Workshop Repertoire - 2004 - Note for Festival Organizers
Rev. Skip Ellison
Archdruid - Ár nDraíoct Féin (ADF)
Professor of Divination - The Grey School of Wizardry
CELTIC:
Ancestors of the Celts.
This workshop looks at pre-Celtic Europe. Who were the P.I.E's (Proto-Indo-Europeans) and where did they come from? Learn all this and more!
The Ogham.
This workshop
explores the origins and uses of the Ogham, a Celtic alphabet system. It includes
an extensive review of the Tree Ogham along with a listing and short discussion
of each the other 122 types of Ogham.
Who were the Celts?
This workshop traces the history of the Celts from the first known reference, about1200 B.C.E., to about 500 C.E. It describes who the Celts were, and still are, and includes sections on where our knowledge comes from, their society, their religion and their daily life.
DRUIDISM:
ADF’s Study Plan – Where do we stand?
The first stage of the ADF Study Plan is now nearing completion. We have Guilds working students through the program and we’ve been receiving feedback from those students. This workshop looks at exactly where we are today and talks about some plans for where we want the SP to go in the future.
Daily worship rites.
This is an experiential workshop. I will be leading you through short rituals that can be done on a daily basis to strengthen your ties with the Kindreds. I will also be talking about ways that you can enhance your spiritual practices in your journey along the Druidic Path.
Druidism - Ancient and Modern.
This workshop starts with the history of the Druids in early Celtic periods, discusses the equivalent functionaries in other contemporary Indo-European cultures, and finishes with a look at the Druids of today.
Getting in Touch with Your Land.
Explore the ways of finding out who the Gods, Goddesses and Land Sprits of your area are. The ancient Celts and Norse adopted the deities of the areas they moved into as their own. Should we do any less today? Work is being done is several ADF Groves to get in touch with the local Spirits of Place. A discussion will be held on the methods being used and how effective they have been.
How can we integrate ADF into our family life?
What do we tell our children and our family about our religion? How do you counter the charge of being a ‘Devil worshipper?” Just how open is the attitude about alternative religions in the US today? Find out this and more as ADF continues forward toward the goal of becoming a mainstream religion.
The Role of the Magician in ADF.
This workshop explores how the Magician's Guild fits into the overall organization and what we expect from our individual magicians. Includes the role of the magician in ancient societies and the 3CKS (3rd Circle Knowledge Set) - what we want our 3rd Circle magicians to know.
What does it mean to be ADF Clergy?
An in-depth look at the Third Circle Knowledge set and the First Circle for the ADF Clergy program. What work will need to be done to become a consecrated ADF Priest? What work needs to be completed to become ADF Dedicant Clergy? We’ll explore these and other questions about the ADF Clergy program in this workshop.
What is Ár nDraíoct Féin: A Druid Fellowship?
This workshop explores the organization and history of ADF, one of America's largest Neo-Pagan Druidic organizations. ADF's new Study Program and Guild structure will be discussed in detail.
OTHER WORKSHOPS:
Dragons and Fairies and Giants, Oh My!
What is the basis behind the legends? Were there ever real dragons, fairies, or giants? If not, why are their legends so prominent worldwide? In two of the early Anglo-Saxon chronicles for the year 793, clerics reported seeing fiery dragons in the sky in Northumbria, England. What were they? Explore these subjects from reality to the world of fantasy! The truth is out there!
Magical
Uses of Divination
When most people think of divination, they think of its use to foretell the future. That is only one of the uses. It can also be used for magic! When you are constructing a spell, you can use divination to find out the best method of making the spell. After the spell has been sent out, you can find out if it has worked. Explore these and other uses of divination in magic. This workshop will also include background on many different types of divination that can be used for magical purposes.
Ogham
Tree Magic.
Although the Ogham
was primarily a system of alphabet for the Irish, it has magical uses as well.
This workshop will explore some of the documented magical uses and explore other
ways to include the Ogham in your magical practice.
Re-connecting with the Earth Mother.
This workshop will discuss some of the deities in various myth systems that have been considered 'Earth Mothers'. It also talks about what you can do as individuals today to help the Earth. We conclude with a guided meditation to re-connect you to the Earth. Please come prepared to lay on the ground for the meditation.
The
Significance of Food and Drink to the Indo-Europeans.
Feasting
and drinking was very important to the IE people. This workshop explores some
of the customs associated with IE feasts and holidays. It includes customs for
both small and large gatherings.
The Way of the Trees – A magical training system.
This is an introduction to the magical training system that I’ve developed. It’s a nature based training system that uses the trees of the forest to teach us how to become competent magicians. The system divides the trees into four groups, shrubs, herbs, peasants and chieftains, based on a classification system used in ancient Ireland. The program itself though is Pan-Indo-European in scope.
Copyright 2004 by Skip Ellison - Last updated 4/21/04