An open letter to establish a discussion of importance for the Gorsedd – and beyond

This discussion is begun to encourage all readers to think about what a druid community might look like, and to put your opinions out to the rest of us, in hopes that by the time we reach Lughnasadh, 2009, we should all have a fair idea of what to expect.  As you know, the Gorsedd could be our Avalon or our Glastonbury Tor event on the West Coast of the North American Continent.  We all want it to succeed, and we want this event to be memorable for all.  To that end, this journey of our creative imaginations calls us to reflect on what this could become, not just at a Tibetan Buddhist retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains, but what this could become for each of us and the larger community once we leave.

Have you ever imagined living in a druid community?  Can you see small groups of people during the day, each group working on separate projects, and coming together at meal times to talk about what they have been working on, and to laugh, tell stories, and sing songs together?  Can you see them coming together in the evening for community events and ceremonies, drumming and dancing, and calling to the gods for their blessings?  What might it be like to awaken in the morning, knowing that the entire day’s events are happening in sacred time and sacred space?  How might we take that knowledge back into the apparent world and continue to radiate that message in our daily lives?  Can you feel the change coming?  Can you feel the ancestors calling?

Before we start getting specific, let me share that my seed group has been thinking about almost nothing else for months… and I am not talking about only the Gorsedd, but a fundamental change in the way people see reality and relate to each other.  In our corner of the world, we have opened the doors of the vision of druidry, and people are finding us… people who resonate to the ideals of druidry, and don’t care how badly we speak them.  This isn’t happening because we possess some special niftiness, but because the message is a powerful one.  Our brand of druidry speaks to a spiritual reverence for nature, which includes each other.  This level of respect and honor resonates with those of similar sensitivities.  If this is what we put out, then this is what we will get back.  And on that principle, I ask you to join in this conversation.

So, maybe we can get a bit more specific.  What would a druid community look like?  What would the buildings look like?  What jobs in the community would people do?  Would there be money?  How would they support the community?  How would they apply their knowledge of technology and science to do as little damage, if any, to the environment, while not impeding the progress of the community?  How would progress be defined?  How would community decisions be made?  These are only some of the questions we could or should be asking of ourselves and each other.  There are others, and I know you can think of some to put out here for all of us to consider together.

There is a very real possibility that we will be creating a model at the Gorsedd for the type of community feeling that we envision.  I think it is a worthwhile exercise to imagine an ideal.  But, people being people, stuff goes wrong from time to time, and it might be wise as well to plan for the worst while hoping for the best.  In the short span of a long weekend at the Gorsedd, it is possible for some problems to arise.  I suspect that everyone can think of some potential problem areas, such as unattended children in the swimming pool – a classic prescription for trouble.  Being at Avalon does not mean that the laws of physics, biology and psychology get suspended until a more convenient time.  So issues around physical safety are one area to watch.  What else can you think of?

People being what they are, there is a moderate likelihood that there could be unwelcome behavior on the part of a participant or two.  Too much heat and sun mixed with a little beverage alcohol or other substances can cause otherwise reasonable people to act up in ways which could be highly upsetting to others.  Do we need to discuss how we as a community should respond?  Do we send out messages to attendees before they arrive what to do in case of problems?  At Pantheacon, I laughed at the program message that read that ‘patchouli is not a substitute for a daily shower.’  After thinking about this further, I thought that there were probably a number of similar sage guidelines that, while obvious to most, might be wise to put in writing for the attendees.

I remember reading Castaneda’s Teachings of Don Juan, where the shaman was telling Carlos about what it meant to live the life of a warrior.  The worst thing that could befall a warrior was to die in the midst of committing an act that wasn’t true to his or her nature.  It would mean that their spirit could never rest with the ancestors.  I then thought about what it meant to live one’s life as a druid.  Could it be any other way?  We are going to Pema Osel Ling to live as druids in a spiritual community.  What do we do if we become aware of another who might be causing a problem?  Worse, what if that person is a druid, ovate, or bard?  Then what?

If we are to become the world we envision – which is what the Gorsedd can be at its finest – we will need to take personal responsibility for not just what we say, but how we behave.  If we say we cherish nature, shouldn’t we be more mindful of our behavior as regards recycling, for instance?  If we say we love justice, shouldn’t we show more concern for those who have been denied it?  And if we say that we love each other, shouldn’t we also be respectful of another’s wishes to take our attentions elsewhere?

By taking on the mantle of druidry, we each have chosen to walk a path for the betterment of our communities and our brothers and sisters.  What good is it if we engage in behavior that calls attention to our personal deficits?  Others seeing us behaving in problematic ways may denigrate the whole idea of druidry, fair or not.  If we are not prepared to deal with people problems at the Gorsedd, how can we be expected to do so once we have returned to the apparent world?  Many communes that sprang up in the 1960s failed because they threw out all the rules.  We do not have to repeat that mistake… we simply need to plan ahead for the inevitable problems, and live our lives in the meantime in harmony with what we agree that we know to be true.

Keep imagining an ideal druid community – one where the truth is spoken, we are all respected and respectful, and the words and actions of your brothers and sisters are to be believed.  The world needs druids and druidry… our time is coming… will we be ready?

Please feel free to pick any part of this letter and respond to it.  I hope to have started a conversation in which you all will teach me something about yourselves, your vision, and your spirit.  You are my community… how do you think we can help each other?

Bendithion disglair arnoch chi!

Brian y Tarw Llwyd
Ovate of Llwyn Swynedig
House of Danu
OBOD

Your vision of a druid community is much like ours!  I think that a lot of people are waking up to the need for community, since individualism has been stressed for so long in this country.

As in all things, the ideal is a good balance between the two -- recognizing and respecting that the point of balance is different for everyone.  Some people need more togetherness, while others need more solitude.

So...when do we start putting up the walls?!