Like other Druids, members of Avalon Druid Order (ADO) place a high value on quality, creative expression, and life-long learning. In addition to providing vital member information, our journal, "Messenger of the Gods" (or "MoG"), is a place for members to share their work and talents with one another. It is the ADO's primary member publication. Up until now, MoG has been a members-only newsletter. Recently, with the shift from newsletter to journal, the possibility has been raised of offering it to the general public. There are, of course, strong arguments both for and against this proposal. Whilst a public journal might help to dispel misconceptions about the nature and purpose of Druidism generally and ADO Druidry in particular, it would also limit the depth of the work shared to only what can be shared with an uninitiated audience. This is more of an issue for Traditionalist Druids than it is for most Neodruids.This is because unlike most Neodruid groups our studies are mainly based not on standard academia, but on the lore and oral tradition teachings that have been passed down to us through our families and/or teachers. We do not acknowledge any non-Druid as being an authority on Druidism -- still less on Avalonian Druidry. Caesar and his adherents do not define Avalon or its Tradition; nor do we see the ancient Druids as resembling modern scholars. Our view of modern education as antithetical to traditional learning has been vindicated by recent university studies in Siberia and Australia documenting the negative impact of modern education on the beliefs, customs, and spiritual practices of surviving native communities. These studies document the fact that linear, materialist mindset is incompatible with native modes of thought and actually impairs or extinguishes intuitive abilities within ten years of being introduced (a fact likely to induce blushes one day amongst those who have sought mainstream acceptance through the validation of modern academia). The problem, apparently, is as much in the way that modern education trains the mind to perceive as it is in what it trains the mind to accept as 'real'.Obviously, we cannot seek to become Druids through a methodology that destroys the Druid Mind, and so we adhere as closely as possible to traditional methods. What we share are not intellectual theories, but observations arising directly from personal experience. As personal experiences, they are thus inescapably intimate. Such sharing is possible because it is based on trust, rooted in the knowledge that we are all engaged in the same work, taking the same emotional risks. But this claim cannot be made of the general public -- and therein lies the rub. We cannot expect members to share the intimate details of their spiritual lives with those who share neither a frame of reference nor cultural context for understanding their experiences, nor have had the experiences themselves, and who must therefore remain outside interpretors, redefining the world of the ancestors according to completely irrelevant modern perspectives. Therefore the decision of whether to open MoG to public scrutiny has rested on observing what kind of Journal MoG seems inclined to become.As a small Order, our e-Journal (like our website) is created by volunteers. As Druids, excellence is important to us so clipart is kept to a minimum, if not eliminated. Original images are created by manipulating original member photographs or using different combinations of freeware. Occasionally we are blessed to share work by outside artists. Guest cover artists provide their work free to ADO in exchange for a link here, and bio and contact information inside the agreed publication. This allows us to feature the work of promising and gifted artists while also enhancing the appearance of our publications. All artwork must be approved by the Editor(s) and/or by our Elder Council prior to use. If you would like to share your work by allowing ADO to feature it in a publication, please contact the ADO Midwife (subject line: MoG artwork).At the present time the Council feels confident that MoG is appropriate fare for the public. The first issue will become available at Samhain 2008, with the intent that MoG remain a public Journal for as long as it continues and is able to serve both members and the public without compromising the spiritual work of the Order. Subscribers are asked to observe all copyright laws. Only ADO members may submit work for publication. The BoG reserves the right to impose or withdraw fees without prior notice, as may best serve the needs of the Order at any given time. If a password is currently in use, it will be sent upon receipt of the current Subscriber's fee. Please "Join the MoG Mailing List" (link below) to receive notices of changes to fees or other terms and conditions for subscription. Your use of this mailing list constitutes your acceptance of these terms, and your consent for ADO to send information, announcements, and updates to you using the email address you have provided. You remain solely responsible to update your email address with us by adding your new address to the MoG mailing list (below), and notifying us by email (ado_admin@avalondruidorder.org; subject line: MoG update) to remove your old address.Unfortunately, current Internet "spam" laws make it inadviseable to send MoG to subscribers via email attachment, but you may download it from this page. Please do not open the file here; download it by right clicking the image and saving the document to your own desktop. Please also bear in mind that while we do our best to ensure the safetly of all ADO links, files, and services, many factors remain outside of our control. In a day and age when websites, files, and documents can be 'infected' by hackers without the owner's knowledge, there is always a risk involved in using electronic and/or cyber resources. ADO accepts no responsibility for any damage that may result from use of its electronic and online services and resources, including use of links and/or files downloaded from its site(s). We trust you will understand these necessities and forgive us for any inconvenience. Should you ever encounter a 'bug' when downloading from our website, please notify us or contact Homestead.com directly with the pertinent information. Although in most cases it is Homestead that will be addressing the matter, we will do all we can to ensure proper follow-through.Now that we've finished the formalities, we invite you to share something of this wonderful journey with us! Feel free to write us with any questions and comments you might have about Avalon Druid Order (ADO) and with suggestions for improving our online journal.
The ADO "Messenger of the Gods" is published a minimum of twice per year at Samhain and Beltane (31 October and 30 April) or, if there is sufficient news to warrant it, thrice yearly at the commencement of each tide (21 September, 21 January, and 21 May). Occasionally, an issue may be held or published early to accommodate the need to share urgent news. Special Editions are occasionally published at the Lammas portal to accommodate any overflow of member submissions.Readers are reminded that all original ADO text and images published in our members journal are protected under ADO copyright. Works presented under “Member Contributions” are protected under the copyright of the original artists and authors. Please address any requests for use of these works, or for republication or redistribution, to the copyright holders directly.
All text, original art, and graphic images ©2000 to Present by Morgaine, for use by ADO. All rights reserved. Photographic images © as credited. Used with permission. No part of this document or work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, copied, quoted, performed, or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author and copyright holder. For more information, please contact the ADO Midwife. We are obliged by copyright laws to take action to protect our own rights. Please do not oblige us to prosecute you. Requests for written consent or other questions may be directed to our webmistress at the link below. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.Other people's rights are also important to us. We create as much of the art for our site as possible using freeware, however we do use some images provided "free for individual or nonprofit use". Copyrights on clipart and other web images are difficult to track and mistakes will inevitably occur. If your original work is displayed here without your permission and you wish to have it removed, or if you wish to grant consent for use and receive credit for your work, please contact our webmistress with proof that you are the copyright holder. Per your request, upon receiving your information we will either remove your work or add your credit and link to the appropriate web page(s).ADO members will find additional published resources at the Tribes and Groves pages of this website. Not all of these resources are available to all members, and not all are free. Some become available upon completion of certain training requirements. Any monies collected go directly back to the Order for general operating expenses and provision of member resources. In most cases, publications are provided as PDF downloads. As with all ADO publications, all materials are copyright Morgaine/ADO, and all rights are reserved. Therefore, anyone wishing to special order bound copies of ADO publications may do so only through the Order, and only with the prior written permission of the ADO Elder Council. Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to sharing wisdoms with you!
