Kirk Thomas

Kirk Thomas is the Archdruid of Ar nDriaocht Fein (A Druid Fellowship) and an ordained priest in that tradition. He has an MA in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales, Lampeter, as well as a BFA in Theatre Arts from the University of New Mexico and a Certificate from the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, UK.

He is also a past President and current member of the Board of Directors of Cherry Hill Seminary, a Pagan institution which exists to train folks in the skills of Pagan Ministry.

A resident of Washington State, USA, Kirk co-owns an organic farm and has built a stone circle and druidic sanctuary where he plans to open an ADF seminary and intentional community. He spends much of his time traveling for ADF, visiting groves, solitaries and festivals, presenting on various topics and participating in public, group ritual.

Basic Ritual Skills

Those of us who do public ritual for groups both small and large realize that there are certain skills necessary for a successful rite. Much preparation is required to create or learn the parts of a specific ritual, to rehearse any ritual plays or lore recitations, to memorize and/or research any invocations needed, to obtain a ritual space and arrange the potluck...the list goes on and on. But we don't necessarily take into account the presentational skills needed by the aspiring ritualist to ensure that everyone present, both human and divine, can take in and comprehend everything going on. We must be both seen and heard, and what we present must be both understandable and effective with a minimum of distraction. This workshop attempts to aid ritualists to begin training our bodies and voices, allowing us to be able to trust them to carry our words and actions to all in attendance.

The Irish Sacred King

The office of the sacred king in late prehistoric and early medieval Ireland carried great significance in a religiously cosmological sense both for his people and his kingdom. Such a king would be considered sacred because he would be 'set apart' from all others. He would be seen as having both special powers and obligations, all of which determined the fate of his reign as an ideal and fruitful one, or as one marked by disaster, starvation, and death. Before a man could become a sacred king he had to prove his worthiness and be accepted by Sovereignty, usually personified as a goddess or lady, who would only mate with the rightful king. He must be perfect in mind and body, uphold truth through justice, and be constrained by both taboos and prescriptions, for any deviations from these ideals would lead to his destruction. This workshop will explore these themes through the folklore, tales, and selected monastic writings of early medieval Ireland, often contrasted with similar works from related Indo-European cultures.