Attendees at rituals sponsored by The Druid Academy may be curious as to the sources for the various practices included in these rites. The following is a very brief summary of sources.
- The most evident source is the so-called "Order of Ritual" (or "Liturgical Outline") promulgated by ADF, the largest North American Pagan Druid organization. ADF has evolved this ritual form over a number of years and it is no surprise that it provides a major source of inspiration for Druid Academy rites, since the founder of the Academy project is a former Chief of ADF's Liturgists' Guild. At the same time, ADF ritual itself is largely a mixture of Asatru practice with aspects of the rituals of the Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA) and the concepts espoused by historian of religion Mircea Eliade (as well as theories of Proto-Indo-European religion promoted by various scholars). In particular, the idea of offering to and welcoming the Gods, Spirits, and Ancestors and the sharing of a Blessing Cup are major elements of ADF ritual practice.
- As noted above, the reconstructed Norse religion, Asatru, is a major source. The concepts of defending the sacred space, pouring libations, and (again) the sharing of a sacred drink are Asatruar practices.
- Vedism--the Paganism of ancient Indian--provides certain elements, especially the notion of a hearth (or householder) fire providing the central source for the working fires of the rite.
- Some material is drawn from Gaelic folk practices. Processing a fire around the boundary of the sacred space is an example of this. Likewise, the offering of certain foods--such as hazelnuts or apples--to the Dead falls into this category.
- The "Call for Peace" to the four directions is loosely adapted from British Druid practice.
- Certain elements common to other Pagan Druid rites are omitted: Chief among these is a "triple center". Most Indo-European rituals were directed either to the celestial realm or the underworld; it is even regarded as inappropriate in some cultures to do both. Consequently, in general, Druid Academy rituals focus on either an altar fire or on a body of water into which offerings can be made.
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