Last week or so, I got my Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) Membership package containing an introduction to the Ár nDraíocht Féin and the Druid Path and ADF Membership Guide in which are requirements for starting the Dedicant Program. “Awesome!” I thought. With the end of these college classes upon me in less than a week and the Moon of Dedication coming up in a few weeks, this is the perfect time to start my Dedicant Path.
This morning, I had a most interesting dream. I dreamt that I was talking to a woman in the middle of the woods. We were on a stone/gravel type path with large mossy rocks scattered all around. It was kind of grey and misty and I could not make out her face. The message she conveyed to me was that in order to really belong to the ADF, I must accept the wolf. I must accept and believe that the wolf truly is an endangered species. Kind of weird – kind of cryptic, especially since I’ve always felt a bond or kinship with the wolf. So, I went to one of my favorite animal totem websites, Whats-your-sign.com, and did a little research on the wolf.
Avia Venefica writes, “To understand totem wolf symbols, one must first understand the heart of the Wolf. This takes time because the Wolf has had to endure many false stereotypes, misconceptions and misunderstandings.
Not at all the picture of ferocity or terror, the Wolf is a creature with a high sense of loyalty and strength. Another misconception is that of the ‘lone wolf.’ To the contrary, the Wolf is actually a social creature, friendly, and gregarious with its counterparts.
The Wolf is an incredible communicator. By using touch, body movements, eye contact as well as many complex vocal expressions – the wolf makes his point understood. Those with totem wolf symbols are of the same inclination – they are expressive both vocally and physically. Those who have the wolf as their totem animal are naturally eloquent in speech, and also have knack for creative writing.
A quick-list of totem wolf symbolic attributes include:
- Intelligence
- Cunning
- Communication
- Friendliness
- Loyalty
- Generosity
- Compassionate
Totem wolf symbols belong to those who truly understand the depth of passion that belong to this noble creature. The Wolf is a representative of deep faith, and profound understanding.
Further, the Wolf possess a high intellect, and have been observed using strategies about hunting, habitat and migration.
When this gracious creature appears to us, and serves as a totem in our lives, the Wolf beckons us to ask these questions:
- Are you thinking about a different form of education?
- Are you being a true friend, and are your friends being true to you?
- Are you communicating yourself clearly to others?
- Are you being loyal to yourself?
- Are you incorporating strategies and planning to achieve your goals?
- Are you spending enough quality time with yourself, friends and family?
Click here to find more about other animal totems as well as totem wolf symbols and discover if the Wolf is your Native American zodiac sign. [Which mine is not – it’s a Bear.]
Take some time to know more about the Wolf, you will be amazed at the knowledge these regal creatures can share with you.” [1]
So, after reading this, I made some interesting connections. For one, Pagans in general endure many false stereotypes, misconceptions and misunderstandings. It is believed by those who don’t understand us that we are evil devil/Satan worshippers who sacrifice animals, etc. when that could not be any further from the truth (well except for the animal sacrifice part – I can’t speak for all forms of Paganism such as the African Traditional Religions (ATRs) and Vodou). The ADF Druids I have met have a great sense of loyalty – to themselves, to their faith and to the Earth Mother. Speaking personally, I do tend to enjoy my “lone wolf” time, but also crave community, getting together with like-minded people for coffee, for study group activities and chats and celebrating Moons and Sabbats or High Days.
It seems to me that Druidry highly values communication, the arts (especially within the The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) tradition), wisdom, knowledge, learning and education. All of the attributes that Venefica lists for the Wolf are attributes that I’ve seen for myself in my ADF friends in AK and are attributes that I personally appreciate and value in myself and other people.
“Are you thinking about a different form of education?” Why yes, yes I am; I’m thinking about starting my Dedicant’s Path 😉
As for the “endangered species” part of my dream – You know, I try. I really try to see the good in people – all people. But that’s gotten me hurt a few more times than I care to remember. There comes a time when learn – you learn that you have to be cautious and have to have your guard up, sitting back and observing before making a decision or a move. You learn that not all people are “nice” and may not have the most honorable of intentions. It truly seems as though people with the above attributes ARE an endangered species these days. There are so many deceptive and uncaring people out there who are only out for themselves without thinking twice about who or what they use, injure or destroy in order to achieve their own means and goals. Oh sure, they may be there to listen to your problems, but as quick as ever, they turn around and have a new subject to talk and gossip about with their friends. You may find a knife in your back, never really seeing it coming. These types of people don’t really care about you or your problems; they’re incapable or are unwilling to be compassionate and take the time to actually commit and help you, saying, “Oh well, sucks to be you,” as they abandon you to the curb and leaving you to your own demise. When you do find a person or group with the Wolf attributes, you really want to hold onto, join their “pack” and stick together. And you mourn…you mourn them when you have to move on.
So, now I have to ask – is the Wolf to be my new companion? Is the Wolf to guide and protect me as I venture down this new Druid Path?
Sources:
Venefica, Avia. Whats-your-sign.com, “Totem Wolf Symbols“.
I hope you will find fulfillment and happiness on the new part of your path 🙂 I’ve never made a formal commitment to Druidry in any of its modern forms, but I wonder more and more if I should go ahead and do it. What pushed you to make this decision? If you don’t mind me asking what’s probably a very personal question…
No, not at all 🙂 I really had no experience with Druidry before meeting a few ADF Druids in AK at an open Imbolc ritual at the UU church in Anchorage – it was a formal all out ADF style ritual. It was very impressive to me and organized (which I really liked). After getting to know and talking with them, I really like their attitude, their seriousness, their reverence for the trees, nature and the Earth Mother. I liked that they weren’t “play-gans” – those who only look the part and/or act the part during Sabbats and festivals.
I also feel very drawn to the Celtic pantheon, as I have great great grandparents who migrated from Ireland through Canada and into the US in the late 1800’s.
I thought about joining the ADF back when I was in AK, but didn’t want to join just because it seemed like the “cool thing to do” and plus I didn’t have the time to really dedicate to the Dedicant’s Path at the time (with a toddler and newborn). I wanted to wait, check out other traditions as well and be sure that this is what I wanted to commit to.
I’m pretty sure you read my post on going out and meeting a local ADF member here in Upstate NY a few weeks back. The circumstances surrounding that meetup and her attitude, beliefs and explanations about how the ADF works were right inline with those of my friends’ back in AK and it felt “right” to me.
Mainly, it goes to my love of organization, “formal training”, research, wisdom, knowledge, researching, and trying to respect and incorporate the Old Ways, yet having enough sense to understand and realize that we live in the here and now. I love the use of herbs, runes, Ogham, the Celtic pantheon, the reverence for trees, rocks, plants, animals, the waters, the land, the ancestors, the Earth Mother…all things Pagan, right? LoL!
Another big reason was community. The ADF has groves all over the country. From what I understand, they have a common liturgy and the groves are in synch with each other and their teachings.
The bigger main traditions I know of are ADF (http://www.adf.org/core/); OBOD (http://www.druidry.org/); RDNA (http://www.rdna.info/index.html); AODA (http://aoda.org/grove_bios.html); and the Henge of Keltria (http://www.keltria.org/index.htm).
I admit I’m impressed 🙂 That’s a lot of thought put into it before hand. I know that my first forays away from Christianity were into Revivalist Druidry a la the AODA. I don’t have a draw to a particular pantheon at all- there are some specifics that I really resonate with (the Sea Daughter, anyone?) But I have such syncretic beliefs that I just don’t know where to go with them. I’m thinking that I should revisit those ideas. Thanks for answering so thoroughly- it gives me a lot to think about.
Awesome and you’re welcome! Don’t you just love all those twisting and winding paths? The new ones that just seem to pop out from seemingly nowhere and wonder,”Ooh! I wonder what’s down there?” LoL! You even are afforded the opportunity to backtrack and “revisit” paths you’ve already been down and reevaluate your course. Fun, fun, fun 🙂 I do however still consider myself very eclectic. Oh well, we’ll see where this path takes me and where I come out 😉
Reblogged this on The Journeys of a Nomadic Pagan.