I just rejoined Ár nDraíocht Féin after a long hiatus; I am member #171, having originally joined on January 8, 1991, but after my first year, I let my membership lapse. I rejoined on June 23, 2010.

Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) is Modern Irish for "Our Own Druidism", although one often sees the acronym back-translated into English as "A Druid Fellowship". It's a modern Neo-Pagan religion (recognized as such by the U.S. government; the IRS classifies it as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) church) with more than 50 local congregations ("Groves") and a rigorous training program. It makes no claims to ancient roots; ADF rituals are modern creations, although intended to resemble those of original Pagan Indo-European cultures, as discovered via serious scholarship.

When I first joined ADF in 1991, I wasn't looking for Religion. I was looking for Magic. I'd been studying that subject for about 20 years, although I was, at best, a dilettante: I read, but I did not do. One of the first books I read was Real Magic by Isaac Bonewits, who had the distinction of being the first and only person to ever get a B.A. in Magic from the University of California - or, probably anywhere else. When I looked into what he was up to in 1990, I discovered that he had formed ADF in 1984. I was intrigued, and joined. Unfortunately, as an agnostic, I wasn't looking for Paganism, and ADF did not suit me at that time, and I dropped out.

In the years since then, much has changed in my life. Most importantly, I do, finally, recognize my spiritual needs. I've been attending first a Unitarian church, and then an Episcopal church for the last 12 years or so and, although I like the fellowship, the ceremony, the singing, and the wisdom of the priests, I just can't buy the "Jesus as son of God" thing. I've never managed to form a spiritual connection with Jesus or the Christian God.

Looking back over the years, the closest I have ever felt to having a spiritual connection to something is in the presence of nature - at the foot of Mount Rainier, for example.

I have also spent many years in academia, first finishing up a Bachelor's degree at Harvard (where I studied, among other things, Irish folklore and mythology, Icelandic sagas, Greek mythology, and Beowulf), and then a Master's in Medieval Studies at Boston College. In the latter, my specialties were Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest and the Viking Age in Iceland, Orkney, and England.

There's a lot of paganism in the subjects of my studies.

And now, having rediscovered ADF, this time, I do feel drawn to the religion - and the study. A new member - which I effectively am - is encouraged to start by following the Dedicant's Path. This requires study, meditation, and ritual for at least one full turning of the circle of the year. At the end, one should know whether ADF Druidism is "right". If so, you write your own Dedicant's Oath, perform a ritual with it, and submit your documentation to the ADF Mother Grove. If your documentation shows that you've been serious in your work, you "pass" and are qualified to undertake all the other training offered by ADF: Guilds, the Initiate Path, the Clergy Training Program, and so on.

This requires at least one full year, as the requirements require that you observe all eight High Days - the astronomical quarters (Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox, and Winter Solstice) and the cross-quarter days (the first of February, May, August, and November).

I commit to walking the ADF Dedicant's Path. I may discover along the way that ADF is not for me (in which case I will not swear the Dedicant's Oath), but I will do my best to learn and do all that is necessary. I intend to use Rev. Michael Dangler's "The ADF Dedicant Path Through the Wheel of the Year" as my guide to walking and completing the path in one year.

I have created this website to help me with the process. Here is my Dedicant Journal, and a place for my Dedicant Path Documentation, as I complete the activities and write the essays.