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From our view, a Bard is a Shaman Artist, so we include visual arts as a Bardic possibility. An Artist who we would think of as a Bard would be someone who's main focus of their Art is meant to uplift and enlighten others spiritually. Much Bardic work is also focused on healing and is one of the prime focuses of the Eldritch path. We feel it is 'through healing' that the path towards enlightenment is made clear. From these statements it follows that a Bard must be willing to heal themselves first, venture into their own process of spiritual growth and open their own awareness. This is so that their Art is a way of 'sharing' their discoveries. A Bard is someone who is capable of drawing others within their World in order to share. In a way it is like offering a 'short cut' to experiences that they might otherwise have difficulty accessing.
In a more general sense, there are certain characteristics we would think of when speaking of Bards. Someone who is interested in mythology and makes an effort to be diplomatic as a person is important. Bards are 'about' communication and in order to affectively communicate, it would be important to develop a stance of tolerance and diplomacy. Understanding mythology, especially investigating the mechanics of mythology, is a very good key to understanding 'people,' both ethnically and in an overall sense. Also, studying Art history of all kinds helps a Bard to understanding her/his lineage. Art, by its very nature, opens the more intuitive avenues of the mind and displays a wide range from total right brain activity (much visual art), to a dance between the right and left brain (we would tend to think of literature as the strongest left-right brain mechanism). It is interesting to note here that in theatre there are often many exercises used that do tend to help open the psychic intuitive abilities as much as helping create empathy. Some of the exercises created for students in the Eldritch Path are directly influenced by theatre exercises as well as some awareness of therapy methods from psychology.
With the Eldritch Path, one assumption we do not make is that a person is or is not a Bard to begin with. If one already is, it is hoped that the Path 'helps' one become more aware of what one is and how toaccess abilities more completely. If one is not, then this shall hopefully open the doors towards becoming one. It is not stipulated in the Path that one must exhibit artistic ability to become a Bard, it is only expected that a person be creative. Creativity is a broad term that is totally intentional. We do not like closed doors, or at least, we do not wish to be responsible for their closing.
In the Eldritch Tradition, many of the exercises given a student are geared to gently open centers of synesthesia. Synesthesia is basically the 'crossing of senses', wherein one begin to perceive beyond the single senses we are normally familiar with; i.e., one begins to perceive the taste of colors, the images of music, the smells of texture and touch, etc. What effectively happens is that by encouraging the development of synesthesia, we also are gently altering our neurological systems to open, which is an important key to the opening of our psychic centers. As we open these centers, the exercises then begin to focus on energy weaving via the Arts and new awareness. We become more aware of energy via synesthesia and it becomes easier to manipulate energy when are more certain of just what energy 'is'. It becomes tangible, it gains color, sound, feel, smell and taste; and Art gives it function. Art becomes an energy weave and a true Bard is a master weaver because they are very aware of what they weave. One can draw a comparison between a person doing ritual with their tools and a Bard creating/performing Art. The process is the same.
As the understanding of synesthesia and energy weaving becomes established, more work evolves to comprehending Alternate Realities. There is an emphasis on the Eldritch (as one might assume) in this Path mainly because it is a reality very concerned and connected with the Earth. It is a Reality very interwoven with our own and really quite willing to work with concerned, Earth-loving humans. However, attention is paid to Alternate Realities in general because all Realities impact each other. By the widening of our perceptions of other Realities, we affect our spiritual growth into ever widening circles of knowledge. A Bard needs to realize that true Bardic Art impacts many Realities beyond normal perception and it is, therefore, important to pursue' how' it does. The more we know how and why, the more effective Bards we become.
Finally, it is important that a Bard become aware of the creation of her/his personal World. The mark of a Bard, to us or how we 'know' someone is a Bard, is someone who, via their Art, pulls in the listener/viewer/etc. into the Bard's World and within that World stimulates healing and spiritual growth, sometimes even opening psychic doorways. Knowing and becoming interactive with one's personal World helps one become far more dynamic as Bard. Realizing that one is also creating an inner dimension of Reality helps one become aware of one's potent ability to create far beyond paint and musical tones... or anything else in physical Reality.
A more far ranging pursuit of the Eldritch Path that is not essential to being a Bard of this Path, is working with leylines and Earth energies. However, we do believe the Bards of old had great impact upon those things and we would like to see that aspect of the Bard re-established. Bards were (and ought be) holy people, per se, very concerned with the maintenance of the health of the Earth and whatever energies might concern Her. As a Bard, we espouse to be both a healer of souls and a healer of the Earth-through our creativity.
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