So here’s what’s been going on while I’ve been away from the Withywindle Nature Blog:
At the end of 2016 I was laid off, yet again, from an environmental education-related job, and was finally faced with the decision of moving my family in order to stay in the EE field (as I’d tapped out on employers in my now 20 year history in this area), or staying where we are and working in a different field. It was a slow and painful decision, but ultimately I decided (with input from my family) to keep us here in central MA, and look for different work.
I initially got two jobs – one teaching violin and fiddle part-time at a nearby studio, and another working at a local medical marijuana dispensary. I enjoyed (and still enjoy) teaching violin and fiddle, but am happy to keep that part time. I lasted a year and 1/2 at the dispensary, but ultimately it didn’t turn out to be what I was looking for, and it weighed on me.
While working at the dispensary a job posting for the Director of Lifelong Learning at a UU church where my Pagan spiritual group does some work landed in my inbox last summer and caught my attention. Looking closely at the job description I found that the work was much the same as I’d been doing for environmental, outdoor or summer programs, just the subject matter was different. Unlike most churches, this one also has a a public program department which the DLL oversees in addition to Sunday morning programming. I had never thought of doing religious education before, even though I was longing to find ways to bring my Pagan spiritual practice into my professional work. Honestly, if I gave it any thought I probably would have assumed the type of religious education I’d be interested in doing was something I could not make a living at. But I knew the church looking for this position has a Pagan population (they’re about a 1/3 of the congregation), and it sounded like a great fit and opportunity.
When I applied, I made the decision to approach the whole process differently than I usually did. My usual consists of hoping hard for a position, but bracing myself for not getting it. I really didn’t want fear energy mucking up my potential – I knew I was a good fit – and decided to proceed as if I already had the job, and that the application process was a formality. I chose to ignore the fear of not getting something I really wanted (which felt like removing a safety net from the process and was slightly – sometimes very – frightening) and just go forward knowing I was right, and they would know that. In other words, I focused on sending out positive energy not negative – living in joy not fear. And I got the job! Not only that, but this is the first job I’ve had where everyone in the community – staff and congregants alike – was as excited for me to be there as I was. What a blessing. I’ve worked for organizations and in positions that I’ve been really excited about before (that’s such a great feeling), but I’ve never had the experience of having everyone around me sharing my enthusiasm.
I’ve been working at my UU church for just over a year now, and I’m still as happy to be there as I was a year ago. And the folks around me are still happy as well. I knew when I saw the posting that this was the work I was supposed to be doing now. I knew it in the same way as I knew that Wicca was my true path as soon as I discovered it. It’s a deep, soul-knowing, and I love it. One of the greatest aspects of the work is that I’m learning so much about other religions and spiritual practices. That’s the wonderful thing about UU education – all faiths are encompassed, through the lens of Unitarian Universalism. And I’m expanding and exploring my own spirituality while I’m at it.
So that’s why I’ve been away from nature writing for so long. I’m excited to start sharing my experiences as a UU and Pagan educator, and will be doing so on my new blog – the Inkwood Journal. My previous personal blog – Off the Path – is sort of defunct, and I’m leaving it that way (older versions are still around on the web – I’ve linked to them at Inkwood) to write in a new place. I will still occasionally post some nature writing and photography here, but much of my writing going forward will be at Inkwood. If you’re interested in following my journey, please come visit and say hello – I’m excited to start this new blogging project and I hope you’ll join me.
Blessed be.