About Brendan...

Born: 4th July, 1974, in Guelph Ontario Canada. Raised in Elora, Ontario, a village north of Guelph which I still consider my hometown.

My first published work was a play entitled "Visions of a Better Way": this script won a competition for high school students, run by University of Guelph's department of English.

Attended the University of Guelph for undergraduate studies in Drama, starting in January of 1992.

Attended Memorial University of Newfoundland, to study folklore, 1994.

Won the Bardic competitions at both Wiccan Fest and also at Kaleidoscope Gathering (Canada's two largest pagan gatherings) in 1995. Won the KG Bardic again in 2006.

Began Masters studies at Guelph in philosophy, 1998. My thesis, "Animism, Spirit, and Environmental Activism", was completed two years later.

Became president of a labour union (CUPE local 3913) for two years.

Began Doctoral studies at the National University of Ireland, Galway, in 2001. Traveled extensively in Great Britain and in Germany during the next four years.

Completed doctoral studies in 2005. My dissertation was entitled "Time and the Land: Four Approaches to Environmental Ethics, Climate Change, and Future Generations."

Returned to Canada in late 2005, and taught philosophy at several Ontario universities and colleges.

In 2007, I worked as a contract researcher for the federal government, in which I studied Aboriginal people's values in relation to police work and peacekeeping.

My books and essays are quoted favourably by numerous other prominent pagan writers, including Emma Restall Orr, Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, Phillip Carr-Gomm, Graeme Talboys, and Jane Raeburn.

Winner of the Mount Haemus Award for research in Druidry, 2008.

Listed on Wikipedia.

Currently living in Ottawa, Ontario.

Some Interviews and Media Appearances

Interview with Jason Pitzl-Waters, on The Wild Hunt blog

An interview with Sioned Hawthorn, of The Druid Network, January 2007

Another interview with Cheryl Lynne Bradley, on the Tarot Canada web site, April 2008.

Internet Radio interview with Astrea Magazine

I've done several lectures and interviews on Deo's Shadow Podcast. Here are two of them: Episode 36, "The Celtic Creation Story" and Episode 39, "Virtue"

Interview in SEPA View, the journal of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Issue #29.

Some Frequently Asked Questions...

I'm doing a paper for my high school / college / university class on religion. Can I quote your web page?

Yes, of course. The standard means of citing a web page is to indicate the author, title of page, web address (URL), and the date you accessed it. Of course, you would be better off to go directly to the primary sources.

What books should I read to learn more about Druidry?

Naturally I recommend my own books. But I also recommend that those who are interested in learning more about Celtic and Druidic spirituality should read mythology, especially books like Lady Augusta Gregory's Gods and Fighting Men and Cuchullain of Muirthemney. One should also find a copy of The Mabinogion, and The Carmina Gadelica, and a few works of history, archaeology, and folklore. Among pagan writers I would recommend the work of Emma Restall Orr, Philip Carr-Gomm, Isaac Bonewits, Erynn Laurie, and John Michael Greer. But before buying a new stack of books to read, I recommend that you spend a day or two walking in a forest. You can learn a great deal from trees...

Why should anyone care about religion anymore? Isn't it a thing of the past now? Why do old mythologies matter?

Books about religion are also books about society, humanity, spirituality, peace, war, adventure, death, tragedy, comedy, history, love, sex, growing up, growing old, happiness, suffering, thought, work, dreams, politics, imagination, mystery, psychology, music, art, poetry, health, time, reality, ethics, truth, magic, and life.

Do you really worship the old gods?

Words like "worship" or "devotion" or even "belief" really don't describe my spiritual life very accurately. I think it is perfectly possible to be a Druid, or a Witch, or even a Christian, without it.

Well then, are you a Druid?

I am not the inheritor of a received oral tradition or family lineage of ancient and authientic Druidism. The historian in me strongly doubts that such a tradition exists anywhere at all.

But are you a Druid?

But I do a lot of the same things that ancient Druids did: teach philosophy, write philosophy, write poetry, attend Celtic community events, play Celtic music, wear long hair, oppose the current incarnation of the Roman Empire (that's globalized capitalism)...

But are you really a Druid?

Well, what do you think?

Can you teach me to be a Druid / Witch / Shaman / etc?

You should pose this question to one of the main Druidic organisations, some of whom have training or apprenticeship programmes; if not then they almost certainly can point you in the direction of someone who does. I was once a member of an American group called the The Henge of Keltria for a short while, but quit for personal reasons (and nothing to do with any of the Henge staff, who I think are lovely people). Other American groups include ADF and Reformed Druids of North America. Three American friends of mine who provide a training programme of sorts include Searles O'Dubhain, who runs a web-based Druidic community called The Summerlands, John Michael Greer who is head of Ancient Order of Druids in America, and Erynn Laurie who is co-founder of the Inis Glas Hedge School. For a British, or International druidic society, look for The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, or The Druid Network. I am also a member of a private Celtic society that sometimes takes on students, but you will have to meet me in person to find out more! :-)

Will you attend our event, and give a workshop or lecture?

If I'm available, then Yes. I have several workshops aready prepared, as I used to do this fairly frequently. I normally ask to have my accomodation and transportation costs covered, and of course I will want to be able to sell copies of my books at these events. Contact me directly for more information.

Is there a place on the web where these things can be discussed with you or others?

Yes. I run an email group called The Nemeton. Subscription information is available here. I'm sure that a quick Google search will turn up more groups like it.

Will you interpret my dreams / curse my enemies / find me a lover / etc?

That's not what I do. And please don't ask me to refer you to someone who could do these things.

Is Druidism / Wicca / etc. devil worship?

Is this a trick question?

Have you found Jesus?

Have you found The Great Goddess?

Why is it that people who want to share their religion with you almost never want you to share your religion with them?

I don't know. The world is just funny that way.

Can I use some of your articles / photos / etc. on my own web site / blog / email group?

Normally I do not grant permission to re-post my stuff elsewhere on the web. This web site is already accessible to thet whole world, and repetition is unnecessary. Also, since I am pursuing a career as an author, there are certain copyright issues which arise. I prefer to be able to work on my own stuff without tracking down multiple mirror-sites elsewhere on the web. But feel free to download anything for personal use, so long as you do not distribute it to others.

I am an authentic Druid who holds the True Ancient Teachings, and I demand you change this, that, or the other feature of your web site.

That ship sailed away a long time ago, my friend! Only the gullible are taken in by that sort of thing now.

Can you send me an autographed copy of your book?

This question doesn't get asked very often, and I'm thrilled when someone does. However, since I live in Ontario, and since one of my the publishers is in America, and the other in Britain, and most potential buyers are also in America, an autographed copy of the book would have to cross the border twice before reaching you. If not the ocean as well. I would have to pass on this cost in the price of the book, and even if I did not include a profit markup for myself, the price could easily reach as much as $40 US dollars. You are better off buying a copy online or directly from the publisher. Your copy will reach you a lot faster and at much less cost.

With those books of yours, you must be on your way toward becoming one of those big-nose Pagan "leaders"...

I don't make enough money on book sales to pay the rent, let alone live as lavishly as people believe Pagan authors do. I know a few other Pagan authors and leaders who have to scrape to survive, even with 30 years of leadership experience under their belt and a dozen books to their name on the market. The Pagan community just isn't ready or willing to support its leaders, perhaps because of a fear that community-supported leaders will inevitably become corrupt, or a belief that one must be poor to be virtuous. Both beliefs are false, but widespread, and perhaps that there is little that good-willed folk can do about it except ignore it as much as possible and get organised to take care of each other. (Oh yes, and buy the better books, so that pagan leaders and creators don't have to scrape to survive!

Can you help me design a Druid ritual?

You should probably pose this question to a representative of one or other public Druid order or organization, of which there are many. Members of ADF, the British Druid Order, Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, Henge of Keltria, or IMBAS, should not be hard to find using any search engine or directory.

What is the meaning of life?
Forty-two.