06.01.09

Training, and/or Self-Initiation

Posted in Living Druidry, Training at 1:24 pm by JWL

I’ve thought for many years that the next big leap in my own spiritual evolution will only come once I’ve mastered a daily practice. I spend a lot of time in thought, with abstractions as my companions. I can wax philosophical until the cows come home, and I often apply this skill to what I think paganism is. I’ve had a book about paganism in my head for many years, but have yet to make time to write it. Again, missing daily practice; if I spent even a half-hour a day writing, the book would be done within a year.

But I don’t. Why not?

I’ve been thinking lately about imposing a training program on myself, for the traditional year-and-a-day, with a self-initiation at the end of it. The focus of this training would be doing what I need to do to more fully self-actualize, but of course it would be theoretically grounded in Druidry. Practice, not theory.

The summer solstice approaches, and it is a resonant time for such a practice. Begin the training with the full exuberance of the summer sun, while the “old” me slowly wanes, and a “new” me begins to wax in 6 months. Finally, when the sun returns to its place of maximum strength, I’d do my self-initiation then.

I do have a year-long Druidry training program by Emma Restall Orr, but I think I’d need something a bit deeper. Certainly my training would include a daily practice of centering/rooting, observing how my environment changes throughout the year, and daily practices that cultivate me living to my highest potential.

What would you do if you were going to undergo such a training or self-initiation? I’ve turned comments on for the site, so feel free to post your thoughts.

EDIT: Apologies, comments were still closed. Hopefully they are now open.

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