[ADF] Week 1: Personal Religion and an Introduction
- This is part of the catching up to where I actually am in the program. -
The work of this first week was to collect the resources listed, begin to organize the various journals and essays that will be needed at the end of the program, and also to read through the dedicant manual and website. However, the bulk portion was devoted to pondering on some questions. While the answers to these questions aren't part of the final "turn-in" stuff, I think its important background to share. These questions are from that Week 1 in the Wheel of the Year Dedicant Program. There are some of the questions that I am not writing at this time because I either don't know the answer yet or am not comfortable with the answer I gave.
Why have you chosen to undertake the Dedicant Program?
Because I feel the need to deepen my relationship to my gods. I have skated by for a long time, just letting things float, and at this time this is no longer enough for me. I appreciate the ADF motto "Why Not Excellence" and feel that much of what I have learned about ADF as an organization is something that my spirituality can be strengthened through.
Is this a step on your path, or will this become the path itself?
I do not know that this will be my final path. I do not know that this program is a perfect fit for me, I rather doubt it as there are seldom perfect matches. But the values shown in the dedicant manual and through my exporations so far are values I share.
This is a step on my path. It feels a bit firmer than some of the previous steps, perhaps because having timelines and homework is a structure I am comfortable working inside.
If you have been in ADF for a long time, why are you starting only now?
Well, I don't know as though I'd say I'm a long time member, I originally joined in January 2005. I started the Dedicant program when I first joined and was immediately intimidated by the amount of work and quit. Honestly, this is my third attempt at the DP, but the first time I've put real organization behind it.
Does it look hard or easy?
The DP looks incredibly hard to me. But hard is what I'd expect at this point. I've learned through my seeking that deep, real, spiritual practice and connection is not something that just "happens" and that it takes real work to build a relationship with yourself and your gods. Or, at least, spiritual connection is not something that is going to be easy for me - and I have serious questions about people who never have to work at it at all.
Which requirements appear to be difficult to you now, and which appear to be easy?
The two requirement that look the hardest to me are the meditation requirements and the eight rituals. I've had a very difficult time with meditations in the past, and rituals - well - I just don't have a lot of practice with them. They make me nervous.
I'm also afraid of my timing. I seem to let other things interfere with my practices and then I give up because there's "no time." This is an issue that I will continue to struggle with throughout this process.
Do you have doubts, questions, or concerns that you need to ask about?
Oh I've got a TON of doubts. Do I have the time to do this right? Do I have the ability or the willpower to work through the obstacles? Do I have the money to get the resources and books that I can't find at my library? Is this going to strengthen or weaken my relationships? Am I nuts?
But I don't think the doubts are something that is strange. Most people have doubts and worries. This is a long training program and certainly more work than I have done before. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.
The work of this first week was to collect the resources listed, begin to organize the various journals and essays that will be needed at the end of the program, and also to read through the dedicant manual and website. However, the bulk portion was devoted to pondering on some questions. While the answers to these questions aren't part of the final "turn-in" stuff, I think its important background to share. These questions are from that Week 1 in the Wheel of the Year Dedicant Program. There are some of the questions that I am not writing at this time because I either don't know the answer yet or am not comfortable with the answer I gave.
Why have you chosen to undertake the Dedicant Program?
Because I feel the need to deepen my relationship to my gods. I have skated by for a long time, just letting things float, and at this time this is no longer enough for me. I appreciate the ADF motto "Why Not Excellence" and feel that much of what I have learned about ADF as an organization is something that my spirituality can be strengthened through.
Is this a step on your path, or will this become the path itself?
I do not know that this will be my final path. I do not know that this program is a perfect fit for me, I rather doubt it as there are seldom perfect matches. But the values shown in the dedicant manual and through my exporations so far are values I share.
This is a step on my path. It feels a bit firmer than some of the previous steps, perhaps because having timelines and homework is a structure I am comfortable working inside.
If you have been in ADF for a long time, why are you starting only now?
Well, I don't know as though I'd say I'm a long time member, I originally joined in January 2005. I started the Dedicant program when I first joined and was immediately intimidated by the amount of work and quit. Honestly, this is my third attempt at the DP, but the first time I've put real organization behind it.
Does it look hard or easy?
The DP looks incredibly hard to me. But hard is what I'd expect at this point. I've learned through my seeking that deep, real, spiritual practice and connection is not something that just "happens" and that it takes real work to build a relationship with yourself and your gods. Or, at least, spiritual connection is not something that is going to be easy for me - and I have serious questions about people who never have to work at it at all.
Which requirements appear to be difficult to you now, and which appear to be easy?
The two requirement that look the hardest to me are the meditation requirements and the eight rituals. I've had a very difficult time with meditations in the past, and rituals - well - I just don't have a lot of practice with them. They make me nervous.
I'm also afraid of my timing. I seem to let other things interfere with my practices and then I give up because there's "no time." This is an issue that I will continue to struggle with throughout this process.
Do you have doubts, questions, or concerns that you need to ask about?
Oh I've got a TON of doubts. Do I have the time to do this right? Do I have the ability or the willpower to work through the obstacles? Do I have the money to get the resources and books that I can't find at my library? Is this going to strengthen or weaken my relationships? Am I nuts?
But I don't think the doubts are something that is strange. Most people have doubts and worries. This is a long training program and certainly more work than I have done before. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.