All Fall Down and Grove Anniversary. So much has been going on...

...that I am not sure where to start!

Last weekend was the Ninth Annual All Fall Down Festival. This is a free local music festival co-hosted by my husband and some people we know. I played a forty minute set and was encored--twice! It was an excellent day. My autistic son made it all day, with only one trip in the car to help him fall asleep at nap time. My oldest son caught two fish, and my daughter was just the darling-in-pink all day. I made the food: steaks on the grill, potatoes, veggies, mushrooms, corn. Bonfire in the evening, and music, music, music! Excellent performances by all.

Sunday was the Grove Anniversary rite for Three Cranes Grove, ADF. I took my 5-year-old daughter with me. SHe volunteered to do Outdwellers. I love her. I did my first public prayer--I invoked the Shining Ones. It went well. I just used the words I would use at my shrine. The irony in me performing the Shining Ones was not lost on me. This position had me make an offering to the fire. For those of you who don't know, I have had quite a rough go about fire offerings. They make me nervous. But, it was a good rite with very positive omens.

Tuesday, my husband, brother-in-law, friend and I drove to Detroit to see Sigur Ros!!! It was, by far, the best show I have ever seen in my life. That is saying a lot coming from me. I have seen at least a hundred shows, if not more, in my time. (Music is kinda my thing.) From the first note, the performance was full of energy so intense that my eyes watered for the first three songs before I adjusted. I even found myself slipping into trance at one point and had to shake it off as awen rained down...

Wednesday was the first day of school for me. I am officially a college student now! I have five chapters to read by next week, two discussion posts and a math/essay question assignment. (Did I mention something raining earlier? It wasn't homework was it?) Wish me luck, because I am going to need it!

I did my Equinox rite, which I will write up later. I thought it went well, but my offerings were not accepted the first or second try. I was surprised by this because everything seemed to be going well. I'll have to reflect more and see what I can come up with.

All in all, it has been a whirlwind of a week, and I am grateful to have nothing scheduled for this weekend--including work! Two whole days with the family. See you all Monday! :)

Be Careful What You Ask For...Yar.

So, studying the myths of the Greeks and whatnot, one cannot help but run into our beloved Eris, Goddess and Guardian and Causer of Chaos.

*ahem*

Yesterday, a friend was discussing with me how terribly chaotic her life has been lately, to which I responded in all my wisdom and vision, "Chaos is good for you. It helps you reorganize and refocus when things around you become mundane. A little Chaos never hurts." (I'm sure you can see where I am going with this...)

Today, my husband woke me up at 6:45 to tell me the van won't start, and the alternator is bad. He missed work because of it. While he was trying to take the alternator out, it began pouring. I am standing outside in the white t-shirt I slept in, with no bra on, holding a wrench that I must not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE let go of.

While we were doing this, my new puppy (adorable, cute, lovable puppy) rolled in what I am hoping is mud. Couldn't get the alternator out, so we go inside. Stops raining. I gave the dog a bath, and he jumped out of the tub and into my lap. Dog gets all excited and jumps up onto the counter, knocking my favorite coffee cup onto the floor--and into a million-billion pieces. Yes, with coffee in it.

I did find a ride to work, but I had to go two hours early and work my friend's shift. :( Kids weren't home from school yet when I left. Work is a mess. There are only five people here to run seven benches (laboratory work). We barely got dinner breaks covered. We had to call someone in to help us catch up. Analyzer went down in Hematology, AND the guy who was supposed to come in at 7 is a no call/no show.

So, here I sit, in the gas lab where our no-call-guy was supposed to be while all of my machines are calibrating--at the same time. I am waiting to run this blood gas. Stat, blood gas. The nurse will be calling any minute to ask me where her results are.

And what can I do about any of this? Absolutely nothing.

*sigh*

Very funny, Eris....

Completing DP Essays and the Importance of a Solitary Druid

Finished revising my nine virtues essays, again (still waiting for feedback from a friend on Hospitality).
Finalized my essays on the high days.
Finished my Home Shrine Essay.
Finished my book report for A History of Pagan Europe.
Finalized essays for the three high days I have attended thus far.
Finished Shining Ones portion of Kindred essay.

Half-way through Being a Pagan.
Began Nature Spirits portion of Kindred Essay.
Began Dedicant Oath Rite text/completed two of the five songs.

Haven't started Two Powers Essay yet, though I have used it many times.
Still compiling journal entries for Mental Discipline and Nature Awareness activities.

Hearth Culture Chosen: Hellenic.
Still compiling information.
Reading. Reading. Reading.

I still have a long way to go, but I am moving at a good pace. The items I have finished will be reread in a few months, when they are not as fresh. I am pleased with my progress so far. I have not been able to attend as many of the Grove activities as I would like, but I knew when I started that I would spend quite a bit of time as a Solitary still. I am grateful that I have a Grove like Three Cranes who supports the solitary members of the local community. They allow me to be involved as little or as much as I can, and this freedom has helped me to flourish in a short amount of time. I encourage other Groves to reach out to the Solitaries in your area! The greatest thing you can do for them is show them you are there and constant, but allow them to be involved at their own pace. We aren't "cats that need to be herded." We are individuals who have different schedules and different patterns of privacy. We love our Gods, live fruitful lives, and just need the space to be who we are. Assimilation is not our strong point, but that doesn't mean we don't have anything to offer in the group setting. We can be resources for the Groves. We lead out own rites, so we understand the stresses of DIC. We can show you how to be organized enough to carry an entire Shrine for a high day all by yourself! We write a lot of our own prayers and rituals, even songs and chants. Above all else, we are working on and completing the study programs, just like the Grove members. We study and pray and do all the same things the Groves do--we just do them alone.

Let your Solitaries be examples of inner strength, discipline and independence.