A Reformed Druid Anthology

There are 2 editions of ARDA, the 1996 & 2003 versions. ARDA 2 is divided into 3 volume and is 6 times larger than the relatively light ARDA 1 version. ARDA 1 & 2 both come in Adobe's .pdf format, which is used widely for presenting lengthy, intricate page-layouts for a constant clear presentation, and are "search-able". Adobe Acrobat Reader is a FREE download for .pdf format, and it is usually already installed on your computer, but also quickly available at the button to the right. ARDA 2 is also in MS Word's .doc format, if you need the pictures, or to compile your own tailored version.

Larger files may require up to 4 minutes to fully load pictures.

Note: An alternative back-up download site, thanks to Bruce, is at http://saher.cwahi.net/.

Before ARDA 1's 1996 release, there was Isaac Bonewits' "Druid Chronicles (Evolved)", which was released in 1976, and although some thought it slightly too slanted towards Neo-Pagan sources of inspiration, it proved a valuable collection of materials for Druids for the next 20 years. I've also added "Carleton Druid Compendium" of materials that might have been available at Carleton in 1976 with modern commentary. Both DC(E) & CDC are nolstalgic classics, relatively thin, ready to print, and easily bound with a strong super-stapler or at kinkos. We recommend you use the .pdf version to maintain strict pagination on printouts, and the .doc version for cut & pasting material.

Check your PC by clicking the start button on the lower-left corner of your screen, click "settings" and open the "control panel". Open the "fonts" folder and see if "Gaelige 1" "Peace" and "Celtic Knot" are in your list. If not, these are the sites to download the fonts and save to your computer.

Gaelige 1 font is available at www.1001freefonts.com for the headers of most articles. http://www.celticvoice.com/readings/gaeil1.htm Peace font for Part 5's HDNA title page and section titles is available at http://www.fordpub.com/funpages/fonts/fontsp.html Celtic Knot font for the initial capitals on title page of Part 1-6 is available at http://www.coolarchive.com/fonts.cfm type in "Celtic Knot".

The Main Volume of ARDA2 (Parts Zero-Five & Seven to Ten) will soon be ordered by a Print-On-Demand service; whereby you go on-line, order the book from a company that will print it, bind it and mail it to you. However, only 40 copies of the Green Book volume and the Magazine volume will be printed, and those are already spoken for. The rest of you will have to print out your own copies for personal use.

I suggest that if you are going to actually print out a whole volume, that you use a double sided-printing with high quality ink. The small font in the text is size 9 Time New Roman, so it may be hard to read on a poor print. If your eyes are strong, 2 or 4 pages on a single side might be sufficient in a calendar-style printing.

Your print-out should therefore be ready to bind on the spot, either in a three-ring D-shaped binder, or one of those spiral plastic binders that can be done at most copy stores for about 1 cent per page, if you give them a printed copy. Make sure they get the odd number pages on the right side and even on the left side so that it will open up correctly! Or you can sneak off a copy at work on the double-side printer.

If you print out all the files (double-sided, of course) and went to Kinko's for "coil" or "fold" binding, you'll find that 440 pages (220 sheets) is about the maximum. So you'll likely split each volume into two halves for separte bindings. I recommend getting 2 sheets of clear plastic on front&back of each half-volume. If you have a local university, there may be a local binder for theses who can do perfect binding for a few dollars more, and the pages won't tear as easily!

Main Volume Split: 0-4 / 5,7,8,9,10
Green Volume Split: 0-6 / 7-11
Magazine Volume Split: Vol 1-15 + Standing / 16-20

Naturally, some of you don't wish to print out 2400 pages, preferring to consult on-line for most research. However, you may wish to personalize a print-out for your own Druidic Needs. Each section is a self-contained stand-alone document easily combined with disparate others on a theme. Here are a couple of sample sets you could printout into a single Kinko's capable volume:

Liturgist Collection: Main 3 & Green 7 --- 300pages
Traveling Missionary: Main 1,(2),3,4 & Green 7 --- 450 pages
Druid Historian: Main 4, 8 & Green 10 --- 300 pages
Contemplative: Main 1,2 & Green 1-4 --- 500 pages

Computer Versions

What is probably more practical is to save the file on your computer, and just print out the pages (in .pdf format) you need for a service or an evening's reading. The .doc format may be useful if you are cut-and-pasting materials for a particuliar service; such as a reading and a liturgy and an epistle.

I'd recommend that you save one copy of all these files to ARDA 1 and ARDA 2 to a CD ROM or DVD as a permanent back-up for your grove records.

Any further questions write to me at mikerdna@hotmail.com