This is an old article I wrote, which is in turn based on an old study program I was pursuing. I am posting it here for posterity sake.
1. There shall come unto thee those who
do inquire: “What is this thing hight Reformed Druidism?”
2. And thou shalt answer them by
quoting the basic tenets, for this is the only answer with which all Reformed
Druids do agree.
3. Yea, there may be those druids who
do have reservations even about these basic tenets.
4. And some there shall be who do
understand, and who do gain in awareness.
5. For there are those who do be
Reformed Druids, yet who know it not, never before having heard of us.
6. May the blessings of the Mother be
upon them.
7. But others there shall be who
understand not, and who shall ask again, “What is this thing hight Reformed
Druidism?”
8. And thous shalt answer them by
paraphrasing the Gread Bard, saying, “It is a tale of sound and fury,
signifying what thou wilt.”
~ Introduction to “A Reformed Druid
Anthology” by Robert Larson*
The Reform Druids of North America is a classic
example of what can happen when creative, yet generally rule following, college
students are forced into a situation that goes against their own moral
understandings of the world.
In 1963 at the small Carleton College in Northfield
Minnesota, there was just such a rule. It required that all students attend a
church service of their choice. Those who did not have a declared
religion were expected to attend the service at the chapel on campus. Those
whose needs were better met at a religious organization off campus were
permitted to do so. This small group of creative people did not agree with the
rule. This was a secular and technical college; they did not understand or
agree that the college had the right to demand its students to attend religion
services of any kind.
One of the members, a young man named David Fisher,
of this small group had some knowledge of the Ancient Celtic Druids and perhaps
of some knowledge about Fraternal/Revival Druidry as well. They called
themselves “Reform” as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Reform Christian and
Jewish churches and organizations and also to make it clear they would not be
performing blood sacrifices.
Over time these services became more and more
popular. Many students enjoyed the playful spirit and meaningful meditations.
Since day one the religious services of the Reform Druids was meant to be a
sarcastic look at organized religion but unwittingly the founders created a
meaningful and heartfelt spiritual system that appealed to many more people
than they ever expected.
Also unexpected by the founders, the protest
worked. After two years of the Reform Druid rituals Carleton College quietly
dropped its requirement of religious service attendance. Perhaps even more
unexpected by the College, and the founders, even after the rule had been
dropped many people wished for the Druid rituals to continue. Many found that
it had become an important part of their religious lives.
As members of the Reform Druids began graduating
and moving around the country some of them took their Reform Druid ideas with
them forming more groups along the way. One such was Robert Larson who found
himself in Berkeley California and met a young man who was already considering
himself a Neopagan, Isaac Bonewits. Larson introduced Bonewits to the RDNA
concepts and they formed a Grove, a Druidic term for congregation, that
combined the ideas of Neopagan expression and RDNA spirituality. Some other
members of RDNA were not fond of their Reform being understood as expressly
Neopagan and took exception to the methods Bonewits was using. To them RDNA was
a philosophy or way to look at the world and not a Neopagan religious
expression.
Isaac Bonewits was very adamant. As he writes in
his book Bonewits’s Essential Guide to Druidism “I took one look at the
group and said to myself ‘Self, they are worshipping the Earth-Mother, singing
hymns to old gods and goddesses, and doing rituals out in the woods. Sure looks
Pagan to me!’” In 1974 Bonewits and Larson created the New Reform Druids of North America which was
an organization with clearer Neopagan expression than the original Reform
Druids and even later Bonewits formed another organization called the Schismatic Druids of
North America that was distinctly Neopagan.
Eventually Bonewits became frustrated with Reform
Druidry. Many members continued to reject the concept of Reform Druidry as a
distinct form of Neopaganism, for many Reform Druidry was a philosophy or world
view but not a separate religious outlook. Bonewits left the organization in
1982. RDNA continued and has raised and lowered in popularity
throughout the years. About 40 groves continue to today.
Some years later Bonewits decided, at the urging of
friends, to try again, this time from scratch. He had been inspired by an Irish
language teacher who had turned him on to scholarly works about the ancient
Celts and other Indo-European cultures. He started with an APA –amateur press
association specifically about his visions for a future Druidic movement and
invited others to join in the discussion. This APA was called The Druids
Progress**. In time a proper organization was formed and
Bonewits served as its Archdruid until failing health forced his resignation in
1996. This organization was, of course, our much beloved Ár
nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship otherwise known as ADF.
In ADF we continue the traditions of the Reform
Druids in many ways; honoring always the Earth Mother near the beginning of our
rites, partaking as a people of the waters of life, and our reverence for the
natural world. Some aspects of our liturgy can be attributed to the RDNA as
well; the procession of the folk into the ritual space and the singing of songs
and chants in our rites for instance.
I wonder at times what those few, creative college
kids would have thought of to learn how their small and fun-filled protest
would lead to one of the largest Druid organizations in the world and inspire
thousands along the way.
Now these are the records which have been made to the glory and honor of the Earth-mother. Praise be to the Earth-mother for the beauty which is in her in the earth and in the sky; all the birds of the air and the animals of the ground are a testimony to her excellence. Even as the dawn of the new day brings new light, is there new hope.
~ Verse 10, Chapter the SEVENTH, The
Early Chronicles, “A Reformed Druid Anthology”
Peace!
*
“A Reformed Druid Anthology” can be found in its entirety at:
http://orgs.carleton.edu/druids/ARDA/
**
ADF members can read past “The Druids Progress” at: http://www.adf.org/members/publications/druids-progress/index.html
