This fellowship is for druids & like minded individuals in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area who seek an alternative, gentler, Nature-centered spiritual community. We have 12 casual meetups and 8 rituals over the Wheel of the Year which are open to visitors. We are open to new membership, and are easygoing in terms of attendance guidelines. In the hustle & bustle of the 21st century, an
d the occasional difficulty in finding exactly where we're meeting, it is perfectly fine if someone has to show up late or leave early (unless perhaps if you're taking part in an event in a specific way). Photography also takes place from time to time, for posting to social media. What to expect at Oakdale Grove casual meetups: Dress for comfort and for the weather. When it's hot, bring water to stay hydrated. Sunscreen and bug spray might be a good idea in the summer. Grove members and especially Grove officers are encouraged to wear their diagonal green shoulder sashes, which helps visitors spot us. The shoulder sash is our optional "uniform," as nobody is required to wear them, simply encouraged. What to expect at Oakdale Grove rituals: Dress for comfort and for the weather. Ritual garb of some sort is encouraged but not required. You may bring a plant-based offering, or a bardic offering such as poetry, prose, meditations, etc. The plant based offerings are usually sacrificed via a ceremonial fire, so it helps if they're also dry. Blood or animal sacrifice is forbidden in Reformed Druidry. Members and especially officers are encouraged to wear their green shoulder sashes. For robes we recommend earth-tones, and generally advise against white robes unless that's all you have. At this time, black robes are reserved for certain levels of the Reformed Druid priesthood only. For rituals, attendees are also asked to bring their own chalice. Diluted whiskey and a non-alcoholic alternative are offered from two different pitchers at summer rituals (from Beltane to Samhain). In the winter (from Samhain to Beltane) there is only a non-alcoholic sacramental pitcher. If all you have as a chalice or ceremonial cup is a travel mug, that's fine; it never has to be anything fancy, though lots of attendees like the aesthetic of having a nice goblet. It is customary to leave a portion of the contents at the bottom of the chalice, as the remnant is returned to the Earth-Mother or to the fire as a libation. Further aspects of Oakdale Grove:
• We are an LGBTQ+ affirming fellowship
• We are anti-racist
• We support BIPOC members and seekers (druidry does NOT require Celtic ancestry at all)
• We strive for altruism, to bring out the best in ourselves and continuously improve ourselves for the sake of humanity
