The Dedicant Path.

Congratulations! Your Dedicant's Path submission passes. Here are my
comments:

I had a great time reading your work. I look forward to future work that I
know you’ll engage in, as well.

Your home shrines look great. I love the anvil in particular: that’s
amazing. You tried lots of different things with your meditation work, which
I appreciate. I appreciate that you included the omens in the ritual write
ups (though I’ll recommend that for your personal journal, make sure you
always write down the meanings and interpretations, not just the omen names).

I enjoyed you taking the chance to do a comparison with 2020’s pandemic
ritual and previous rituals for your Spring Equinox writeup. That was an
interesting choice, and a good one, I think. Also, your inclusion of the
Outdwellers in the 3 Kindreds writeup was good to see, and a rare sort of
thing for me to read in DP reviews.

Your oath rite is moving and personal. I love it.

Congratulations again, this was a great read.

Blessings,
Rev. Michael J Dangler

The Dedicant path is something I have picked up over the year and have put them back down. This past weekend (June 7th-9th 2019) I attended the three Rivers festival in southern Ontario and have come home inspired to complete what I started. I personally hope to complete by the end of 2019. I will use this space as a way to keep track of my progress as I complete them or find snippets from previous attempts.

The following are the eleven requirements for the program

1. Written discussion of the Dedicant's understanding of each of the following nine virtues: wisdom, piety, vision, courage, integrity, perseverance, hospitality, moderation and fertility. The Dedicant may also include other virtues, if desired, and compare them to these nine. (125 words min. each)

2. Short essays on each of the eight ADF High Days including a discussion of the meaning of each feast (125 words min. each)

3. Short book reviews on at least: 1 Indo-European studies title, 1 preferred ethnic study title and 1 modern Paganism title. These titles can be selected from the recommended reading list in the Dedicant Program manual or the ADF web site, or chosen by the student, with prior approval of the Preceptor. (325 words min. each)

• A Brief History of the Druid: Peter Beresford Ellis

• Comparative Mythology: Jaan Puhvel

• Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today: Margot Adler

1. A brief description, with photos if possible, of the Dedicant's home shrine and plans for future improvements. (150 words min.)

2. An essay focusing on the Dedicants understanding of the meaning of the "Two Powers" meditation or other form of ‘grounding and centering', as used in meditation and ritual. This account should include impressions and insights that the Dedicant gained from practical experience. (300 words min.)

3. An essay or journal covering the Dedicant's personal experience of building mental discipline, through the use of meditation, trance, or other systematic techniques on a regular basis. The experiences in the essay or journal should cover at least a five months period. (800 words min.)

4. An account of the Dedicant's efforts to work with nature, honour the Earth, and understand the impacts and effects of the Dedicant's lifestyle choices on the environment and/or the local ecosystem and how she or he could make a difference to the environment on a local level. (500 words min.)

5. A brief account of each High Day ritual attended or performed by the Dedicant in a twelve month period. High Days attended/performed might be celebrated with a local grove, privately, or with another Neopagan group. At least 4 of the rituals attended/performed during the training period must be ADF-style. (100 words min. each)

   • Alban Arthan

   • Candlemas

   • Alban Eilir

   • Beltane

   • Alban Hefin

   • Lughnasadh

   • Alban Elfed

   • Samhain

6. One essay describing the Dedicants understanding of and relationship to EACH of the Three Kindred: the Spirits of Nature, the Ancestors and the Gods. (300 words min. for each Kindred and 1000 words total)

7. A brief account of the efforts of the Dedicant to develop and explore a personal (or Grove centered) spiritual practice, drawn from a specific culture or combination of cultures. (600 words min.)

8. The text of the Dedicant's Oath Rite and a self-evaluation of the Dedicant's performance of the rite. (500 words min.)