My
local Grove, Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd, held an emergency meeting
last month, and elected me their new Archdruid. The outgoing AD,
the love of my life and my soulmate of 100s of lifetimes, Ceridwen,
has a lot on her plate, and didn't feel she could adequately finish
her present term (which would have ended on Samhain). Also, she
has served for the past 5 years, and feels herself being drawn to
other responsibilities. You see, my Grove isn't just a local Grove.
It serves as "Mother Grove" for both the Reformed Druids
of Gaia and for the Order of the Mithril Star - both of which are
growing exponentially.
So on the blue moon, I was inducted as the new Archdruid. I have
served in this role in the past - from 1997 through 2001, but many
changes and new faces have taken place over the last 5 years.
My
titles (and this is the last you will hear of this because I abhor
titles) are:
Archdruid, Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd Grove, Eureka CA
Senior-Archdruid, Order of the Mithril Star
Senior-Archdruid, Reformed Druids of Gaia
and last, and this one is purely honorary (and humorous for that
matter):
Archdruid of the Redwood Coast
Really
now, most of these are humorous. Leading Druids is rather like herding
cats and sometimes, nailing jello to the wall.
I
hope I live up to everyone's expectations. I know I will stumble
at times, but my water brothers in OMS have always been there with
pillows to land on, so I won't stress too much over this.
Also,
this will end my duties as "minister of propaganda" for
the RDG as it's best that the AD not be a lightening rod for everyone
who has a beef against the Reform. A committee of members of the
Nemeton of Dalon ap Landu will be taking over those duties for me
from here out.
I
will be finishing out AD Ceridwen's term, as I said, and then my
term will begin on Samhain. Ceridwen is to be credited with leading
the OMS into the dawn of the 2nd Age of Reformed Druidism, and with
midwifing the birth of the RDG. For this we are all eternally grateful.
For
my part I intend to focus on bringing our tribe closer; on making
us a more intimate family of Druids. To this end we will begin holding
the rites of the waters of life virtually on a monthly basis in
the mithrilstar chatroom. I am also inclined toward less formality,
and more intimacy within the Groves and the Orders.
Right now we are preparing for the Druid Gathering here in our beloved
Redwoods, which will begin on Friday. I am hoping to see many of
you there this year. So until Samhain......
Namaste,
and May the FOREST be with you.
El
Arseneau /|\
Senior Archdruid of OMS/RDG
|
