“By facing and defeating our greatest fears, we empower ourselves and grow more resilient and effective against adversity…The empowered individual ultimately has the capability to influence and affect the outcome of events and change perceptions.” Parting the Mist<\/p>\n One brief shining: In 1976 I wore a monk’s robe, a child’s wooden necklace with a cross around my neck. I knelt and a crowd of clergy and elders lay on hands until the hands of those closest to me rested on my head. From layperson to ordained clergy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Those hands felt heavy. I could feel a charge pass from them to me. The laying on of hands. Ancient. Primal.<\/p>\n Political radical. Warrior and priest. I stood with the people of Stevens Square and with the descendants of John Calvin.<\/p>\n An out of body experience: Reverend Buckman-Ellis. “If clergy are usually more priest or more prophet…” I was more prophet.<\/p>\n Yet I prayed. Led worship. Served communion. Baptized my son and his close friend Alex. Studied the scripture.<\/p>\n Until I couldn’t. That day when my spiritual director said, “Charlie, I think you’re a Druid!” I wasn’t. I crossed over from Christian to pagan. Mother Earth my altar and sanctuary.<\/p>\n Kate. Radical Kate. She let me retire from the ministry with dignity. Falling into her life, she was my dear and glorious physician. A synchronicity.<\/p>\n With dogs and vegetables, flowers and honey, our life went against the grain. She my weeding ninja. Me, her gardener. No need for a robe, a title. A spade and a trowel, yes.<\/p>\n Yet I also wandered the natural places of Anoka County. Honing a pagan’s blurring of the lines between creature and plant and landscape. I flew with hawks. Bloomed along the Rum River. Religious.<\/p>\n Until late in my journey, I decided to blend my pagan life with those who escaped from Egypt, who wandered in the desert. Immersed three times in warm mikveh waters. Came out a Jew.<\/p>\n At last. With my Hebrew name, Israel, I became what I always was. A god wrestler. Uneasy with answers.\u00a0Kate’s path. Then mine. Now one.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Imbolc and the Moon of Deep Friendship Thursday gratefuls: Tom and Paul. Tara. Dr. Bupathi. Shadow and her doughnut. Clergy. My time in the ministry. A life lived in pursuit of love and justice. Rene Good. Alex Pretti. Say their names. Sparks of Joy and Awe: Religion Week Kavannah: Hakarat Hatov. Gratitude. I chose … Continue reading I flew with hawks<\/span> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ancientrails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/five-of-bows-empowerment.jpg\")
<\/a>Tarot: Five of Bows, Empowerment<\/p>\n