Life Fully Engaged – an article by Darren Sycamore
Modern Druidry spans a wide spectrum of belief and practice. It is often said, only half-jokingly, that there are as many definitions for Druidry as there are druids. For the basis of our work together, Seeds on the Wind Grove has agreed that our approach to Druidry is simply this: fully engaging in life. It’s simple, but has significant depths for those who wish to plumb them – it’s celebrating and honoring the relationships, cycles, spirit, and matter that make up each of us and the world in which we all live.
As something of a foundation, we look to a simple set of symbols and principles. We feel that they honor Druidry’s ancient roots, while at the same time allowing for ongoing inspiration and evolution. To begin – and this is only one of many possible beginnings – we start with our three Centers: the Fire, the Well, and the Tree. There are many layers of symbolism to each, but we begin with how they can represent our relationships with ourselves, our communities, and our Kindred.
The Fire
In times past – and for a lucky few today – the Fire was the heart of the home. The Fire provided light, provided warmth, cooked the food for the household, and served as a gathering place. In this context, then, the Fire represents the center of the very things that build us: food, shelter, and close companionship.
The Well
In the days before municipal water plants and indoor plumbing, the Well was the center of the village, providing water for everyone. If the Well went dry, all went thirsty. If the Well went bad, all were sickened. In this way, the Well represents the center of community.
The Tree
The Tree is rooted deep below us, in the Land of the Fallen, the place of the Ancestors, the Underworld. It’s trunk grows quietly through our world, a solid reminder of the Spirits of Life all around us. It’s branches reach to the sky, rising into the realm of the Gods. The Tree, then, represents the center of the worlds – and one way of connecting with our Kindred.
Gifts and Offerings to the Centers
In ritual and formal celebration, gifts to the Fire, the Well, and the Tree are often physical – a bit of oil, some silver, maybe some cider. In everyday life, we see a few offerings to each of the Centers as a good way to begin this thing that we call “engaging in life.” These gifts provide us a point of reference for ethics and action. They aren’t necessarily physical, and they certainly aren’t a one-way affair – what we give, we get.
Gifts to the Fire
As stated above, we’re looking at the Fire as the center of those things that build us. Thus, our offerings to the Fire are gifts that we give to ourselves – they are the things that we do and seek to take care of, celebrate, and balance ourselves:
Wisdom
Clearly, Wisdom isn’t an instant thing – it’s a lifelong pursuit. We strive to be ever-learning. Accumulating facts, figures, and assorted trivia isn’t enough, though – wisdom involves appropriate application of knowledge. Perhaps more than any other, Wisdom is the gift that is never complete.
Courage
Courage, here, isn’t necessarily about charging into battle. In this context, Courage is the recognition that fear is a yoke that can control us – and that fear is a bad basis for decision and action. A bit of fear is natural, Courage is about keeping it in its place.
Responsibility
Most obviously, this gift is about taking responsibility for our actions and accepting the consequences, be they good or bad. It’s much more than that, though – it’s about taking responsibility and being in control of our own lives. As best we can, we try not to let our lives be controlled by social pressures, addictions, or “great deals” at the local discount store. Our decisions and actions are our own.
Gifts to the Well
Gifts to the Well are our gifts to the community – how we try to engage people around us.
Consideration
In anything we do, we should we should consider the effect on those around us. There is an altruistic angle to this offering, but there is also something quite practical – when we take a step back and honestly look at things, society as a whole will bear the cost of harm to any one of us.
Service
Service is closely aligned with Consideration. As a practical matter, it is in everyone’s interest to help each other along. From the spiritual side, service is wonderfully enriching. Keep Consideration in mind, though – Service to one just might be harm to another.
Honor
Stay true to your word. Pay your debts. As with the other gifts to the Well, Honor keeps the community working well – and that benefits us all.
Gifts to the Tree
The Tree knits together the realms of the Ancestors, the Gods, and the Spirits of the land, sky, and waters that surround us – our Kindred. Our gifts to the Tree are our offerings to them.
Attentiveness
We work to keep our eyes open. All of the Kindred are there for us to see, if we just look. Our Ancestors are in us, the Spirits are all around us, and the Gods are woven into everything. With just a bit of effort, we can get to know them, and our attention is greatly rewarded.
Openness
The Kindred aren’t always pretty, and their lessons aren’t always pleasant. We try to stay open to that – our trials strengthen us as much as (if not more than) our triumphs.
Respect
Respect follows Openness closely. The river that feeds you can just as easily drown you. The forest that gives shelter and fuel can burn your home, or offer up predators that we aren’t equipped to fight off. Get to know Their ways – stay out of the way when harm is likely, and move close when benefit is on the way.
And Thus a Beginning
So, that is where our Druidry begins. It grows – both roots and branches – from here. Our Druidry is a commitment, an adventure, and a reward.
May your path meander, and your walk be long.
Sycamore /|\