AWeN Gathering 2026
Welcome to the AWeN Gathering—a druid camp in the wilds of Montana at Raven’s Ridge,
hosted by the American West Nemata, a grove of groves.
Thursday July 9 – Sunday July 12, 2026
Rooted in the tradition of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids (OBOD) and sponsored by the Shining Mountains Grove, the AWeN Gathering is an invitation to come together in fellowship and reverence for the land, the ancestors, and the spirit of creativity that unites all Druids.
Celebrate the flowing light of the Awen—the divine inspiration that moves through song, story, ritual, craft, the pulse of the land, and the turning of the seasons.
Come circle with us—heart to heart and hand in hand—under the Shining Mountains of the Western Montana Rockies at Ravens Ridge, the home of the Shining Mountains Grove.
Join Us | Brief Intro | Shining Mountains | Ravens Ridge | RSVP | Intro to Awen | Our Values | Event Info
Ravens Ridge Gatherings
Join Us at Ravens Ridge for the First AWeN Gathering.
Gather in the spirit of Awen, under the Shining Mountains.
WHERE:
Ravens Ridge, just outside Ronan, Montana (between Missoula and Kalispell),
in the foothills of the Mission Mountains.
HOW:
We’ll keep it simple: tents beneath the trees, shared meals,
music, ritual, laughter, stillness, and celebration beneath the open sky.
WHO:
Limit 30 participants.
WHEN:
Thursday July 9 – Sunday July 12, 2026
High summer—between Alban Hefin and Lughnasadh.
After the spring rains, before fire season, and so as to not to compete
with other Summer Solstice celebrations or July 4th traffic.
COST:
$200 – Early-Bird
$250 – After June 1st, 2026
We hope to make this the first of many annual high-summer events. This year we are lay-led.
In 2027, our OBOD Chosen Chief, Eimear Burke, intends to be here.
Questions?
Contact us:
Heather Roan-Robbins and Bree Elliot at AwenMontana@gmail.com
Heather Roan Robbins www.roanrobbins.com
The land awaits your footsteps, the fire your voice, the circle your heart.
RSVP
The AWeN gathering has a limit of 30 attendees.
Reserve your spot today!
Gather in the spirit of Awen, under the Shining Mountains.
The Shining Mountain Grove at Ravens Ridge.
Based in Western Montana, the Shining Mountains Grove
(formerly the Mountains of Bran-Beith Seed Group)
is a grove within the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids.
Population is sparse in this part of the world. Our members live hours apart, so our grove often meets for a weekend retreat in good weather, on Zoom in tough weather, or we take a Walk with Druids—a hike at some point in between.
All are welcome. Some just check in on the Facebook page, others attend a few rituals, and a handful feel drawn to be at the core of the work and help plan our group efforts.
Many druids in the Inland Northwest are solitaries with a loose affiliation because there is no grove nearby, so a druid camp, an in-gathering, feels important. We are loosely connected with sibling groves in Nevada and the Pacific Northwest, and hope to grow this Northwest druid community.
If you are already a member of OBOD, welcome.
If you are not yet a member but are interested, investigate www.druidry.org and contact us. We’ll encourage your private work, answer questions, and support any on the OBOD path here in the Northwest.
If you are comfortable as a solitary, wonderful. We’ll be here when you are feeling sociable or would like a formal group initiation into the Bardic, Ovate, or Druid grades.
The Shining Mountains
The Shining Mountains: This term was used by many tribes for the Rocky Mountains from Canada through New Mexico as their peaks shone with snow early in the fall through late in the spring. Their gleam was a guiding sight when crossing the plains, these shining mountains, so the name has stayed in use for centuries.
Come circle with us—heart to heart and hand in hand—under the Shining Mountains.
The Shining Mountains at Ravens Ridge
Ravens Ridge
Ravens Ridge is about 2 outside Ronan, Montana, heading towards the mountains. The site sits on on 17 wooded acres with a flat field and house at the top, rolling hills with a creek at the base.
A family of ravens has lived here for generations. At our first seed group meeting, the ravens circled overhead, sang to us, and left us a feather.
Raven and birch continue to be our special teachers, as are these amazing mountains we call home.
RSVP
The AWeN gathering has a limit of 30 attendees.
Reserve your spot today!
Gather in the spirit of Awen, under the Shining Mountains.
Introduction to Awen
Awen is the inspiration of the poets and bards that embodies our relationship to our creative muse.
Awen flows from the source and connects us to the source.
Awen cannot be forced, but we can get out of our way and open to it.
The Awen symbol could represent the three drops of inspired brew that Gwion Bach tasted from Ceridwen’s cauldron with its inspiration pouring down on us. It also symbolizes the two equinoxes on the edges, with summer and winter solstices at the mid-point, describing the cycles of the year and the spiritual connection we take from that. It infers mind, body, and spirit working together, with the earth, sea, and sky holding us.
What We Value
Creation and Creator are not separate. Our conversation with the natural world is our spiritual path. All the natural world—and how it works—carries the story and love of divine instructions. Our practices ask us to listen more deeply to the wisdom of the natural world, to open to inspiration, and to feel our mutual connection.
Be willing to learn from the natural world.
The Druid’s prayer unites all forms of Druidry and speaks of our search for connection, understanding, justice, and connection to the divine forces of our natural world.
Grant, O Goddess/God/Creator-Creation/Great Spirit/the Earth our mother, thy protection;
And in protection, strength;
And in strength, understanding;
And in understanding, knowledge;
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;
And in that love, the love of all existences;
And in the love of all existences, the love of Goddess/God/Creator-Creation/Great Spirit/the Earth our mother, and all goodness.
Ravens Ridge Forest
Event Info
COST:
$200 Early-Bird
$250 after June 1st, 2026.
Limit 30 people.
This year and next we plan on a smallish gathering at Ravens Ridge on 17 acres near wild land to keep costs down and the retreat easily available. We may expand to larger grounds in the future.
Accommodations:
Arrive Thursday, July 9. Leave Sunday, July 12.
Most people to camp in their own tents or RVs.
We will provide porta potties and a big main tent for activities.
We have a few beds in the house (upstairs) and in our trailers for elders/or those with extra needs, and we have a few tents to loan upon request.
If you prefer, you are also welcome to stay at a hotel or AirBnB; there are several within 25 minutes’ drive.
Food: Meals are provided. Vegetarian and gluten-free available. Please bring your own food if your diet is highly specific.
We are looking for a versatile, experienced cook (are you one? let us know!) and will ask all campers to sign up for a few shifts of meal prep or cleanup.
House Guidelines:
We have two dogs who are friendly once they know you—give them time, and please do not bring your own animals.
There will be a designated smoking area for those that need it; please do not smoke within the house or within 30 feet of the house. Use extreme caution when smoking or using any flame on the property to prevent wildfires.
We also ask that you use only unscented or naturally-scented products in the house, or use the ones we provide, so that the house is safe for the fragrance-sensitive (including many of our relatives). In turn, we will use only unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent to provide you with healthy air.
We hope to continue the AWeN Gathering in the years ahead. Eimer Burke has agreed to come in 2027. Your attendance this year helps us grow our system and shape future gatherings!