It’s been a long time since I first found myself at Druid Camp, while I haven’t made it to every camp since then it has become an important part of my calendar. This year it felt like more than a fun event, it felt like a homecoming, like finding paganism and witchcraft did all those years ago.
Which is ironic since we were on new land and the theme was “Re-birth”!
Since the very wet Pembrokeshire-based camp in 2023 where we connected with Ceridwen and Taliesin (yay!) and I taught a pair of workshops working with them, the voice, inspiration, Awen… the old team led by powerhouse Mark Graham passed the baton to the wonderfully tenacious Esther (“Esther from Leicester” as she introduces herself) and a crew of talented, dedicated people. But Druid Camp had also moved away from the old Rainbow Spirit site in Gloucester and the Pembrokeshire site didn’t quite fit, so we needed a new home.
And Bear and Minx opened the doors of Dragonwood.
Over the past 18 months members of the camp community rallied and worked with the land, and this August Druid Camp settled into land that welcomed us like old friends.
Glorious sunshine, curious spirits, and whispering willows embraced us as Druid Camp was reborn.
I’m still integrating the gentle but powerful shifts I felt while there, and perhaps there won’t ever be words to tell you of the gifts I have received, and saw others touched by too, but I can tell you some things:
The team did an amazing job.
The land is used to magical folk and wants to speak with us.
And for the first time in 10 years I really felt like a part of this community, not hanging out on the edge but right in the heart of it.
This is not a criticism of previous camps, but a reflection of my journey!
I wrote about my second year here – “A Faery at Druid Camp” – and my wariness of “druids” in general in “The Trouble with Druids“. 2023 marked a definite shift for me and I shared my experience of “Being Bardic at Druid Camp” where I was feeling more at home, more recognised, and more like I belonged, but this year I was no longer asking the question “does this make me a druid?” but stating something that has become true:
“I am a druid.”
Now, I joined OBOD a few years ago and have worked my way through the grades of Bard and Ovate. As of writing this I’m halfway through the Druid Grade material, so I can claim the title on that technicality, but now, after the “Initiation into the Spirit of Camp” ritual held by the new lead ritualist of camp Jay “Beekeeper” Anderson, now I feel it. And yes…
I had studied storytelling and performance as enchantment as a Bard – and still do.
I had practiced the magic of the deep green land as an Ovate – and still do!
And I regularly lead rituals and teach (and spent 20+ years studying philosophy academically, a traditional druid past-time!)
But becoming a Druid, for me, isn’t just about knowing stuff. It’s about finding a home in a community where you can share those skills and where the land recognises you as well as the people.
I’m always fascinated by what people mean when they say that they’re a druid, a witch, a magician, a pagan, and so on. Sometimes the journey is quick – you find a term and it just fits. And sometimes the journey is long, and starts with a bad impression but you find yourself returning again and again.
I’d love to hear from you, please do comment below – what is your favourite word to describe yourself and the path you’re on, and how did you come to it?
Speaking of community…
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PS: Cryptozoologist lyrics here – for those that want them! New verses will be added soon!
Halo Quin 