John the Verbose

The Hellenic fountain at Sagalassos with Doric columns

The horseshoe shaped water trough behind the colonnade

The crystal clear water still flows from sources up the mountain

The sign subheading says “Water, the Source of Life!” I took it to be a sign, as we consecrate the “Waters-of-Life” in Reformed Druidism

Galatia II Protogrove has been founded at Sagalassos, Türkiye! It is the first Reformed #Druidry fellowship in this country since 2004. In the inaugural ceremony at a Hellenic fountain, I didn’t have a chalice, so I consecrated the whole fountain. The sign says the water is potable. /|\ #druidsky

Aegean Sea coastline from the road

The town of Kuşadası, Türkiye. There is a Maltese cruise ship docked across the harbor.

The view from my hotel room balcony

Maltese cruise ship sailing off into the Aegean sunset.

Greetings from the Aegean Sea! #Kuşadasi

Hagia Sofia in the distance at dawn

Hagia Sofia as viewed from the outer courtyard of the Blue Mosque

The sixth century CE Basilica Cistern

The first Medusa column, which was taken from Roman ruins to build the Basilica Cistern

Today was a very busy day for me in Istanbul.

Sun rising over Lufthansa terminal in Frankfurt, Germany

Same sun, different country. Guten morgen, #Frankfurt

C.O.R.D. Biquarterly's latest newsletter an RDNA druidry newsletter driven by reader contributions

"C.O.R.D. Biquarterly" #Druidry newsletter is live for the Autumnal Equinox! #druidsky /|\
Highlights:
• New Black Book of Liturgy
• New rite of passage: the Order of Arvalus
• A too soon ominous divination
oakdalegrove.org/news.html Note: this link gets updated w/ most "current" issue 9x/year

I’m Oakdale Grove’s celebration of the autumnal equinox had 14 attendees. We had two people initiated to the First Order of Reformed Druidism, one person entered the Second Order, and we also had a college student observer who was doing a project for a religious studies class. #druidry #druidsky /|\

C.O.R.D. Biquarterly's latest newsletter an RDNA druidry newsletter driven by reader contributions

C.O.R.D. #druidry newsletter is requesting content for the Equinox issue that you have rights or permission to share /|\ #druidsky

Kind reminder to use submission forms at oakdalegrove.org/files/cord/c... by Sunday September 21, 4 PM Central (9 PM UTC)

Two copies of the Black Book of Liturgy sit in partial sunlight on a wooden table to show the matte binding. The glossy table shows a bit of glare from the sun, but the books do not have glare. One book is face up and the other is face down to show both sides.

A closeup of the back cover shows the matte texture of the binding. There is a green nouveau border that frames a photo of the stone circle at Carleton College at night. Below the photo is part of the book description.

My copies of “Black Book of Liturgy” just arrived 3 days early! I really like the matte finish on the 4th edition. Older ones were glossy. /|\ #druidry #druidsky #Ritual

/|\ The FREE PDF of the 4th ed "Black Book of Liturgy" is also available. In Reformed #Druidry, we like to make sure our written content has a free version so that it is accessible to more seekers. Some people (like me) just really like print versions, though. oakdalegrove.org/files/Black%...

Black Book of Liturgy Selected works from "A Reformed Druid Anthology" (2nd edition) for the everyday Reformed Druid ritualist according to John the Verbose. This version is a moderate departure from the original Black Boo...

The 4th edition of the "Black Book of Liturgy" is finally live for those who desire a hard copy! /|\

Added:
— 2 new rituals (for protogroves & solos)
— 4 new rites of passage
— #Druidry handfasting/wedding
— Plus other additions, revisions, typo & formatting cleanups
www.lulu.com/shop/fisher-...

Yesterday evening I attended an #LGBTQ advocacy and interfaith dinner conference. The drinking glasses were pink Georgian pattern tumblers, which is the somewhat obscure style of chalice the Reformed #Druid movement recommends (and it was taken to be a sign!)

Today marks my 14 year anniversary of declaring my belief in the Two Basic Tenets of Reformed #Druidism. /|\ I had been listening to #Druidry podcasts, and the RDNA popped up on three separate occasions, so I gave it a deeper look. It's been my spiritual "home" ever since! #druidsky

C.O.R.D. Biquarterly's latest newsletter an RDNA druidry newsletter driven by reader contributions

"C.O.R.D. Biquarterly" #Druidry newsletter is live for Lughnasadh! #druidsky /|\
Highlights:
• News of the Groves
• Seasonal poetry & pix
• Finding the Quiet in the Land
• A ritual for egalitarians

oakdalegrove.org/news.html
Note: this link gets updated w/ most "current" issue 9x/year

C.O.R.D. Biquarterly's latest newsletter an RDNA druidry newsletter driven by reader contributions

"C.O.R.D. Biquarterly" #druidry newsletter requests your contribs to the Lughnasadh issue!

We seek poetry, Grove updates, pics, divinations, etc) that you have rights/permission to share, "PG-13" or tamer.

Please use the submission forms at oakdalegrove.org/files/cord/c... by July 31 /|\ #druidsky

A framed photograph of the Hill of Three Oaks in March. The frame is rustic reclaimed wood, and a gray framing mat with an oval opening compliments the spatial composition of the canopy of the trees and the shape of the hill.

The Hill of Three Oaks was the popular crowdsourced selection for this frame. Across multiple social media platforms, it was a very close competition overall (though none of the 25 votes came through BlueSky). The Hill of Three Oaks is a sacred #druid pilgrimage site in the RDNA /|\ #DruidSky

“Sunset” photographed at the Milford Mine Memorial Park in Crosby, Minnesota

“Devils Kettle” photographed at C. R. Magney State Park near Grand Marais, Minnesota. A waterfall splits over a rhyolite cliff, and one half disappears into a hole and gradually filters back into the river.

“Stone Circle” in the Carleton College Arboretum, built by the Reformed Druids of North America in 1999

[2 of 2] These six photos are from the 2023 Minnesota Nature calendar I photographed and produced, so the oval mat is cropping out the nail hole and the spiral binding punch-outs

“Frost” on the trees at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, Minnesota.

“Hill of Three Oaks” in the Carleton College Arboretum, named by the Reformed Druids of North America in 1964 and became their new sacred site. A stone altar caps the hill and bears the Druid Sigil.

“Pine” photographed in Jay Cooke State Park in Thompson, Minnesota.

[1 of 2] Cross-posting from Insta. I need everyone’s votes to help me select which of my photographs fits best with this reclaimed wood picture frame…

C.O.R.D. Biquarterly's latest newsletter an RDNA druidry newsletter driven by reader contributions

C.O.R.D. Biquarterly #Druidry newsletter is live for #Midsummer! #Druidsky
/|\ Highlights:
• 5 new Third Order #Druids!
• Big turnout @ Midsummer ritual

oakdalegrove.org/news.html
Note: link updates w/ "current" issues 9x/year, so when this post is 2 months old+, it opens to a more recent issue.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Reformed #Druids of North America #midsummer #solstice ritual today! It was quite the turnout despite the 93°F (34°C) heat. And congratulations to the half dozen new initiates! /|\ #druidsky #litha

A first edition copy of Oakdale Grove's "Black Book of Liturgy" next to a third edition copy. The first edition bears a small plain Druid Sigil centered on the front cover. The Sigil and the text are lime green on a black background. The Third Edition shows half the sigil very large centered on the book's spine so that the full sigil is seen by others while the book is held open by the reader.

Yesterday Oakdale Grove members /|\ met to compare diffs between eds of our "Black Book of Liturgy" & our source doc. Also had surprise discrepancies between diff print copies of 3rd ed. Found out why: source doc was updated more times than it was exported as PDF for the publisher! Oops... #druidsky

The Reformed #Druids of North America (RDNA) celebrates the #Midsummer #Solstice this year in the Carleton College Arboretum on Saturday June 21, 2025. All are welcome to this free in-person event! Initiations will be available! #druidsky /|\
oakdalegrove.org/reunion.html

I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed Vice Archdruid of Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship on an interim basis to serve out the remainder of Rev. Jan Avende’s term, as they have been elected as our first trans Archdruid. Exciting times await!

🔥🙏🏻🔥

#pagansky #druidsky #adfdruidry

The spider at the tip of the light switch was either a sadist, a masochist, or both.

A new Reformed Druid protogrove has been registered in Vancouver, BC – Clan of the Spouting Orca Protogrove!
#druidry #druidsky /|\

oakdalegrove.org/groves/cso.h...

File footage of Maka Yusota “erupting”

We had 8 attendees for Oakdale Grove’s /|\ pilgrimage to Maka Yusota, but the pressurized springs didn’t “boil” the entire hour we stood in a semicircle around the pond. Was still pretty though. #druidry #druidsky

A muddy pressurized cold spring on a pond gives the appearance of boiling water

The #Druids of Oakdale Grove /|\ are going on a pilgrimage to Maka Yusota (boiling springs) tomorrow at 1 PM; it would be great to meet others there! #druidsky

12788 Independence Ave,
Savage, Minnesota

Let the record show: I have forgotten how old I am for the second time since I was 33. I mean, once you get past common landmark years, there’s no reason to keep track for a few more years. I had to use Google to do the maths just now. Turns out I am one year younger than I thought (which is nice)

Making cedar bundles with two of my #druid Grove members today. My landlord cut down a cedar two days ago that was too close to the gas line, so we’re giving it one last ceremonial purpose /|\ #druidsky

C.O.R.D. Biquarterly's latest newsletter an RDNA druidry newsletter driven by reader contributions

The latest issue of C.OR.D. Biquarterly #Druidry newsletter is now live for Beltane! /|\
Highlights in this issue:
• Happy RDNA New Year! (Year of the Reform 63)
• New protogrove in Vancouver!
• Book reviews
oakdalegrove.org/news.html
Note: this link gets updated with "current" issues 9x/year