3-19-07

Finally an update….

It is a rather long story but I have slacked on my DP a lot this year. I had some health issues that needed immediate attention, many other things that had to be taken care of right away and when I finally got time to work on my DP again I just could not get myself motivated. I needed better organization, structure, a deeper understanding of the program and material….and I was not getting that by trying to complete the program on my own. I thought about it in depth and several times came close to just giving up the program and not trying to finish. I could not pick up and work through it just out of the blue again. 

At one time I began looking at MIchael Dangler’s Guide and thought that may be what I needed to help me complete the program. The thing that hindered me from beginning that was admitting that I needed to side step and pick up a Guide for assistance in completion of the DP. It really bothered me because I had set a deadline of April for completion of my program and needless to say….April is a few weeks a way and I am no where near ready to complete the DP. Admitting to myself that it was not going to happen as planned was difficult and then feeling like a failure made me want to just forget the entire thing. 

Today I broke down and contacted my mentor. I don’t know which power worked it out this way, but I ended up with the perfect mentor for me. Not only did she answer my email within minutes, her sense of humor, honesty, kind words and wisdom assisted me at a time I desperately needed it. I was thrilled as it was exactly what I needed to hear. I am doing this DP for my own growth….not as a marathon to complete it in a year and go on to something else. I am doing it to enhance my walk along the Path of Druidry….not to prove something to anyone. Although I appreciate everyone of you who read my journal, comment, give advice and help me in many ways….I am not doing this DP for you either. I am doing it for me and if changing course at this time is something “I” need to get more out of the DP, to work my way through it, to develop the wisdom to not just walk this Path but make it a part of my life completely….then I am ready to admit any weakness, step back, re-group and do what my soul tells me I need to do for growth at this time. 

And what might that be? 

Well for anyone new to ADF and the Dedicant Program I shall give some advice….advice that took me awhile to discover and begin….

Check out Michael Dangler’s Guide for the DP. If you need structure and want to get as much out of the DP as you can, I think his work is brilliant and his Guide so very beneficial to anyone new to this Path. And that is exactly what my plan is now. 

I have already begun working through his Guide. Some weeks, the required work will already be complete as I do have a lot of my essays already written. So some weeks will go by pretty fast. I am not setting a goal for completion because….

I live a pretty self sufficient life. I have to plant a huge garden every year, work in that garden months on end, harvest the food and then process it for winter storage. I raise my own meat and therefore have 30 chicks to take care of for meat and eggs and will be getting about 20-30 more in the next week. I have to build coops, feed, water, clean cages and all that. I get fresh milk from the Amish and make my own butter when I can. I do not use a dryer and hang all of my clothes on a line, some of my clothes I wash by hand. I have herb gardens and flower gardens and 28 acres of land to take care of. I work full time plus 16 hours overtime every week. I am trying to tend to my health and walk 3 miles a day. I have 3 grandkids and things can get pretty darn busy at times. So there may be weeks that the tomatoes have to be canned or chickens need to be put in the freezer and I will get nothing done on my DP. BUT….I continue my daily devotions, I study and read every chance I get, I will continue to help my protogrove grow and become beneficial to ADF and this community and I will continue to walk this Path daily as I have gotten more out of it spiritually than any I have studied in my life thus far. 

So…..sometime this week I will begin posting my DP using Dangler’s Guide for assistance…because “I” need to do that for ME.

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