Re: Druidic Formation Searles Mon Feb 22 08:45:47 1999 First, let me apologize for being away from the board while working on a book. Secondly, let me congratulate Topaz and Beirdd for the work they have done on this topic. Finally, I'd like to add some suggestions.*p*As the Druids and most other effective spiritual leaders in the past were also involved in the day-to-day concerns of their congregations, communities and nations, and because the ancient Druids were said to be concerned with divination and physical philosophies in addition to moral philosophies, I recommend that any curiculum we develop include areas of poetry, drama, public speaking and music, as well as techniques in farming, herding, fishing, hunting, forestry and oceanography. If a really good and practical biology and zoology course covers these already, then let me apologize for an extraneous suggestion. Otherwise, I think that exposure to the work and life of the community and the world are absolutely necessary to the proper understanding of the problems that exist within the worlds.*p*I'd also like to suggest that those whose academic degrees are deficient in areas of philosophy or other required humanties be allowed to write a thesis for submittal and approval by a board of review in lieu of the actual coursework. Upon approval of these papers and documents, then a student could be admitted and the work of the student would be available in our own lkibrary for other members and students to consider. In this way, we can increase the awarenesss of our students more efficiently. *p*Kudoes for taking some giant steps down a right, true and absolutely necessary pathway.*p*Searles*br*Beirdd wrote,*br*: The following is the beginning of some speculative work the *br*: Topaz Owl and I have been doing on the development of a *br*: program for the formation of an effective and civilly *br*: recognized druidic clergy.*br*:*br* Druidic Formation Beirdd 370 Mon Feb 15 19:05:54 1999