Spiral SpiritWhat ADF Druids do
The religion of ADF is based on the ancient Indo-European concept of "do ut des": I give so that you may give. In ancient societies, the idea of hospitality was one of the strongest bonds that held society together; one tenet of hospitality is that a gift given demands a gift in return. Even today, it's considered polite to show up to your host's home with a bottle of wine or some other small gift in appreciation of an invitation to dinner.
Likewise, in order to receive the blessings of the Gods, we give them gifts in return: praise, honor, and offerings of things that they like — incense, oil, flowers, liquor, food. We view our relationship to the Powers of the universe as a dynamic web of interdependence: we need them and they need us. The exchange of hospitality is the basis of survival and we celebrate this in our rites.
The rituals of Our Druidry benefit us, as well. In addition to maintaining our right role in the dynamic cosmos, we also reaffirm our place in the cosmic order and reap the blessings that the Gods and spirits provide. We align ourselves with the passing of the seasons and find a closer link with nature, and seek excellence in body, mind and spirit through study and the pursuit of right action. Not incidentally, we have a lot of fun doing it, too: celebrating the passages of our lives is rarely a somber occasion for Druids. Pagan people often say that joy and pleasure is a sacrament in itself, and we are inclined to celebrate this sacrament as often as possible!