The Sacred Tree

Our relationship with stones and trees is encoded in the very bones of our language. When we speak of "knowing in our bones", "family trees", "branches of families, study, traditions", "twigs of knowledge" we are reminded of the very special relationship with these ancient beings. Celtic literature refers to "Wood Wisdom" -- even the term "Druid" itself is thought to derive from the word for "tree" or "wood wise".

Setting Down Roots

Those of us who have grown up in the West live in a society that puts individuals last and corporate

interests first. Consequently, we no longer know how to live in real community. A lifetime of conditioning cannot be overcome in a few weeks, months, or even years, nor can it be overcome by the mind only. The change must be made on every level of our being, and the years of our conditioning will define the time needed to re-balance the scales and begin making real and lasting progress ... and so it is not enough to be a 'weekend Tribes person'. For any lasting benefit we must do more than be *like* the Tribes. We must become the Tribes -- every moment of every day. As most of us are not stranded on tropical islands; we are obliged to continue functioning in mainstream society. Yet it remains remarkably simple to adapt, provided we have the heart for it. A strong collective knows that nurturing the interests of individuals only benefits the community. A clever individual knows that they need the community, and must return to share what they have learned if they want to have its support. A balance must be maintained that respects the needs and desires of the individual and those of the community. Like the people on "Survivor", personal experience teaches us how to make our home in unfamiliar surroundings.

Of course, no matter how much we change ourselves we cannot change others, and the people around us in the mainstream are liable to keep on as they have always done, regardless of what we do. It is amongst our Sisters and Brothers in spiritual community that the benefits of making these changes will be most enjoyed and appreciated. It is an amazing feeling to speak and realize that everyone is listening ... just listening, because our voice is that important. And it is equally astonishing to hear others as we once did in childhood; when we saw the people around us not as tedious humbugs, but as magical, omnipotent beings whose actions filled us with wonder ... We have been taught that wonder must be sacrificed as we mature, but it is only lost as long as we refuse to open ourselves to it by opening our hearts to the world and to one another.

What Survivors Do ...

So now we've made the first step and committed ourselves to being 'survivors'. We've made camp and attended to life's little necessities; we have enough reading material and lesson work to last us for years ... but so far we're alone in camp; a voice in the darkness of cyber space. The map says there are Tribes folk hereabouts, but we have yet to see them. What's next? How do we make contact? And more importantly, how do we stop being 'outsiders' and start and find our place within the Tribe? Not hard. We meet, we mingle, we earn from our own mistakes and by others' examples. As we are in the infancy of our learning, so here: by letting go of preconceived notions or expectations about how things 'should' be, we open ourselves to authentic  experience. (Expatriates will remember relying on these skills instinctively when negotiating foreign languages, landscapes, customs and cultures. Adults may be a bit out of practice, but the same instincts apply here.)

Shared Concepts & Definitions

There are certain concepts that define our perception and experience that we all must share if we are to truly share in one Tradition rather than many superficially related circles, and the first of these is our definition of "community". At its most basic level a community is a self-sustaining collective of individuals and kin-groups that share the same culture, language, beliefs, and worldview (definition of reality). Non-members ('outsiders') are recognized by the fact that they do not share these qualities. On the purely pragmatic level, in this world we do not exist in isolation. When others ask us what "Avalonian Tradition" is, or how it is the same or different from other paths, we should at least be able to offer an informed response. Not to know even these basic concepts is to be 'outsiders' to the consensus reality and shared experience of the ADO spiritual community. That said, let us begin by looking at the reality that we, as a Tradition and spiritual community all share; and the first aspect of it to be learnt is our shared definition of "tradition" itself. However others may choose to answer this question, this is our definition ...

"Tradition" versus "tradition"

Tradition: (1) Beliefs or customs taught by one generation to the next, often orally, (2) A set of customs or practices, (3) A broad religious movement made up of religious denominations or church bodies sharing a common history, customs, culture, and the main elements of a body of teachings. Theoretical definitions include:  (1) Traditions and customs (i.e. culture), (2) Philosophical tradition (i.e. knowledge systems), (3) Traditionalism (e.g. adherents to specific traditions and/or cultures, proponents of specific methods or schools of learning, and advocates for reverting to tribal values and societal forms), and (4) Archaeological tradition (a set of cultures or industries that develop one from another).

[paraphrased from a definition by "Wikipedia"]

The Avalon Mystery Tradition (to which our Order belongs) is a 'tradition' in the sense that it is a broad religious movement made up of different independent spiritual and religious bodies that derive their teachings and practices from a common history and source. This source provides similar sets of practices and story-lore, within which are encoded Avalon's Wisdom Tradition (knowledge system). ADO is a 'Tradition' in that it is one religio-spiritual body within the whole, and inherits from the greater Tradition its customs, beliefs, and practices as handed down through Avalon's oral tradition and literature. We are "traditionalists" in the sense that we adhere to ancestral ways, hold our customs, practices, beliefs, and myths (Sacred Story Cycles) to be equally sacred, consider traditional forms of learning extremely important, and acknowledge different schools of Avalonian thought across the ages. We also stress a return to older, tribal cultural values and societal structures. Because ADO exemplifies virtually every known definition of 'tradition' in common usage, it usually denotes the practices of the Order as "the Way" or "the Tradition", and Avalonian religio-spirituality in its entirety as (more usually) "the greater Tradition". Common dictionary usages that are not intended as Avalon-specific identifiers appear in lower case ('tradition'). Hopefully this small grammatical liberty will help visitors to distinguish more easily between similar looking concepts.

Spirituality versus Religion

What is the difference between a 'spirituality' and a 'religion'? In Avalonian Druidry, 'spirituality' is the system of mystical, philosophical, magical and soul practices observed by either an individual or a group, constellating around a core set of beliefs or tenets that defines its spiritual relationship(s) with (and within) Creation. 'Religion', on the other hand, is the formal organization and administration of a spiritual practice, which imposes upon belief a formal legal structure and whose administration is a recognized institution within the State.

Most groups consider themselves either spiritualities or religions; however, ADO embodies both functions. This gives the Order a somewhat Janus-like appearance in print, since ADO present to the world two distinct faces:

• ADO, "the Religion": The registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious charity, satisfying the Order's present legal and material needs and requirements; and
  

• ADO, the Spiritual Tradition: The Spiritual Way we have inherited from the ancestors which comprises our beliefs, worldview, customs, values and ethics, culture, society, and spiritual practice -- which endure forever, with or without the religion.
  

Nonprofit status allows us to collect donations, and tax-exempt status allows us to make purchases without paying sales tax. Bylaws and a "corporate" structure are required by the IRS to ensure  appropriate "channels of communication" and "fiscal accountability". However linear, hierarchical legal and administrative structures tend to be ill-adapted to ancestral systems, beliefs, and practices. Predictably, wherever indigenous peoples have tried to resolve this dichotomy by forming separate mainstream and traditional "Councils" only the mainstreamed administrative body has received legal recognition, leaving traditional Councils in a strictly ceremonial status. Although ADO does not currently face the same fiscal dependency and pressures as other native traditions, who among us can predict the choices or needs of future generations? We felt it wiser to lay a somewhat different groundwork in hopes of avoiding a similar trap.

Instead of converting our nonlinear Tradition to conform to mainstream linear models or creating two separate governing structures, we have chosen to translate traditional procedures into mainstream language in order to render them transparent to mainstream (government) eyes. This allows us to show fiscal and administrative accountability in terms that are intelligible to mainstream society. What is reported is truthful, without need of sacrificing custom or Tradition. We simply translate our process into "corporate-speak" before submitting it for IRS review or archiving. By following this method the experience of Traditional spirituality, community, and culture remains as authentic as possible via distance media. Virtually nothing materially changes except in formatting the written record. The shift is purely one of perspective.

Living Spirituality

"You can't get there from here." The first thing we must change in order to become Tribes members of a Druid community is our relationship to Creation. Changing our relationship with Creation means changing nearly all of our basic assumptions and the conditioning inherited from our dysfunctional mainstream societies. It means redefining and renegotiating our relationships with those we love who choose to continue living mainstream lives. The object is not to remove them from their lives or from our lives, but to remove ourselves from exploitative relationships and redefine them in genuinely self-empowering terms. True self-empowerment empowers everyone. It is selfish in that it refuses to deny our needs, even when it is to others' advantage for us to do so. It is subversive, in that it requires us to think for ourselves and then make our own decisions about things. It is unpatriotic in the sense that it's first allegiance is to truth. And it is absolutely indispensable for anyone living in Druid community.

Self-empowerment is the basis for sovereignty on both personal and collective levels. Sovereignty is the right to self-governance, to be "masters of our own destinies". Most modern human societies afford this privilege to the few. We believe that it belongs to the many; that it is a birthright of all human beings. Whereas self-empowerment is about drawing on our own inner power, sovereignty is about using that power responsibly in the world. It is the ability to wield our own power over our own destinies without imposing our wills on others. We cannot be equals or collaborate effectively with others without first being self-empowered and sovereign. Everything we learn, practice, and do is about furthering these two goals, because everything else springs from them. Without this, there is no foundation on which to build. True Sovereignty is egalitarian. It oppresses and exploits no one, and commands none but ourselves.

A self-empowered, sovereign person or group knows that Truth is the ultimate validation; thus the chief pursuit of Druids and Druid communities is the attainment of Truth.Truth endures. Bury it and it will resurface. Deny it, and it will demand to be recognised. Truth endures; it wants to be known, and and once known it cannot be denied. Truth is the Druid's shield. However, we cannot wield Truth without living by Truth. For many of us this means "coming out of the broom closet", which can be uncomfortable or even unsafe for those of us living in pagan-hostile areas. We may flatter ourselves to think that the days of the Burning Times are past, that we are all more 'civilized' now, but there remain many areas where being openly 'different' means (at best) that doors to vital services remain firmly shut. Unfortunately, freedom of religion extends only as far as it is enforced upon those who would otherwise deny it, and too often the enforcers are the same as the oppressors. Many of us face threats and abuse by the very neighbours we are working to benefit. Because some of us live in more tolerant climates than others we each express and live our beliefs differently, but unlike some pagan paths we cannot lead double lives to satisfy mainstream expectations. While we neither proselytize nor "recruit" members, living our Truth demands that we neither deny it nor hide it. Living as members of a Druid community every moment of every day is example and advertisement enough.

"The Way"

"The Way" is the old term for our spiritual path; it became "the Old Way" when our people adopted (or were forced to adopt) new ways. Since most indigenous people call their spiritualities "the Way" (just as we all tend to call ourselves "the People"), it is useful to be able to distinguish our "Way" from those of other native peoples. We are "Druid" since becoming "Wood Wise", "Faery" because we a native path, and "Avalonian"by virtue of our specific sacred landscape. Before we were Druids we were "Gwyddon" ("Knowers" or "Wise Ones"), and Gwyddon we shall remain when the Great Cycle wipes the trees from the face of the Land and the wisdom of the Wild Wood is remembered only in lore, and in breath, blood, and bone. The Gwyddon Way is Avalon's ancestral Way of the Wise. It is a Faery Way, a Druid Way, and an Avalonian Way. It is a "Way" because it is a way of living in harmony with the Earth and all Creation; it is a "Path" because others have lived this way before and we follow in their footsteps. It is Wise because it is rooted in Truth and centres on maintaining Harmony and working for the highest good--not only for us, for our families, for Avalonians, or for Druids, but for all life.

Why then do we not call ourselves a Gwyddon community? Not hard: While there are some Gwyddonic groups that appear to follow paths parallel to our own, the term "Gwyddon" has been adopted by too many non-Avalonian and non-Druidical groups to be useful as a unique identifier any longer. Also, even within our own Tradition the term has come to be associated with the leader of a linear hierarchy; a perception that is counter-productive for a group striving to establish an egalitarian, consensus-based community. The key understanding for the public and new Aspirants is that seeing the terms "Druid", "Faery" ("Fairy", "Faerie", etc.), or "Gwyddon" does not make a group Avalonian, and seeing the term Avalonian does not mean a group is anchored in Avalon's Ancestral Way. The key understanding for new members is that we are all of these things, but in very specific ways.

Values

Avalonian Faery Druids share many things with other Druids who are our spiritual cousins on the Druid Way. Most of our Core Beliefs are elucidated on our FAQ page and in our Bylaws, Tribal Laws and Codes of Ethics and Conduct. What remains are the Laws that govern all beliefs and cultures: the Laws of Nature, which we call "Arcane Laws". In addition to these, Avalonian Druids follow a value system called the Nine Measures:

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1. Integrity[Old Welsh: 'cywirdeb'; Irish: sláine; meaning "correctness, rightness"]

We have "integrity" if our characters 'run true' and we are integral to the structure of the Tribe, for our hearts and labours are woven into its very fabric; pull one thread, and the integrity of the tapestry is undone and eventually unravels. Thus the fabric of integrity is said to be woven of three threads (personal, familial, and collective). To have integrity, one must also have:

Honour[Old Welsh: 'wyneb'; Cornish and Breton: 'enep'; Irish: 'oineach,' meaning "face"; related to 'clu,' meaning

"reputation, fame," from the Indo-European root meaning "to hear"]

Our words and deeds define us in the eyes of the community. Honour 'saves face' and keeps good our

reputations. To be dis-honoured is to 'lose face' or fall into disrepute. Honour is closely connected

to personal power, since without it we cannot influence others. To lost face means we can no longer

extend protection to others, since we cannot give what we do not ourselves possess.

Honesty[Welsh: 'didwyll', meaning "without deceit"; Cornish and Breton: 'reizh', meaning "right; Irish: 'indracus', meaning

"honest"; related to 'clu,' meaning "reputation, fame," from the Indo-European root meaning "to hear"]

"Truth" is the incorruptible essence of things; a universal, indisputable "rightness" against which

human behavior must be measured and toward which it must ever strive. "Honesty" arises from

living our Truth. It means being "clear, open, without deceit, undamaged, possessed of flawless

integrity, in right or correct balance within".

Loyalty[Old Welsh: 'dilys'; Irish: 'tairisiu'; meaning "authentic, steadfast"]

To be loyal, we must be consistently, inherently trust-worthy, trust in others, and be willing to involve

ourselves for another's benefit. One does not 'become' loyal; loyalty is an inherent, unchangeable

character trait. A 'loyal' person is absolutely, unquestionably dependable, regardless of situation or

circumstance.

2. Hospitality[Old Welsh: 'croeso' meaning "welcome," perhaps deriving from 'croesffordd,' a "crossroads"; Irish: 'oigideacht';

meaning "stranger, newcomer" perhaps deriving from an older term for "traveler" or "travel"]

Without "Guest Laws", travel and trade would have been impossible. Unlimited hospitality was the original ideal, and is more attainable in collectives where resources are shared equally. "What is mine is yours" is the traditional greeting of good Hosts; good Guests avoid taking advantage. They are considerate of the Host's means and privacy, and never outstay their welcomes. While we aspire to meet the standards set by our ancestors, mainstream attitudes make some caveats necessary to protect ourselves from exploitation. Hospitality is now extended on a 'quid prop quo' basis, in which the Guest's graciousness determines the kind of hospitality they receive.

3. Duty[Welsh: 'gofal';  Irish: 'dualgas']

We fulfil our duties by honouring our responsibility to and for ourselves and others. 'Duty' is a foundation of successful community. Without it we act purely out of self-interest, sacrificing long-term community needs and goals for short-term personal gain. The triads admonish us to always keep our worldly duty before us, adding that duty (with truth, justice, and honor) is one of the highest causes of any true human being.

4. Skill[Welsh: 'medr';  Irish: 'étir']

In all that we do, we strive for excellence: speak with eloquence and purpose; build skillfully and with proper knowledge; and when it is needful to fight, fight with all strength, skill, and cunning, holding nothing back. We learn to be "People of Skill" as well as "People of Art", upholding our values even amidst those who envy, scorn, fear, or resent us.

5. Family[Welsh: 'tylwyth';  Irish: 'teaghlaigh']

Family is our wellspring. For most of us, the nuclear family (mother, father, and offspring) defines the term in our minds, but for the ancestors family extended far beyond this little circle to include whole communities and ultimately, all Nine Tribes, encompassing relationship by handfasting, blood, and fosterage.

6. Tribe[Welsh: 'llwyth';  Irish: 'teglach']

The Tribe is the central focus for all of our families, and the Naohm is the focus for all the Tribes. The Tribe protects us and provides a nurturing place for us and for our skills and gifts. Without Tribe there is no family, and without family we cannot exist. The Tribe is our bedrock; our first and last refuge, a place sacred and cherished as the altar of our extended family life. It is absolutely necessary to our survival and an integral part of our identities both individually and collectively.

7. Justice[Old Celtic: 'ko-uero', meaning "in accordance with truth"; Welsh 'cywir' and 'cyfiawn', meaning "correct" or "just, in

conformity with rightness"; Breton 'reizh', meaning properly ruled; Irish 'cert', meaning "certain"]

Everything moves. Life is in motion; it exists in a state of imbalance, perpetually seeking equilibrium. "Justice" is the process through which we discern how balance has been lost in order that it might be restored. In early Celtic literature it is not uncommon to observe judgements being handed down which restore communal balance at the apparent expense of the individual. This may seem offensive to modern eyes; yet the mainstream judiciary is a penal system based upon punishment, whose decisions are often rendered at the apparent expense of justice! The conflict between these two philosophies and their respective justice systems is evidenced throughout Celtic literature.

8. Courage[Old Brythonic: 'calon', meaning "heart" or "hard-hearted courage"; Old Welsh: 'glew', meaning 'bold, daring';  Irish:

'meisnech,' meaning "courage"]

We have courage when we transcend terror and see the inner truth of a situation, then take effective action in the moment (i.e. "keep a cool head" in shocking, even terrifying situations and circumstances).

9. Love[Welsh: 'cariad'; Irish: 'grá']

The Love of Creation is Divine Love; the relentless, unceasing urge of Creation, the Eternal Making, the impulse for Life itself. Divine Love is not the love depicted by New Age or mainstream thinking. It is not "fuzzy bunny" love, but a harrowing, wild, unpredictable and uncontrollable matrix of creative force. It is the generative essence of Truth and Being and Wisdom, and the ultimate object of all Druidry. This is the Love that we speak of when we speak of the Love of All Things; it is the Love of creator for creation. The wisdom of those who live in Love's flow is unimpeachable. It is for this that the Druids' word was sacrosanct

10. Passion[Welsh: 'nwyd'; Irish: 'paisean']

This measure would have been redundant in the ancient world, for neither Braithion nor Celt would have understood its absence. It is, then, a measure necessary specifically for modern peoples.

For us, as for the ancestors, passion is the result of being vitally, vibrantly, ecstatically in harmony with all Life. It is the fierce joy of Being, a reflection of the Source itself. The Braithion lived in the 'big picture'; mainstream people tend to live in the 'small picture'. In fact, our 'picture' of the world has become so small that it threatens to push us all into a completely narcissistic 'reality' in which we see only ourselves as 'real'. To the far ancestors, the modern mainstream worldview would have seemed deranged. For the Braithion, the constant quest of the individual was to become ever more completely (and perfectly) oneself within the context of the group. Their culture cherished diversity and saw the differences between people as an essential element of what bound them together--a wisdom which often eludes us today. It was a basic assumption of life that all people lived life feelingly and to the fullest, defining themselves as individuals through their impassioned relationship with Life--and specifically, life as it expressed within Avalon's Nine Tribes. They lived and died for these ideals, which they saw as defining characteristics of a 'free people'. To do otherwise, was to forfeit honour and become a slave (i.e. one whose life and thoughts are not their own). It is an understanding worthy of our deepest contemplation.

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Core Beliefs

At the heart of our laws and customs are certain core beliefs about the nature of the cosmos, of spirituality, and of the divine. (Brackets indicate items specific to Avalonian Druidry.)

• Doctrine of Origins:  There is one Source, wellspring or creative matrix from which all things proceed and to which all return. There is no separation between the Source and its emanations. All emanations of the Source share its pattern, consciousness, and soul; thus Creation is aware, conscious, ensouled, and sacred. Since it is the female in which human life germinates, we define the Source as the Divine Feminine. Though the Source cannot be personified, we experience and know it by many names and titles. [The “Druid Mind” is our term for the Mind of the Source as it is reflected in the mind of the collective and as accessed through Avalon’s Dreamtime practices, through which we strive to harmonize our thoughts and actions with the energy of the Great Pattern of Being manifest through the Source in all its emanations.]
  

• Doctrine of Love: Love is the most powerful force in Creation; it impels the Source to Create and shapes the Laws that govern Nature. It exists even within death and decay as the gateway to regeneration and rebirth. The power of Avalon derives from Love.
  

• Doctrine of Kinship:  As all things emanate from the Source, so all are kin to one another. There is no stronger bond than the bond between kin.
  

• [Doctrine of Time & Space:  Reality exists at the centre of the present moment and is given form and meaning by phenomena known as space and time. “Space” is the present shape of whatever aspect of Creation we happen to be observing. It is present between and within all things. Because we can only see a small part of Creation at any given time, we tend to see space as containing Creation (e.g. the overturned bowl or cauldron of the heavens). In actuality, space has no limits. “Time” results from the observable flow of events moving within perceived space. Like water flowing around the perimeter of a bowl, when viewed from a single vantage point, the portion of time we see flowing past us appears linear. In actuality, like water it can flow in any direction.
  

• Doctrine of Otherworlds:  Creation is how we perceive emanations of the Source manifesting as infinite orders of being within infinite Otherworlds. These Otherworlds occupy Three Realms (Land, Sea, and Sky in Middle Earth). Each realm can be said to have three aspects. These 9 Elements each possess their own denizens, powers, and purpose within Creation. As beings pass into realms or spheres other than their own, they may seem to lose or gain power (e.g. an ancestor dwelling in the Otherworld may appear omnipotent when seen in our own plane of existence, just as we may appear omnipotent when in certain of the Otherworlds; a phenomenon that accounts for the ‘supernatural’ power of the various orders of being whom Tradition calls, ‘Gods’).]
  

As we have said, lineage provides a key to access specific ancestral and spiritual energies; energies that are unique from those of other, seemingly similar groups. Ideas alone do not make something "Avalonian", anymore than a cloak alone can make someone a Druid. It is the attunement to Avalon's unique, signature energy as manifest through specific ancestors, cultures, lands, and times  that gives the Tradition its unique feeling and power. Attunement comes from a combination of study, practice, lineage, and the lore, skills, ancestral memory, and empowerments we inherit through the Tradition; it cannot be 'channeled' or stolen. Understanding of these 'Doctrines' arises out of study, practice, and experience.

"The Road Goes Ever On and On" ...

We now share certain definitions of terms. Remember what you have learned here and apply it to your studies and conversations within our membership. Strive not only to acquire knowledge of Avalon, but to acquire Wisdom; since Wisdom comes only from experience, strive to live your spirituality every moment of every day. Do not be content to read about it. Do these things and you will soon find yourself far from the place where you began your spiritual journey, and deep within the heart of Avalon. We look forward to meeting you there.

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This Hearthfire last kindled: 16 January, 2011

Copyright Notice: Text and background image copyright (c) 2000, 2010 by Morgaine for ADO. World rights reserved.

(Continue...)

With its roots deep in the earth, its branches touching the stars, the tree was for many ages considered one of our ancestors and its old age was endowed with many human qualities, including the ability to speak and move. The indwelling spirit of the tree (Common Celtic, 'Deva') was consulted as a mentor and facilitator in communicating between worlds, for it is one of the power that knits the Realms together. In shape it reflects the human body with arms and legs outstretched, and is the emblem of our Oneness with Creation. To the tree we offer our awareness of other Realms and Kindred; our openness to the Beings and lessons of the Path; and our respect for the powers and Beings with which we work and with whom we share our existence. The tree symbolizes the power of the

ancestors as it finds expression through us, today. It reminds us that we are part of a greater family

that spans the ages. Here we will explore some of the leaves of our "family tree".