Ár nDraíocht Féin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship, Inc. (ADF)

Logo of ADF
Total population
c. 1,500
Founder
Isaac Bonewits
Regions with significant populations
United States	unknown
Canada	unknown
United Kingdom	unknown
Religions
Contemporary druidism, Proto-Indo-European religion
Scriptures
None; influence from the Eddur, Lebor Gabála Érenn, Mabinogion, Ṛgveda, etc.
Languages
Welsh, English, Irish, Latin, Proto-Indo-European

Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship, Inc. (or ADF) is a religious group in the United States. It is a non-profit organization. ADF focuses on studying and growing modern Druidry.

The name Ár nDraíocht Féin is Modern Irish. It means "our own magic" or "our own Druidism." The letters "ADF" also stand for "A Druid Fellowship."

Isaac Bonewits started ADF in 1983. It became an official non-profit organization in 1990. The group first announced itself publicly in 1984. This happened at the WinterStar Symposium in Glouster, Ohio.

ADF is a modern Druid organization. It practices a special kind of Neopagan Druidry. Most members and groups are in the U.S. but also in other countries. ADF has had over 1000 members for many years. This makes it one of the largest Neopagan Druid groups in the U.S.

Even with its Irish name, ADF Druidry includes many ancient Indo-European religions. These include Celtic, Germanic, Greek, Roman, Slavic, and Vedic practices. ADF uses the word "Druid" broadly. It can mean a wise person or a priest from any Indo-European religion. Members are not just "druids." They also follow other Indo-European religions.

History of ADF

Isaac Bonewits started ADF to learn more about ancient Celts and other Indo-European peoples. He wanted to understand what their old religions were truly like. Bonewits focused on careful study. He wanted to avoid ideas that were not based on facts.

Isaac also created the ADF Study Program. This program helps train knowledgeable Neopagan clergy. These are like priests and priestesses. They can perform important ceremonies. These include rites for births, marriages, and funerals.

ADF's official motto is "Why not excellence?" This shows their goal to be a serious religious group. They want to be a lasting tradition. Their unofficial motto is "As fast as a speeding oak." This reminds members that good things take time.

Bonewits wanted ADF to be different from some other groups. He wanted to avoid groups that acted like cults. He made a rule called the "Doctrine of Archdruidic Fallibility." This rule says that everyone, even the leader, can make mistakes.

What ADF Believes

ADF practices a form of neo-druidism. In their rituals, people honor three types of beings. These are gods and goddesses, ancestors, and nature spirits.

• Gods and Goddesses: Worshippers honor many ancient, pre-Christian gods. Examples include Lugh, Cernunnos, Thor, Freya, Apollo, and Athena. ADF allows different groups of gods, called "pantheons." However, they do not mix gods from different pantheons in one ritual.
• Ancestors: These are usually family members who have passed away. They can also be other honored dead, like friends or heroes from myths.
• Nature Spirits: These include animal spirits or spirits of a specific place. For example, a spirit of a local river. Most ADF rituals happen outdoors.

ADF calls these three types of beings the "Three Kindreds."

There are other important "threes" in ADF practice. These include the "three realms":

• The Underworld (connected to ancestors)
• The Heavens (connected to gods)
• This world (connected to nature spirits)

These realms are similar to ideas in ancient Celtic and Norse cultures. This world also has three parts: the Land, the Sea, and the Sky.

All these "threes" come from the idea that the number three was important to ancient Indo-European cultures. ADF also uses other common Indo-European ideas. These include a sacred tree (like the Norse Yggdrasil). They also have a "gatekeeper" who opens ways between worlds. Examples are the Norse god Heimdall or the Celtic god Manannan mac Lir.

ADF tries to rebuild ancient Indo-European beliefs. They use old records to find common ideas. Then they use these ideas in their modern spiritual practice.

ADF tries to balance being true to ancient ways and being a modern Neopagan religion. They want to be as real as possible for today's world. For example, ADF does not allow blood sacrifice in its rituals. Even if it was done in ancient times, it is not right for modern society.

How ADF is Organized

Local ADF groups are called "groves." They are like groves of trees. Group rituals are often seen as more powerful than individual ones. In 2017, there were about 70 groves around the world.

Many ADF members practice alone. Some choose to, others live too far from a grove. There are also "protogroves." These are small groups, usually one or two people. They want to start a bigger grove. Being a protogrove helps them find new members.

A main idea of ADF is to be a public form of Neopaganism. This means they are not secret. The founder wanted to prevent ADF from becoming a cult. He also wanted Neopaganism to be accepted more widely.

Because of this, ADF groves must have public rituals. These happen around the eight "High Days" of the Neopagan calendar. Examples are Bealtaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. These rituals follow a set order. They focus on one specific group of gods. ADF groves also do public service every three months. Cleaning up parks is a popular activity.

ADF holds an annual meeting. This meeting is chosen by the members. It has been held at the Starwood Festival or the Wellspring Gathering. The Wellspring Gathering is currently held at Tredara in Madison, Ohio.

Anyone can join ADF. Membership is open to the public.

Archdruids

• 1984–1996: Phillip Emmons Isaac Bonewits (Founder; Emeritus)
• 1996: Ian Corrigan (Jeffrey L. Wyndham) (Emeritus)
• 1996–2001: John "Fox" Adelmann (Emeritus) (First elected Archdruid)
• 2001–2010: Robert Lee "Skip" Ellison (Emeritus)
• 2010–2016: Kirk Sutton Thomas (Emeritus)
• 2016–2025: Jean "Drum" Pagano (Emeritus)
• 2025–Current: Jan Avende

See also

• Druidry (modern)
• Modern Neopaganism
• Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
• Reformed Druids of North America