druidkirk.org

Just who am I ?

I am a Druid priest and the Vice-Archdruid of Ár nDríaocht Féin, A Druid Fellowship, who also happens to be a gay man . While most of what you'll see here are my writings, musings, workshops and articles, I am also very much interested in ecstatic, primal practices and their use in trance states. Born in Richland, Washington (state), I am a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a BFA in Theatre Arts (1975), and a Diploma from the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London (1985). I am now working part-time towards my Masters degree in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales, Lampeter, which should be completed by 2010.

I am also Vice President of the Board of Directors of Cherry Hill Seminary, a Pagan institution which exists to train folks in the skills of Pagan Ministry.

I used to fly balloons and hot-air airships in my youth and served as a Vice President of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), then in Paris, back in the 1990's. I also served as Secretary of the FAI Aviation and Space Education Commission for 10 years and am now an FAI Companion of Honour. The ballooning memorabilia that my ex-partner and I collected is now a major part of the collection of the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

But the main turning point in my life was when I left my then partner of 20 years, England, and half my assets to come back to the USA. The ride, since I jumped off that metaphorical cliff, has been quite wild, with a major spiritual awakening fueling my present activities.

My present passions include the priesthood, Celtic studies, Indo-European cosmology, ADF liturgy (written and performed), primal ecstatic trance work, Harner Shamanism, singing, teaching, ADF festivals, romantic gay novels, sarongs, and Slate.com. I also intend to found an ADF monastic order (The ADF Celtic Order) and am actively searching for the land on which to build it. For various reasons, this project will probably take at least ten years to materialize.

I currently live in Tucson, Arizona with my partner Kozen (a Soto Zen Buddhist Priest). Luckily, Zen doesn't clash with ADF Paganism. Much.