book "Omens, Oghams, and Oracles" by Richard Webster, published by Llewellyn (ISBN 1-56718-800-1). These sound interesting to me and I plan on looking into it further. If any of you have any ideas on Celtic Traditional/Reconstructionalist Divinatory tools, please let me know.

I am sorry if I seem to ramble from topic to topic, but I have many questions and lots to tell. I am also hoping to give you an idea where I am at one this path as well.

I would appreciate any input anyone can give. Whether it be suggesting a good book or sharing your practices with me. If you feel I am doing to little please say so. Here is where I plan on putting information on my path and questions I have. Also if you can share any information on writing Haiku or poetry in general I would greatly appreciate it. I am not easily offended, mainly because I am a Police Officer. I have been called everything in the book, by many different people LOL. If you want to start a discussion on good ritual practices or advice on the ways I should practice or any suggestions, please leave them in my Guestbook or e-mail me. I would prefer you leave it in my guestbook, that way others can benefit from what you have to say.

I have tried not to go in depth on any of OBOD's or ADF's teachings, especially since they wish them only for members. If you are a member of either Order and feel I have said too much, please suggest to me a way of modifying this page and it shall be done.

I live in the Bell County area of Central Texas. I am very close to Killeen, Belton, Temple, Harker Heights and 35 minutes away from Waco. I am very interested in finding and meeting people in my area that are interested in getting together once a month for Ritual and/or study. The only problem is I am 30 years old and a Police Officer. This may sound wrong to some, but I prefer meeting other pagans between the ages of 20 and up. I do not hold anything against younger pagans. This is just my preference. My wife is a Wiccan and she may join our group from time to time. If you are a member of OBOD or join OBOD, then we can form a Seed Group. I think this would help me in many ways and further my/our studies in Druidry.

I prefer nature walks and I prefer to study my Gwers in the woods. My schedule is very hectic, but I would be glad to set time a side for meetings once a month. If you are interested in forming a group or a Seed Group please contact me via e-mail, for correspondence first. As I have said before the path of Druidry is fairly new to me. So do not expect me to be some all knowing master Druid LOL. I find myself having more questions then answers the further along I go on this path.

Also I do not practice spell craft or any manipulative magic. I don't do it and I don't condone it. A friend on the NOBOD mailing list said it best. "I will be glad to send healing energy's your way and love, but don't expect manipulative spells." To me Druidry is more concerned with Ecology conservation and love of nature and the honoring of the many Deity's in all their forms and animal/land spirits. Not the accumulation of power through manipulative spellcraft. Also you must realize I am a Police Officer. That means I will not accept the use of Drugs or Hallucinogens and/or the abuse of alcohol. I love a drink now and then but I try not to abuse alcohol myself, unless supervised by my wife.

If you find your views lay similarly in my direction, please feel free to contact me. I have many books I would be glad to share with other friends, but of course I would like them back. My wife has many books on "Wicca" she would share as well. My wife practices her craft with many others at an open coven circle on FT. Hood. I myself find there is no one there with similar beliefs to mine.

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