Preamble

The ancient druids were wise prophets, lore keepers, and religious leaders who held their ceremonies in groves in oak forests. Most of what was written and known about the ancient druids was lost, but in the 18th and 19th centuries, a rediscovery of their existence and what was known about them sparked a revival of ideas, texts, and creative interpretations called the Druid Revival. The Druid Revival offers us a set of practices, tools, and understandings including a reverence for nature and her mysteries, a contemplative nature-based spiritual practice, and a variety of lifestyle changes tied to nature’s cycles. If the ancient druids are the seed that sparked our tradition, the Druid Revival is the trunk, making our present practices the branches. AODA druidry offers traditional nature spirituality while also recognizing an ethical responsibility to our land and future generations (our roots). Human action towards the living earth has created an ecological predicament that threatens human and non-human life. The root of many of these problems is a centuries-old cultural disconnection from nature. These challenges and a desire to reconnect have encouraged many to seek out druidry as a spiritual path.

The core principles of AODA druidry honor the past, respond to the present, and, through nature-based spiritual practice, offer tools to shape the future. These principles, as described in our curriculum, are woven through all three degrees of our course of study; through our bardic, ovate, and druid paths; and are practiced by our members. The seven core principles are tied to the seven elements reflected in AODA’s rituals and daily practices: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and three aspects of spirit: Spirit Above, Spirit Below, and Spirit Within[1].

Spirit Below: Nature Connection and Wildcrafted Druidry

At the root of AODA druidry is nature connection and localizing our practices. We recognize that while humanity is part of nature, broader Western culture chooses to ignore this truth. As part of developing a conscious, spiritual connection with the earth, we recognize the importance of seeing nature as deserving of respect, rights, and agency. AODA specifically attends to how we can develop both physical and spiritual connections to nature. Further, because of the incredible ecological diversity of North America and beyond, we do not believe in one-size-fits-all druidry. We help members develop “wildcrafted” spiritual practices that connect druids deeply with their local ecosystems. AODA offers our members tools and practices for wildcrafting their own druidry which include but are not limited to spending regular time in nature, learning about nature, nature meditation and ritual, communing with nature in one’s local ecosystem and other ovate practices, adapting rituals and practices to one’s ecosystem and background, and honoring the cycle of the seasons.

Spirit Within: Personal Spiritual Development and Expression

AODA upholds the right and responsibility of each druid to craft their own personal path, which includes one’s own ecologically focused (wildcrafted) druidry, shaping one’s personal beliefs, and engaging in spiritual self-development. AODA is non-dogmatic; instead, it offers members tools to practice nature spirituality and come to their own understanding about the great mysteries of the universe. Thus, AODA druidry can be combined with other forms of faith. The members of our order hold a wide range of diverse beliefs with the core understanding that nature is sacred to all. This also is why AODA offers many choices for study: the paths of the bard, ovate, and druid, as well as studies in the Gnostic Celtic Church, offer wisdom and possibility. Many people who practice nature spirituality, over time, find themselves attuning to the divine reality expressed in all aspects of nature, but how that manifests and is interpreted is up to individual druids.

Spirit Above: Channeling Awen

In the druid tradition, Awen refers to the flow of inspiration and creativity into one’s life. Meditation, nature connection, and ritual are some of the many ways that AODA druids work to channel Awen into their lives. While Awen has most classically been connected with the bardic arts such as storytelling, poetry, music, visual arts, and fine crafts, we recognize that the blessings of Awen are not limited to these practices. Rather, the connection to Awen can offer many tangible benefits in our lives, including taking creative approaches to work; using creativity to connect to our families, friends, and communities; and finding inspiration in everyday life.

Earth: Nature Reciprocation

As a path of nature spirituality, AODA recognizes the importance of living within appropriate limits and striving for life in balance and harmony with the earth. Thus, we recognize the need to reciprocate with nature both spiritually and physically. Physical reciprocation includes making changes to our lives to lessen our burden on the world and practice regenerative techniques that help heal our landscapes. Inner reciprocation may include offerings and rituals to honor and heal the land (present in AODA’s seasonal rituals, among other practices). One way to foster deep spiritual connection is through the work of reciprocation.

Air: Wisdom, Knowledge, and Growth

AODA recognizes that in order to accomplish the other principles and deepen our spiritual practices, we must dedicate ourselves to learning and growth, in the world around us and in our own inner being. The ancient druids were the most learned people in their society—for good reason. Without knowledge of nature, the other principles described here cannot be applied meaningfully. Further, without knowledge of our own natures, we cannot grow spiritually. Thus, learning about the natural world and about our own natures can help us understand how we can connect and interact. In the outer world, we advocate learning about nature through classes, books, observation, and direct experience. In the inner world, we recognize the importance of meditation, ritual, observation, and other spiritual practices to help us learn about ourselves and our connection with the world.

Water: Cycles and Seasons

AODA recognizes the importance of supporting our members’ individual spiritual growth through the principles of the cycle and the season. We celebrate a set of four major holy days through the cyclical path of the sun: the time of greatest light, the time of greatest darkness, and the balance between them. We recognize that just as the earth has times of abundance and times of rest, so, too, do each of us. We also recognize the cycle as a metaphor for growing spiritual practice: core practices such as meditation, a daily protective working, and regular time in nature allow us to deepen our connection and understanding over time and attune with nature’s cycles and seasons as well as our own.

Fire: Tools for Today

AODA recognizes that the thing we hold most sacred—the living earth—is under increasing threat due to human activity. These human behaviors are threatening our own existence. We recognize both the need for and the challenge in taking up a nature-based spiritual practice in today’s world. Without spiritual grounding, despair or apathy are common responses to the ecological crisis. As such, AODA druidry offers us a way to respond to today’s predicament that helps heal ourselves, regenerate the world around us, and continue to develop new tools (spiritual or physical) to help respond to the challenges we face today.

A Vision for AODA Druidry: Seven Core Principles of AODA

Preamble

Spirit Below: Nature Connection and Wildcrafted Druidry

Spirit Within: Personal Spiritual Development and Expression

Spirit Above: Channeling Awen

Earth: Nature Reciprocation

Air: Wisdom, Knowledge, and Growth

Water: Cycles and Seasons

Fire: Tools for Today

Recommended Reading

Preamble

Spirit Below: Nature Connection and Wildcrafted Druidry

Spirit Within: Personal Spiritual Development and Expression

Spirit Above: Cultivating Awen

Earth: Nature Reciprocation

Air: Wisdom, Learning, and Growth

Water: Cycles and Seasons

Fire: Tools for Today