Experiment #2.. wordpress

Yes, thats right, I said wordpress... Continue following me here: http://www.gr3yw0lf.com 
(Thats a Three and a Zero in the domain name #grin#)

Experiment... Reduction of Personal Facebook use

Social networks are vitally important to us, especially with us all being so far apart. For some people, it might actually be the only place for sanity, or the ability to get help.

However, I've a blog (this one), and I've been slowing moving away from it and moving towards Facebook. I've been thinking about this for quite some time, and I've been noticing a trend that people don't want to use blogs, or emails to get in touch with me (not to mention that my little laptop doesn't really like a lot of the facebook stuff, and the email system they have is terrible for the way I work).

So, in a swift act of hitting the "x" against Facebook friends, I've reduced the page to a login only as an experiment. There will no doubt be a number of people worried that they have been de-friended. There might even be a number of people frightened that their friend counter reduced by one. Although, all of those on Facebook I was friends with seem to have a much better grasp of the fact that just because you were de-friended, doesn't mean I'm no longer a friend (right?)

I'll be honest; I think Facebook is really good. It helps people stay connected, allows problems to be shared and resolved, aids in understanding, and has collections of tolerant (for the most part) people communicating...

But ... (and here's my issue) ... only if you read and post statuses, links, and pictures.

I found that I don't read statuses, and I don't think that's good for my friends. If I'm your friend, I should be reading the statuses. I should notice when you post good things and reply "Good job, well done!", or you have a birthday and I should reply "congrats". I should notice when you say you're feeling down, and upset. But you post it, and me, as your friend, says nothing (or worst, you see me post something elsewhere, and wonder "sheesh, thanks a lot").

Personally, I don't think Facebook cares about you keeping up to date with your friends, as it's all about the recent posts.. It'd be nice to see "here are the posts since the last time you logged on" button... Funnily enough, that's what Blogs are for. Alright, there might be RSS feeds in Facebook, but hey, I've enough to keep tabs on. But that's just me and my opinion..

I'm struggling finding things to say on a blog, yet alone stating that "I'm feeling crappy" on Facebook (I have to force myself to do that, and I'm not liking that feeling).

Why not delete my account? Because I use it as a login for the Grove, and I think the amount of people who look for us on Facebook should get info, and events (which is where I'm going to start concentrating on).

Maybe I'll post more here.

ps. Email's on my blogger profile ...

Working with the Feathered Nature Spirits

Earth day. Hail the Earth, and all her Children, and what a day its been for many of her children.

As a Druid I honour the Nature Spirits in rites, and at home. The creatures of this world, trees, plants, rocks, streams. Home has a collection of furred four legged friends, and a little bit of garden and trees, and rocks keeping me in touch with Earth Mother. The Nemeton out at the Land has aided my connection to Earth Mother in many and various ways.

Today I got a chance to actually work with a branch of the nature spirits, specifically Birds.

I got the chance to volunteer time at Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Saegertown, PA.

I was greeted by other Volunteers, Staff, and interns of the center, making it a wonderful welcome. I donned surgical gloves, and was put to work (happily by choice).

Currently they have an eagle being rehabilitated, passed to them by the Game Commission (there are pictures on Facebook of Him). I got a chance to see him briefly before his appointment with a clinic for a much needed X-Ray.

It was great to catch a glimpse, but as I explained, I wasn't there just to see the Eagle, I was there to help all of the patients. However, there cannot be very many people that can say "I cleaned up Eagle excrement" (ok, I doubt it'll be a t-shirt at any point, but hey, I was happy).

One Bluejay patient had ideas about checking out early before getting him to his new room, but we managed to safely recapture him.

I helped the group clean and redo water dishes, and feed the "seasoned" mice and rats to the wild red tail hawks and collection of owls. I got the chance to help clean the cages of the Education birds, where I was greeted with a very happy chipping Barred Owl (its not something I've heard before), a Great Horned Owl whom flew around to get a better look at me, hooting in response to one of the interns, and a a beady eye was given from the Cooper Hawk.

I also got the chance to help feed a Merlin Falcon pieces of mice guts (or rat guts.. sorry, not good with the anatomy). He was quite happy with a stranger at that point, but wasn't ready to jump to a glove. I was still honoured to be in the presence of this bird at such close proximity.

A fantastic day, that I hope I get to do again when time allows. Talk about helping out the community, and having fun.

Hail Freyja, lady of feathered cloak.
I saw a glint of you in the eyes of a bird,
An echo of you in a screech, a call
Closer than I ever thought,
and for that I am thankful and blessed.

Psst.. Wellspring is aproaching...

It's getting closer to that point in the year where ADF holds it's annual yearly meeting known as Wellspring at Brushwood Folklore Center, starting on May 26th, and going into Memorial Day Weekend.

For pre-Booking, have a look at Stone Creed Grove's site, and you don't have to be a member of ADF to come.

For those not following on Facebook, if you're wondering about some of the things we get up to, have a look at the following Videos:

Drumming By the Fireside:


Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsB-fYaSqI0


ADF Warrior Memorial Dedication Ceremony:


Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv3hE8RmHk4

Wellspring 2010 Video
(including The Bardic Chair Winning song by Missy!!)


Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP_CKl-Dfjo

Class: The Way of the Magician

I had a fantastic Friday evening up at Aradia’s Garden in Eastlake, Ohio, to go to Ian Corrigan's Class called: "The Way of the Magician - Beyond Spellcasting, to Living a Magical Life". In fact, if it wasn't for him posting it on his blog, Into the Mound, I would not have known about it.

Although the class was small it actually worked out really well, Ian was able to go off at tangents and small incitful talks (he calls them rants, but if you've heard Ian speak before, you know what I mean; He has a way of making you know where his opinions are, and speaks from experience).

This wasn't specifically an ADF/Druid talk, but with him spending so much time within that system, a lot of examples and ideas come from the experience of being in ADF.

I'm still processing a lot of the notes I took, and sorting through the different ideas, so perhaps I'll post a bit about that at a later date.

Ian spent time on talking about the collecting and building personal power, for personal gain (and thus using it for the betterment of self and others). Before some noses get bent out of shape, he went over some excellent pieces on Ethics, which the most prominent that I remember (and this is before my coffee this morning) is "Be nice, don't be Nasty", and "If you wouldn't do something without the use of magic, then you shouldn't do it WITH the use of magic". This isn't the complete collection of advice, and info he gave, but it was a great down to earth section, including where some of the ideas came from (again, if you know ADF and Ian, he's done his homework!).

On another note, Lindy and her group at Aradia's Garden was a gracious host, providing food and refreshment for all, and good directions for someone how's never been before (thank you!!). I felt bad that I didn't get the chance to look around the store (next time, I hope to have that chance). Blog Readers; If you're in the area, stop by!