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Michael J Dangler

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How long have you been involved in ADF?

I've been involved with Ár nDraíocht Féin since before I could pronounce it (i.e. about 6 years as of this writing). I've been a Neopagan Druid for 12 years now, but it took me a long time to start with ADF.

I started with The 6th Night Grove, ADF, in Dayton, OH, in April of 2000, where I was commuting more than an hour to rituals and business meetings. I did this for about two years before I finally had the experience (and guts) to start my own Protogrove in Columbus, Ohio. In our first year, we jumped quite high in membership, getting seven new members in one month. I completed the documentation for the ADF Dedicant Path in May of 2003, and am currently working on the ADF Clergy Training Program, which I finished the first circle of in August 2006.

What else have you done with your life?

Aside from be a good-for-nothing rogue with a winning smile? Not too much. I work for The Ohio State University in the IT department's customer services area. I was on the varsity fencing squad at Ohio State for four years (I fenced sabre), and graduated from OSU with a degree in Military History. I'm currently working toward my master's degree in Comparative Religious Studies. I have also spent ten years working with The Ohio State University's Pagan Student Association. I'm an Eagle Scout and I still work with a local Boy Scout troop.

What do you do in ADF?

I'm a Past Senior Druid of Three Cranes Grove, ADF, and I'm also a Deputy Preceptor (I was giddy with delight when I received a silver star and six-shooter). In August 2006, I was consecrated as a Dedicant Priest in ADF. I also help update the ADF website, occasionally answer mail sent to the ADF office, and work as a mentor for the Dedicant Path. I'm the Liturgist's Guild preceptor and the scribe of the Dance Guild, and I am also the Director of the Eastern Indo-European Kin. I give workshops at some ADF festivals (just ask and I'll probably be able to do one for you, too), and worked out the Buffett Ritual for the Summerland Gathering. I've worked on the Grove Organizer's Handbook, submitted essays for inclusion in the Dedicant Path materials, and submitted for publishing in Oak Leaves. In all, ADF keeps me pretty busy. I take on responsibilities in ADF because I enjoy them and nothing ever becomes boring here.

Tell us a bit about your personal religion.

Well, I'm a Druid and a Discordian, a rare combination if there ever was one. Druidism is, however, my primary path, but I keep in mind that one of the highest strengths of this pairing of religions is the consistent sense of seriousness it conveys, tempered by the severe humour that keeps me on my toes.

My personal patrons are Eris (Greco-Roman deity/personification of chaos and strife) and Esus (a Gaulish deity with representations as a woodcutter), and my relationship with each is far too complicated to explain in such a limited space. Really, the best thing to do (if you really want to know about me) is to go to my webpage (Chronarchy.Com) or visit my LiveJournal.

This does kind of lead me to one of my favourite things about ADF, though: you aren't forced into a paradigm that you don't want to be in. I can be a Druid and a Discordian, if I wish, or I can just be a Druid, or just a Discordian. I love to see the different types of people we have in ADF, who all come from various different religions, and that's a great thing. We have Wiccans, Asatru, Hellens, and Vedics, and we all get along pretty well. It's a wonderful thing.

What is your personal vision for ADF?

I love ADF as it is, really, but that doesn't mean we lack things that can improve. I'd like to be able to meet more people (which is why I've started traveling to some of the festivals that are outside Ohio). I want to see more of our scholars publishing. I want to see the Study Programs eventually become accredited. I want ADF to hold the respect that I feel it really deserves. I'm proud of our support of our military members and hope that one day, we can provide a Pagan chaplain to the military. Most importantly, though, I intend to be a part of these things when they do occur. I don't see my religion as separate from ADF anymore (Sorry, ADF, you're stuck with me indefinitely)!

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