Define ritual, especially as the term applies to religious and spiritual work. (minimum 200 words) In Isaac Bonewits book, “Rites of Worship” (Bonewits, 29) , he states “A ‘ritual’ or ‘rite’ is any ordered sequence of events, actions, and/or directed thoughts, especially one that is meant to be repeated in the ‘same’ manner each time, […]
Category: Generalists Program
Various articles and thoughts throughout the Generalist Program
Nature Awareness #1
Describe the customs of two or three Indo-European cultures regarding the land and natural resources, and compare and contrast these practices with the prevailing modern attitudes. (minimum 300 words) Greece is a country surrounded by mountains, thin soil, and water, which prevented some use of their natural surroundings in regards to farming or living off […]
Nature Awareness #9
Identify one species of plant or animal in your local area which is threatened, endangered, or locally endangered, or which became extinct in historic times. Explain what destroyed or threatens this species locally, how does or might the absence of this species affect your locality, and what, if any, steps were taken or are being […]
Nature Awareness #13
Based on the research and conclusions you have drawn from question 1 through 12, describe how you might further extend your personal and/or group spiritual practices to include the Nature Spirits and other natural elements. (minimum 300 words) I’d really like to encompass more of my life-style into the natural world. Out of my Grove, […]
Nature Awareness #12
Based on your research for Questions 1 above, describe what sort of offering would be appropriate to make to the Nature Spirits in your area, and what would be an appropriate way to make such an offering and why. Discuss the potential ecological consequences of making this offering and ways to modify the offering in […]
Nature Awareness #2
Describe your understanding of the term “nature spirits”? Discuss this concept in relation to both ancient Indo-European and modern ADF practices. (minimum 300 words) The way I feel most complete in my worship is to create a balance within all of the facets of my rituals and liturgy. We may honor the three kindred, we […]
Nature Awareness #7
Describe the basic climate of your region, the primary influences on your weather patterns, major economic resources of your region (for example, crops, minerals, ranching, tourism, manufacturing) and how are these affected by climate and weather conditions. (minimum 300 words) The largest economic resource that I see where I live is tourism. I live in […]
Nature Awareness #11
Based on your experiences, meditations, and research, describe what, in your opinion, makes a place seem “natural.” (minimum 100 words) A place defined as natural is one well-tended, or left wild that is in sync with its natural self. I tend to find the more untouched areas as natural in their original state, but big […]
Nature Awareness #10
Identify one plant or animal species which was introduced to your area and explain how its introduction and continued presence has affected the local ecology and what, if any, steps are being taken to mitigate those effects. (minimum 100 words) In the summer of 2010 I started noticing big bright purple boxes being hung on […]
Nature Awareness #8
Name and provide the following information for each of three species of animals (birds, mammals, insects, fish, etc.) and three species of plants native to and currently found in your area: 1. Its status (endangered, threatened, thriving, overpopulated) 2. A brief physical description of the species, noting if you have seen it, and where. 3. […]
