Founding principles:

 

· We believe and assert that we have the natural right to recognition as a tradition and as a religion, and         we assert that we have the right to practise, to teach, to perform rites of passage and celebrate the seasons and to preserve, live and advance our traditions freely and without fear, prejudice or harassment equal to any other religion or tradition.

· We exist to serve the public good, the welfare of our sacred land and her people, by our service and practise of our craft,traditions,philosophy, art, and religion according to our culture and beliefs. We believe that we can best achieve this by working together and setting standards and guidance for how we conduct ourselves.

· We are an association of like minded individuals coming together regardless of local or group affiliation such that we may share knowledge, connect with one another, resolve our disputes, defend and advance our tradition and to support the best endeavours of other Celtic Pagan groups, Orders Groves, individuals and society in general as appropriate.

· We are not an Order, we are not a grove, and we are not competing with such existing groups.

· We recognise that we exist in a multicultural and diverse society and as a group we support the rights of all to freedom of expression and respect according to their culture and beliefs but will not accept intolerance, hatred, harm or prejudice directed towards ourselves.

Constitution:

 

· The British Druid Association will be run by the founding committee for its first three (max) years during which will be put in place a full constitution based upon  the ‘friendly society’ model with trustees, committee, and elections which will be held on a regular cycle of two years.

· After three years founders will resign from all committee positions to be replaced by an elected committee, for which they may also stand, or elect to become trustees.

Code of conduct:

 

The ancient code as best we can derive it from nature, the root principles of Celtic law, and tales of our ancestors can be summarised with the following keywords:-

 

1. Truth & Honour

2. Strength & Courage

3. Justice & Balance

4. Beauty & Creativity

5. Love and Responsibility

 

For our time we advise all of our members and associates to develop a personal code of honour and to try to live by it. For the purposes of this association and mindful of the root principles above we have the following code as a minimum starting point for our members:

 

1. Do no evil.

 

Evil if it exists is not a natural thing, and is neither honouring of the Gods of our beautiful realm, or of ourselves and our fellow beings. Although we do not believe that anyone truly called to follow our tradition would sanction evil, work with it or tolerate it, we are making this our primary rule.

 

2. Truth and honour.

 

Members will be truthful in all of their dealings with each other and the public. This applies especially in respect of their path, qualifications, abilities, opinions, limitations and beliefs.

 

Members will conduct themselves at all times honourably, both mindful of their word and the keeping of it, and of the great tradition that they represent.

 

Members will avoid bringing the Association, Druids, and those of the Celtic Pagan path into disrepute.

 

3. Strength and Courage.

 

Strength is best expressed through developing oneself to be the very best you can be and then being generous towards others. Members will strive to grow and become strong without loosing the gentle compassion and love of beauty in all of its forms that comes with a Celtic heart.

 

Members will do what they feel is right.

 

Members will show courage in the walking of their path, in seeking the truth, and in the face of hardship or opposition. Our enemy is fear.

 

4. Justice and Balance

 

Members will consider all sides of a matter to seek the truth before loyalty or bias or persuasion, for without truth there can be no justice. For example, we will avoid malicious gossip.

 

Members will strive in the practice of their tradition to apply balance as this is key to a healthy future. This applies to the natural world as it does to the human ways.

 

5. Beauty and Creativity.

 

Members will recognise that the true path is one of reverence for life, beauty and all things natural. We will develop this within ourselves and encourage it within those others who seek it. We will defend the innocent and the vulnerable.

 

6. Love and responsibility.

 

Members will try to be motivated by Love for all, including themselves, as ultimately all are linked. Members will not  delegate responsibility for their actions or decisions to others, if trust is given, it is still ones own responsibility to give it wisely.

 

When members make mistakes, or do wrong to others, they will apologise and seek to make good the harm where this is possible. In all cases, members will learn from mistakes and try not to repeat them.

 

Guidelines:

 

These are a work in progress, and will be listed in final form from May 1st.

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