Blessed Druidess's Grove

I belong to a Druid organization and am proud to be posting this on their behalf.  After Ike, the organization Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF.org) pulled together and raised so far $700 for people down in the worst stricken areas of Ike.

So far, a box of candles were given to one family that has no power and won't till after October,  $150 given to one family for gasoline for the generator and food, $200 paid to one family that is running out of money and can not find a Fema hotel that is not full and is on oxygen, $200 to the pagan community fund raiser this Saturday, and $70 to one family to pay for storage till their house is rebuilt.

Members of the organization have been going around and helping chop fallen trees, clean up houses, and just be a shoulder to lean on.  The members have gone beyond the call of duty during this time!

To learn more about them, please call 832-208-8739 or visit the website.  Also please call if you know anyone that needs anything and we will see what we can do.  Thank you.

Hurricane Ike hit the coast of Texas in the night of September 12th and morning of September 13th.  I experienced all the storm had in my parent’s house with them, my best friend and her son.  What a night it was!

 

I watched as the wind tore through my home town.  Thanking the Kindreds that protected us from major damage and injury.  Trees whipped to a beat of the storm while the rain flew sideways.  Limb after limb fell.  The music of the storm out did any man made horror sound. 

 

I had stayed up to watch for us to loose power which happened about 1:30AM.  And the house that was all asleep but me became very active.  With my dad on oxygen I wanted to make sure he got switched in time.  My father had to be on a portable unit right away and we watched him all night as his levels went from 91 to 34.  Fear took a hold of us as we thought Ike would take him away from us.  He did not want to go from this plane yet and is so looking forward to his new lungs.  As I watched him I could not imagine a world with out him.  He’s my daddy.

 

 When the eye of the storm came, it was like night and day.  The wind was dead calm and stars could be seen.  As I walked around checking the roof and house, it was strange feeling.  I just knew the worst was yet to come and boy was I right!  After the eye pasted, the wind blew with an uncontrollable fierceness.

 

 Others had passed back out and I was alone again watching Ike take out things.  Through it all bright lights of green and blue would happen; transformers giving out to the might of Mother Nature and exploding in the air.  The storm took on a beauty of its own during this time.  Fear was replaced with thankfulness.

 

After the hurricane pasted and all was calm, we ventured outside.  Day had broke through and showed exactly what the night air hid.  Fences down, trees up from the roots, roofs completely gone, carports five or more house down or twisted up, and power, cable, and phone lines laying on the roads.  Proof of why you should never ride out a storm!

 

Saturday was the hardest to go through.  As I drove around and saw the destruction I saw signs blown to shreds, street lights lying down across the street, and homes just gone.  All that went through my head was these were the last images of my home town before I move to Arizona.  People loosing everything or near close to it.  Tears swelled up in my eyes and still do occasionally.

 

At our house, our pecan tree was split in half, shingles down all over, water in the attic and wall, and we lost clothes that were washing along with food.  My parents had a back fence down and lots of limbs.  And my friend that was with us, well, she inherited a trampoline and had a fence down. Over all minor compared to some.

Sunday I followed the news advice and called Centerpoint about my father being on an oxygen machine.  The lady who answered got very rude though I was calm.  It was unbelievable that she told me my father's oxygen machine that he can not live without was not a life threatening machine.  After being told it would be a month, we hung up.

 

All I can do is thank the Kindreds that we are all safe.  There are some funny stories that have come out of this though.  For instance, Sunday night we were in a back room with the window unit that is running on the generator.  Before I knew it, my foot was smashed underneath my father’s scooter.  Here I am trying not to cry because I know that it makes him feel bad and also cause I don’t want to admit that it is hurting as bad as it was.  I was fine just throbbing!  Then about twenty minutes later, dad managed to run down my mom.  She was not hurt at all, but it got us all to laughing!

 

Another story that has come out of this is how the power would flicker during the storm.  I would think that it was out and just when I would go get dad switched to his portable unit, it would come back on.  I finally threw up my hands.  And finally when I was not going to budge, down came the power completely.

 

With Monday came work.  I started to also become numb to what was going on.  Story after story coming in as I filed claims for our insurers brought me to the realization of how lucky we were.  I had power at work yet no internet.  The day was long and hard.

 

When I got home, I realized that right behind the house of where we are all is a pod of distribution for those that need food, ice and water.  This was not what I wished to see right by, but was able to talk to the police and be guaranteed that there would security to the home and that they would arrests any one on spot and ask questions later. 

 

Soon I would find out how much trouble this pod would be to me!  As I woke up at 6:30 AM on Tuesday, I found a line of cars already to get the handouts.  Now I am all for get what you need and there being places to get that but our house had not just the pod blocking us from getting any where, it had also a Salvation Army center blocking us from taking the other exit out.  What was a 5 minute drive to work now became a 45 minute drive.  Just like all our moralities of life, time is becoming something that you are sitting through to get the necessities or to get to places.

 

Peoples’ patience is running very thin.  There have been fights, shootings, and looting.  Parts of the south east Texas looks like a bomb went off and other parts are like a war zone with the way people are acting.  There are times I fear my safety and others I fear that we will not get what is needed for Dad’s oxygen to keep going. He will not leave due to the fact that he is still having his tests this week for the new lungs.

 

Soon I am to move; soon this will become a memory.  Are the last pictures of the place I have always called home of this?  Will the places that they show on the television of the worst hit areas ever be the same?  Such memories of my childhood and adult life spent in areas like Bolívar peninsula, Galveston, and many other places.  For instance the first home Lester and I lived in has no roof.  The street I grew up on had trees the same age as me down.  And my most favorite restaurant is gone from High Island!

 

I have not had internet or electricity.  I am using a Coleman stove and BBQ pit to cook for the family.  I sit all day filing claims for customers and work all night to get back up and going.  I have no way to call some friends due to not having a number, no way to email out to others, and just a small TV that is older then me to let me know about the outside world.  I am ready for a night in my own bed; I am ready for a bit of normalcy.  I am ready to be able to move on.  Yet I am thankful to my Kindred.  It could have been worse and our “hunkering” down could have took our lives.  Each day at work I write on this and pour some more of our experience into it.  Maybe one day I will not have to.  Maybe one day soon I will be able to post this to my blog.  Maybe one day, the nights will be a friendly place again.

How does one change your email addy for this?  I would like to, but don't see that option any where.  Help, do you know how?

Sweetgum Protogrove, ADF would like to invite all to a very unique oppertunity to experience two different types of Druid rituals.  We are celebrating this year Summer Solctice in both manners.  We welcome all to come out to celebrate with us and enjoy this time of celebration.  Please email me offline for directions.  Thank you!

 
Tentative Schedule:

9:00-9:30am Arrival, getting to know the pups, walking about if you wish, socializing, coffee :)
9:30-10:00am Discussion about OBOD, last minute questions and assignments for the ritual
10:00-11:00am OBOD Alban Hefin ritual

11:00-12:00 Lunch/Brunch
12:00-12:30 Prep for ADF ritual
12:30-1:30 ADF ritual
1:30-whenever discussion,drumming, singing, celebration! 

Plenty of time to make it to your own groups ritual or other evening activities!  We have done this on purpose!
 
Menu for lunch/brunch
Main Course
We have veggie dogs/burgers/brats/chilli for those that don't eat meat (all soy based)
BBQ chicken for the meat eaters.
 
On the side:
Watermellon
Some kind of salad, Dawn mentioned potato maybe.


Desert:
Cheesecake 

As always folks are welcome to bring whatever they wish to share!  For those that would like a drink after the rituals I have a decent stock of wine and other liabations.  We just ask that you do so responsibly and be of age.  And there will be those that don't. 

 
Sincerely,
Lesley Gary
Sweetgum PG GO
ADF Publishing Advertising Director

Dear Children of the Earth,

The Kindred have come together and decided it was time for a letter from the three of us.  We have witnessed many things over the years and want to draw your attention to the things we feel need work.  It is nothing bad, but we want you to be future kindred with us and therefore we need toask you to correct some things.  Each of us will take a part in this letter to you.

Nature Spirits here and though we know you were not the ones who started the ball running for the trash on Earth, we need your help to clean it up.  There is more pollution these days then ever could have been imagined and our natural garbage disposals are getting cloaged up.  Just the other day a goat could not digest some of the new products out there.  And because some cleaning aides had to move to the marshes, the food chain is all out of wack.  Oh, and our polar bear brother wants to know where you will help him move to when the ice caps are gone.  If the Children of the Earth can not get things turned around, we will have to do more drastic measures.  Also, you use to listen to us, spend time with us.  We miss you as our friend.  Take a walk in the forrest or on the plains, swim in our lakes, rivers, or oceans.  Come see your old friend and get out of the concrete walls you call work and home.

Ancestors here!  What are yall teaching them kids?  No ones words are matching actions.  No one respects the elders.  No one respects any one.  In our days, there would be punishment.  But now, you seem to fear telling some one no.  You fear coming down on those younger.  Kids are your future.  What kind of role model are you being?  Where are your morals and virtues?  Did you forget the ways of old?  Did you forget what we have taught you?  Also, speaking of that, why have you closed your ears to the lessons we so earnestly try to give you?  Spend time with us.  Go to our resting place and clean it up!  Speak to us, tell us your concerns.  Remember also the oathes you took.  Make good to your word and be a person of honor!

Shining ones, the Deities.  There is so many different things that we wish to say.  Why have we become a burden to go to?  Why do you moarn worship in any faith?  All we ask is that you remember us.  You gift to us, we will gift to you.  You be our friend, our worshipper, and dilegent and we will be behind you all the way.  Teach the others that actions are more important than words.  Teach them the ways of us.  Be true to heart.  Come and spend time with us, dance with us, sing with us, play with us!

All us Kindred have concerns.  Do you remember your oaths?  Your promises?  Not just to us but others?  Why do you not keep them?  Why must you speak one thing and do another?   When will your heart and soul speak as one with the mind and body?  Things are not looking good and you are the only one that can change it.  All of you have potential to be a Kindred when your time is up.  Act like it!

Be true of word and action.  Don't be ill will of any one.  Speak truth and let your actions back it.  Don't try to hurt others or bring them down.  Reach out to those that are trying but still need that helping hand.  Remember that what company you keep will also reflect on you.  Remember what you do will also affect that company.  And lastly, remember to live your faith and path, not just teach or preach it to others.  Words are nothing, actions are everything.

Remember we love you!  And we leave you with a challenge:  Prove that you want to be a better person.  Prove you can help where needed.  Prove you can hold true to the virtues.  Prove you can help heal a broken world of people and spirits.

Always,
The Kindred

That is what finally came to me when I let them flow through me to the paper.  Now it is up to us what we do with it.
Are you up to the challenge?

The year is 1692 and you are in Salem.  Would you stand as one of the accusers, the accused, or the indifferent?  Would you allow people to be murdered because they are different then you in their ways and beliefs?  All it took then was the idea that some one might be different, a witch, a free thinker, and they were put down in a flash.  Drowned, hung, burned alive, raped, tortured, and then some.  Could you live with that?  Could you live that what you might have said to the neighbors led to the death of another?

Now it is today and I ask, "How far have we come from that?"  There is still a fear of indifference!  We just have changed our methods.  Now we torture and kill the spirit of a person.  We still find people trying to force their beliefs and ways on people.

We don't take time to learn about other religions, we just assume the only right one is the one that we personally are on.  We try to conform people to thinking like us.  We put them down if they are different.  We pass them over for advancement because they are not like us.

The new burning time do not include literal fires, but they are still just as deadly.  There will always be the attitude of "my way is best" out there.  But we as a people must let go of this.  Mother Teresa would never go to an anti-war rally, but said if you are having a peace rally, she would be there.  We must adapt that!

If we spent as much energy in trying to understand and get along with each other as we do in trying to conform everyone to one way, we would find life on a whole a lot easier.  So today, that person you can not stand because they are different.  Try to get to know them.  Find out what you fear about them and learn.  You may find they are nothing to fear or prosecute at all.