Aontacht - Volume 7 Issue 3

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DD: I understand the first year at the Druid CollegeUK is open to people of all walks and intents and thatit focuses on the core principals of Druidry as well as“reweaving our personal connection to Earth and toour ancestors and heritage.” Can you provide moredetails on what the curriculum will include?JvdH: The first year is really teaching the nuts andbolts of Druidry, what we do, how we do it and whywe do it. It is the establishing year where we gothrough the basics and elements of the Druid traditionas it is practiced today. We teach how to connect tothe earth, how to listen, and also how to connect withour ancestors of blood, of place and of tradition. Indoing so, we've got a good base platform from whichto jump off of into the further training offered in yearstwo and three.Many people feel adisconnection fromnature, from the land,from their families. It isour aim to reweave thatconnection throughinspiring relationship,through the sacredness ofa holistic point of viewrather than an abstracted,isolated and dualisticview that is so prevalentin today's society.DD: For year two and three students, the training atthe Druid College is reserved for only those whodesire to become Priests of Nature. Can you give ussome insight into the work during these two years andspecifically about students declaring their “Chair” andmanifesting it locally?JvdH: Continuing on to years two and three meandedicating yourself to a life of service in sacredrelationship. It's a big step for many to take, to becomeactive rather than passive. Year two will go throughin minute detail every aspect of ritual, of ceremony,of interaction between human and human, human andanimal, human and the ecosystem. Year three is aboutdeclaring your Chair and manifesting it locally. Whatthat means is you put your intention from years oneand two into reality, and state just how, why and whatpart of the community you intend to serve as a priestof nature. Year three I envision being less aboutclassroom work, and more akin to apprenticeship toRobin or I in what we do, how we do it. We hope toinspire others to be active in their community,through whatever means they are best suiteddependent upon their talent and abilities. It's not justleading ritual, but going deeper into the relationshipwith the land, with your local area.Druidry is a very locality-based path. The area inwhich we live is equally, if not more important thatsuch ancient sacred sites such as Avebury orNewgrange. We have to really listen to our localarea first, find out why the deer congregate in certainareas, which trees singfirst in the spring, why thewaters flow where theydo. We have to workwith our local area inorder to be inspired by it.We have to see whatneeds to be in the humanrealm as well, and if weare able to work cooperativelyin that regard.It won't happen just byreading about it, but onlythrough experiencing it.In the latter years ofDruid College we providethe opportunity to inspire students to deepen thatconnection and work with it, intentionally,harmoniously, providing a service to the land andthe community.DD: I understand you and your dance company,Gypsy Dream Belly Dance were at the Beltane Picnicin Essex last month and will be at the Corn LammasGathering on 21-23 August. Can you tell us aboutthe role of dancing in your life and if there isanywhere else folks might be able to see the troupeperforming later this year?JvdH: Dance is such an integral part of my life. Ilove to dance. I always have, and always will. Thefreedom of expression without words is exquisite,<strong>Aontacht</strong> • 30
especially when words can sometimes feel like theyrule your life like the sometimes feel in my work as aDruid author. Working with other artistic outlets andmediums allow me to express myself in different waysthat words sometimes just cannot reach. As a troupe,when we are dancing together there is such a beautifulthing happening between us dancers; it iscommunication without words. Most of ourperformance is done improvisationally, where wecommunicate with cues and body language and thenmove together as one, like a flock of starlings.This year I have purposefully taken on less gigs thanin previous years, as my schedule has become busierwith three books now out and Druid College beginningin October. We just did a performance with SprigganMist the day before the Beltane Picnic, which wasgreat fun. Summer is such abusy time for me, and theother dancers. I also have apart-time job with a musiccompany that puts on a threeweekfestival in June, andProms throughout the monthof August, so for those timesI am "on call" as well. Ialways look forward toautumn and winter!DD: I see on July 29th to August 2nd you will be atthe Druid Camp this year. Located close to Westburyon-Severn,near Gloucester, UK and just a ways northof Glastonbury, this is one of the world’s premierevents for Druids to attend, meet fellow travelers andhave some fun. What can you tell fellow Druids,especially our many solitary Druids, and those with alimited budget, about the value of going to Druidbased festivals and events?JvdH: I do hope to be at Druid Camp this year - itis my intention, if my schedule allows it. I'm hopingto be there for the Saturday at the very least. DruidCamp is an amazing place, run by lovely people andwhere you can meet some really interesting folk. It'sopen, honest, and without pretence. The closing ritualon the Sunday, where everyone can be involved if theywish, is always, without doubt, a most inspiring andmoving event. There will be wonderful talksthroughout the weekend in the various locations, aswell as a healing centre, a library, live music venue,great vegetarian food and more. You pay theentrance fee and that's it - all workshops, healing etcis done by volunteers. It's an inspiring place to be.DD: You have surely read many diverse books overyour life. Are there five though that you wouldspecifically recommend to our readers?JvdH: It's always hard to choose just five. At themoment, my favourites are Emma Restall Orr'sLiving Druidry, Thich Nhat Hanh's The World WeHave: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology,Gordon McLellan and Susan Cross' The WantonGreen, Graeme K. Talboy's The Way of the Druidand Charlotte Joko Beck's Nothing Special: LivingZen.“Intentionally,harmoniously, providing aservice to the land and thecommunity.”DD: How can our readerskeep in touch with you andyour activities and find outmore about the DruidCollege UK?JvdH: I have a website andmy personal blog. I alsowrite for SageWomanmagazine in my own blog channel called DruidHeart. I have a public Facebook page called Joannavan der Hoeven/Autumn Song and can be found onTwitter. Druid College also has a website andFacebook/Twitter sites. You can find my dancewebsite here, and we also have a Facebook page andYouTube channel.DD: Any last comments or parting words you wantto impart upon our global audience of Druids andEarth-Based folks?JvdH: I would just like to thank everyone for theirsupport over the last few years. My first two books,Zen Druidry and Dancing with Nemetona werewell-received, and my latest book The Awen Alone:Walking the Path of the Solitary Druid has exceededall expectations. I am so grateful to everyone whohas supported me, written reviews, shared theirinsights and followed my writing on my blogs. To<strong>Aontacht</strong> • 31
Page 1 and 2: Volume 7, Issue 3Summer/Winter Sols
Page 3 and 4: AontachtSummer/Winter Solstice 2015
Page 5 and 6: Is Comanche, Cherokee, Norse, Irish
Page 7 and 8: is a Magickal Priestess whose pract
Page 9 and 10: Not every difficult situation has a
Page 11 and 12: - Thewas recognized by the Irish Go
Page 13 and 14: Construct your own toassist you in
Page 15 and 16: Mandalas and Accessing the InnerPla
Page 17 and 18: when we say to ourselves “I will
Page 19 and 20: The Realms of the :Ancient Irish Te
Page 21 and 22: translations of descriptions of the
Page 23 and 24: y Airabella Eris Altair- For the No
Page 25: swords that I need not write but sh
Page 28 and 29: we will see that where those two ed
Page 32 and 33: all those lovely, wonderful people
Page 34 and 35: The Inner Planes Traveler: Photage
Page 36 and 37: Before we go,into the green mist,be
Page 38 and 39: Photo by Harmonyeris Fox of Renard
Page 40 and 41: a vision that sends her to a secret
Page 42 and 43: Recipe for the InnerWorldsby Sarah
Page 44 and 45: A Miso Soup Recipe by J. E. Cassano
Page 46 and 47: In our logic instead, everything wh
Page 48 and 49: - one they later based The Sopranos
Page 50 and 51: VisionWhen I gave up Christianity a
Page 52 and 53: Antibacterial. The Essential Oil is
Page 54 and 55: Main Ingredient of Aspirin and have
Page 56 and 57: The Inner Realmsas Considered from
Page 58 and 59: will enter a deep meditation and le
Page 60 and 61: with the stellar wheel overhead. Th
Page 62 and 63: and the Moon’s cycle. The crescen
Page 64 and 65: The Wondrous Wanderingsof Three Ver
Page 66: Join and Expand theConversationOur

Aontacht - Volume 7 Issue 3

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