I
received an email today with a lot of good questions - so good, in fact, that
I'm posting them here, with changes made for the privacy of the questioner:
Please
understand that my responses are pertaining to ADF druidry. I do not know
enough about all the other groups to speak for them.
--What
do druids believe?
Ask
10 druids what they believe and you will get at least 15 answers, possibly
more, depending on the day. :)
A
lot of what druids believe and think are incorporated in the pre-ritual
briefing (copy to be posted) and in ritual itself. Mostly we believe in the
Earth, in nature, and in the spirits within nature.
ADF
druidry is Pan-Indo-European in scope. Most of the ancient pantheons and
religions of Europe have significant similarities:
The
three Hallows (Fire, Well, and Tree or Pillar).
The
Three (or multiple thereof) Planes/Worlds of existence.
The
Kindreds (Ancestors and Honored Dead, Nature Spirits, Shining Ones - Higher
beings, Gods, Goddesses. Godden,)
--Is
there a doctrine or dogma that Druids follow that other pagans don’t?
The
only doctrine ADF has is the Doctrine of ArchDruidic Fallability also known as
"Even the ArchDruid messes up". No one, not even the elected head of
our organization, is perfect.
We
all make errors and need to make them right.
We
are an orthopraxic (right action) as opposed to orthodoxic (right belief)
religion. We are much more concerned about doing the right things rather than
individual beliefs.
--My
ancestry is *X* European. Does that have an impact on someone learning about
Druidry or becoming Druid?
Ancestry
has no bearing on whether or not someone can learn about druidry or become a
druid, at least not with ADF. There are folkish groups out there. I am not fond
of them.
Having
said that some people feel drawn to the religions and lore of their ancestors.
We call our Grove post-Viking British Isles. We do Irish, Scottish,
Anglo-Saxon, Gaulish, and Norse rituals.
There
are other ADF druids and groves that follow Hellenic (Greek), Roman, Vedic,
Balkan, and other Hearths and pantheons.
--Are
there holy days of obligation or high days? If yes, why are those days
considered holy or high?
Not
precisely. They are not required, but they are high days. ADF is a neopagan religion and celebrates 8 high days. They consist
of 4 solar holidays and 4 fire festivals or cross-quarter days. Different
groves call them different things, depending on the grove's chosen Hearth or
Pantheon for that celebration. They fall roughly 6 weeks apart throughout the
year
Officially,
they are named and celebrated as follows:
·
The November Feast - Samhain (pronounced Sow-an) - The feast the
the dead - Summer's End - Third Harvest
·
The Winter Feast - Winter Solstice - Yule - Longest Night - Midwinter
·
The February Feast - Imbolc or Oilmelc - Brighid's Day - Candlemas
- Groundhog Day
·
The Spring Feast - Vernal (Spring) Equinox - First planting - Days
and nights are equal
·
The May Feast - Bealtainne (Beltane), May Day, Hinge (or
beginning) of Summer
·
The Summer Feast - Summer Solstice - Longest Day - Midsummer –
·
The August Feast - Lughnassadh - Lammas - Feast of Lugh - First
Harvest
·
The Autumn Feast - Autumnal Equinox - Second Harvest –
Some
but not all groves also celebrate Druid Moons, these usually take place as
close to 6 days after the new moon as possible, during the waxing moon. We usually
call these Blessing Rites. They include a call for blessings and peace in the
world.
--Is
membership required in this community?
No,
but if you go to rituals regularly and hold the beliefs of the group, wouldn't
you want to be a member?
Membership
gives you the right to vote in the running of the grove and the international
organization.
I'd
suggest checking out www.adf.org. If
you become a member, that opens up about 2/3 of the website that is
members-only.
Additionally,
there are a lot of FaceBook groups that are members-only.
--If
so, what does that entail?
$30
annual dues paid to the international organization.
An
extra $20 will get you a subscription to the quarterly magazine of ADF.
Any
financial or volunteer support you wish to give the local grove. Other groves
have dues. We do not, at this time.
Our
long-term goal is to be able to purchase a small parcel of land on which we can
at least build a pavilion for a permanent place of worship.
--If
I were to become a member am I expected to stay Druid the rest of this life?
Only
if you want to. I've only officially been a member of ADF for 7 years, but I've
felt the druidic spirit, if you will, most all my life.
--Is
the year and a day program welcomed in the Druid community?
Not
exactly, that's a Wiccan thing.
Our
Dedicant Path study program (the introductory study program) can be completed
in roughly a year, depending on how much time you can and wish to spend on it. I’ve
been busy running a grove and have not finished it yet.
--What
kind of divination or witchcraft practices do Druids participate in, if any?
Whatever
works for them. Ogham is an Irish form of divination but many ADF members use
tarot or runes depending on their personal preference and what draws them.
There are people who practice reading tea leaves or fire or groups of birds.
Witchcraft
is an outside matter. I am a kitchen witch - my craft works best through
herbals and brews and cooking. That is not religious nor is it anything
specifically to do with my druidry. If you are an ethical witch, we will not
have any issues.
--How
is someone held accountable in the community if something is wrongly done?
One
of the good things about having an international organization is that we have
practices in place to deal with wrong-doing. Grievances will be dealt with.
First, grove leadership. If they are the problem or do not resolve the issue,
then Regional Druid and Member Advocate. Situations can go all the way to the
Mother Grove (Board of Directors consisting partially of clergy and partially
not clergy - all of whom are elected).
If
it is a legal matter, law enforcement will be involved unless the victim specifically
requests law enforcement not be called in.
--Is
there a concept of sin or confession?
Not
really. We focus on the 9 Virtues:
·
Wisdom (seeking good judgment, knowledge),
·
Piety (observance of ritual and social traditions, making
offerings),
·
Vision (broadening one's perspective to see the big picture),
·
Courage (doing the right thing, especially when it isn't
expedient),
·
Integrity (being true to oneself, being honorable, oathkeeping,
honesty),
·
Perseverance (doing what needs to be done even when it's hard,
following through)
·
Hospitality (acting as both a gracious host and guest, not only
with humans and animals but with the Kindreds),
·
Moderation (in all things), and
·
Fertility (bounty of mind, body and spirit: nurturing creativity
and industry in oneself and others)
Having
said that, if you harm someone, in my personal opinion,
that's wrong, but not necessarily a sin.
--To
whom do Druids pray to, if anyone or anything?
Whomever
they want. It depends on the druid.
In
ADF rituals, we invite, offer to, and pray to the The Kindreds (Ancestors and
Honored Dead, Nature Spirits, Shining Ones - Higher beings, Gods, Goddesses.
Godden,) and special guests of the occasion.
In
our personal practices, we can pray to all, some, or none. Officially, ADF is
pantheistic, but not all of its members are.
--Are
Druids welcoming of the LGBT community?
Absolutely.
I've taken part in the last 3 (and helped with planning the last 2) local
InterFaith Pride Celebrations.
ADF
and our Grove have members and/or attendees who are part of the LGBTQIA+
community, including me.
--Norse
pagans who are members of TAC, or The Asatru Community?
I'm
not all that familiar with TAC, but as long as they aren't racist, bigoted,
and/or sexist, I don't have a problem with them. I am familiar and friendly
with at least one local Kindred.
ADF
doesn't require members to give up membership in other organizations.
Membership in a racist organization would be a problem.
At
the beginning of all our events our expectations are made clear (see the
pre-ritual briefing).
All
of our posted events are open to the public and family (child) friendly.
Everyone in attendance is to be treated with courtesy and respect. No
discrimination or bigotry in any form will be tolerated. Consent culture is
both important and required. Any word or action counter to those expectations
are then grounds for immediate expulsion.
All
large ADF events and festivals require a signed statement more or less to that
effect by each attendee that they understand and agree to abide by them. ADF
festivals always have a consent culture workshop.
There
are bunches of books. Several are written by former ArchDruids and Priests. The
main book for the Dedicant Path program is available on Amazon. It’s called Our
Own Druidry.
We
hold zoom social/study meetings that are peer led most Sundays that are neither
holidays or rituals. They are posted on our facebook page. There will be one
today at 4:30.
I
hope all of this has been helpful.
