I am a ReWilder Druid

I'm a Rewilder Druid. What does that mean?

I'll start by giving you the definition of what a Rewilder is. I've pulled this from Wikipedia;

"Rewilding is the process of re-instating the role of keystone species to human society where the expression of this role appears lacking. The term originates in conservation biology in which "rewilding" stands for the re-introduction of keystone species into areas where such species appear locally extinct. Rewilding in the anarchist context applies this concept to initiating and regenerating human culture that embodies the role of a keystone species.

In green anarchism and anarcho-primitivism, humans are said to be "civilized" or "domesticated" by civilization. Supporters of such human rewilding argue that through the process of domestication, human wildness has been altered by force.[1]

Rewilding is about overcoming human domestication and returning to behavior inherent in human wildness. Though often associated with primitive skills and learning knowledge of wild plants and animals, it emphasizes the development of the senses and fostering deepening personal relationships with members of other species and the natural world. Rewilding intends to create permanently wild human cultures beyond domestication.[2]

Rewilding is considered a holistic approach to living, as opposed to skills, practices or a specific set of knowledge."

Ok! For me there are different levels of Rewilding. Homesteaders are what I call light Rewilders. They are still domesticated, but they tone it down by choosing a more eco-friendly lifestyle and place their wellbeing more into the hand's of the land than civilization.

Also for the record, there are different levels of anarchy as well. I personally am not interested in say a Mad Max world, which most gutter punks would love. I am what is called a Tribal anarchist.

For a group to live together peacefully there has to be some structure/dogma. Tribalism is hard-wired into humans even in a modern world. Humans are social animals, and ill-equipped to live on their own. Tribal politics is perfect for a small community (small scale).

So what is a Rewilder Druid? I believe this is what my ancestors were before the influence from Rome. Rome was influencing the Celts and other Europeans long before Caesar invaded. The Celts were already starting to adopt some of the domesticated ways of Rome which slightly soften them up for Caesar's later invasion.

Who where the Druids? The Druids were the wise ones, the educated class of the Celts. They were the lawyers, doctors, teachers, storytellers, and other professionals of that culture. They were more than just clergy. The Celts of Ireland called them the Aes Dana (men of art), today archeologist/historians call them the Intelligentsia of the Celtic world.

But Druidry actually predates the Celts, which we know by the old Irish myths. When the Milesian (Celts) first came to Ireland, Amairgen came up against the Druids of the Tuatha Dé Danann.

The Druids understood Nature, and were nature scientists with a great knowledge of physics and astronomy. They knew how to live in balance with Nature. This is why I feel the Rewilder tradition fits so well with Druidry and I feel is closer to real Druidry than most of the modern Neo-Druidic groups today. Including my own ADF, which places a heavier emphasis on history than nature science.

Knowing our history is important, but is not the whole of Druidry. Druids are the keepers of the acculimated knowledge of the tribe, not just it's history. They honor the First Ancestors (gods) by preserving the knowledge and passing it on.

For me, the best way we can honor the First Ancestors is reclaiming our wildness, our oneness with Nature. This doesn't mean we have to give up technology. Rather learning the old skills/crafts and adding modern green technology is best.

Thanks to modern science, our understanding of herbalism is greater. Oh yah, I'm a herbalist & wild food forager as well as a bushcrafter and priest. Put that all together and you get a Rewilder Druid. :-)

Basically I've been on a journey to Rewildng since the beginning. Slowly I've been shedding the trappings that Paganism in a civilized domesticated urban society has weighed itself down with. For me they all get in the way with connecting with Nature and the Universe (creator). For me sitting down in the wilderness keying in on say the sound of the wind or the gurgling of a stream is as powerful as a full blown ceremonial ritual. In fact I say, the keyer is more powerful than the ritual cause they can do it within themselves.

I believe the greatest words ever spoken was by the Oracle of Delphi, when she said; "Know Thyself!" Everyone, no matter what Path they
walk are heading to fulfilling these words. She also said; “Nothing to excess”. In my 29 years as a Pagan, I've come to realize that modern religions have way too much excess. So like the Universe itself, I am forever evolving. Ever growing.

I am a polytheistic pantheist. What Pagans call the Gods, I call the First Ancestors. The oldest, wisest most evolved beings in the Universe and they number in the 1,000, maybe more. They are not creators or even beings who need us to worship them. But revere and respect them we should, cause they can teach us much about the Universe (creator).

There are other enlighten but lesser beings as well and I don't believe we are the only mortal intelligence in the Universe either. I don't believe that "The Divine Plan (evolution)" evolves around the Earth. We be pretty arrogant to believe that.