Ár nDraíocht Féin facts for kids
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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 based in the United States. They are dedicated to studying and growing modern Druidry.
The name Ár nDraíocht Féin comes from Modern Irish. It means "our own magic" or "our own Druidism." The letters "ADF" also stand for "A Druid Fellowship." This group was started in 1983 by Isaac Bonewits. It became an official non-profit organization in 1990.
ADF is a Neo-Druid group that practices a special kind of Neopagan Druidry. Most of its members and groups are in the U.S. but also in other countries. ADF has had over 1,000 members for many years. This makes it one of the largest Neo-Pagan Druid groups in the USA.
Even with its Irish name, ADF Druidry includes many Indo-European religions. These include Celtic, Germanic, Greek, Roman, Slavic, and Vedic practices. ADF uses the word "Druid" to mean a wise person or priest from these old traditions. So, members are not just "druids." They can also be part of other Indo-European religions.
Contents
Discovering ADF's Roots
Isaac Bonewits started ADF with a clear goal. He wanted to research and learn about ancient Celts and other Indo-European peoples. His aim was to understand their old religions better. Bonewits focused on careful study. He wanted to avoid ideas that were not based on facts.
Isaac also started the ADF Study Program. This program helps train knowledgeable clergy. These are like priests and priestesses for Neo-Pagans. They can lead important life events. This includes ceremonies for births, marriages, and funerals. ADF's motto, "Why not excellence?", shows their wish to be a serious religion. Another motto, "As fast as a speeding oak," reminds members that good things take time.
ADF was also a reaction to some groups Bonewits knew. He wanted ADF to be open and honest. He created a rule called the "Doctrine of Archdruidic Fallibility." This rule says that everyone, even the leader, can make mistakes.
What ADF Members Believe
ADF promotes a type of neo-druidism. In this practice, people honor three kinds of beings. These are gods and goddesses, ancestors, and nature spirits.
- Gods and Goddesses: Members honor many ancient, pre-Christian gods. Examples include Lugh, Cernunnos, Thor, Freya, Apollo, and Athena. ADF allows different groups of gods, called "hearth cultures." However, mixing gods from different cultures in one ceremony is not encouraged.
- Ancestors: These are usually family members who have passed away. They can also include honored friends or heroes from myths.
- Nature Spirits: These are spirits of animals or the spirits of a place. For example, a spirit of a local river. Most ADF ceremonies happen outdoors.
These three groups (gods, ancestors, nature spirits) are called the "Three Kindreds" in ADF. There are other important "threes" in ADF practice. For example, the "three realms" are the Underworld, the Heavens, and this world. These are similar to old Celtic and Norse beliefs. This world also has three parts: the Land, the Sea, and the Sky.
These "threes" are based on the idea that the number three was important in ancient Indo-European cultures. ADF also uses other common Indo-European ideas. These include a sacred tree, a "gatekeeper" god, and agreements with difficult spirits. ADF tries to rebuild old Indo-European beliefs. They use ancient records to find common ideas. Then they apply these ideas to their spiritual practice today.
ADF tries to balance two ideas. One is to recreate ancient practices as closely as possible. The other is to be a broader Neo-Pagan religion. They aim to be as real as possible for modern life. For example, ADF does not allow any blood sacrifice in its ceremonies. 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," like groups of trees. Group ceremonies are often seen as more powerful. In 2017, there were about 70 groves around the world. Many ADF members are "solitary." This means they practice alone. Some choose this, others live too far from a grove. There are also "protogroves." These are small groups trying to start a bigger grove.
One main idea of ADF is to be a public form of Neopaganism. This was different from secret religious groups. ADF's founder wanted to prevent it from becoming a cult. He also wanted Neo-Paganism to be more accepted in society.
Because of this, ADF groves must hold public ceremonies. These happen around the eight main Neo-Pagan holidays. Examples include Bealtaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. These ceremonies follow a set plan. They focus on one group of gods or "hearth culture." ADF groves also need to do some 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 events like the Starwood Festival or the Wellspring Gathering. Anyone can join ADF, as membership is open to the public.
ADF Leaders: Archdruids
The Archdruid is the main leader of ADF. Here are the people who have held this role:
- 1984–1996: Phillip Emmons Isaac Bonewits (Founder)
- 1996: Ian Corrigan (Jeffrey L. Wyndham)
- 1996–2001: John "Fox" Adelmann (First elected Archdruid)
- 2001–2010: Robert Lee "Skip" Ellison
- 2010–2016: Kirk Sutton Thomas
- 2016–Current: Jean "Drum" Pagano
See also
- Druidry (modern)
- Modern Neopaganism
- Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
- Reformed Druids of North America
