Feral Druidry is the blog of Skyllaros, a Hedge Druid, Witch, and all around spiritual mutt. SO, random things you might want to know about me and this blog:
Personal Statements of “Belief”
1) Druidry is my “core” spiritual practice, but I don’t consider my Druidry to be based on orders or either set of teachings, they merely inform and inspire my own Druidry. My own Druidryt is based on worship of the gods, working with the spirits, engaging in the pursuit of magic, and forming a proper healthy relationship with the Otherworld for the good of myself and my community.
2) I am Pagan, or Polytheist, or whatever the cool kids are calling it now a days. Fact is, I worship the Old Gods, and I like it that way. I’m not a Soft Polytheist and I’m not quite a Hard Polytheist either. I’m more of a “Squishy Polytheist”.
3) I am an animist. Specifically bio-regional animism is important in my personal practice. See point #7 for more on this.
4) I practice within the Druid Revival and Western Mystery Traditions. While I am Pagan I do not practice re-constructionist or Neo-Pagan (ADF style) Druidry. I have respect for those traditions and their practioners, its just not my bag personally.
5) I am a Magician. Many (Revival) Druids I’ve encounter take the view that magic should not be messed with and work with the natural order only. I do not hold this view. Magic has been the main passion of my life for as long as I can remember. Literally my first memories are of magic, and sometime when I was a teenager I decided to formally dedicate my life to the pursuit of magic, which apparently the universe decided to take seriously and has kept me to that oath. I wouldn’t want to live in a world without magic. Really I don’t know how other people do it!
6) I practice both Ritual Magic and Witchcraft. Both high and low. Thus most of the content on this blog will be a mixed bag of all of the above. I see Hermetic magic as being the best vehicle to interact with Celestial spirits, and as a Western Mage it simply calls out to me at a deep level. I also believe that the old Druidic Ovatic mysteries are echoed in practices of the European Cunning Folk. I see Witchcraft as being the best in which to work with chthonic spirits. Thus, my own witchcraft takes on a “traditional” witchcraft inspired flavor. While specialization can indeed be fulfilling, my own practice has evolved such that eschewing one for the practice of another would not be fulfilling (for me).
7) I believe in spirits and working with spirits is a large part of my personal practice. I work with the spirits of my ancestors and the dead, the spirits of place, I work with bones and the spirits that reside within them. I work with both angels and “demons”. I believe working with spirits is important and has it’s place. Though important to magic, I am not of the mindset that all magic works by spirits alone however.
8) I also still have a soft spot for Chaos Magic, being a die hard Chaote myself back in the day. I still use a lot of it and it’s mindset in my practice, and I’ll talk about that from time to time too. I enjoy this new Post-Chaos phenomenon that’s been going around and look forward to seeing where it leads.
9) By engaging myself in all of the above, I pursue the Great Work, and through this practice my Will in made manifest.
10) I do not now or ever think I have all the answers. My path is constantly changing. I do not speak from a position of authority or “knowing it all”. I’m a student, nothing more and nothing less. I’m just here to share my path as I go along. Feel free to walk along with me, but realize that everything I say is spoken from a position of figuring it out as I go along. I make mistakes. Often in fact. It’s part of being a magician.
As always love, I’m very much looking forward to sharing in your journey…
Thank you my friend! Your my first commenter! Yay! I’m always so happy to have your friendship and support.
I’m looking forwards to new and inspiring posts in this new space! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thanks Eardcwen! I appreciate you following me here 🙂 I hope there will be good stuff to post. I’m excited about the prospect of a new frontier!
I’m excited to read this blog – can’t wait to see you get your hands dirty… or bloody 😉
Thanks Sarah, I hope to get them plenty dirty as well this summer 😉 (already working on the bloody part).
Hedge on! I’ll be watching and enjoying from the west-coast hedges. 🙂 Good luck.
Many thanks Kora Kaos! It’s always a pleasure to hear from you!
Wow.
I stumbled onto your blog and seem to have found a kindred spirit. Your opening statement sounds like mine.
I look forward to reading more about your journeys.
Hi Don, glad you stumbled on to the blog. Our statements do indeed sound similar. I’ll add yours to my blog roll and I look forward to reading more about your path on your blog!
Your writing is beautiful. I’ve been poking about your blog for a bit now and it’s just beautifully written. Thank you for writing it and for sharing it with myself and all the rest of us.
Many thanks for your wonderful comment! I really appreciate it and am glad to know you’ve enjoyed the blog so far!
Must say I am thinking of visiting here often to read your blog. Although I am a devotee of Danu and Lugh I have always felt a powerful connection with Hekate and Cernunnos as well and am looking forward to reading about Them in your blogs.
*Blessings*
)O( SeaDruid /|\
Must say I am thinking of visiting here often to read your blog. Although I am a devotee of Danu and Lugh I have always felt a powerful connection with Hekate and Cernunnos as well and am looking forward to reading about Them in your blog.
*Blessings*
)O( SeaDruid /|\
I dont believe what you believe but your writing is genius, brilliant, marvelous. I love the picture that becomes edged into my mind. Its a good feeling reading this
Thank you Tim! That is much appreciated! My best to you!
You’ve been nominated for the versatile blogger’s award. =) http://myinnerpath.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/wohoo-an-award/
Thank you Journeymaid! Much appreciated. I enjoy your blog too!
Hi there!
I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award because I enjoy your blog. Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:
-Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post
-Share 7 things about yourself
-Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading
-Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award
http://rookwise.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/versatile-blogger-award/
(Oh rats! I see you’ve already been nominated! Well consider this a double nomination then! Cheers!)
Hehe no prob on a dual nomination, I’m just honored that people like it! Thanks so much for the nomination!
So, I received this award and the rules are to pass it on. I have been reading your blogs for some time, and I enjoyed seeing the changes and reading along with your journey. I think you are deserving of this award.
Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:
-Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post
-Share 7 things about yourself
-Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs you enjoy reading
-Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award
http://stagandeagle.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/versatile-blogger-award/
Hi Iolair, thanks for the kind words, I’m happy you enjoy it. It’s been great getting to know you these past few months! I also enjoy yours!
Hello my friend over there,
I enjoy your site, and wanted to know sometime about goetia conjuration. Please could those spirits be conjured by using a crystal as well?
Thanks
Hi there! I don’t see why not (I think you could evoke anything into one), however I’ve never personally worked with the Goetia (other than very very briefly) so I’m not really the best person to ask I’m afraid. In any case I would definitely do the traditional evocation as written first before modifying the system.
I’m sorry I wish I could give you more concrete information, but this is an area I’m very much a novice in myself.
Greetings! So happy I came across your blog! I didn’t know that you were what I’ve been looking for in a blog until I found it. I’m a 0=0 neophyte in the OGD tradition and I’m also a traditional witch. I’ve been walking and learning between these two paths for quite some time now, so it’s such a blessing to find someone with the same crossroads, so to speak. Thank you for your insights!
Hi Julie! It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance! Thank you for commenting, I always love connecting with others on a similar path. I think it’s becoming more common actually. I’ve been doing the Witchcraft thing for awhile, but only stepped on the Hermetics path this past year. I’m loving it so far! My best to you.
I just want to say that reading your blog and writings for the past… year or so, has seriously inspired and aided me in my journey away from organized religion and on the path of figuring myself out. I’ve been working on coming to terms with the fact that Anubis has made himself a part of my life since I was old enough to read about him, and that it never seemed to fit into the world that I was raised to understand. But, well, reading about your experiences and journey has helped a lot. After five years of questioning and letting fear and uncertainty win out I’ve started taking that leap of faith and just going with the flow and seriously connecting with him, and opening myself up to the realm of possibilities and opportunities afforded to me. I still have no idea what I’m doing, but you’ve said yourself that often times you don’t either, and I guess that’s helped me realize that I don’t need to know exactly in order to explore it. So, yes. Thank you.
Sincerely,
M.H.
Hi Mariah! Thanks so much for that comment. It means a lot to me to know that anything I’ve written of my path has helped to inspire someone else. I figure we’re all just travelers on our own path who come share the common road for a little while. Welcome traveling companion, and many thanks again for the kind words.
Merry Meet… Accidentally found your blog, loved the dark imaginary and your points of view… and I would like to know more about you – we seem to share lots of common. Be Blessed by the Goddess and By our Horned God, have a great Litha! )O(
Inari
I stumbled on your blog (or was guided?) today and wanted to thank you for the update about the free book on Kindle (Hekate Liminal Rites). Just yesterday I downloaded a sample from the book on my Kindle, devoured it, and was going back and forth on whether to buy it or not. You solved my problem beautifully.
Goddess bless!
Glad to help Misha! It’s a wonderful book, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
I actually finished it last night. Loved it. And I read your blog about your back and forth with the Goddess. I wanted to know, when she calls to you is it like you just can’t get her name out of your head? Because that is me all day every day for two weeks now. She and I have a little history, and we had to end the relationship a few years back, but now all of a sudden she is everywhere I turn.
Misha, that sounds a lot like my own experience. She will go, and you”ll think she’s gone for good, and then she comes back stronger than ever out of the blue. That’s very much how she operates from what I’ve seen!
nice blog – thank you 🙂
Thank you and my pleasure. Looking forward to buying your new Baphomet book. Hope to review it.
Please any book to sell with regards to spirit conjurations?
I would be happy to purchase one.
Thank you
Hi Pete, I haven’t written any such book. have you checked our RO’s Angelic Grimiore though?
Hey! I found your blog via various blog rolls and stayed to keep reading because of my interest in chaos magic. I was wondering if I could ask you for some help or advice because rather recently I discovered that I have Cernunnos literally waiting for me to set up an altar and welcome him into my life. So, while I’ve read your essays regarding him, do you have any advice regarding behaviour and offerings? I’ve got some ideas which I’ll be prattling about in my own blog, but considering you’re someone that works with him… Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Castielnova,
I understand. It’s really hard to find any info on that sort of thing with him. I found him hard to get to know. Persistance pays off. I had success my first few times with woody type incenses, pine, cedar, etc, and ecstatic practices such as chanting his name and drum beats. Eventually he began to speak to me through dreams primarily.
Hopefully not to be thought of as promoting a product but have you read the devotional? it contains a lot of info of the sort your asking and was the main reason I put it together, to help others just starting out with him.
As for behavior, hes a tough one. I’ve experienced him as the Very Stern Father who will do whats right for you no matter what and is not afraid to teach you the hard lessons. My best to you and good luck!
Castiel is fine, mate. 🙂
I have some that may work, plus some other offerings that may work.
Not yet but I plan to when I can afford it. Unfortunately that won’t be for a while. But it’s first on my list.
Meep. Well I’m sure I’ll learn to adapt.
My thanks, Skyllaros! Thank you!
You’ve got a great blog here. Would love to start up a conversation with you. Do you have an email I can reach you at?
Your offer of “Hoofprints in the Wildwood” is very generous. May that generosity be repaid to you many times over!
Thanks you Anna! I hope you like the book!
I was searching for information on your friend; Elubatel, when I came upon your blog. I don’t conjure or do that type of Magick myself. I do however use causal engineering to work things out so to speak. My favorite program is cybershaman IIV. I stumbled accross Elubatel when I received huge information packet from an acquaintance, my 13 year found the info on an external HD and now is obsessed with the Omnipotent. In order to protect us both from his youthfull folly I decided to bone up on knowledge about him.
You have a very skilled hand and discrete eye in crafting your work. Your minds eye vision must be very true to see such things and bring them physically into this plane. I would like to speak off line in normal email if that would be agreeable to you.
You need to be careful. Burning age will bring everything. Cedar empowers the benevolent. SIlver is handy. Most things take gold. Also, a good batch of garlic potatoes and a jug of milk left outside in a full moon gain you some friends.
Take care.
spike head
Thanks for the advice.
Forge ahead! I love your blog!
Thank you Anne, much appreciated! I really enjoy yours as well! I’m always excited to read your new posts.
hello , my name is Alex and I just wanted to know how do you feel about atheist/agnostics who don’t normally believe in this kind of stuff.
Hello Alex, I don’t mind them at all. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs, as long as they are not pushing them on me. My own experiences do not require the validation of others, nor do I seek it. I wish you the best on your path, whatever that may be!