spiritual center Earth

The whole of what is and was part of us and everything allready.

We feel environmental pressures and stress as a way to adapt and adjust to changes and opportunity.

Each individual life and death experience takes place in shared space on this surface sphere.

Home of waters and air.... our planet Earth.

Host to all.

Natural boundary of a natural body.

Everything part of the same observable and measurable world.

A common container of coevolution cooking up complex chemistry between multiple living and nonliving communities without special allegiance required or given as part of its reason for being.

Wild and FREE                living in you and me         everything responding with a common process.

Language originates in peoples attempts to describe natural phenomenon developing into a cultural expression.

When a language becomes unfixed from its relationship to place it becomes less local and more tribal.

Here is where special arrangements territorial boundaries exclusive to the language users generate a cultural bias against natural truth and for a select idealized sampling of what is important TO SHARE.

Human story telling is the intergenerational adaptation response to the changing world.

Yet another peculiar mating call among things animal vegetable and other

Life struggle story shared codified traditional literate legitimate lessons of cultural continuity.

Oracular projected game strategy best guess shift of the previous generation unfolding casting their first shadows across the land.

Technology has influenced human communication with itself in ways that do not synchronize with natural time and shared periods of activity and rest.

Equilibrium is maintained by a sensitivity of the individual to perturbances in the pathways of habitual function activating a novelty response to the situation.

What I have thought of as authentically pagan nature -earth exchanges involve the response to a lead from Nature

the listening or receptive intuitive capacity of the individual to recognize other persons and personas in the landscape and surroundings without regard to social conditioning and cultural bias. 

A language of perceptual feeling shared and sub sensual 

hugging the terrain momentary psychedelic aphrodisiac repository 

this place where drifting star pollen has settled to take root to find itself born.

 unsolicited blessings offered from unfamiliar agencies and influences.

Resonate vibrations between surfaces bubbles drops dew buzz bounce reaction response patterning relative to actions of players on the temporary manifestation of physical form and dimension.

Here We Are.

Nature is real and true existing before people were around to describe it.

An amazing diversity of transient terrestrial triumphs for a time 

That are all still here.

They have no place else to go.

This is their home and resting place.

Our Nature no different.

How we relate to the world is mostly a learned cultural view of the world.

Obvious truths are disregarded by those that are taught that all answers are the realm of a separate distant perfect Judge.

Believing that mortal worldly existence is a moral test and trial of human souls by a heavenly creator is ignoring or minimizing the perceptions of others that do not share that belief.

Truth is inherently part of what keeps nature alive and dead, breathing and thirsty, moving exchanges between physical bodies.

It is right in front of us, and in us as well.

It is behind us for millions of years.

It was never paradise and peace.

It was never easy or without effort.

We are the worldly struggle animated flesh.

shaped by situational space environment.

Home Grown.

reflective receptacle reference roots

 

close up attention given to the inadvertent sampling carried by rooted willow twigs brought inside before the first freeze.

sitting in a tree pot near the window the glass vase lit up with the sun's rays passing spotlighting the detailed activity within.

clinging to the biofilm on roots transported submerged suspended emergent life beyond intention singularity of content and container.

subject and stillness drama of light and shadow suck and surge synchronistic strings behaviors of aqueous solutions anomalous serendipity.

enigmatic oscillations incongruous coalescence in multiple moving forms wriggling dance of midge and mosquito larvae recently hatched from clusters of eggs.

place as home space as battery capacity and awareness of the existence of natural life struggles taking place circulating field vibration.

nature does not ask for permission it does not offer consent it takes place in the only way it has ever had to with circumstance and luck.

taking a closer look at the ordinary a regular repeated observational devotional examination collection understanding oracle over time.

developing aspects and ratios of dimension between what is seen and what is unseen structures subtle membranes and tissues interconnected.

accepting the truth of what is does not involve the cultural anthropomorphic language storytelling of what people want to hear.

watching them grow up grazing on the outside root surfaces film on sediment and glass floating back to breath the air.

assumptions about the nature of reality and the reality of nature are paradoxical attractors polarized permeable porous personification.

maybe four generations of what I would guess are multiple species of midge and mosquito grew to almost adulthood over the course of this winter.

all of the eggs present on the roots of the willow when I brought it in from outside a projected potential

of pulses and programs.

 offerings involving the giving of attention recognition respect dignity convey a current circumpolar

mechanism embodied in effort.

Nature Awareness 3

 Seemingly symmetrical symbiosis souls and spaces

referencing reflections refraction religious reservoir remembered recently.

Surface appearance and the deeper interior dimension of being existing within the obvious.

I had my wife Susan take pictures with her phone of our local spot above.

all of the photos in this post, most all in the blog - my wife the artist, her personal phone the artificial tool with genius abilities and a sensitive touch screen.

I have come to rely on the images as a focus or trigger for words and writing that I regularly ritually express myself here, a place of sorts.

                                                                             spirits of place

sometimes the settings and functions of the aware magic tool do not show us what is seen as true to our natural vision.

The partnership inherent in tool use becomes intimate and familiar.

The relationship between perception and inspiration=expression feels similar.

Capturing the essence of the moment

 with the best of the magic tool's ability

 without later manipulating or editing

                                                            Peoples     and     Placenames

The core of Our Whole Grove consists of my wife and I who are not from here and a person who was a ADF member who grew up comparatively local.

Elizabeth

We have celebrated around a hundred ritual holidays together a few workshops, but to my memory no unscheduled field trips till the curators talk at the Woodstock Artists Association& Museum the end of this January passed.

We accepted the front row seats offered to us in the big back gallery next to the screen for the projected power point in front of the hung paintings of the exhibit the speaker Evan Pritchard was just starting.

                                                        

I had been in that place many times before over many years,

a member when first moving up from the city letting it lapse years back after copping an attitude from the crowded group show in the basement gallery, if I remember correctly, there is a lot going on with people and spaces there. a consistently good place a good organization, a good place to recognize.

I have seen and heard the person many times before over many years,

it used to be that my multiple sign-up sheets became multiple E - mails with attachments somehow different from one another. Seems like that got cleared up years ago, if I remember correctly. He was a regular performer at Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival at Croton Point Park when I was there.

it has been years since I have had an opportunity to see him. It felt good to see him present and presenting live in special shared place. I felt good about being there.

I anticipated his ceremonial opening, flute playing, language knowledge expecting his insights on the names of places that were the subjects of local landscape based around the collection of the Association.

I wasn't expecting him to repeatedly reference The Olive Free Library in West Shokan and its museum as a resource which coincidentally is the place, I last exhibited the watercolor painting Metamorphosis in the fifth annual small works group show Pandemonium that had just closed earlier in the month.

He talked about the people and place associated with the local spot that my wife took the photo with at the top of this blog post an unnatural landscape the waterways altered the place and its features changed.

Strangely closer to home than I would have expected. Asho-Attien is Munsee " strong rapids" used by the village that was around Bishops Falls mentioned as a landmark in the Esopus Munsee treaty of 1665.

That becomes the origin of private property ownership and development in the place that I am blessed to find and buy to live and work on for the last twenty-three years.

a formally recognized relationship between person and place/space

clear boundaries with defined responsibilities and accountability for the actions that take place within.

I am not inclined to feel that land and structures are my materials to shape just because I can.

It is not only my playground after all.

It may be that magical sacrifice brought my wife and I together, we feel that our kindred spirits brought us to this place together and the place influenced and assisted our partnership of spiritual and artistic practice.

Elizabeth brought her copy of Oak Leaves The Quarterly Journal of ADF spring 2023~Issue No. 100

with my work on the cover to share with the others who gather for the formal scheduled Grove(protogrove)Holiday of Imbolg before the ritual starts at the close to the house circle off the deck.

The Editor-in-Chief Rev. G.R. Grove included my bio statement in their Column.

I don't know who sees what, but I feel good about contributing and connecting, having a presence within that space. 

pagan priest of place in print presently on paper a picture painted by me here at my house.

Rev. Bryan Perrin is a unnatural awareness for me, a cultivated sensitivity to responsibility and accountability as specialists in a field with the ability to truthfully observe and challenge the roles and practices of spiritual community and assumptions about authority and hierarchy as well as the use of manipulation and coercion in religious teaching, particularly notions of afterlife suffering.

for the most part my sacred duty is focused on sacred occasions,

 fire -the seasonal holiday ritual sacrifices and omens the sharing of the waters of life.

I do my best to keep things on track and move it along in a way that doesn't overtly direct awareness of active participants, invited guests, or onlookers.

Outdoor all weather group ritual observances are occasions to relate and open oneself to experiences outside of controlled environments. There is something shared that is genuine authentic and truthful in live group experience with what nature has to offer.

The partnership inherent in use becomes intimate and familiar.

The relationship between perception and inspiration=expression feels similar.

Capturing the essence of the moment

 with the best of the magic tool's ability

 without later manipulating or editing

                                                            Peoples     are     Placenames

Language is the process of describing natural phenomenon in word story.

Nature exists as a soul filled real place before we develop a shared vocabulary to try to understand it.

I titled this blog post with the name of the naturalist guild of ADF's proposed course that was being presented to the clergy council as a elective in the clergy training program. I have written before in this my sacred blog about the awkward feelings associated with creating and participating in suggested paths of action for others that I do not know, asked to imagine that there are people who will find good and benefit from their participation in the program, valuing my work and contribution.

Surface appearance and the deeper interior dimension of being existing within the obvious.

Rev Barbara Wright passed away while I've been writing this, I don't know how she felt about this specific element of ADF study, but I know she took it all on during some inconvenient times in her life.

I met Barbara in the old days before the dedicants program of ADF, she was from Wild Onion Grove out of Chicago we worked together a little on what was a precursor to the seers guild.

She was very direct and outspoken independent thinking voice generous with her knowledge.

She also had a bullshit intolerance that I can relate to and continue to relate to.

Divination and omen seeking are the repeated reference reassurance tool use for relationship.

Transe states and meditation practices simulate relationship between perception and intuition=reception feels similar.  questioning and listening for an answer

When someone's body is no longer the container of their soul it is obvious that death is natural process.

Our natural state of awareness has been conditioned to tune out most but our language.

which is the process of describing natural phenomenon in word story.

Nature exists as a soul filled real place before we develop a shared vocabulary to try to understand it.

Thank You ADF

sometimes the settings and functions of the aware magic tool show me what is 

rooted repair respect remedy

 As silly as it may seem to love things that may not have the ability to reciprocate, I think that we do have the ability to love, care for, do acts that are caring for things that have heretofore been perceived as inanimate.

 I think that we are supposed to be able to love things, even things that seem ridiculous and far distant, like the stars. Changing the narrative to allow that the cosmos, the land, the unseen, the dead, all these things are aware of the capacity for cruelty or kindness to be exhibited in interactions of themselves and others.

Learning to respect and value relationships and associations the inner workings and outer influences of subjects and objects taps into the benevolent current connecting and sustaining all.

 Flowing with the sap we unknowingly share with tin and steel aluminum and ice.

Galvanized or rusting our surface weathering with time exposed to the living world changing.

Rearranged or prearranged is a perspective of the viewer in a panoramic epic composition.

everything a witness with no completely innocent bystanders in projecting imagined attentions.

everywhere are attractions with chain reactions taking place exchanging of displays of affection.

Coupled and connected to circuit and cycle of culture and caring community expression.

to help

to give

to feed

to clean

to fix

to service

to sacrifice

more to this world than just this world

 It is nice to think of Earth centered Religion as something vast and solid-

ancient and complete-

but it isn't.

more to this life than this life

more to individual experience than awareness

part of something bigger

part of interacting relationships with other subjects objects and conditions as perceived or felt.

a temporary physical presence manifesting in a field of time and space with you as occupant.

more to personal struggle than person

more to individual suffering than the individual

more to work than just work.

more to loss than just loss

more to change than just change.

more to repetition

more to vibration

more to magic

more to the journey than the destination

Book centered Religion is the root medium =spawning reproduced carriers of symbolic information

                                                like this blog

more to this blog than just this blog

more to my sketchbook than my sketchbook

At a zoom session clergy retreat workshop chat the book was put on my radar.

Only now have I the technology to purchase a published title used at best price and have it delivered with digital cash.

I Love Books as inspirational empathic pathways stimulating, transforming records of literate effort.

Thing made by people,

 with a spirit of their own.

quality of characters and composition,

 elements of unique style, some kind of binding paperback or hardcover

a crafted object to hold care and caring of its contents.

beyond fixed destiny or simple fate, a less literal interpretative guide-

It may be written in the stars.

or word of mouth

Executive Function

crown

Relationship with responsibility and accountability for the willful direction of action and activities within the boundary of the body or realm.

corona

sacred sovereignty symbolized as radial extensions of authoritative territory.

Lord and master

personal judgement individual autonomy self-control

coupled with the wellbeing/ prosperity of that in your charge.

a crafted object to hold care and caring of its contents.

Intelligent decider the top of our core

Witness to experience world within our world within

Structural order in anatomical hierarchy

skull

Place where the senses come together.

Suspended in an acoustic resonator.

more to head identity than identifying with heads.

shapes and representations finding meaning.

the star on the tree or goodies on my lap.

associations created; connections being made actively.

the hub of the wheel turns on the upright spindle attached but not fixed in position.

cosmic axis canopy sphenoid syncretic symbiotic salience 

you can't catch me - I'm the gingerbread man.

more to reading and writing than just reading and writing.

still me dreaming me still

Sacrifices made and witnessed

I painted the picture above before the studio tour was to take place back about ninety-six.

As an exhibitor in an Artist studio tour at One Eleven this is how I self-Identified with community.

Self-portrait as side show oddity

Although I am in a much different place now and am much older there is something that is me still.

clever-stupid juggling discovery surprise experience expression creation compulsion curiosity

The Fool or sacred Clown is a big influence with my teaching communicating understanding flow.

It is a feeling

a funny feeling

part of me that is beyond my personal control yet emerges from my controlled personal work

               still 

                     ALIVE!

Part of me or my process before priesthood was part of my pagan picture 

 I had built up big city experience big time contributing as an individual in group efforts

particularly prominent the portfolio produced for promoting ADF publishing presence publicly.

The Druids' Progress was rebranded Oak Leaves

I was no longer the chief artificer the rebranded study program had elected guild chiefs from within a qualified membership of those that have completed the dedicant program to proceed with study in ADF.

My father was alive then, 

I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to be a father myself 

then,

 when the twin towers were still standing, and I was on the other side of the Hudson River living.

A weird time stamp association loop of the yule ritual on my own

 after hosting and accommodating so many others with my effort and work in roles 

I dreamed of interacting with kindred spirits with beneficial and benevolent intention

The Waters holding Blessing in ways that I didn't expect acting in ways we cannot imagine

I am thankful for ADF priest hood as the focus and reference for this my blog.

A symbol of my involvement over the years

 I express myself more directly and intimately here than on any E-list or review form submitted

It is a good thing to share continuing education

Last Year I was gifted with a review from the clergy council, the Arch Druid wrote me back.

                                         Rev. Jean "Drum" Pagano

Personally thankful to that particular person for keeping myself and my wife, grove organizer

 of " Our Whole Grove " Proto grove of ADF part of the scene.

It is a good thing to document inspirational pathways

Last Year I was excited by the work of author Stephen Harrod Buhner, who has recently passed.

Personally grateful for that particular persons' publications pursuits as linkage to my hungry mind.

It is a good thing to exercise intuition and imagination

This Year ending, I have enjoyed and learned much from living Teacher's computer classes

Siv Watkins PH. D "MICROANIMISM"

John Beaulieu ND, PHD " BIOSONICS"

web site connections part of my branching tree and inner core it seems

Life is a workout- metaphysical fitness training involves discipline and effort of some degree

Primary principal of truth to self involves recognizing the personal stretch in playing the role of priest or painter

teacher or student

telepath or blogger

the regular applied practice is preventative medicine and spiritual sampling technique

collecting arranging displaying recording reviewing reimagining reengaging recreating

keeping up an inner balance and flow from finding something special in shit around you.

when you appreciate that it is special with feelings of its own about what is special

the turds point of view is not empathetic anthropomorphic conjecture on our part

although it may feel that way to us

 because we project a value of benefit of substance or form in service of need or pursuit of profit as resource.

Crap is not an individuated body with crown or consciousness but what remains of digested organic matter that came out of the other end of something that did

a sampling of living and nonliving animal vegetable mineral potential in existence without our blessing permission or request

it was left behind              by something alive   a legacy of past struggle, attention, sacrifice, effort

it does not require our explanation or reason for being

it does not contain a singular will or essence in a concrete active way any longer

it does contain hope and food for small things that have learned to count on that shit for a living.

what do they get excited about- what do they long to behold

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Behold!   the Waters of Life!!!

 still

           ALIVE! 

see the finished version of the painting below, inspired by Earrach of Pittsburgh's post

OSTARA-OSTSHMARRA! in his Blog -The Book of Sassafras- might be on the cover of 

Issue 100 of OAK LEAVES spring 2023  

 

physical record

 Knowing what gets the juices flowing is passed on generationally internally.

Interpreting our own experience, simultaneously speculating the perceived experience of others.

What sticks with you or anybody else at any given juncture of time and space?

Developing as experiencers,

 concurrently concluding conscious coincidence collaborates perceptive fields

What sinks in with you or anybody else at any taken journey in life?

Maturing as analysts,

 reflexively referencing reverence refining rightness comfort satisfaction 

Our judgments, intuitive feelings about the nutritional value of an experience are influenced by personal informational diets of individual past reactions and tastes for interaction.

Living bodies are the containers of transformational knowledge and metabolic wisdom.

Our individuation is not a function of our internal make up-

 it is made up of relationships with external experience digested somehow internalized.

much of what is person-personal-person hood-personality is not physical identification characteristics

it is behaviors uniquely expressed reactions and responses habituated situationally to circumstance.

Self in a sense is not the recording itself as the way it plays as live performance adapting and improvising qualities accessible and available at the time and place one finds themselves in.

fates, destines, stars and soil

I'm a Neo Pagan Druid with room for science and magic in the worlds of my head heart and gut.

Making a point of honoring this place called EARTH as a starting point and reference of common life and death experience past present and future

belonging is the beginning

part of the physical record

As a practicing priest I am cautious about creating sacred space sensitivity structure and formula that feels stiff or formal as to exaggerate error anxiety or demand a level of participation of others.

My down to earth approach to ritual performance comes to me naturally.

Serving suggestions-portion control-menu development-special recipe

 not as spiritually sound as

 not shoving anything down the throat of another.

forcing anything a very different matter indeed.

Subtlety nuanced combinations of aroma and taste coupled with feelings of texture on teeth and tung.

Archaic Anthropomorphic Animistic Awareness Advancement  

Articulating Amphibious Ambiguity Appearance Alignment Appetite

recorded here to reach the eyes of myself and others