One thing that happened was attending my first Labyrinth walk at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral here in Portland (they have a public drop in session once a month and are three blocks rom my apartment). For years I have struggled with my connections to the church. I was raised Presbyterian but for the last four or five years have been much more drawn to the Anglican Communion. I haven't attended much in recent history but I think it is time to reintegrate my mysticism and my personal connection to Christianity with an actual community of faith. That is one element. Another is seeking to renew my studies with the Druid Order (OBOD). I completed their ourse of studies about six or seven years ago. Last year I received the materials for their new audio version of the revised first level or Bardic Grade. The course itself has been revised a couple years before and I had the new paper lessons but did not pursue them at that time. Up until now I had only made it through about a quart of the audio course, but I believe it is time to pick that up again as well. Raising my connection to both the Church and the Druid Order are clear priorities at the moment though of course I don't know where those paths lead and how well they will interact. The point of contact between them of course is the labyrinth. It doesn't care whether I am a Christian/Druid/Both. I am just another silent reverent walker on its arcs and turns. The Labyrinth connects to the Rosicrucian Order as well for me this year. After the Peace Ceremony in June we created one of the seven circuit classical versions on the floor of the Grange Hall where we meet in masking tape. That was probably the day where all of these shifts began. It is certainly the dy where to my surprise the goddess Ceridwen appeared in my mind when I reached the center of the Labyrinth. She simply stated that I wasn't finished with the Druidic material and that I would return to it. She is who I have always resonated with as the mother within the Celtic tradition. OBOD's new course places encounters with her at very few key points on the path, although the Bardic Course uses one of her stories as an ongoing thread to understand the basics of Druidry as well as storytelling, etc. Long story not short, regardless of some of my comments in my last letter (though my developing business knowledge and connections are key to my situation right now) my mystical studies/associations are clearly not going anywhere.
I am thankful for all the gifts these spiritual homes have given me over the years, particularly during the last four since walking the Labyrinth on Solstice four years ago. Trinity has truly provided a place where I could be my whole self and live out Richard Rohr's maxim "Everything Belongs". It will be my honor to present a new group of catechumens to the community and the bishop for confirmation. The fact that the bishop is going to turn right around and march with us in Portland's Pride Parade is the icing on the cake. Being a whole person is goal after all. As Irenaus said most of two thousand years ago, "The glory of God is a human being fully alive." Here's to being alive!
