Dear readers, I think I have gone as far on this forest path as I can go. I no longer fit comfortably under the heading “druid”, and I fit even less appropriately under the heading “pagan”. I have worn out my desire to have a single definitive label, category, or heading, which is probably no surprise to long-time readers. I have been moving slowly away from paganism, neopaganism, and druidry for a while now.
I have also, in the past year, thoroughly worn out my desire to join or to belong, to be a member of an organization and to follow a group program. I am no longer a member of AODA; my ADF membership will expire soon, and I have no plans to renew it. I remain a member in good standing of the Episcopal church that employs my husband (that is, I show up to make my communion at least the canonical twice a year, at Christmas and Easter), but I have no interest in active membership, nor do I wish to affiliate formally with the Order of Julian of Norwich as I formerly have done.
Druidry, especially of the Revival, will continue to be of interest to me, as will Tibetan Buddhism and the Anglo-Catholic Christianity I grew up with. Living a spiritual life, conscious, connected, and creative, continues to be of interest to me. And blogging will continue, I think, to be of interest to me, and I shall try to do more of it in a new place, at Notes of a Wayward Anglican.
This post is really affecting me, perhaps because all of what you don’t say regarding your decision. I want to know more about what led you here. What is it about these labels that no longer resonates with you? Are they out of step with your perspective, or do they lack resonance whatsoever? Do you feel as though you’ve been failed by the community, or have you ever felt embraced by the community?
I’d love to connect with you about this, publicly or privately.
Blessings to you.
Teo, I would be more than happy to talk with you privately. Expect an email from me this week, and thanks for responding to my post.
This is my first time here, and I have read much of the latter part of your blog. I have gone on a similar journey – actually, I continue to go on a similar journey. The British Isles calls to me, yet i am home in the American west. I believe in Christ and his spiritual teachings, yet yearn for the ancient ways as well. I want to plant trees for wildlife/environment, plant trees for aesthetics, and plant trees for spiritual purposes. I have built a small stone circle alter based on compass points in a group of trees I planted. I do sporadic rituals or offerings there, but can’t really tell you to whom and only partly why. It feels right but confusing. I have to reconcile that with Josiah killing those who worshiped other gods under trees. As a younger person he was my fav Old Test. bible character.
Anyway, just another traveler stopping by to say, “I understand.”
Orin, thanks for commenting, and please forgive the lateness of this response. A month after making this post, I am wondering if it is accurate! There may still be reasons for me to call myself a Druid, even as I reaffirm my roots in Anglican Christianity.