#protogrove

2nd Day of Earrach, YR 57 (2 February, 2020 CE)

Keeping track of known fellowships of the Reformed Druids of North America can be a daunting task. Indeed it is a lot like herding cats, because let me be honest with you… I’ve tried that. The cats scatter and look at you funny, as if trying to figure out what you’re trying to do. Unfortunately, the phrase “It’s like herding Reformed Druids” just never caught on in the modern vernacular, but I digress.

I would like to take this moment to express my gratitude to everyone who has a Grove or Protogrove and has demonstrated the selfless courage of putting yourself out there for the sake of letting seekers of druidry come to you. That commitment takes a great deal of time and energy, as well as the possibility of apprehension or stresses of not knowing whom you might meet. Thank you for doing what you have done to help sustain the living tradition!

Now to the heart of the matter: the stats!

Active Fellowships:

28 Groves & Protogroves in total. 

9 RDNA Groves

7 RDNA Protogroves

3 NRDNA Groves

1 NRDNA Protogrove

4 MOCC Groves

4 MOCC Protogroves

273 people are members of a Grove or Protogrove

Lost Contact/Closed Fellowships

The following fellowships have been removed to the “Lost Contact 1+ Years” tab of the Grove Finder spreadsheet due to inoperable contact methods or lack of response:

Duir De Danu Grove (NRDNA), California

Shikoku Grove, Japan

Rose Rock Grove, Oklahoma

Sunset Protogrove, California

Awen Grove, Alberta

Dogwood Protogrove, Virginia

Whispering Winds Through The Willows Grove, Michigan

Ghost Orchid Protogrove, Florida

Wilding Protogrove, Mississippi

An estimated 84 members of fellowships may have been displaced over the previous year if their fellowships have truly become inoperable.

It is unfortunate that there are 9 fellowships of the Reform that have been closed or have not responded to the Census via their listed preferred contact methods. Some were even left active as a courtesy after last year’s census, but it’s important to face the facts (or observed trends) that the half-life of the average fellowship is only about four years. 

I even sent snail-mail to one of the Groves that listed a PO Box in addition to the two unviable email addresses made available from previous censuses. Someone pointed me to alternative contact info that indicates a preference contact by telephone. In speaking with Stephen Abbott on the phone about the status of Hazelnut Mother Grove of the NRDNA, he helped me understand that a lot of the druids running older Groves just don’t have the energy to maintain a whole group like that these days. That, and the Internet has thoroughly enabled druids of all ages to go solo. 

That’s not a bad thing, but my heart always goes out to the ones who ask, “Is there a Grove near [place with no Groves]?” and we’re like, nope, or not anymore.

Though that is exactly how my own scenario panned out back in 2011. Moose Breechcloth Protogrove, (just over the county border from me) had a dead email address listed as their contact information. I didn’t have my hopes up for them anyway, because according to the Missal-Any from Samhain of YR 43 (2005), the Protogrove was not accepting new members. I then tried contacting the Arch-Druid of Carleton Grove which was only a mere 45 minute drive away, and about a month later I received a reply stating that Carleton Grove was a bit cloistered. Besides that there were (actually important) academic duties and Grove activity was at a lull during those years.

So I said to myself, “I’m just gonna have to start my own Protogrove and figure things out from there,” and on a whim Oakdale Protogrove was born. Less than two years later, six members voted on a constitution, two of us had been properly ordained to the Third Order, and we became Oakdale Grove. Yes, I probably had it easy given that half of those future Grove members were at the 50th Anniversary Reunion in 2013, and I met the other half for the first time at the local Pagan Pride festival in early autumn.

We don’t actively recruit members, but in my opinion the Reformed Druid movement definitely could benefit from enthusiastic young people willing to form a Protogrove. Carleton Grove is a bustling fellowship with everyone being aged 18-22. That’s 100% Generation Z! After Carleton Grove members graduate and move on, it’s a rarity that they would create new Groves. 

I’m an older Millennial, one of my best friends describes us as Xillennials since we’re so close to the cusp, but in reality I am a typical Millennial through and through. Aside from Carleton Grove, I’m the youngest person running a fellowship in the Reform, and I’ll be 40 in only four years. Too many Gen X and especially Boomer druids tell me they wish they would have gotten into druidry years or decades ago. So that’s why I’m here. I’m not approaching anyone directly asking them to start a Protogrove or become a druid, but I’m raising awareness and making this discoverable so that people can find something they might enjoy while still in their prime.

New Groves take root…

Much to the credit of a few brave souls, there have been a handful of new fellowships that cropped up over 2019:

AZ Grove, Arizona

Tucson Protogrove, Arizona

MOCC Fort Smith, Arkansas

MOCC Mindanao, Philippines

Overall I see this as the Reform breathing. It’s doing what it does; it’s very well alive and in no need of artificial life support. It wasn’t even intended to expand beyond the bounds of the Carleton College Arboretum back in 1963. Yet the legacy persists, just as life finds a way. Though in truth I am hoping that this article will make the rounds and inspire a response out of some of the fellowships that never got back.

Although the census is once per year, I will gladly make real-time updates to the spreadsheet whenever I am asked. It is genuinely something that I enjoy doing, so don’t worry about feeling like you’re inconveniencing me, cause in reality it is very fulfilling.

Further Reading

Difference Between a Grove and a Protogrove

Difference Between RDNA and NRDNA

What is MOCC? (AKA Reformed Druidic Wicca)

Announcement and Happy New Year 2020! 

I have been curating a current census of Groves and Protogroves that are based primarily on the Two Basic Tenets of Reformed Druidism. For the month of January 2020 I'm updating the Grove Finder spreadsheet. If you've been considering founding a proto/grove, this is a great time to get the ball rolling! 

Please remember that the purpose of this document is to help seekers find your proto/groves, so any details you offer are public and are much appreciated in the advancement of the Reformed Druid movement. 

Please email me @ MNdruids (gmail.com) or message me by Oimelc by copying and filling in the following criteria: 

Branch: (ie RDNA or NRDNA (or do you want to start a new SDNA or ZDNA protogrove?))

Grove Name: 

Type: (ie Grove or Protogrove) (Groves have an ordained 3rd Order Druid, protogroves don’t)

Location: (as specific as you are comfortable, ie city; druids are trying to find nearby Groves)

State/Province: 

Status: (ie Active, Intermittent, etc)

Year Founded: 

Members: (whole number as of now, no ranges please. We can update the number or other stats any time of year)

Open to Public: (ie yes, no, (or “maybe” if you have vetting methods))

Contact Name: (can be real or craft name)

Email: (address will be split on the spreadsheet to mitigate spammers, ie “[john_doe] [gmail.com]”)

Link: (ie one website, or Facebook page, or blog, other social media page, etc)

Note: (in 65-70 characters or fewer, can be a small blurb, a second website, special conditions, or left blank

Country: (ie USA, Canada, etc)

One new change this year is for proto/groves with a defunct status. If a response is not received by Oimelc, existing proto/groves may become listed as "Lost Contact 1+ years" or “closed” but will be listed on a sub-tab of the Grove Finder spreadsheet rather than the main tab.

FAQ:

Can we add my OBOD, ADF, AODA, RDG, BDO, HoK Grove to the list?

In Reformed Druidry,

Grove:

With a capital G, a Grove is synonymous with a congregation or a coven. Druids like tree puns. We have modern roots. Our Groves have offshoots. Our denominations have branches. OBOD starts with seed groups. ADF’s newsletter is called Oak Leaves. I digress. A Grove typically has at least three members, one of which must be an ordained Third Order Priest, one other must be at least a Second Order Druid, and one other must be at least a First Order Druid.  If a Grove happens to contain all Third Order Druids, that’s fine. A grove with a lowercase g will often just refer to a literal group of trees. A sacred grove is sometimes called a Nemeton.

Protogrove:

In Reformed Druidry, a protogrove typically has no priesthood level member (no Third Order Druids) and/or fewer than three members. As a courtesy, if a small Grove loses a few members and only the ordained priest is left, it might retain its Grove status. Priest’s preference. Protogrove is not always capitalized and almost never refers to physical trees except ironically. A protogrove can be comprised of Reformed Druids of the First or Second Orders, or can be entirely uninitiated individuals. Once one member of a protogrove becomes a Third Order Druid in the RDNA, all members may participate in an election to appoint a Server, Preceptor, and Arch-Druid.

Related post: How Do I Start a Reformed Druid Grove or Protogrove?

Sometimes, when there just isn’t a group of druids in your area, the next best option is to create one.

A frightening first step is to find the courage to come out of the “broom closet” or at least create an anonymous social media persona. If you’re new, and you meet others who are also new to druidry, you can form a study group or druidry “book club.” The RDNA has an 848 page collection of free PDF files that are Public Domain called A Reformed Druid Anthology. There’s also a much smaller document called the Unofficial Welcome Pamphlet which provides information on how to start a protogrove.

First Steps:

Look over the RDNA literature, at least each section introduction. Follow your curiosity.

Read ARDA 2 Part 1. It’s only like 20 pages.

Want an NRDNA/SDNA protogrove vs RDNA? Read ARDA 2 Part 2.

Look at the numerous rituals in ARDA 2 Part 3 ( sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3).

Designate or acquire a ritual chalice. That’s really the only altar tool in Reformed Druidry. Average price at antique stores is $8-12.

An altar really does help though. (See also: Travel Altars & “Emergency Druid Kit”)

Sickles are optional. (Examples 1, 2, 3) Google your local knife laws.

Practice versions of the RDNA liturgy. You can print a copy if you want. (Example: FedEx Office can print the Unofficial Welcome Pamphlet spiral or comb-bound for about $20) Or you can view the PDFs on a tablet. 

In the RDNA we put whiskey in the chalice, usually diluted. You can substitute as necessary. I put together a larger ritual kit to transport everything and double as a portable altar. 

Practice. In the RDNA there’s the pesky phrase, “Just do druidry!”

Take a few pictures and share them to social media. 

The next step is to wait. Patience is always the first lesson. I can’t guarantee your protogrove will grow. The average half-life of Reformed Druid groups is said to be about four years.

Keep learning. Read the history of all druid movements. Read other books on druidry. Just don’t read The 21 Lessons of Merlyn. John Beckett, an OBOD Druid Grade explains why. Read about the ancient druids: Barry Cunliffe’s Druids: A Very Short Introduction is more concise than I am.

How Did John the Verbose Grow From Solo to Protogrove to Grove?

I have videos about druidry on YouTube

I post my events to Twitter (when I remember that I have an account)

I’m active on the Reformed Druids of North America Facebook Group

I created a “likeable” page for my Grove on Facebook

I search the web for local Pagan Pride events, and speak to a lot of people there

Metaphysical Store employees know people who know people

Visitors & new Grove members come to my events. When I ask them where they heard about it, they mention one of the above resources.

I may have had it easy. I live in the Twin Cities of Minnesota; there are about three million people in the area. Minneapolis is nicknamed “Paganistan” because of how many pagans there are. In 2011 I went from solo to Oakdale Protogrove when I gained a grove member and met with a former Arch-Druid of Carleton College Grove. By September 2013 I was ordained, we had six members, and we voted to form Oakdale Grove and held elections for officers.