Dedicant Path:

1. The Nine Virtues
   
2. The Eight High Days
   
3. Book Review
   • Religion in the Ancient Greek City
   • Drawing Down the Moon
   • A History of Pagan Europe
4. The Home Shrine
   
5. Two-Powers
   
6. Building Mental Discipline
   
7. Honor thy [Earth] Mother
   
8. The Eight High Days - Experience
   • Samhain
   • Yule
   • Imbolc
   • Ostara
   • Beltane
   • Midsummer
   • Lughnassadh
   • Harvest Home
9. The Three Kindred
   
10. Personal Spiritual Practice
    
11. The Dedicant's Oath
    

I was surprised I didn't have the first Eight High Days essay done, mostly because I had it check off in my manual. I started over with it, and I'm trying to wait until I can type descriptions from heart rather than paraphrasing 3-4 online sources. I'm almost done with Religion in the Ancient Greek City. I'm waiting to finish that before I start the mental discipline one. I want the mental discipline to tie in with some stuff from the Order of the Crane to see how far I want to take it. I'd like to get my Reiki I attunement first before I start the journal too. And then of course the Dedicant Oath, which will probably happen on/around Harvest Home. /technically/ my last ritual for the year could be Lughnassadh since I was at Harvest Home, but I really didn't understand too much of what was going on so I'll leave that out.

Rites of Spring went very well. It was almost surreal, being around everyone again. I told KC in the church parking lot how weird it is that the medicine wheel just feels like home to me. And being around everyone just re-lit the fire that needed to be rekindled. Amanda gave me a candle that had been burned from the Grove's hearth fire, extremely thoughtful and appreciated. I'm going to use it the next chance I get to sort of re-dedicate my altar space. It was great to see Missy, too. Me and KC kept talking about how calm we felt after she arrived, we were a little bit more sure of ourselves after the hug from her. I don't think Missy realizes how much of an emotional pillow she is, it was relaxing just being around her.

I did some spiritual spring-cleaning in my bedroom. I cleaned the surfaces of everything, organized some drawers and my closet, did some vacuuming too. I lit a couple stick of incense and asked Athena to help me purify any lingering negativity. I chose Athena just because I remember reading a purification ritual on ADF. I didn't do that ritual, I just kinda made everything up as I went. But my room does feel less stuffier now, and certainly more relaxing. I laid some black salt around the perimeter of the room, and just because I was thinking "it's worth a shot" I did an outdwellers offering to any negative being that may have made a home in my room. And to finish it off I did a light-purifying blessing I learned awhile back when I was still a Wiccan, and finished off with a ward protection. I don't really think I *needed* to do any of that, but I was in the mood and *wanted* to lol

Anyhoo, hope everyone is doing well. There's plenty more I want to type but I have to start getting ready for work. 9-5 today, blah.