The Reformed Druids of North America were established in the 1960s in response to an oppressive religious service attendance mandate. The Druids, an earth-centered spiritual group, have historically been headed by an Archdruid, a pious Druid member of the highest Third Order. Archdruids are Carleton students, and when one passes…across the stage at Commencement, a new leader must be elected.
Archdruids have been elected in a variety of ways: a secret ballot, trial by combat, a singing competition, electoral college, even going out to the Arb and asking the Arb Goblin for advice. These methods have yielded a variety of results, including a squirrel Archdruid in the 90s, but with the recent resurgence of the papal conclave after the death of Pope Francis, the Druids have decided to do as the Romans do and have a conclave of their own.
The conclave begins with a sacrifice to the Earth Mother on Mai-Fête Island, where all eligible Druids that are younger than seniors offer up a piece of plant material they feel best represents their beloved, nearly departed Archdruid. Then the Druids, adorned in their special robes, will process to Skinner Memorial Chapel, through the front doors, down the stairs, and into the Druid Closet. This chamber is small, which is intentional to speed up the selection process. After a short earth-centered hymn, the voting begins.
Like with the conclave in the Sistine Chapel, there will be one vote on the first day of the Archdruid conclave, and four on the second and third days. Spectators will know if the druids have rendered a verdict depending on the type of leaf that emerges from under the door of the Druid Closet. A broad-leaved deciduous leaf means an Archdruid has not been elected, but a conifer means a new Archdruid is in our midst.
If a new Archdruid has not been elected, the Druid electors will take the fourth day for deep reflection and frolicking in the grass. While Druids are allowed to leave the small closet between votes, they are restricted to Skinner Chapel and its surrounding lawn. This is a bit of a sticking point, as some Druids have fought for the parking lot to be included in the cloister as well.
In all honesty, there is only one serious candidate for Archdruid as there is only one other third-order Druid on Carleton’s campus. That does not, however, discourage some unconventional candidates from intruding into the voting process. It has been an unspoken expectation that a member of the Druid conclave would eventually become Archdruid, but in theory, any Carleton resident who has been blessed by an Arb spirit can take on the role.
“I’d like to be the Archdruid. That would be my number one choice,” said President Alison Byerly, after previously denying posting an edited image of her in the esteemed Archdruid vestments to the Carleton Today newsletter.
