Life is filled with circles … or a path that likes to arc back around as it follows a spiral course.

It’s why it feels like we keep coming near to points in self and life where it feels our feet have trod before.

Many years ago, I had the thought that this path in life does spiral, and we have the chance of continuing to walk the same steps as the last rotation … or … a path that feels similar but is indeed different as our path moved in relation to our life’s experiences and choices.

Meaning life’s experiences and choices as our steps have changed through wisdom gained or lost.

And if we gained wisdom enough to bring us closer to our spiritual destination, then the path spirals inward until one day we reach that destination.

For me, my journey began with teachings from Carolyn Means and Ken Marsh who were both of Sun Bear’s Bear Tribe Medicine Society.

Not only was Carolyn one of my instructors in college, but she was also a friend, mentor and person who hosted sacred Pipe ceremonies every full moon.

And alongside her, was Ken Marsh who was something of a mentor and spiritual guide for her … and friend / student of Sun Bear himself.

I got to know him through these ceremonies (he occasionally attended) and her.

And through, the foundation was laid that led to me falling in love with the American First People’s spiritual perspective … and learning to pray with a prayer Pipe.

Over the years after, other teachers would enter my life, sharing wisdom that would shape my personal journey while opening my eyes more and more to the truth of Spirit and the Natural World.

Point is … and to keep this from growing to long, I reached a point where I worried I was stealing from the cultures of the American First People and ended up seeking similar through the ancient ways of my own European ancestors.

One of the things I learned is if you go back far enough, you will find that almost all cultures had their own nature-based spiritual path.

Started with the druids and ended up with the old Norse.

Always, the foundation remained of the original teachings shared with me.

I simply took what new wisdom gained and placed it on top of the original foundation … shaping it as felt right.

Looked to the old gods and felt the presence of Thor, Odin and Freyja … to name a few.

Thor … I’d felt during a storm when I suddenly began talking with him and he answered with a bolt of lightening striking next to me.

Never felt in danger or threatened as the energy was raw and filled with strength and a natural power.

The Odin appeared in the form of a huge black Raven during a sacred Pipe ceremony I held (just me) in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

He had the ravens he sends out into the world to bring him information with him, Huginn and Muninn.

Freyja appeared in a dream that seemed and felt more real than the waking world.

Then from the more primal spirits, Ellen of the Ways (guardian of the ancient pathways) appeared to me while I was walking in the wilderness one day.

Now, at the start of this stage in my journey, I’d actually given up my prayer Pipe … letting that part of my path go.

But it needs to be noted that’s when a much larger Pipe … the spirit of a sacred Pipe … caused itself to be carved and sent to me. And its medicine bundle assembled to keep it safe.

Tried to resist as did not feel myself worthy of being the carrier of a sacred Pipe, but the spirit of that Pipe would NOT take no for an answer.

The Pipe was carved by a fourth generation self-taught Pipe carver who is of not just Wahpeton Sioux ancestry but also Norse.

From the moment this Pipe came into my life, I have had moments where I felt like I’ve been living in a completely different world where Spirit is felt and seen alongside this realm.

It’s helped me in my journey, first through old Norse and then into Irish & Scottish Gaelic and Welsh.

But you know what, the One Great Being… Great Spirit… Grandfather… aka. “Afi” which is Grandfather in old Norse.

And that brings the spirit back around to not where I started but at least in line with it.

Recently, artist James Ewing of The Ewing Workshop in England worked with me to design and create a new pendant that represents me and my personal journey while honoring the Spirit of the Forest and animal spirits that fly or walk with me.

Specifically, the Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, Wolf, Coyote and Bear.

And with this new piece comes a new outlook and realizations that although I DO see through a Norse / Albionic (British Isles) lens, Great Spirit and the original teachings shared with me… such as the sacred Pipe… remain strongly with me.

As I told a friend who was helping me sort a lot of this out recently, I’ve come to realize I am a Norse-Albionic American Druid.

My beliefs are animism through a Druid lens, shaped by lessons shared by teachers of various tribes of the American First Peoples of which I am eternally grateful.

I believe all our brothers and sisters of the natural world have spirits just as all items have the ability to hold a spirit within. 

Especially rocks, crystals and sacred items … just to name a few.

But what of the gods?

I see them as higher spirits. And spirits come in all shapes and sizes.

Some which want to help and others that seek to do harm. And yet others that simply don’t care one way or the other.

And then there are the ancestors and those who have moved on from this world before us.

But above it all is the One Great Being.

With all that, this post has become much much longer than I originally wished so cutting it off here but will write more later on a variety of subjects as my personal journey continues.

I now have found the path I need to follow as well as a clearer focus of my own beliefs.

And I’m taking steps to walk this path.