The Bardic Way: Sharing the Stories, Shaping the World

What comes to mind when you think of the Bardic Tradition? Is it a soulful-looking medieval youth strumming thoughtfully on a lute? Maybe it’s William Shakespeare, the “Bard of Stratford-on-Avon” that you imagine. Or it might be a mighty warrior-bard like the fictional Gurney Halleck from “Dune”, or the very non-fictional Hindi Charan bards of Rajasthani, composing songs of brave deeds while riding fearlessly into battle and witnessing them first-hand.

The Bard manifests in many forms, across many world cultures and eras. In this seminar we will briefly cast an academic gaze over the broad scope of Bardic history and lore in diverse civilizations. We will then begin to explore the manifestation of the Bardic tradition in our Pagan and Wiccan communities, our circles and rituals, and our festivals of the seasons. And through our exploration, we will settle on the common thread, the central element of the Way of the Bard – the stories.

Come prepared for a highly interactive examination of the archetype of the Bard and its aspects, to look deeply into the power that flows through our personal and collective stories, and to consider how that power may be raised and directed to healing our communities and shaping a brighter future and a more magickal world!

David Troxel (he, him) has been a practicing Wiccan for 30 years, a Pagan in spirit for twice that, and is a lifelong hand drummer and singer of the stories. He is an initiate in the West Coast Eclectic tradition through the Circle of the Winter Moon and has led numerous ritual circles in the Four Corners community. David also served on the Ardantane board of directors in the early days, and recalls tramping happily around the local deserts and mountainsides with the founders, looking for a home for this wonderful institution!

David has since taken a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and traded the beautiful New Mexico desert for the rugged coastline and redwood forests of northern California, where he practices family mediation in the state Superior Court for Humboldt County.