Reformed Druids of Gaia: Terms of Reformed Druidry

A Reformed Druid Glossary

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Arch-Druid (A-D or AD)	A 3rd Degree Druid who also leads a Grove. Spokesperson / High Priest/ess for any Grove. The A-D serves for a year and a day, and may serve more than one term. The Arch-Druid of the Mother Grove of RDG serves as spokesperson for the entire RDG. The current AD of the MG is Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear. All the Arch Druids within the Reform constitute the "Global Council of Arch-Druids."
Apostolic Succession	Arcane term borrowed from Churchianity by the early RDNA to describe the spiritual lineage of one ordained by another who can trace their ordination back in an unbroken line to Fisher of Carleton Grove. The RDG simply calls this "lineage."
Bard	A Druid gifted in the magick of music, song, dance, poetry, story-telling - or all of the above.
BGR	"Before the Gaian Reform." A term referring to a calendar date prior to Samhain 2006 (See also "YGR").
Canopy	1) Umbrella-like covering by the tops of redwood trees; 2) Umbrella organization that accepts individuals and groups under its guidance and protection (sometimes legal, but not always).
Consensus	A Grove governs itself by consensus - 1 person, 1 vote, all decisions are unanimous. Two thirds of the members (a quorum) must be present to transact business.
Clergy	A Druid of the 3rd Degree or above, empowered to perform Clerical duties such as handfastngs, funerals, dedications, etc. (See also "Priest" / "Priestess").
Council of Dalon ap Landu	Within the RDNA there once existed a body of elders, consisting of 3rd Orders and Arch-Druids, that spoke for the RDNA. They were eventually disbanded, and today no one speaks with authority for the RDNA.
Degree(s)	A designation of upward mobility through a hierarchy. In the RDG, there are three degrees, exactly equivalent to the first three RDNA "Orders." (Although the process of achieving them may differ).
Discordian	1) Descriptive of groups or individuals aligned with or similar to those of the Discordian or Erisian movement. 2) An adherent or worshipper of the Goddess Discordia or Eris.
Druid(s)	Any member of the Reform movement, whether male or female (there are no "druidess's" as the term "Druid" is of null-gender).
Druish	Of or relating to Druids, Druidry or Druidism ("Funny, she doesn't look Druish").
Global Council of Arch-Druids	The "Senate" of the RDG; an advisory body consisting of the leaders of all the Groves in the Reform (see "Arch-Druid").
Grove	A working magickal group of Druids who meet on a regular basis for ritual and fellowship.
Lineage	A term that refers to the unbroken line of ordination back to the first RDG Arch-Druid, Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear.
MG	The headquarters, or Mother Grove, of the Reformed Druids of Gaia, which functions as its executive branch. Presently located in Humboldt County, CA.
Nemeton of Dalon ap Landu	The "House of Representatives" of the RDG; an advisory body consisting of all those who have attained the 3rd Degree but do not lead Groves.
Neo-Pagan	A practitioner of a revived or modern religion, such as Wicca, Druidism, Asartru, Witchcraft, or CAW. The term "neo-pagan" is attributed to Oberon Zell-Ravenheart.
New Reform	1) The New Reform began with the birth of the Reformed Druids of Gaia, when it was recognized that Reformed Druidism had grown beyond the borders of North America. 2) Period after Samhain 2006, beginning when the Reform Calendar was reset.
Old Reform	The Reformed Druid movement prior to the conception of the RDG (period before July 24th 2006).
Order (1)	The "degrees" of the Reformed Druids of North America.
Order (2)	A special interest group, or functionary collective, within the Reform.
Pagan	Although we tend to use "pagan" and "neo-pagan" interchangeably, a Pagan is really someone who has grown up in or practices a religion that is non-monotheistic and has been continuously passed down. The Hindu religion, with it's myriad Gods and Goddesses, would be an example of a "Pagan" religion.
Preceptor	In the old reform, the business manager of any Grove. In RDG, called the "Scribe." This person is elected from the Grove and is the main business representative, record keeper, correspondent, etc., for the Grove.
Priest / Priestess	A Druid of the 3rd Degree or above officiating at an RDG sanctioned ritual or who performs other sacerdotal duties.
Proto-Grove	A forming Grove. 1 First-Degree Druid and 2 warm bodies. After a year and a day, and with 3 First-Degree Druids and 1 Third-Degree, becomes a Grove.
Reform (The)	A term which refers to the entire Reformed Druid movement, (or also to the Reformed Druids of Gaia). This canopy includes RDG, RDNA, NRDNA, HDNA, OMS, ADF, Henge of Keltria and maybe a dozen or so other groups, plus countless individual Druids. Begun in 1963 as the RDNA at Carleton College in Minnesota.
RDG	Reformed Druids of Gaia. A legal entity / canopy group of the Reform, which offers its Clergy legal status and protection. Chartered Groves under the RDG canopy take part in the RDG's 501 3(c) status.
RDNA	Reformed Druids of North America. This group is the predecessor of RDG, and laid the groundwork for Reformed Druidism's spread across the planet.
Sacerdotal	The duties of clergy: Ordinations, handfastings, births, consecrations, funerals, etc.
Scribe	The business manager of any Grove. Formerly called the "Preceptor." This person is elected from the Grove and is the main business representative, record keeper, correspondent, etc., for the Grove.
Season of Sleep	Arcane idea, still practiced today among fundamentalist Reformed Druids, that the Earth Mother "sleeps" during the winter months of the year.
Seeker	One who is interested in spiritual matters, or one who is interested in Druidry. Seekers usually become students and join the Reformed Druidism 101 class, where they are introduced to the Reform.
Solitaire	A Druid not associated with a physical Grove or Nest - one who practices on their own. The majority of Reformed Druids currently fall into this group.
Tenets	"Nature is good," and "Nature is very good." The two ideas that all Reformed Druids recognize and adhere to. The absolute minimum one must believe in to be a Druid of the Reform.
Waters of Life	Principal Sacrament of Reformed Druidism. In the Old Reform, the Waters were always Whisky. In the New Reform the Waters are usually H2O, out of deference to those with alcoholic tendencies. To be valid, the waters must be consecrated by a Third Degree (or higher) Druid...
YGR	"Year of the Gaian Reform." A calendar date after Samhain 2006. (See also "BGR").
/\|\	Using the ascii, and created by a forward slash, a pipe, and a backward slash, this symbol represents the Awen or Imbas, which is the principle of enlightenment among Druids.