The
emphasis of the Clan, based on the elemental powers innate in every
sacred spot on earth, is to develop psychic gifts. The Clan is open
to all races, paths and lands.
Our
lineage hails from the Druid Clan of Dana that was co-Founded by
Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and Olivia Robertson. Although we are
no longer directly aligned with the Fellowship of Isis, we believe
it is important to honor our lineage and so provide information
on it.
THE DRUIDIC
TRADITION
Druids were the religious leaders of the Celtic cultures. The word
Druid means "knowing the oak tree" in Gaelic,
and rituals were often enacted in sacred groves of oak trees.
Druidism involved shamanistic practices, in which the Druid priests and priestesses acted as mediums through which the
spirits could be summoned and heard. They used methods such
as ecstatic dance and trance to enter this altered state of being. As well as acting
as seers, Druids served their communities through the Bhairdic
Tradition as poets, historians, astronomers, astrologers,
advisers to rulers, and judges in the event of dispute.
The
Celtic pantheon consisted of a creator god, a mother goddess,
and an array of nature gods, whose energies could be found
in all areas of the natural world. Central to the Celtic
cosmology was a belief in the spirit realm, known as the
"Sidhe" or Otherworld, which existed alongside
conventional reality. They also believed that people, as
well as divine beings, were able to move between the two
worlds. This is powerfully represented in ancient myths
and legends, including the adventures of heroes who travel
into the Otherworld, often through a door in the side of
an ancient burial mound. In the Christian era, this developed
into a belief in "Faery"
or Little People," who could lead mortals into
the magical spirit realm.
The
Durdin-Robertson family roots go back deeply into Irish Celtic tradition.
They belonged to the Clann Donnachaidh of Ireland which emigrated
to Scotland about 1,500 years ago. Later the name Donnachaidh --
Duncan -- was changed to Robertson, in honour of Robert the Bruce.
Their branch returned to Ireland when Lawrence and Olivia's grandfather,
Herbert Robertson, M.P. married Helen Durdin, the owner of Clonegal
Catle. Herbert Robertson could be called an Honorary Druid because
of his monumental work, "Stemmata Robertson," tracing the families
Gaelic ancestry. Their cousin, the author, Robert Graves, also undertook
Druid work by listing the Druid Tree Alphabet.
The
Grove of Eithne at Clonegal Castle practice Druid rituals in the
Old Abbey, a ruin filled with flowering shrubs and rambling roses.
Parts of it date from the 14th century. Within the Old Abbey, now
called Temple of Dana, is found a dolmen altar and two marble vessels
containing rain water. They began using this for rituals in 1963,
when Philip Ross Nichols, Chosen Chief of the English Order of Bards,
Ovates and Druids, would join them in Danaan ceremonies. His successor,
Philip Carr-Gomm, also worked with them during the late sixties
and seventies. However, as children, Lawrence and Olivia went to
a local hermit druid, Michael Fox, from whom they began their exploration
into the druidic ways.
THE
INSPIRED GROVE OF USNEACH BACKGROUND
In
July 1994 Kisma K. Stepanich-Reidling received her Druidic Ordination
in the Druid Clan of Dana, while visiting Clonegal Caslte, Enniscorthy,
Ireland.
Like
the Grove of Eithne in Clonegal, she began our pathway by honouring
all traditions of every race and religion as connected to Ireland:
we respect IrelandÕs many ways from the pre-Celtic Firbolgs and
Formorians, to the Duathe De Danann and Celtic Christians. Although
ordained as a Druid originally,
Kisma shared the manner through
which she received the honor of the above charter with the companions
of her Lyceum of Brigid's Faery Faith, and is presented below.
"An
interesting occurrence transpired last April (2001), "typical of
Faery," I should say, one that was very syncronystic and once again
another Faery validation on my work. I knew that we [the Faery-Faith
Network] were going to awaken the Sacred Trees at the Intensive
and as a Druid I knew that I would Head the Oak but wondered what
on earth I was going to do with it as I certainly was not qualified
to train and ordain other Druid's -- well not from what today
has become considered the traditional perspective anyway. [referring to OBOD here.]
"I
am big on Tradition as you already know and felt to train others
at my present title of Druidism would certainly be over-stepping
the boundaries. It didn't matter that I am an Arch-Ollamh of the
Faery-Faith and Founder of the Faery-Faith Network, as well as
the F.O.I. Lyceum & Priory of Brigid's Faery-Faith, I still
had not been given any stamp of approval from my Mentors and thought
it was unlikely to happen as Lord Strathloch had crossed over
in August of the same year I received mine.
"However, my dearest Mentor, Lady Olivia Robertson, who had
carried on the Order, surprised me once again. One week before
I was to fly-off to Ireland I received a small brown envelope
from her and in it was a certificate giving me a Charter of DCD!
But not only that she was now calling me an Arch-Druidess of DCD!
I promptly filed my Charter of DCD as the Inspired Grove of Usneach,
and thus the Druids of the Irish Faery-Faith Tradition of DCD
have been provided a legitimate pathway through the divine Faery
interventionÉ our Charter is, indeed, supernatural and we should
feel blessed...."
While today we now stand alone
as the Faery-Faith Tradition & NetworkDruidic Clan of Dana,
our allegience still stands with Ireland and Irish druidry. We are
not affiliated with any other druidic organization. As well, we
do not embrace any wiccan practices within ours.
DRUIDIC CLAN OF DANA TRAINING PROGRAM
We offer a very serious training
program for individuals interested in walking our spiritual pathway. Our druidic training program honors its lineage and so includes materials
from Olivia Robertson, FOI-DCD. However, all training materials provide
focus on our Grove's personal spiritual pathway: the Faery-Faith Tradition. All DCD classes have a completion time alotment, which is provided to the student when s/he enters the classroom. Should a student require additional time, s/he may purchase a CLASS RENEWAL (as many times as s/he needs).
We
invite you to visit the DCD CLASSROOMS, where you can view class
descriptions.and set-up your student profile.
Branch 2: Druidic Clan of Dana Training Program ~ Adept Training
Lesson
One - DCD Origin and meaning behind the druidic path, Druidic Principles
#1
Lesson
Two & Three - Morrigu Anand; rite of Mars & Morrigan; Temple
of the Moon, Morrigu Geneology and pathworking
Lesson
Four & Five - The Badb and the De Danaan treasures, Rite of Rebirth,
Rite of Scota, and Badb's Shield
Lesson
Six through Nine - The Sun of Womenfolk~Macha, Dawn Rite of Abundance,
Irish Druids, A Sun Ritual, the Spear, the Art of Meditation, the Practice
of Balance.
Lesson
Seven: St. Patrick and the Druids, A Druid Knows.
Lesson
Eight & Nine: review and quiz.
Embracing
Love-Beauty-Truth
After successful completion of all three sessions, the candidate receives Druidic Ordination and qualifies to continue advanced training.
We
invite you to visit the DCD CLASSROOMS, where you can view class
descriptions.and set-up your student profile.
DCD - Herenach Training
The next phase of druidic training is covered under a separate program. Before a Druid is accepted into this program, s/he must first become ordained as a Bansagart or Sagart of FFN. A brief look at the Herenach training program, includes:
Phase Two - 8 Planetary Rays of the Web of the Universe
0. North to Center, Matrix of the Earth, winter solstice, the Earth and nature (Noble Order of Tara touched upon).
1. Northeast to Center, Sun Magic of the Life Force, Cesara's Ark, Imbolc, Fire and Power.
2. East to Center, Triple Moon, Weighing the Heart, Spring Equinox, Water and Love. [optional: the rite of The Amber Pylon of Venus]
3. SouthEast to Center, Topaz Pylon of Mercury, the Plumed Serpent Awakens, Beltane, Air and Truth. [optional: the rite of Mercury and Sophia]
4. South to Center, The Dawn of the Inner Sun, Tablets of Fate, Summer Solstice, Light and Initiation. [optional: the rite of Jupiter & Hathor and/or the Opal Pylon of Uranus]
5. Southwest to Center, rite of Sirius, The Shinning Twins, Lughnasadh, Ether, Science/Occultism [optional the rite of the Obsidian Pylon of Saturn]
6. West to Center, Pillar of Fire, Autumn Equinox, Bliss, The Arts/Ritual. " [optional: the rite of Neptune & Ngame and/or the rite of the Opal Pylon of Uranius]
7. Northwest to Center, the Amethyst Pylon of Neptune, Cone of Creation, Samhain, Night, Mystical Awakening/Devotion.
"Druids" who are ready will undergo the designation of "Herenach" from this point forward.
8. Returning North to Center, materials covered the rite of the rite of The Jade Pylon of Earth from "Isis of Alchemy" -- Herenachs are encouraged to undergo a vision guest with Dana and bring back a divine message.
The above training program is our guideline, however initiations will occur only when the individual candidate is spiritual ready. With all rites, the experience of Divine Awareness is necessary for an Initiation to be bestowed.
The Faery-Faith Network provides spiritual information on and resources to guide you in the process of developing a personal connection to the Faerie Realm, the fairy, fairies, faery, faerie, faeries, Sidhe, nature spirits, totem animals, otherworld beings, spirit guides, Ancient Ones, Goddess, Goddesses, God, Gods, of Ireland through our spiritual community and/or via the many spirituality classes we offer, which will support the Mind Body Spirit connection, thus providing a greater sense of centered and grounded balance. The Faery Faith Tradition originated in Ireland in pre-Christian, pre-Celtic times and survived as n Oral Faerie Tradition until W.B. Yeats and Maud Gann, members of the Golden Dawn Society delved into the ancient Irish lore and myths, folk tales and fairy tales, and helped bring about the spirituality Celtic Revival. The Faery-Faith Network is not affiliated with any other spiritual organization, such as Victor Anderson's Feri Tradition, Scottish Underworld Traditions, Covenant of the Goddess (COG), the Fellowship of Isis (FOI), Order of Bards, Ovates. amd Druids (OBOD), etc. The Faery-Faith Network is based in Newport Beach, California.
