Finding Other Druids

I spent 5 years administering a Druid forum on the internet, and the most common question I had was about how to find local Druids. It can be hard, but there are ways to search out private and public individuals and groups.

Minority religions or paths: Pagans and Isolation

Starting Out

Disclaimer

There is no implied endorsement for any of the Druid or related groups listed in this post or this website. As always, you should safely explore and carefully evaluate any group.

So let's look at some ways to do this.

Help Yourself

Spend time figuring out what you are looking for; Druids span a wide range of traditions and beliefs, and it will help if you know what direction you want to go in.

Before contacting a person or group do basic research on their general beliefs and any group structure. Also consider what you have to offer, and what your travel or other logistical requirements are.

Safely Explore

Meet with group members in public places for a few times before attending private functions. (Actually many groups will require this on their end.)

Practice safe socializing- go to events with a buddy, use your own transportation, don’t give out personal information, and tell friends where you are going.

It is also best to be centered, grounded, and shielded before meeting others.

Evaluate

Compare what you have learned about a group against your beliefs and needs. Take the time you need, and don’t be afraid to get more info from the group or others in your community.

Use your instincts and common sense; they will help you keep from becoming a victim of manipulative or exploitive people or groups. Know the signs of trouble – a great tool is The Advanced Bonewits’ Cult Danger Evaluation Frame.

Maps

Druid Groups Map

This is a interactive map of public North American Druid Groves and study groups. Compiled using original sources (like order lists), it has current contact information and is updated several times a year. The map includes over 289 groups across 5 countries- so far.

Even if you find no nearby group on the map, consider contacting regional groups as they may know of individual Druids in your area that also want a local community.

RDNA August 2014 Guide to Reformed Druids Groves

This MS Word document file lists Reformed Druids of North America (& related American) groups, including several large scale, static maps. The Guide is updated every year or so, but may include some inactive groups or contacts. The maps include RDNA groups (but may not be complete for other orders).

Realize that experiences with one person or group is not the same as knowing about an entire order or organization. Larger orders may be able to help you find other local individuals, groves, or study groups to better fit your needs.

Networks / Social Media

Facebook. Many groups have their ‘public’ information on Facebook pages instead of webpages now, so it’s worth searching Facebook for groups in your area.

Yahoo Groups. Some groups listed will be very active, and others basically defunct.

Meetup Groups. Many of these groups may also be defunct, but they will show up for the radius around a location that you choose.

Canadian Druid Network (Facebook)

The Druid Network. Their Groups and Groves list has limited groups listed in North America.

Local metaphysical store. Check with and support your local metaphysical stores, if you have them nearby. They will usually know about Druid or other groups in the area, and people to contact. These stores are a great resource, and deserve our patronage.

Resources for Solitaries

ADF Solitaries Group on Facebook. They also have an article on Adopting the Core Order of Ritual for Solitary Use at their website.

Book- The Awen Alone: Walking the Path of the Solitary Druid by Joanna van der Hoeven. (See here for a review of the book at the OBOD website.)

OBOD can help you find other members in your area. (Check with other orders to see if they can also do this.)

Group Lists by Druid Organizations

Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA): AODA provides a Grove, Study Group, and Home Circle list (new May 2016)

Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF): ADF provides a Grove and Protogrove list

Druid Clan of Dana, Society of the Fellowship of Isis: they provide a Grove list

Fellowship of Druidism for the Latter Age (FoDLA): the FoDLA websites have been down since about May 2017, and queries have been unanswered; this order may be defunct.

Henge of Keltria: Henge of Keltria provides a Groves & Study Groups list

Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD): OBOD provides Grove and Seed Group lists for those groups that opt to be public. They may also be able to put OBOD members in touch with other members in their area.

Order of the White Oak: General information on the order- reported as mostly an internet-only organization, no public list of groves

Reformed Druids of Gaia: RDG provides a Grove list

Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA): RDNA has limited (or no) structure, but they provide a Grove list. (However, many of the links in this list are inactive.)

Not all of the groups listed in these sources will be active, but could still let you know about others with similar interests in your area. (Groves have grown from the seeds planted at coffee shop meetings – suggest a study group.)

May these resources help Druids find the local community they seek.

Publication Info

Published: April 3, 2014

Revisions:

April 28, 2015- added safety, investigation, and evaluation sections. Misc. other changes.

May 21, 2015- added resources for solitaries.