•  
A+ A A-

Druidry - Reading As A Bardic Skill

Druidry - Reading As A Bardic Skill

Many of us learn to read when very young and as such it’s a skill we can easily take for granted, and under-estimate.

Reading is a very effective way of acquiring information, but there is also massive scope for misreading – most especially when dealing with a text from an unfamiliar culture. By this I don’t just mean the implications of writing from other periods, peoples, traditions and cultures. 

Every group has it’s own way of communicating. A political paper from the EU is written in a very different way from a scientific paper, which is very different again from the conventions of a culinary blog. To read something well you need a handle on the conventions at play in the writing and that takes multiple encounters. Reading the unfamiliar is less likely to result in a complete understanding, and it really helps to factor that in and to consider your own limitations as a reader.

It’s good to be alert to your own biases and assumptions. This isn’t easy, but the more attention you pay the better a sense you get. Watch out for the phrases that jar you or the things you are inclined to reject. Be alert to your own emotions when reading. If something makes you angry or frustrated it’s good to stop and make space to examine that.

If a text has an emotional impact on you, it is good to pause and reflect on how and why that’s happening. Consider whether the emotions are something the text is trying to elicit. If you’re crying over the tragic end of a story then you’re probably responding in the way the author intended. If you’re angry with a stranger on the internet, it’s worth pausing to see if that anger is something you’ve brought with you. It’s worth studying the ways in which you are affected as a reader because that will help you hone your bard skills to deliberately create those effects yourself.

Reading creates opportunities not only to learn the material in the text, but also to learn about ourselves. In exploring our own emotional responses to what we read, we can find out more about who we are. Being more self aware makes it more feasible to choose how we want to be rather than being a victim of circumstance.

Reading is at its most complicated when we get into the territory of what is inferred, and what is implied. Some texts are written with the aim of making us infer things that are never plainly stated. Some texts imply things that the author did not intend to convey but are nonetheless fair inferences. We might think about racism in colonial writing on these terms. There’s (unconscious?) sexism in stories that feature zero women with agency who add no more to the tale than would a sexy lamp.

At the same time we have to be alert to the things we might read in just because we’re looking for them. Projecting can be particularly an issue around this, and that’s not always about bringing anger or the worst parts of ourselves. We can also project our own virtues into a text. As a child-reader I was forgiving, and I filled in the gaps in stories imaginatively. Going back to some texts as an adult reader I was surprised by how much of my childhood reading experience had been about my own attitude and imagination. 

Stories always have gaps in them. The spaces in stories give us room to engage imaginatively with a text, and that’s one of the great pleasures of reading. A book is always a collaboration between the imagination of the author and the imagination of the reader. What we bring, and what we find can have a very big part of our selves in it. We all also tend to respond strongly to books that reflect back to us our own experiences and that show us something of ourselves. A sense of being understood by the author can also have a huge impact on how we read and what we take away with us.

Reading fiction is a creative activity. It’s not about just passively absorbing the text. The best way to learn about how you, as a creator might engage people in this way is to think about your own experience as a reader.

Credit

druid life

About Nimue Brown

Druid, author, dreamer, folk enthusiast, parent, wife to the most amazing artist -Tom Brown. Drinker of coffee, maker of puddings.
Credit: druidlife.wordpress.com
Source Here

© 2024 crystalwind.ca. All rights reserved. We track all IP addresses with sniffer technology. Using a VPN will not hide your IP.

Pin It

Liked this article? Dive deeper into personal growth and wellness! Check out CrystalWind.ca for spiritual wisdom or explore AromaWorx.ca for natural well-being tips. Spread the positivity—share this with friends on their happiness journey!

Let’s Chat! Drop Your Thoughts Below! Scroll down to comment

Keep CrystalWind.ca free—your gift matters now!
Help us spread light today. Thank you, supporters!

Follow this blog

Disclaimer

We are in compliance with, "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." All rights reserved go to their respective holders. We do not own the intellectual property shown on this website, the respective holders own that privilege unless stated otherwise. We do not endorse any opinions expressed on the CrystalWind.ca website. We do not support, represent or guarantee the completeness, truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of any content or communications posted on CrystalWind.ca.

Disclaimers for CrystalWind.ca: All the information on this website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. CrystalWind.ca does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website (CrystalWind.ca) is strictly at your own risk. CrystalWind.ca will not be liable for any losses and/or damages

Thank You for Visiting CrystalWind!

We’re honored to be part of your journey.

Share your thoughts at .

Let’s grow together!

The Crystal Wind Oracle App
Shatter Illusions – Gain Clarity Now!
Instant Access On:
Apple | Android | Amazon
New! 53-Card Deck for Deeper Wisdom

Imagine a world of inspiration and healing, free for all—made possible by YOU!
Donate Now—Ignite the Magic at CrystalWind.ca!

Support CrystalWind.ca Today!

Unlock Your Light: Join Lightworkers Worldwide on CrystalWind.ca!

Call For Writers

Call For Writers!

Follow Us!

Featured This Month

Page:

Red Raspberry

Red Raspberry

Reminds you to be grateful for all of life’s ups and downs. Read more

Ripe Berries Moon

Ripe Berries Moon

Sturgeon - Garnet and Iron - Raspberry - Red July 23 to August 22 Th... Read more

Leo

Leo

LEO July 23 - August 22 Read more

Lughnasadh Meditation

Lughnasadh Meditation

The Seventh Sabbat of the Wheel is Lughnasadh. Lughnasadh is celebrated on A... Read more

Lammas by The Hedgewitch

Lammas by The Hedgewitch

Although in the heat of a Mid-western summer it might be difficult to discer... Read more

Sun in Leo

Sun in Leo

An Overview of Sun Sign Characteristics for Leo Read more

Cinnabar

Cinnabar

The Merchant's Stone Cinnabar is said to attract abundance, gently increasi... Read more

The Season of Lammas

The Season of Lammas

The season of Lammas (also called Lughnasadh) begins on August 1st and conti... Read more

The Hazel Tree: August 5 - September 1

The Hazel Tree: August 5 - September 1

Celtic Symbol : The Rainbow Salmon Read more

Larimar

Larimar

The Atlantis Stone - The Dolphin Stone Found exclusively in the Dominica... Read more

Birth Totem - Salmon

Birth Totem - Salmon

Birth Totem Salmon Read more

Lammas

Lammas

Lammas Ritual Celebrated August 1st. Lammas is also known as Lughnasadh, La... Read more

Lughnasadh (Lammas) - The Celtic Harvest Fes…

Lughnasadh (Lammas) - The Celtic Harvest Festival

The Celtic harvest festival on August 1st takes its name from the Irish god ... Read more

Lugh - Celtic God Of The Sun

Lugh - Celtic God Of The Sun

The god Lugh was worshiped in Ireland as a deity of the sun. This connection... Read more

X

Right Click

No right click