Dr. Dana Driscoll, Indiana University of Pennsylvania USA; Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America/ This presentation will offer an exploration of creative practices and the “Awen”; in the modern druid tradition, a tradition of nature spirituality inspired by the Ancient Druids and revitalized in the 17th century.  Dana will briefly share details about the druid tradition as a whole: rituals, beliefs, the ways in which druids understand consciousness and metaphysics. Then, Dana will offer an exploration into how druids understand the sacred concept of “Awen”, which is defined as flowing inspiration, flow states, and divine creative expression as well as the broader force of
divine creation. While this concept has been studied primarily in  the field of psychology as a “Flow state”, Dana will share how druids understand the Awen to be many things: an altered state of consciousness, a spark of insight, a spiritual practice, and something that needs to be carefully cultivated. As both an insider and a social scientist, Dana has a unique perspective on the druid tradition. She will share from her own experiences as well from her studies in the druid tradition (including a large study of 266 druids) and more broadly on her ongoing research on flow states (of non-druids).