During the Charging of the Stole at Rev. Oleg’s ordination, I reflected to those gathered about the role of ADF priests, and the way that role relates to the Gods, the Folk, and the Land. In light of those outward, ceremonial reflection, I have also spent some time processing my own experience through this lens.
Continue reading “The Gift of Obligation”ADF Leadership
Contains topics relating to ADF Leadership, Preceptor Updates, and ADF Elections
Reflections on My Installation as Archdruid
There are rites of passage that happen throughout our lives, and sometimes they pass without much fanfare, but other times they are spiritually significant and marked as such through ritual and community engagement.
At Wellspring this year I was installed at the 7th Archdruid of ADF at the main rite. I planned most of the rite and scripted portions of it, but there was also a very real sense of “this is something that I need to let happen to me, and not control the experience.” That’s hard to do for a very liturgical and spiritwork focused Priest. 😉 I’m used to making these experiences meaningful for others, but in this case I trusted others to make it meaningful, not just for me, but for ADF as a whole.
Continue reading “Reflections on My Installation as Archdruid”ADF Elects a New Archdruid: Rev. Jan Avende To Focus On Empowerment and Connection
Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF), has elected a new Archdruid by popular vote: Rev. Jan Avende (they/them). Also elected to serve on ADF’s governing body, the ADF Mother Grove, are Rovena Windsor (Chief of the Council of Senior Druids), Matthias Dolgner-Trampnau (Non-Officer Director), Tami Olsen (re-elected Non-Officer Director) and Mike Bierschenk (ADF Secretary, elected to a full term).
Continue reading “ADF Elects a New Archdruid: Rev. Jan Avende To Focus On Empowerment and Connection”Annual Clergy Report for 2024
This report is designed to illustrate how each individual priest has chosen to fulfill their oath to love the land, honor the deities, serve the folk, and continue in their studies as best suits their individual vocations.
Time covered: January 1 2024 – December 31, 2024
Continue reading “Annual Clergy Report for 2024”The Importance of Team Building
At the beginning of December I spent the weekend in Toledo, OH for the Annual Mother Grove Retreat. Once a year we come together for some intensive work that is better suited to in-person meetings, like vision brainstorming, issues with complex moving pieces, and (perhaps most important) team-building. One of our NODs, Jeffrey Keefer, reminded us that “Team building is so vital an activity that is often overlooked. Without it, team functioning can be impacted, ultimately leading to missed opportunities.”
Continue reading “The Importance of Team Building”Annual Clergy Report for 2023
I’ve gotten away from posting these on a monthly basis, but we’re still required by ADF to compile our report for the year, and I shockingly find it fulfilling.
I tend to suffer from imposter syndrome, and one of the best ways I’ve found for me to fight that is to list out all the things I’ve done and reflect on them. So, this report, in the way that I fill it out, helps me combat the feeling that I don’t know what I’m doing. So, without further ado, here’s how I fulfilled my oath last year:
Continue reading “Annual Clergy Report for 2023”The Value in Recognizing the Work of Others
The beginning of the year is a time in ADF when a lot of the administrative tasks happen. While we have quarterly reports that are filed on a more frequent basis, by February we’re also ramping up to the compiling of the ADF Annual Report, Priests are filing their annual reports, and organizational elections are in full swing.
One of the really cool things I’ve been able to do this year as Vice Arch Druid is read a whole bunch of the reports that people have sent in. Everything from SIG, Guild, and Kin reports, to Grove and Regional Druid reports, to Priest reports. Now, I know what you might be thinking: “Reading administrative paperwork? Ew!” But honestly it has been really fulfilling and has helped me feel more deeply connected to the membership as a whole, as well as to my peers in leadership.
Continue reading “The Value in Recognizing the Work of Others”2022 In Review – Clergy Council Priestwork Report
Clergy Council Member Annual Report Form
Priest Name: Rev. Jan Avende
Time covered: January 1 2022 – January 1 2023
This report is designed to illustrate how each individual priest has chosen to fulfill their oath to love the land, honor the deities, serve the folk, and continue in their studies as best suits their individual vocations.
Continue reading “2022 In Review – Clergy Council Priestwork Report”VAD Quarterly Report (Aug 2022)
If you are not the officer who reported last quarter, give details of when and why the change occurred: ADF elections occurred for the VAD position this year, and I took office on May 1.
Activities performed in the previous quarter:
Continue reading “VAD Quarterly Report (Aug 2022)”Elected as ADF’s Vice Arch Druid
The election for ADF just ended, and I’ve been elected to serve as Vice Arch Druid for the upcoming term. I’m excited and humbled that folks have trusted me to do this job, and looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish over the next two years.
Continue reading “Elected as ADF’s Vice Arch Druid”
Mist to Open. Mists to Bind. 