Notes Towards a Self-Guided Bardic Curriculum

At this point, I've read plenty of books on druidry and different kinds of magic. My ebook library includes such titles as Druidcraft and Druid Mysteries by Phillip Carr-Gromm, The Path of Druidry by  John Michael Greer, The Awen Alone and The Crane Bag by Joanna Van Der Hoeven, and The Solitary Druid by Rev. Robert (Skip) Ellison.  And that's just the ones focused on druidry: I have a wealth of books on Wicca, general neopaganism, Tarot, and even chaos magic, both in ebook and physical form. And what I've learned from all of that is this: druidry in particular speaks to me, but there is no wrong way to be a druid. And in fact, I'd like to find my own path, rather than walk one prescribed by someone else. With that in mind, here are the focuses of my study going forward:

• Reading Celtic Mythology and its Literary Descendants: Celtic mythology is a big influence on all modern druids, and on contemporary fantasy, a genre that I hold close to my heart. My particular focus will be the life of Merlin, thought by many to be the archetypal druid, and Arthurian Legend in general. This means studying both the original source material and the things it has inspired, such as T.H. White's The Once and Future King.
  
• Learning Welsh: Related to the above, it is clear that Welsh literature in particular is a major influence on not only modern druidry but on the entire canon of English literature. One can even see it's influence in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. Not to mention the fact that many concepts in modern druidry, from the awen to festivals of the Wheel of the Year, have Welsh names. Learning Welsh would be quite useful, and also fun, because it is such a beautiful language.
  
• Reading About Natural Sciences: I used to read books on astronomy, animals and plants, dinosaurs, and all sorts of other things when I was a kid. I stopped. It would be nice to start again, and in any case, anyone who wants to claim that they live as one with the natural world should probably study modern views of the natural world.
  
• Continuing to Study Tarot: Tarot was my gateway into magic, and something I have never truly mastered, though I do readings all the time and use it to guide meditation. It may seem strange for a druid to practice a form of divination with no ties to the ancient Celtic world, but tarot has become so widespread that it is practically the "industry standard," so to speak, for divination. But more importantly, it has thoroughly captured my imagination while also being just plain fun. This is my druidic path, and it should speak to me.
  
• Continuing to Study and Practice Contemporary Folk Magic: When I say "contemporary folk magic," what I'm generally referring to is the practice of using whatever I have on hand, plus my own incantations, to create my own spells. Many people like to try and use techniques that come from sources they feel are authentic and ancient. While this approach is valid (as long as you do the proper research and avoid appropriating the spiritual practices of indigenous people), it doesn't appeal to me for three reasons. The first is that nine times out of ten, if some white author being paid by a major publisher says their magic has ancient roots, they are probably lying. The second is that people tend to forget that even authentic techniques were not ancient when they were first practiced, and there is no reason that new techniques could not be created. The third is that folk magic, throughout history, has always taken advantage of what was lying on hand at the time. In the middle ages, it might have been a carving instrument and a block of wood. Today, it might be a sharpie and a piece of paper. It's all relative!
  
• Writing Poetry and Stories: Druids revere the awen, the divine inspirational force, and take inspiration from old songs and stories while writing their own. While it is true that I've been writing stories all my adult life, and poetry since I was a teenager, the thing about creative pursuits is that there is always room for improvement or evolution. This is not to diminish the fact that it was the reverence for the creative power of humanity that drew me towards druidry in the first place. I didn't choose the moniker "hedge bard" for nothing!
  

These are personal interests as much as part of my spiritual path. I take a holistic view of spirituality, where it encompasses everything you do. I may primarily worship and offer prayers at my altar, but I'd like my spirituality to extend into all aspects of my life. In this way, I hope to become a more satisfied person who feels a greater tie with the earth, the cosmos, and all the living things around me, be they plant, animal, or human. Whether or not that view appeals to you, I hope you will follow me along on this journey. It feels good to share something so personal.