Warmest Greetings to you all!

[Awen]

Feasgar math!

I’m afraid I’ve never been one for introductions, but I’ll do my best.

I join you all from a small town just below the Scottish border, UK. Although I am not one for labels, if I were to be pinned down I would describe myself as a solitary Druid ~ currently studying with the NoD and Bandarach council. My interests lie mainly in metaphysics, herb and tree lore, Celtic mythology and legend and Scots Gaelic (Oops, I nearly wrote garlic there!) Yes, Scots garlic…slightly stronger-tasting than your average garlic, but just as delicious. :biglaugh:(Please forgive my somewhat strange sense of humour ~ some say I am quirky, others say loony. I shall apologise now, so that I don’t have to do it in every post.) In my spare time, I love to take long walks in the countryside ~ I have always felt at one with nature. I also adore animals...at the moment, I am the personal slave of two bundles of cat-fur; Willow and Harry. I don’t think I could cope with any other “children” right now…the felines are proving to be more than a handful!

In short, I’m lots of things rolled into one big twitching neurotic mess… I am very happy to be here, and I look forward to getting to know you all!

Blessings,
Awen.

 

[robtex]

Great intro Awen. Great to meet you and welcome to RF!

 

[Hema]

Welcome Dear! Your intro was superb. When I first came to RF, my intro was like one or two sentences. (I'm ashamed of it). You have a sense of humour, you love nature, you love animals - yaaay! I looove animals and basically everything else in nature except cockroaches. There are other animal lovers on RF as well. You'll figure out who they are soon. Don't worry about your "strange" sense of humour. I think you're funny actually! You made me laugh with the "garlic" thingy. No matter how stale a joke is, I will laugh...probably because I'm the queen of stale, moldy jokes. Ah well...take care and have fun! uppy: Just for being new here, this is a complimentary slice of pizza... . Which other forum can you go to and get free pizza?

 

[michel]

Blessings, Awen


Welcome to Religious Forums!

You sound like you'll fit in fine! A great intro. Please, if there is anything about this forum that puzzles you, don't be afraid to ask!!!!

 

[Ody]

Welcome!

 

[Green Gaia]

Hello and welcome to RF!

 

[Hacker]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Awen]

Wow, thank you so much for the warm welcome!

I feel very at home already! I've noticed that you're all very open-minded which has created a wonderful, relaxing atmosphere here.

I'm still finding my way around...this place is LARGE!
Hema, thank you for the kind offer of pizza. I accept...and, :foryou:
I once joined a forum that offered free mead...seeing as I no longer drink, I'd much rather take the pizza... *yummy* Oh my, and there's enough to share if anyone else would like a slice?

Again, thank you all very much for your kind words and the warm welcome.

 

[Bishka]

Welcome to RF!

 

[Kay]

Hi Awen. Welcome to RF. I almost took the OBOD course a while back, but decided to wait. How are your studies going?

 

[lizskid]

Great intro, Awen!! We love humor, I think the sicker the better! This is an inspiring and fun place to be!: hamster :

 

[BFD_Zayl]

Welcome to the family here at RF! any questions, just ask

 

[Awen]

Awww, thanks again everyone!

Hi Awen. Welcome to RF. I almost took the OBOD course a while back, but decided to wait. How are your studies going?

Hi Neosnia,

Like most things, there is no 'one' or 'right' way to study this path, simply because no single person, no single Organization, nor one single Grove, has all of the answers to all of the questions that will (and do) arise.

Expanding our horizons and researching from many sources, instead of just the one, ensures that we have a good balance and that we are never limiting opportunities to learn. After all, why walk in a straight line when there is a whole forest to be explored?

I find that OBOD tends to focus on aspects of modern Druidry (which is no bad thing), while Bandarach ~ the other college I mentioned ~ leans, at first, toward the historical aspects of Druidry and Celtic cultures as a whole. The NoD (New Order of Druids) offers a good course, again with different teaching methods. At the moment, my studies there are focused on one particular sector of Celtic culture; Scotland. As a solitary, I have been studying tree lore for over two years…firstly, to gain a good foundation of knowledge, and then so that I can apply that knowledge in a practical way.

In short, courses such as the ones offered by OBOD are good, but they can only teach us so much. They also detract from what our main source of learning should be ~ Mother Earth herself. Out in the land is where the real learning takes place.

If the interest is there, perhaps research a little more into the areas of Druidry that you are drawn to…be it the ancient tales, geographical history and archaeology, Celtic cultures in general, their languages…the list goes on. If you were not sure, then I would say you did the right thing in waiting. There is no rush, and the important thing is that you are ready.

I guess a simple answer would have been “very well”…but I have a tendency to ramble!

Thank you for asking.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Tashe delek and welcome to RF!




Peace,
Mystic

 

[dawny0826]

Hi and welcome!

 

[*Paul*]

Be good to see you around mate. :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Namaste and welcome!

Hope I don't offend by possibly messing them up, but am I remembering correctly that 'Awen' means 'gift'? That's a lovely name! I'm trying to study in the Pictish tradition myself, and it's great to have a Scot on here!

There's a link for our newer members in my 'signature'- please let us know if you ever have any questions! It's good to have you here!

 

[Awen]

Hope I don't offend by possibly messing them up, but am I remembering correctly that 'Awen' means 'gift'?

Hi, Feathers in Hair (that, too, is a lovely name!)

Awen has been defined as many things; the energy of divine and creative/poetic/artistic inspiration; flow of spirit; the essence of life in motion.
Broken down literally, Awen is a feminine noun combined of two words; "aw" meaning "a fluidity", "a flowing" and "en" meaning "a spirit", "a living principle".

So when combined, Awen is literally "flowing spirit".

It is difficult to describe with the written word, as recieving Awen is more of a sacred experience/feeling; the quest for which, lies at the very heart of the Druidic tradition.
So in this context and in many ways, yes...Awen is very much a gift.

Emma Restell Orr did a better job of putting Awen into words than I believe I ever could:

(Awen is) the power that floods through the body and soul when spirit touches spirit, life is acknowledged, a moment's experience shared, divine energy exchanged. Awen is the focus of the deep inner quest; it is what we all seek as we stumble through life, that which brings us wisdom, clarity, freedom, ecstasy, the joy of being alive, simply being, peaceful, presence. It is fire in the head, poetic frenzy, lust for breath, complete purpose in perfect serenity.

And on Awen as divine inspiration;

That inspiration may be felt in many ways, from a mental clarity to a physical ecstasy, but its nature is holistic, flowing through every part of our being which is able to take it. The more often the Druid makes that connection with his deities, receiving the "awen", the better able is he to use the inspiration, to allow it to flow through him, and to express it through his living.

I hope that helps a little.

Thanks again for the welcome everyone!

 

[Feathers in Hair]

That does help! It gives an excellent name to a feeling that I've experienced- I appreciate it!

 

[Awen]

No problem.