The Druid's Path
Forming a Keltrian Study Group
Laying the Foundation of the Group
By Baisteadh
The formation
of a Keltrian Study Group is the first step for many on the path to
forming a Keltrian Grove. While a Study Group is not a Grove by definition,
it does have many of the same responsibilities as it grows toward
a Grove. For this reason, the same amount of effort that goes into
forming a Grove should be considered when forming a Study Group. This
article will highlight the process that was involved in founding Harvest
Moon Study Group so that others may evaluate the process as they contemplate
forming a Study Group or actually use the ideas in the formation when
the time comes. Please note the Henge of Keltria Bylaws highlight
the official requirements for Study Groups and Groves. Please refer
to the Bylaws as needed during the process. This article contains
suggestions that may or may not be required, but are suggested. Most
of these ideas have been adapted from the Henge of Keltria Grove Leader
Handbook.
Deciding to
start a Study Group
The first step
in forming a Study Group is the decision to actually start one. When
making this decision it may be helpful to form a Study Group Statement
of Purpose. This will help you to define your goals, resources and
basis. This is also a good time to decide on a name that reflects
this purpose. Keep in mind that when you apply for Grove status you
may change the name (and/or Purpose) if you and the other members
decide to do so. This is really a way to define what direction the
Study Group is intended to flow towards. This is an important step
as there are many reasons for forming a Study Group. There are also
many types of people who may be interested in joining the Study Group.
To avoid problems and hurt feelings it helps for both the Study Group
and potential members to see if the goals match between the Group
and the individual. If there are areas where the goals of the individual
do not match, these may need to be addressed to ensure the success
of both. Honesty is always a wise policy. This is not to say that
goals will not change over time, they may, but rather to provide a
clear understanding of what the Study Group was formed to do. If the
goal changes, than that can be addressed in a future revision. However,
it is advisable that only enough detail to state in general the goal
be made in the Purpose. More detail can be added to the Study Group
Policies, which will be discussed later.
The process for
Harvest Moon Study Group was a long one. I have contemplated the formation
of a Study Group for over four years. When the time came to seriously
pursue this endeavor, I had already formed an idea of what goals I
had in mind. It was important to me that the activities of the Study
Group are such that my children could be involved in the roup. It
was also necessary that the Group provide regular celebration of the
rituals and Feasts of Keltrian Druidism. In my work with my children
I have focused on the formation of spiritual development, the study
of Keltrian Druidism and the three paths of Seer, Bard and Druid.
This type of training would apply to a Study Group as well and could
easily be refocused in an adult gathering with only minor changes.
The furthering of my own studies is an important consideration as
well. My own path is that of a Bard. While I assume the role of a
Druid to lead ritual and training, I also focus on the recording of
my work so that others may benefit from my experiences. This is the
Bardic focus of my path. It is also apparent from Celtic history that
the Bards played a primary role in the training of the people. They
were the recorders of lineage, tellers of myths and the primary interface
with the people in regard to these activities. This is not to say
that all Group leaders need to focus on the Bardic path, but rather
that it does fit in with the goals of Harvest Moon Study Group.
Finding a Name for Your Study Group
When thinking of a name for my Study Group, I kept these goals in
mind. To me the Harvest Moon represents a quiet spirituality. It is
a sense of awe and gratitude for the processes that lead to the Harvest
and the quiet presence of the divine in the Harvest. It is the feeling
inside when I glance at the Harvest Moon that inspires me to continue
on my path. It is the time of the year when we focus on our inner
work and studies. Since this is the primary goal of my Study Group
the name was a natural fit.
Composing a Study Group Purpose
Once I had formed the name and the goals my next process was to write
out a formal Study Group Purpose. It is given here for illustrative
purposes:
Harvest Moon’s Purpose
Our Study Group was formed to provide a home for the celebration
of our rites, rituals and the Feasts of the Keltrian year. We
are dedicated to the Pantheon of the Tuatha de Dannan, the pursuit
of the individual’s right to his/her own unique spiritual
development and the pursuit of knowledge.
We intend to fulfill these goals by the regular practice of
Keltrian ritual, the regular gathering for instruction and regular
interaction with the Tuatha de Dannan both in and outside of
ritual. We are dedicated to providing a place for others to
join us in these pursuits so long as that joining serves the
needs of the Study Group and the individual.
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Making and Using a Study Group Symbol
The next step in this process was to form a Study Group symbol. This
was intended to direct the focus of my family Study Group from a family
group to accepting others to join us. I decided on a symbol of a full
moon with a sickle in front of it. We began by drawing this on a large
sheet of paper and decorating it. It was then hung on the wall behind
the altar as a central focus during our gatherings and in our daily
lives as we passed by it. You do not need a symbol to start a Study
Group, but it may help to provide a quick, visible reminder of your
goals. You may wish to create a Study Group poster or a fabric banner
to display. Or you may wish to incorporate your Group symbol onto
Group stationary, paperwork or even your altar cloth or other ritual
tools. You may even wish to paint it on candles that can be given
to those who choose to become Group members to give them a take home
reminder.
Defining the Study Group Policies
The next step is to draft Group Policies. The reasoning for this
is that you need a basis to communicate in more detail the functions
of the Group, the responsibilities of the members and the expectations
from the members in regard to behavior, attendance and expectations.
If you are forming your Group by yourself, you should write these
up before you recruit or accept other members. If you are starting
a Group with others, it is best to consult them in the drafting of
these policies and try to reach consensus.
Remember that for the Group to be associated with Keltria, you must
agree to follow the Bylaws of the Henge of Keltria. Obtain a copy
if you have not already done so. Read the Bylaws and be sure to address
any areas of disagreement to see the extent to which you disagree.
This may mean you may not be a fit into a Keltrian Study Group if
you disagree. You may need to consider affiliation with another group,
a waiting period before taking on this task to see if your affiliation
fits in the future or a discussion with a mentor to see if the differences
are minor enough to work around.
If you skip this part of the process or put it off, you risk some
potential problems. These include losing members due to unrealistic
and/or unmet expectations. You may also encounter problems that arise
between members due to not having clear policies on expected behavior
among members and/or leaders. This may lead to antagonism, arguments
and other discouraging behavior that most everyone wishes to avoid
from the start. To help avoid these issues be sure to address such
things as:
· Who will be the leader of the group
· Who is responsible for training
· What the focus of the group and training will be
· What part other group members will play in the formation
of policies
· Who is responsible for ritual leadership
· What level/s of participation are expected (attendance, roles
in ritual, etc.)
· Policies on who is permitted to join and what they are permitted
to join in
· What moral and/or behavioral expectations exist
· Initiation and Elevation issues (what the Group provides
vs. what are the individual’s own responsibilities)
· How the offices and roles are decided
· How policies are to be amended and/or changed or updated
· Requirement of membership in the Henge of Keltria, at what
point this is required
· Who is responsible for the cost of materials, what fees are
to be collected, for what purpose, how this is done and who keeps
track of Group monies
Taking the time to draft the Policies and review them for accuracy
helps to prevent errors and misconceptions. This is a stage at which
you may wish to seek assistance from the Henge Office and/or to refer
to the sample Policies in the Grove Leader’s Handbook. While
this process is more important with the formation of a Grove, the
policies of the Study Group may one day evolve into the policies of
a Grove. It is good practice to work out as many of the inconsistencies
and gray areas as possible in the beginning.
Finding other Study Group Members
There are many ways to find other members if you have decided to
pursue the possibility. You may have begun with just yourself, a few
friends or family members or just be ready to increase the size of
the Group. Before going into the specifics of finding new members,
we will pause to reflect on the issues involved with Groups and new
members.
Generally Neopagan Groups are different from the religious paths that
practice rituals in a church, synaown homes or yards. This means that
you need to be somewhat selective in whom you allow to join your group.
Not only for the obvious reasons of physical safety, but the possibility
of psychic or psychological harm to yourself or other members of the
Group. There are also legal risks involved. Be very cautious, but
there is no need to be overly cautious. With a few general precautions
in place and some planning you should be able to avoid problems.
Screening Potential Members
The first precaution is screening. While some may disagree with the
screening process, it is in place for the reasons of safety mentioned
above. It is not designed to invade privacy or put those who comply
in risk of public exposure. Certainly you need to respect the privacy
and safety of the other members as well. There is no requirement to
screen potential members it is merely a suggested practice. It provides
a benefit to the potential member as well. During the screening process
it will become apparent if the potential member has goals similar
to those of the group. If the goals of the individual are in sharp
disagreement with the group, the fit will eventually fail for both
unless someone changes goals. This is not the easiest thing to do
and should not be expected from either party. It may be best for all
involved to discuss this and make it clear that change is not to be
expected. Both parties must agree to disagree or part ways. If you
must turn folks away it is wise to be clear about your reasons (so
long as doing so does not place you or him/her at risk). You do not
need to provide a lengthy reason. You may simply state, for example,
that “your goals do not match the goals of the Group.”
When screening potential members you may wish to meet at a neutral
place such as a Public Park or restaurant. Group applications can
be forwarded through the Henge Office if you wish. Or you may only
give out a phone number and first name. Be aware that Internet technology
could allow others to gain access to more information by the use of
using your phone number to search for more information. Use your best
judgement. You may wish to keep a PO box or unlisted phone number
(or voicemail box) for Group contact and business purposes.
Using Wise Judgement
As Neopagans, we are aware of the inner voices that guide us. Listen
to your instinct. If something doesn’t seem right do not force
it to be so. Most people you meet are honest and trustworthy. It is
the rare person who is not so. Remember that as a leader of a Group
you have a responsibility to balance the need for friendship with
the duties of leadership. Keeping a responsible distance from members
may be called for both for you and the safety of the member. The bond
between student and teacher is to be based on mutual respect, honor
and accountability. Treat it as you would any professional relationship
and you will be rewarded with success. If you are unsure of how to
do this, seek the guidance of a mentor, review the Henge of Keltria
Bylaws for guidance or seek out other guidance from a respected leader
either by personal conversation or reading a book on the topic. Do
not be afraid to bring up issues to your champion as they arise. Experience
has saved many a person from traveling a difficult road traveled by
another.
Group members are not meant to be substitutes for professional counseling,
family members or significant others. While these situations may arise,
you are advised to use extreme caution before engaging in them. These
paths are fraught with many potential dangers.
If you or a member of the Group is in need of assistance in solving
a personal problem or hardship it is best for all involved to seek
help outside of the Group. Even if a member of the group is a professional
counselor it will blur the boundaries of the members to risk a counselor/client
relationship in a Group. It has the potential to create confusion
and frustration, which may in the more severe cases lead to harm to
self or others. Groups are not designed to handle the services of
professional counselors. Leaders are not trained to be such counselors
and it is in everyone’s best interest to recognize when a relationship
has crossed a boundary that has the potential for damage. If things
should lead in this direction, kindly suggest that the individual
seek outside help and keep clear boundaries. Make no claims to give
more than you are capable of and do not seek such help from others.
Asking a Group member to help you harms your status as a leader and
puts you at risk of public criticism. Solve your problems on your
own time, not Group time. Engaging in counseling puts you at risk
for legal ramifications, harm to yourself and/or harm to others should
something go wrong. It is not your job to give advice in this role
for personal issues. Listen like a friend and leave the individual
to seek advice from a trusted friend or professional.
Groups that share a spiritual bond form relationships that are similar
to those of members of a family. However, they are not family and
there should be a clear boundary in place that helps everyone to see
at which point the relationship has grown to be unhealthy. Seclusion
from family or other parts of general society is unhealthy. It leads
to problems too. The goal of a Study Group should be to provide a
place to worship, folks to worship with and training. It is not a
replacement for family, counseling or to find/replace significant
others. Keep focused on the goals you have formed in your Group’s
Purpose statement and Policies.
Forming a sexual relationship with another member of a Group also
presents similar risks. Remember that while there is no rule against
any of these practices (except those outlined in the Henge of Keltria
Bylaws), they all lead to potential problems. As humans, we implicitly
trust our leaders. This trust may cause us to behave in ways that
we feel are not right. This influence may lead us to disregard our
inner guidance and behave in ways that hurt others or ourselves. It
is because boundaries that normally exist to protect us may be blurred
by the trust of a teacher/student or leader/follower relationship
that extreme caution is advised in all three of these situations.
Sexuality is an inherently personal possession. Not only are there
health risks and physiological risks involved but legal risks may
be present also (in the case of marriages, or underage individuals,
etc.). Do not put yourself or another at risk for harm for the sole
purpose of pleasure. Think carefully before you act and be aware of
all the risks involved with your actions. Ethical leadership will
be discussed in more detail in another article. This serves as a general
guidance.
Where to find Members
A common Neopagan saying is “when the student is ready, the
teacher will appear.” Certainly this works in many cases. However,
you may want to make the process easier with a bit of “advertising.”
Be cautioned once again to use your best judgement in matters such
as posting personal information (addresses, phone numbers, etc.).
There are several media available to members of Keltria to get the
news out about your Group. These include the Henge of Keltria website,
Henge Happenings and the Henge Office. If you have Internet access,
the website is a natural choice. It allows you the flexibility to
screen potential members via e-mail in the beginning of the contact
phase. It also reaches many folks, both members and potential members.
Henge Happenings is another resource. There is space in each issue
for news about Study Groups forming or already formed. Use this opportunity
to share with others the activities of your Group.
In addition to the Henge resources, many communities have additional
resources as well. Bulletin boards at health food stores, new age
bookstores and community bulletin boards provide advertising as well.
Keep in mind that you will have less initial opportunity to screen
in these resources. You may also wish to participate in local pagan
gatherings and events. Or you may wish to hold classes or seminars
at local new age bookstores. Folks whose interest is peaked will be
inclined to contact you about future offerings.
Leading Rituals
The best resource for leading rituals is the Henge of Keltria Book
of Ritual. You do not need any special training to perform Keltrian
rituals. Simply obtain a copy of the Book of Ritual, read it and begin
to do the rituals. In the beginning it may feel awkward. You may have
to read from the Book of Ritual but eventually you will become confident
and familiar with Keltrian ritual. Be sure to ask questions if they
should arise about ritual. You may inquire with the Henge Office,
another member of Keltria or the Keltria E-mail List.
Consider who will lead ritual and how other members of the Group
will participate in ritual. At first you may wish to lead by yourself
if you are more trained than the other members are until such time
as another member becomes trained enough to assist. You may wish to
choose another member who holds enough initial experience from the
start to assist also. Be cautious in whom you choose and how much
authority is given to a ritual leader. Generally there is no difference
between leading ritual and leading a Group. There may be a point when
other members become adept enough at leading ritual that you wish
to choose a replacement for yourself so that you may be freed to focus
on training. To avoid problems it is always wise to clearly spell
out in the beginning who is responsible for what and to what extent
they are responsible.
Training
What type of training will happen in a Study Group depends on who
is leading the Group and the goals of the Group. A Group formed to
practice Keltrian ritual and decide if this path fits would focus
on that type of training. They would read and discuss Keltrian publications,
the recommended reading list and Keltrian ritual. This would be somewhat
informal and the folks would be somewhat equal until such a time as
the Group decides to move towards Grove formation. They may then seek
a Keltrian mentor or champion to answer questions and offer guidance,
or may wish to wait until Grove formation to so such.
A group who posses a member with previous training in Keltrian Druidism
would have a different focus. In this type of a Group classes could
be held on Keltrian Druidism in particular with the intent of Grove
formation.
Conclusion
This is the first in a series of articles that will follow the formation
of Harvest Moon. It will cover the general issues involved in forming
a group and some concerns, thoughts and ideas to help others in the
process. Watch for more detailed information later.
