Why are you pagan? What drew you to ADF?
Well, I had been raised Anticleric (basicly a solitary Christian) . I had been taught by my parents to honor nature, and I did. I tried to be Christian for a long time, but I always believed in spirits and magic. I was also obsessed with the Celts and Druids.
In college I met a Wiccan I would some times talk to her about Wicca. (Later I discovered that she was a real fluff bunny). I went to the book store and bought a book called, "Celtic Magic" by D.J. Conway *shudder*. I read the whole book in one night, and decided that it was wrong. I don't really remember why though. So I went along with this conflicted heart. I knew the things I believed in were against God, but I still believed in them anyway. I big deciding factor for me was that you can ask for forgivness from God, but only if you are truly sorry and endeavor to not commit the same sins again. I like my sins though, so I couldn't very well ask to be forgiven, because I had no intention of stopping.
Eventually I met the man I was going to marry. He was Wiccan and told me, I don't care if you become Wiccan, I do care that you understand it. So I started attending his coven's Sunday classes (really just the High Priest, Preistess, my husband and myself). At some point I decided that Wicca outlined most of my beliefs... I became Wiccan for about six months.
My friend Tony, bought a book called the "21 Lessons of Merlyn" by Douglas Monroe. After reading the book I was hooked, even though I knew much of it was way off. I went to the internet and discovered an ADF Druid group in my area called "Red Hawk Grove." I called the Grove leader to find out if I could meet them.
He paused when I told him about the 21 LOM, to determine the best way to break the news to me that 21 LOM was crapola. He went on to say that the grove was in a transitional stage because they decided they didn't want to be an ADF Grove. He did say he would meet with me and talk to me about Druidry.
I decided to be come a full fledged ADF member, and I was about half way through my dedicants program when I decided that I didn't want to be a member anymore. It was taking ADF six months to cash my check for membership, that tore it.
So for a couple years I worked with the guy that introduced me to Druidry, but we had a falling out. I went freelance from there and explored OBOD, BDO, Keltria, IMBAS and Celtic Reconstructionalism.
The thing that brought me back to ADF was Grove of the Rising Phoenix. I was checking out ADF's website, and saw GRP and decided to call and see what they were doing. I was very happy to find a vital Grove. I joined back up and am very happy I did.
I still consider myself a Celtic Reconstructionalist, even though sometimes that conflicts with ADF's views.
Why does Reconstructionism work for you?
I'm going to tell a story, and it may seem that I am taking the round about direction, but I hope all will be clear by the end of my answer.
If you have been exploring this website, you may have noticed that I started out Anticleric, then I became Wiccan. I was Wiccan for about six months, but it never "felt" right to me. I use to try and figure out how the Morrigan could be stuffed into the triple goddess of Wicca. The fact is she can't, no matter how hard you try, she just can't be classified this way. This made me want the truth, not all gods or goddess could be described by Wicca for me in a satisfactory manor.
I moved to ADF Druidry, I had always wanted to be a Druid, even when I didn't know what one was. I really liked that ADF had a study program and reading list. I didn't last with ADF long because I felt that they were to open, and it was taking them six months to cash my membership check!
Though what I learned from ADF at that point was invaluable. I learned that I had resources to go to, in order to find out what was "really done," not what someone fantasized was done.
I decided to chuck all the things I had learned from Wicca, ADF, and others and start trying to figure out ritual liturgy on my own. I stumbled on to IMBAS, and was very pleased with what I found there. I feel that if my practices authentic as possible (with in the context of the modern world) that it pleases the gods and ancestors and builds a closer bond between us.
If you have questions on the differences between Druidry and Wicca please go to Why Wicca IS NOT Celtic