Welcome to Gaia! ::

I've been avoiding setting up a thread for this particular branch of Neopaganism. I used to belong to one of the major organizations and, quite frankly, learned to distrust religious groups even more than I had before I joined. I especially have very few positive things to pass along about neo-Reconstructionism.

Over a fairly lengthy period of Northern European history there were scholarly-priestly leaders called Druids. I think I can safely over-simplify by saying several things: much of what is known about them is gleaned from the writings of peoples like the Romans who set out to conquer the societies which produced the Druids. Very little is known directly because Druidry was an oral tradition among virtually unlettered peoples. We have tantalizing bits but little else to base a modern religion upon.

Most people who join a neoDruid group are scholarly, interested in mysticism, have an ancestral link to Northern Europe or are pursuing an 'Environmental' spirituality. There are those who attempt to espouse a belief in Celtic deities but a cursory trip around Gaia will expose you to those people who will tell you that only folk descended from the original worshippers may hold those Gods and Goddesses dear. Of course, during that same search you will also find people who say that all the Druids are dead and there cannot be any such thing anymore, the oral line having been broken long ago.

My issues were with the organization through all of its levels. If I wanted to join a group with church politics that took precedence over spiritual belief I would have found something in the mainstream that at least has social services. I don't trust neopaganism built on a church model and I'm not interested in any of the large egos which litter the alternative religious landscape. I like the truth; I run from anybody who even hints at money.

A quick trip through what I consider 'Discussion Group' topics will show that my approach to spiritual decisions is built on values analysis rather than traditional study programs or melding the self into a group mind.

Most pagans, in general, are actually pretty interesting. You will find many incredibly creative people who use that openness and unfettered state of mind to synthesize beautiful belief sets and imagine outside the lines.

I have been to the rituals of many types of groups, large festival rites with hundreds of people to intimate circles with questions to ask and work to do. There is just so much you can actually do with a big group since you have to gather everyone up and then use that energy in some overarching general way. I prefer the small group, also, being of the 'in perfect love and perfect trust' type of worker.