MANIFESTO
of
the Insular Order of Druids
The Insular Order was founded on the Summer Solstice
1993 at Stonehenge, England, when Dylan ap Thuin, Archdruid of I.O.D.,
proclaimed the newly formed seed group. This was witnessed by
Arthur Pendragon, L.A.W, and a French Druid from E.D.G.
Prior to the proclamation, the founder had been a practising Wiccan for
over a decade, and currently practices the shamanic arts of body
piercing and tattooing at Labyrinth, a New Age gift shop and centre for
Celtic spirituality in Portsmouth.
After attending C.O.B.D.O. meetings in 1993, I.O.D. were admitted to
C.O.B.D.O. I.O.D.'s Mother Grove is located in Portsmouth and
began with public meetings held at The Druids Arms in Binstead
Road. Public meetings still occur, but I.O.D. also
hold private events. Imbolc 1994 saw the first ceremony performed in
private at the Grove.
I.O.D. are one of three Orders who celebrate the eightfold year at Stonehenge.
I.O.D. recognise the three schools/grades of Druidry to be: Bard or
Fill, Ovate or Vate, and Druid, but due to the adaption to modern
living, members are encouraged to work on all three grades
simultaneously. Having said that, I.O.D. work mainly
on the Bardic grade, encouraging seekers
to paint, play musical instruments, write and recite
poetry and stories, placing valued emphasis on the oral tradition.
Later Ovate studies include basic ritual, ceremonial preparation,
methods of augury and
divination, altered states of
consciousness, further initiatory experience and philosophy.
More committed members are encouraged
to concentrate on
philosophy, law, to study the movements of the heavens, natural
rhythms, festivals and build decision-making skills and personal power.
I.O.D. philosophy teaches that, "Life is an Art and Science of
Self-becoming," and that by rounding
or spiralling their character, will, and soul the
individual can attain a state of Awen, thus allowing individuals to
become their true Oak Wise selves.
Other aims of the Order are:
i. to spread and encourage
interest in Celticism, and the general
knowledge of our heritage and lore, poems and myths and anything
Celtically cultural.
ii. to build a group identity and consciousness, a
Society of Friends if you like. Individual members are encouraged
to use and promote their own and each others's latent or manifest
talents in a Clan bartering system of skill swapping.
iii. to prepare individuals for full public
ceremonial work, where they must be capable of working in harmony as a
whole in perfect symbiosis, whilst attaining enough self-assurance to
work solo.
iv. to recreate to the best of their knowledge
authentic Celtic ritual, minus the bloodshed, within the framework of
20th century law and ethics, in a working form relevant for today.
v. to re-connect individuals to the
Earth, our Mother, and establish respect for, and harmony
with, the natural world.
vi. I.O.D. also believe that "As Druidry is a growing
movement and does not wish, and never will
or has stagnated, the channelling of
new Druidic information is of paramount
importance."
vii. I.O.D. has male and female
members. Membership and individual tuition is not
restricted to age, but is aimed to instruct as the seeker is
ready. Children as young as eight have attended I.O.D. festival
celebrations and enjoyed the events as rmch as their parents.
So what can you expect from I.O.D.?
You can expect to participate, to learn, and to grow spiritually. At
their meetings, individuals recite poems or short stories they
have written on theological, Celtic, magical or natural subjects
in eisteddfod. You will hear genuine Celtic stories told in the
Bardic way. You will hear new channelled material.
The evenings end up with debate and theological discussion based on
ideas aroused at each meeting. But most of all, you will have fun
and feel you belong.
In a hazel-nutshell: I.O.D. is a shamanic working group of Druids and
Bards, who wish to share and promote the skills of individual members
whilst holding their maxim, "If it be to the greater benefit of all -
do what you will."
I.O.D. wish to work in harmony and conjunction with other Druidic
groups in Britain and around the world to promote Druidry as a
recognised faith, and establish an annual Eisteddfod on English
soil; to fight and quell religious suppression and
intolerance wherever it occurs; to crusade to free Stonehenge and other
limited access Druidic temples so that all who wish may once more
worship where they please.
Dylan Ap Thuin 1994
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