Welcome back lovies, so I promised you titles, and links and all of that good stuff. I would have gotten this started a bit earlier in the evening, however the router decided to forget its purpose, so it took a some convincing to start working again.
QUICK DISCLOSURE:
I will say first off the since I have only just begun researching and exploring Celtic paganism and Druidry, I have not read most of the books I am going to list. A few of these I just happened to pick up recently, and a few my father had on his bookshelf that he let me commandeer. That being said I would also like to quickly mention that I am in no way recommending these sources as the end all be all: This is MY starting point.
The first book I am going to list is one that I would recommend, as I have read through most of it. I have really enjoyed it, not only as an idea into how Druids practice today, but I also really enjoyed the writing style. As for the last two in the list, I didn't realize that the authors shared a name, and I am not entirely sure they are the same.
Druid Magic By Maya Magee Stutton, Ph.D. and Nicholas R Mann
Celtic Gods and Heroes By Marie-Louise Sjoestedt
The Druids Celtic Priests of Nature By Jean Markale
Secrets of the Druids Compiled and Edited by John Matthews
Classic Celtic Fairy Tales by John Matthews
Again, this is just my personal starting point, I may not even get through all of these books, but I figured starting to learn about the history and mythology of the Celts would give me a clearer idea of what I'm really getting into before I just straight into books specifically about a Celtic pagan path.
I also promised you a couple of links. I will include the link to the website that offers the classes if you're interested in learning how to Journey, would just like some basic information. Again, I would also encourage you to read Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner.
Shamanic Journeys
I will also be including the link to a video I did for my YouTube channel, which is very much under construction right now, but as I spend quite a bit of time on animal totems, and animal guides, rather then reiterating here, I figured a video might be more exciting. I also talk a bit about one of my favorite authors Ted Andrews and refer to his book Animal Speak.
Animal Totems
Just for a bit more fun, I thought I would share a playlist I have on my YouTube channel about Druidry. I have had a hard time finding videos on Druidry that I felt I got something out of, so here is that as well.
Druidry Playlist
I may come back and add things here and there, but for now I feel that what I have is sufficient. As I continue to learn and find things I absolutely love, I'll be sure to share them. And if you have suggestions please feel free to share as well.
Until next time lovies when we meet outside the Door,
Blessings and Light to you and yours.
~Thealynn
©2013-2015 Thealynn
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
All Petals to One Flower
Welcome back,
In this post I thought I would take a moment a go into a bit more detail about the specifics of my spiritual path.
Everything that I will be talking about here can absolutely be practiced by itself and does not require anything else to go with it. I just happen to do all of these things, and for me, they flow together and so it has all in its own time become part of my spiritual path.
At the current moment, the only label I used to describe my spirituality is Pagan. I know that it is a very broad term, but as I've only begun studying a specific aspect, or tradition, or kind of paganism, I don't feel that it is accurate, or right to use anything else.
Well, what do you mean by study?
What I personally mean by studying is that I am learning about the culture of the Celts, learning their history academically as well as their myths and legends. Learning about their pantheon, and familiarizing myself with their symbolism.
When it comes to Druidry, I feel like there is a difference. I view Druidry as its own practice, much like Wicca is its own practice.
Admittedly, like the beginning of most of my interests, my sources start off hit or miss. I usually start off trying to watch videos on Youtube, looking up books on Amazon, or even stopping by my local used bookstore and just seeing what's on the shelf.
I am lucky in that my father is also very spiritual, and already has some books on the subject. It can be very difficult in that it's hard to find other like minded people to talk with short of going online to a forum type of community, as it can be some times impossible to join an already established community where not all are open to new comers.
Myself personally, I much more enjoy meeting with people face to face and hearing their stories and getting to know and gauge them as they are in the flesh. Not that I am judging however, I am writing a blog after all.
When it came to the Tarot reading, it was never something I ever thought of doing myself. In fact before owning my own deck (which happened to be a birthday present from my dad) I didn't know very much about tarot. I had seen cards read in movies, but didn't give the idea much thought. But when I received my first deck, The Druidcraft Tarot by Philip Carr-Gomm and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, I thought, why not?
I started reading the companion and began slowly learning. The person I was in a relationship with at the time didn't think too much of it, and was very negative about the whole thing so for the first couple of years the deck didn't get much use. When that relationship ended, I felt much more comfortable about using them, and so I have since done readings mostly for myself, and for very close friends. I had always used the companion to help decipher the meaning of the cards, and have only recently started studying them one by one.
I have also acquired other decks since then, two other tarot and two oracle decks. My father even made me a set of runes from a branch of an apple tree growing in his backyard. I hope to use them all effectively one day, but for now I'm focusing more on the Druidcraft Tarot.
Another aspect of my path that I never anticipated was working with stones and crystals. To be perfectly blunt I was not fully behind the idea of their effectiveness, and it just seemed like a lot of work! Whenever I looked into books about crystals or would watch a video on Youtube, it seemed like not only a huge investment, and a lot to remember!
It wasn't until a particularly nasty panic attack due to what I felt to be a hostile living situation did I consider looking into stone work for a little extra help and protection. I was also given the idea from a co-worker to use the stones as a way of extra protection at work. (Working in a call center, people can get pretty nasty.)
At this point I work with the stones I have on a very casual basis. There are a few that I am very fond of, and only really think about purchasing more if the need arises.
I mentioned in my first post the I took a class on Shamanic Journeys and cannot really go into the details as part of a form I signed at the beginning of the class, but if you're curious or would like more information, I will include a link to the website along with the book list. I would also encourage you to read Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner.
Lastly, I will touch base on working with my animal totems and guides. I know that I mentioned working with deity in my first post, but I feel that deserves it's own post as it would make this post twice if not three times as long. (And as I am writing this, it is almost past my bed time.)
I did a video on the subject not too long on my Youtube channel that I will include a link to in my next post if you would like a little bit more information. My totems have definitely been with me the longest and is something I felt long before I was introduced to the concept of paganism. I view my totems as spiritual guardians who protect me and who help deliver messages from the divine. (In a nut shell.) I work with my totems mostly through meditation and journeying.
As it is getting late and I am getting tired, I think I will leave the post here. I don't really have the energy to grab my books and list them for you, and to try and keep things neat and easy to find, I will make a separate post including books, and links as a reference post. (It will more then likely be up tomorrow after I get home from work.)
Before I bid you adieu for the night I want to say again, thank you for stopping by. I hope that this post and future posts provide information, clarity, or even some fun.
I hope everyone has a good night, or day, depending on when you read this. And I will see you again, through the Secret Door.
©2013-2015 Thealynn
In this post I thought I would take a moment a go into a bit more detail about the specifics of my spiritual path.
Everything that I will be talking about here can absolutely be practiced by itself and does not require anything else to go with it. I just happen to do all of these things, and for me, they flow together and so it has all in its own time become part of my spiritual path.
At the current moment, the only label I used to describe my spirituality is Pagan. I know that it is a very broad term, but as I've only begun studying a specific aspect, or tradition, or kind of paganism, I don't feel that it is accurate, or right to use anything else.
Well, what do you mean by study?
What I personally mean by studying is that I am learning about the culture of the Celts, learning their history academically as well as their myths and legends. Learning about their pantheon, and familiarizing myself with their symbolism.
When it comes to Druidry, I feel like there is a difference. I view Druidry as its own practice, much like Wicca is its own practice.
Admittedly, like the beginning of most of my interests, my sources start off hit or miss. I usually start off trying to watch videos on Youtube, looking up books on Amazon, or even stopping by my local used bookstore and just seeing what's on the shelf.
I am lucky in that my father is also very spiritual, and already has some books on the subject. It can be very difficult in that it's hard to find other like minded people to talk with short of going online to a forum type of community, as it can be some times impossible to join an already established community where not all are open to new comers.
Myself personally, I much more enjoy meeting with people face to face and hearing their stories and getting to know and gauge them as they are in the flesh. Not that I am judging however, I am writing a blog after all.
When it came to the Tarot reading, it was never something I ever thought of doing myself. In fact before owning my own deck (which happened to be a birthday present from my dad) I didn't know very much about tarot. I had seen cards read in movies, but didn't give the idea much thought. But when I received my first deck, The Druidcraft Tarot by Philip Carr-Gomm and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, I thought, why not?
I started reading the companion and began slowly learning. The person I was in a relationship with at the time didn't think too much of it, and was very negative about the whole thing so for the first couple of years the deck didn't get much use. When that relationship ended, I felt much more comfortable about using them, and so I have since done readings mostly for myself, and for very close friends. I had always used the companion to help decipher the meaning of the cards, and have only recently started studying them one by one.
I have also acquired other decks since then, two other tarot and two oracle decks. My father even made me a set of runes from a branch of an apple tree growing in his backyard. I hope to use them all effectively one day, but for now I'm focusing more on the Druidcraft Tarot.
Another aspect of my path that I never anticipated was working with stones and crystals. To be perfectly blunt I was not fully behind the idea of their effectiveness, and it just seemed like a lot of work! Whenever I looked into books about crystals or would watch a video on Youtube, it seemed like not only a huge investment, and a lot to remember!
It wasn't until a particularly nasty panic attack due to what I felt to be a hostile living situation did I consider looking into stone work for a little extra help and protection. I was also given the idea from a co-worker to use the stones as a way of extra protection at work. (Working in a call center, people can get pretty nasty.)
At this point I work with the stones I have on a very casual basis. There are a few that I am very fond of, and only really think about purchasing more if the need arises.
I mentioned in my first post the I took a class on Shamanic Journeys and cannot really go into the details as part of a form I signed at the beginning of the class, but if you're curious or would like more information, I will include a link to the website along with the book list. I would also encourage you to read Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner.
Lastly, I will touch base on working with my animal totems and guides. I know that I mentioned working with deity in my first post, but I feel that deserves it's own post as it would make this post twice if not three times as long. (And as I am writing this, it is almost past my bed time.)
I did a video on the subject not too long on my Youtube channel that I will include a link to in my next post if you would like a little bit more information. My totems have definitely been with me the longest and is something I felt long before I was introduced to the concept of paganism. I view my totems as spiritual guardians who protect me and who help deliver messages from the divine. (In a nut shell.) I work with my totems mostly through meditation and journeying.
As it is getting late and I am getting tired, I think I will leave the post here. I don't really have the energy to grab my books and list them for you, and to try and keep things neat and easy to find, I will make a separate post including books, and links as a reference post. (It will more then likely be up tomorrow after I get home from work.)
Before I bid you adieu for the night I want to say again, thank you for stopping by. I hope that this post and future posts provide information, clarity, or even some fun.
I hope everyone has a good night, or day, depending on when you read this. And I will see you again, through the Secret Door.
©2013-2015 Thealynn
Before the Door
Welcome to one and all who come to my blog, whether by accident or by intention, I am glad you are here. This is a personal project that I started for myself and have since decided to share with the hope of helping those on a wandering path. Through the Secret Door is my blog where I will be talking about my growth in my spiritual journey, and my experiences through life.
Come through the secret door and stay for a while if you would like to learn either about me personally, or about my views and how I practice in my path. I will be talking about all sorts of topics on this blog, but the main focus will be on my spirituality.
I recently started studying druidry and taking on a Celtic aspect to my path. I've also been learning the Tarot for the last couple of years. In 2011, I took a class through the Shamanic Foundation and learned how to Journey, I work with my animal totems, and with my guides as well as with deity. (I will be going into greater detail on all of these subjects, I just wanted to touch on them here in this introduction.)
Everything that I will talk about in the blog is my own personal experiences, or experiences that I have shared with others. I am not claiming to be an expert on any of these topics, and I will list references as much as is possible when it comes to any research I might be doing. However, please keep in mind that again, most of what I will be posting about will be strictly based on my personal experience, thoughts, opinions, and what rings true for me. What my soul's truth is.
I had started a Youtube channel roughly a couple of years ago, and have not really been able to keep up with it because of camera issues and feeling comfortable in recording videos. Its been on several hiatuses and while my goal is to revamp it, it's going to take some time and becoming more savy when it comes to editing software and the like. So after some consideration, I have decided to try a blog form.
I've done a couple of blogs in the past, as more of a form of journaling, and enjoyed it so I'm going to give this a shot and see how it works.
My main purpose in starting the Youtube channel was a way to give back to those who had helped me so much in accepting my path and working through life's challenges. Which I still fully intend to do, this will just be another revenue for that until I can keep up with my channel a little bit more regularly.
Over the course of this blog's life I'm sure that you will see a lot of changes, not only with the look and feel of the blog (as I am recycling an old design) but with myself and possibly even with you.
So come through the Secret Door and take a journey with me.
©2013-2015 Thealynn
Come through the secret door and stay for a while if you would like to learn either about me personally, or about my views and how I practice in my path. I will be talking about all sorts of topics on this blog, but the main focus will be on my spirituality.
I recently started studying druidry and taking on a Celtic aspect to my path. I've also been learning the Tarot for the last couple of years. In 2011, I took a class through the Shamanic Foundation and learned how to Journey, I work with my animal totems, and with my guides as well as with deity. (I will be going into greater detail on all of these subjects, I just wanted to touch on them here in this introduction.)
Everything that I will talk about in the blog is my own personal experiences, or experiences that I have shared with others. I am not claiming to be an expert on any of these topics, and I will list references as much as is possible when it comes to any research I might be doing. However, please keep in mind that again, most of what I will be posting about will be strictly based on my personal experience, thoughts, opinions, and what rings true for me. What my soul's truth is.
I had started a Youtube channel roughly a couple of years ago, and have not really been able to keep up with it because of camera issues and feeling comfortable in recording videos. Its been on several hiatuses and while my goal is to revamp it, it's going to take some time and becoming more savy when it comes to editing software and the like. So after some consideration, I have decided to try a blog form.
I've done a couple of blogs in the past, as more of a form of journaling, and enjoyed it so I'm going to give this a shot and see how it works.
My main purpose in starting the Youtube channel was a way to give back to those who had helped me so much in accepting my path and working through life's challenges. Which I still fully intend to do, this will just be another revenue for that until I can keep up with my channel a little bit more regularly.
Over the course of this blog's life I'm sure that you will see a lot of changes, not only with the look and feel of the blog (as I am recycling an old design) but with myself and possibly even with you.
So come through the Secret Door and take a journey with me.
©2013-2015 Thealynn
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