The Wistful Dragon

It’s like a chain of linking hands stretching out….thank you Ooh Chiara of The Book Of Eucalypt for nominating me. I am honoured!

The criteria for accepting the award is answering certain questions and nominating some new folk to be links in the chain, so here goes:

How did you “discover” Wicca/witchcraft/your path?

After leaving the church(Anglican) due to what is best described as cognitive dissonance, and spending a time being very concrete and atheist, I started longing for a deeper spiritual aspect to my life again. I began exploring those childhood feelings of connectedness to nature that have stayed with me into adulthood, and followed the clues in my love of Celtic spirituality which I discovered while a Christian. A work colleague pointed me in the direction of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and I found my new home, among other dragons and various interesting people.

Do you grow herbs?

No, but I’m learning the healing properties of things purely by osmosis. Once one’s in the community one can’t help ending up learning bits…that said – I hoard dandelions. I get most miffed when forced to remove them due to helpful estate agents who believe there there’s only one right wya for a garden to look….(it ain’t my way)

Are you “in the broom closet”? If not, share your coming out experience

I’m not not in the broom closet, but I’m cautious about how much I share in some circles because it’s no fun having people trample with rough-shod derision over things that are important and sacred to you. I don’t think I’d fit in the broom closet very well – and it’s bound to be more dusty in there then anywhere else in the house, so in interests of avoiding hay fever….

What tradition do you follow?

Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids – I think that’s the right answer, though the crowd there are extremely eclecttic and varied and a mix of all sorts of backgrounds and affiliations. It’s a bit like asking how long is a piece of string, isn’t it?

Do you consider yourself a witch, Wiccan or Pagan (or maybe something else?)

A druid – bardic grade.

How much of witchcraft/Wicca are you able to incorporate into your everyday life?

It’s tempting to say none, because I’m a druid. To me – much depends on the way in which one practices. I find I prefer to minimalize the external symbols of what I do. It might sound a bit crazy. My “druidspace” makes it look like the opposite is true due to the collection of pebbles, stones, fossils, shells, feathers and so forth (and way too many candles!) However, I have no desire to have a wand, for instance. I have a staff – made from an improbable cracked branch, that won’t allow me to carve runes on it. (I should write an entry about it one day). Now and again I perform a circle at an appropriate season, but not always. Only when it feels right, or I need to. I’m never entirely sure whether my way about these things is due to being a neophyte or due to having done them all aeons ago – as if it’s something entirely internalised. I don’t know the answers other than that I feel very strongly about following my feelings in this. it’s something I hold close and deep and am mostly quiet about.

Do you have a familiar? If you do, tell us how you meet him/her and how s/he takes part in your practice (if at all)

No. No pets allowed as a tenant. That said – you never know who will pitch up from birds, to spiders, to skinks… It’s always possible that my youngest son is a familiar but he hasn’t pitched up in a ritual yet…

Now for some nominees:

The Bardic Blog (gotta support our music!)

Fox of the Oaks – here you’ll find a deep-thinking poet/philosopher/druid

The Catbox – once in a while a miracle happens and a blog is spotted and becomes a book – this blog is a miracle.

Wyld Wyverne – every once in a while you meet someone who spends at least part of her life as a dragon, and another bit possibly being an elf – definitely a lot of druid, maybe a dash of wizard and a fresh helping of unadulterated magic.