Shining Lakes News

A Newsletter for Shining Lakes Grove, A.D.F.

Summer Solstice 2003 - Vol. 10, No. 3

Is the Body Willing but the Spirit Weak?

Echo: In ancient Greek myth, she was a mountain nymph whose misplaced love of the self-absorbed Narcissus made her pine away until nothing was left of her but her voice. We now use her name to refer to sounds that we hear repeated. And there's a sound that I've heard so often-in voice and in the high-pitched hum of the computer monitor-that I can safely call it an echo. It's the sound of someone asking, "Why can't SLG and ADF be more spiritual?"

"Now, I don't want to go off on a rant here," as that TV host with the obscure references always says. Unlike him, though, I won't just rant about this again. Anyone who's read this newsletter or talked to me about this in person already knows durn well how I feel about this: that the Grove's spiritual needs are being better met than its organizational needs, and that this misplaced focus reminds me of someone who stays up all night long playing video games or on-line chatting without any regard for their need to sleep or eat. (Okay, maybe I can identify with that a little.) It's fun and fulfilling in several ways, but unless you take care of the physical needs you won't have much energy for the spiritual ones. But you've heard it before, and I'm as tired of saying it as I bet you are of hearing and reading it. So I've decided to try something new.

Every time someone gives me that line, I have the same question rolling around in my head. "What exactly do you mean by "more spiritual"? I've learned a few things during my 13 years as a neo-Pagan, and one thing I know about the neo-Pagan definition of "spirituality" is that there ain't no such thing. No single thing, in any case.

In a very loose sense, I would define it as "any practice that brings one into contact with the Kindreds." Even if we agree to that definition, though, how do we do that? A monk might do it by taking a vow of silence; a Free Baptist might do it by singing a gospel song at the top of her voice. For a Buddhist, it might be sitting quietly and meditating; for a follower of the Norse gods, it might be running around a paintball field screaming at his opponents. For a Thelemite, it can mean self-improvement; for many others (and maybe that Thelemite as well), it can mean helping others. So don't assume that I know what you mean when you say you want things to be more spiritual. For all I know, you want to want to organize a food drive by shooting paintballs at people while singing.

So if we can't agree on a definition, is all hope lost? Of course not. This is a polytheistic group, and where there are many gods, there are many ways of getting things done. The key here, I think, is that we need to know what you want to do. I see my role as Senior Druid as one in which I help Grove members find ways to fulfill their spiritual needs. I'm not someone who's going to come to your house and spoon-feed you "spirit," nor should I be. Remember, if you think something is a good spiritual activity, other people in SLG and the local community may agree with you, and isn't the point of being in a group like this that you can do these things with other people instead of doing them alone in the corner of your living room?

Now I know that people sometimes don't feel comfortable telling me what they want when they think I won't agree with them, and sometimes even when they think I will agree. Yes, I know I look a lot like Shrek (too bad I can't pull candles out of my ears, though; they would make great fundraising items), but I really do want to know what the needs of my Grove are. Honest. Cross my heart and swear to Athena. Consider this article a coupon. Your

Show it to me at any Grove event, or just e-mail me, and use it. Tell me you want a monthly yoga meeting. Tell me you want to do full moon rituals. Tell me you want to organize a summer trip to some neat and exciting place. Tell me you want to organize a food drive by shooting paintballs at people while singing. (And that's something I would volunteer for!) I may not agree with your idea, but I want to hear it. Really, what's the worst thing I could say? Easy -- I could say, "That's a great idea, you should help us make that happen." And that's when you'll know that maybe being spiritual and being well-administrated and organized aren't the opposites you thought they were.

Yours in service to the Kindreds and the Grove,
Rev. Rob Henderson, Senior Druid

Freedom

By Jude Howison

Summer always makes me think of freedom. We are free of heavy winter clothes (I'm bulky enough as it is). We are free to spend time outside. We are free to play in the woods and watch wildlife enjoy their freedom as well. Many of us are free from the obligations of school. In the US here we also celebrate our nation's freedom on July 4. Yes, Summer is a great time to take a great big breath and savor the unstructured time of the season.

Summer is also a time for gathering. Picnics, barbecues, and family reunions are a mainstay of summer. As you plan your activities, remember to mark your calendars for our get-togethers. We have many opportunities to celebrate our freedom, in addition to our own Lughnasadh Festival (all the fun in only one action-packed day!): there are fun things such as the Pagan Independence Day Picnic (sponsored by Spirit at the Center), stream mapping with the Huron River Watershed Council, and a weed walk with the Seven Generations Community Center. Most of these activities are free or nearly free (although donations are always gratefully accepted). Please visit the website and make plans to spend at least one of those celebrations with us.

Lughnasadh 2003

Gallup Park, 3000 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor
11 AM - 9 PM, August 2, 2003

An all-day festival and Ár nDraíocht Féin Lughnasadh ritual combined. From opening to closing we will be celebrating and honoring our Gods in the sacred space of the festival with our Games, our Talents, and our Wits! A truly unique event.

Featuring: Main Rite of Lughnasadh * Potluck Dinner & Dessert Contest * Presentations & Workshops * Games for Grove Champion

Located on the banks of the Huron River, Gallup Park provides an excellent site for our festival. Canoes and paddleboat rentals are available for traveling on the river, and several islands can be reached by footbridge.

How much will it cost to attend? It's free! But there is a suggested $10 donation to help us cover our costs.

We need volunteers! If you would like to lead a class, workshop, or ritual, or help organize the festival, please contact us.

(734) 998-1029 * robh@cyberspace.org * www.shininglakes.org

The Leadership Council would like to thank Fred Paepke for his hard work during his tenure as Grove Administrator. Good luck in your future endeavors, Fred!

SLG Leadership Council

Senior Druid
Rob Henderson robh@cyberspace.org

Assistant Senior Druid
Rodney Cox uberrod@comcast.net

Administrator
(open position)

Scribe
Michael McClennenen michaelm@umich.edu

Pursewarden
Rodney Cox uberrod@comcast.net

Chronicler
Genevieve Stoyak gstoyak@hotmail.com

Outreach Coordinator
(position open)

Youth Activities Coordinator
(position open)

SLG Guild Leaders

Magicians' Guild
Rodney Cox uberrod@comcast.net

Warriors' Guild
Rodney Cox uberrod@comcast.net

Healers' Guild
Rodney Cox uberrod@comcast.net

Producers' Guild (unofficial)
Gen Stoyak gstoyak@hotmail.com

No e-mail access? Contact our officers at our snail-mail address or phone number.

Shining Lakes News (©2003) is published by Shining Lakes Grove, A.D.F., P.O. Box 1732, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, (734) 998-1029. For information about SLN, contact the Chronicler at gstoyak@hotmail.comor call the Senior Druid at the number below. For information about Shining Lakes Grove, contact the Senior Druid at (734) 427-0282 or robh@cyberspace.org, or visit www.shininglakes.org.

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