Dear All,
I would love to share my personal feelings and experiences about studying with the Order of the Hearth, a part of the Three Stones Abbey, to anyone whom is interested in reading about my journey. I do give my permission for any or all of these words to be posted on the Abbey’s website, or any other reading material used/written by the Three Stones Abbey.
My experience with the Three Stones Abbey began years ago. I knew what path I was on and desired to expand spiritually. I had been searching for a spiritual group or teacher to no avail. I felt there was so much more “out there,” and then my path crossed the Abbey’s. The Abbey was just emerging when we met, and the Sisters had completed a lovely First Endeavor of study for the Order of the Hearth. I was interested in perusing it. The Abbey’s Sisters welcomed me with open arms. They asked little in return from me to pursue their “simple studies.” I was very excited to be studying something worthwhile. I knew I was on the right path because many experienced Ladies came together with their wisdom to create “a teaching Abbey “ for seekers like me.
Through the Order’s lessons, I have built a foundation to sustain life; my life and the lives of those around me. I see that in this culture I am lucky to have everything I need or want at my fingertips, but now I know the history of how it got here, and how these basic things are still important to understand and work with. Reading the lessons on the Abbey’s website hardly touches the complexity and thoroughness of what the lessons actually encompass. Before studying in the Order, I thought I knew what it is to sew, meditate and bake. The Order presented these “simple” everyday activities in a different way which opens the door to the spiritual in everyday life. I now realize that spinning and weaving are potentially a meditations all in themselves. Women once prayed while sewing charms as they made everyday clothing. Going further, they prayed and charmed while spinning their thread and baked their bread and communed with Spirits as they walked this Land and made medicines. The studies are not so “simple” after all. The First Endeavor of the studies is the foundation of all other work to come. I began my building blocks of the First Endeavor with a friend.
I began the first part of these studies with a wonderful friend who had introduced me to the Abbey. This person was someone I could confide my spirituality in and vice versa. In working through the Order’s exercises, we have had experiences where we have laughed, cried and been blown away by the power and love of Her mysteries. Throughout the years of study, we have grown and woven our lives together in so many ways, we may truly call each other Sisters. By studying with the Abbey, one may come to realize they are a part of this Universal Sisterhood.
Learning, and disciplining myself to meditate, was certainly difficult in the beginning of my studies. I have always had trouble falling asleep and peacefully sleeping through the night since my childhood. After leaning the meditations in the first chapter I was able to quiet and control my mind so I could sleep every night. I realized that some meditations are meant for other persons, just as some are meant for me. I am comfortable performing many dances ,but have never been able to perform the Sufi dance as a meditation.
The one major frustration I had was crocheting. I quickly picked up knitting, but literally had my studying partner walk me through every step of the way when it came to crocheting.
I have gone through the excitement of beginning the studies. These “simple” and everyday things are not so simple to me anymore. They are necessary and ever mysterious. This is truly a Craft. At this point of my journey, I was honored to have studied with the Sisters of the Abbey and was transformed into the Maiden.
If you liked and have used what you learned in the First Endeavor, then you will love the Second Endeavor of study. I loved the time I spent delving deeper into the mysteries of the second Endeavor. I loved questing and creating my own toolset. I have created and I have given life by my own mind and Spirit. I now enjoy being able to read the Land or my Tarot cards. I must say, I was experienced with Tarot before studying with the Order, now I downright see every nook and cranny the symbols reveal in the cards. I relate the symbols to my meditations or workings with portals which speak deeply to me to get answers I need.
To study the lore is a favorite of mine. I love that as the conquerors conquered, that they recorded the beliefs and tales of the people before they destroyed. To read these recorded tales between the lines is quite a task but one will see the underlying lesson by doing so.
I have created my own experiments with the senses with non-pagan friends from many countries, and it is truly amazing to discover the Universal experience within all of us.
I loved working with the energies of the stones to heal and to create ritual jewelry. Overall, I learned practical things, but it is a blessing to feel and work with the energies and mysteries of the practical. 
The one thing that held me back from completing the Second Endeavor, was time. I literally had all the work completed but waited nearly a year for my final ceremony. But the Goddess does work in mysterious ways and I have tolerated the time and learned patience and inner peace.
I am honored to have studied and interacted with the Abbey and to have been accepted as a student, Maiden, Lady and Sister of the Abbey. My experience with the Abbey has been joyful and uplifting. What I have learned through the Order has touched all aspects of my life, and in return, has touched all of the people in my life. Studying through the Order was worthwhile for me and is worthwhile for anyone wishing to pursue knowing the Goddess. The Sisters have been consistently helpful and wonderful. They have created two beautiful study programs [now compiled into a single program] available to those interested souls who may benefit from the Sacred in All things. I can only strive to be as knowledgeable and wonderful to others of the Pagan Community as the Sisters have been to me. I will be forever grateful to the Sisters of the Abbey for compiling the Endeavors of study.
