September is busy

I am only 4 days into September and I'm already a bit intimidated by my schedule. Columbia grove is SO active and I participate in just about everything as Chief Druid of the grove. I don't have to be part of everything but I choose to be because not only do I find it enriching, fulfilling, devotional and fun, but my grove mates are also my friends and I like spending time with them. 

Case in point, 
This month I have: 

• Liturgy Circle (led by our Senior Druid)
• AIDS Walk Portland (A fundraiser community walk that our grove is participating in) 
• Druid Drinks (Social event to the public so we can network with new people and with those who have questions about ADF Druidry, Columbia Grove and use in general)
• Dedicant Path Study Group (Which I lead)
• Prison Ministry with Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (Led by myself and our pursewarden)
• Columbia-Willamette Pagan Pride (Led by the group Other Worlds of Wonder. Columbia Grove has an information table that I will be helping out with)
• Our Monthly Grove Meeting 
• Our Monthly Beyond the Gates Festival Planning meeting 
• Fall Equinox Ritual (Which I am leading with another member)
• Nature Awareness Guild (Volunteer work guild that I lead) 

On top of that, I just got my first job since finding the grove 5 years ago and it makes me nervous that I may have to sacrifice some of my grove interests. That is a bit disheartening. It is a seasonal "fun" job so I said I couldn't work weekends so that I can keep my Grove events and obligations. 

Our grove just finished up our annual Beyond the Gates festival, and wow, I am both relieved for the planning break and saddened that the festival is over. Beyond the Gates is a 4 day festival at the White Mountain Druid Sanctuary in Trout Lake Washington and its AMAZING. We had amazing presenters and workshops, fantastic meditations and really awesome rituals. This year we had a record breaking 75 people attend and it blew all of our expectations to pieces. I did a lot of the preliminary work for the festival this year because I choose not to delegate responsibilities (BAD AMBER!) so I was extremely thankful to all of the members that volunteered during the event so I could relax a little. Ill put a few photos from the festival at the bottom of this post. 

I am also starting the brand new ADF Hearth Keepers Way program which is a new devotional program open to all members and non-members of ADF. The Hearth Keepers Way is for individuals, families and small groups who have aligned themselves with ADF Druidry and want to establish a regular practice at home. Through each person's/family's Hearth we are all connected around the world by our devotional practice with this program. We all light a Unity Flame on our altars, we all maintain regular practice, hold high day rituals and new moon rituals as well at home. It's a great program for solitaries who want to feel connected to the organization and it's also great for anyone who wants to deepen their devotional practice without engaging in one of ADF's essay-heavy study certificate and clergy programs. I will be creating a separate post about my Hearth altar and why I chose the name, hearth deity and hearth allies that I did. 

I can easily maintain regular devotional practice at home with my new job. 

Then there is Pre-Clergy assignments...I'll admit, I haven't been focusing on it nearly enough and I need to work on that. I made school a priority first and foremost and my last year was quite challanging. But I graduated!
Maybe I'll set some goals to get an Pre-CTP essay or two done each week. I'm over 25% of the way done so that helps with the motivation quite a bit. 

Ok. Enough of the word dump for now, Have some photos from Beyond the Gates!