Redundancy at its best: My ADF
Some random musings involving ADF. If you’re not a part of ADF, feel free to ignore.
With the release of Isaac Bonewits new book “The Pagan Man,” (which I now have on order), and my recent involvement with helping Anthony out on the ADF website, and my general reminicings of my 3 year involvement with ADF in general, I’ve started to notice a few changes.
I was looking through various videos I’ve taken at ADF events and festivals, as well as Grove rituals and such. More specifically the time I spent at Wellspring 2004. Even days later I missed being there. I guess now has more significance than before, because at the time, Sati and I were like best friends. And now we are complete strangers. Though I do send her emails wishing her well on holidays, even if she never replies.
There were two moments during Wellspring where I felt the most happy. At one point during the closing ritual, and we were singing the Gatekeeper song, and blessing the new wooden statue of Mananan, and the woods were completely dark around us, and all the peoples faces and shapes were lit by the bonfire, and we were all dancing and singing, I was overcome with a sense of belonging. Though music has always been the heart of all my spirituality, that moment is when I knew that this was it for me. I’ve also noticed that the male aspect of pagan-oriented traditions are more appealing to me spirituality than the female. Even though I tried to participate in the Tea Party Womens thing at Wellspring, I felt kinda out of place.
The second moment, was after the closing ritual, when we all gathered in a circle around a fire drum, passed meade and food, and traded songs back and forth. That’s of course when I was able to sit with Isaac, Skip, and Ian and feel like a family. They never made me feel like…..because I was so young, obviously I have nothing to say…..nothing to contribute. And I get that a lot, believe it or not.
Beyond my own personal memories, and beyond all the bullshit other people have tried to tell me in the past about ADF, I really do like it. I’d like to become more involved in ADF, beyond my own Grove here in Maryland. I’ve met some amazing people through ADF, like Rod and Liz from Shining Lakes Grove..Chronarchy from Three Cranes Grove..Anthony and Zalon (though I don’t know you two as well) from Oceans Tide Grove.
In a way it’s somewhat scary. I don’t consider myself a very likable person. And by wanting to become more involved, I’m going to be opening that up.
I don’t know, I felt the need to get it off my chest either way. Thanks to you guys for making it more bearable 
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