More about us

Chokecherry Grove is a branch of ADF.  ADF is short for Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship, Inc. It is pronounced arn REEokht fane, and it is modern Irish for "Our Own Druidism" (or "Druidry" or "Magic") and that's what we are - an independent tradition (denomination) of Neopagan Druidism. Since many people have trouble pronouncing and spelling our Irish name, we usually just say "ADF."

Chokecherry Grove is the third oldest ADF Grove in Colorado, and currently the largest chartered Grove. We are located in south Denver, where we hold public Zoom high day rituals eight times a year (since Covid we have been either entirely Zoom or hybrid). Mountain Ancestors Grove in Longmont, Colorado is about the same size, and is more physically public. Chokecherry was founded in 2014. Like most ADF groves, we have a broad Indo-European focus, but we also attempt to incorporate local Colorado elements in our rituals where appropriate, honoring the land herself and the spirits who make their homes here.

In ADF rituals, we do not include the following things:

• Elemental Cross Symbolism (the 4 Elements)
• Casting Circles in public ritual
• Calling Watchtowers or Elemental Guardians
• Calling the dualtheistic "Lord" and "Lady"
• Acknowledgement of one divine being with power over all
• Blood Sacrifices
• Non-Indo-European mythic and deity motifs

Our rituals follow what we call the Core Order of Ritual. It goes something like this:

•  Initiating the Rite ( May include: Musical Signal, Opening Prayer, Processional , Establishing the Group Mind)
•  Statement of Purpose
• Honoring the Earth Mother and the Spirit of Inspiration, and making a gift to the Outdwellers (any spirits who might otherwise interfere with out work)
• (Re)Creating the Cosmos (Three Realms of Land, Sea, and Sky are acknowledged. Sacred Center is most commonly represented as Fire, Well and Tree)
•  Purification (usually with incense and water aspersion)
• Opening the Gates (Gatekeeper opens the gates between our world and the Otherworld)
•  Inviting the 3 Kindreds (Ancestors, Nature Spirits, Gods)
•  Offerings (may include: Invitation to Beings of the Occasion, Seasonal customs as appropriate, Praise Offerings)
•  Prayer of Sacrifice (This has been called "the exclamation point on the whole offering section.". All the high spiritual energy and worship of the participants is gathered up and offered, along with a physical offering)
•  Taking an Omen (Runes, Ogham, etc)
•  Asking for blessings from the Kindreds
• Hallowing the Waters 
• Affirmation of the blessing
• Sharing the Blessing cup/cups
•  Workings (if any)
•  Thanking the Beings
•  Closing the Gates
•  Thanking the Spirit of Inspiration and the Earth Mother
•  Statement of Ending

To learn more about us, join us at our next high day. The Zoom link will be posted on this blog a few days before the High Day. You can also see our bylaws here (pdf).