Jody has gone back to her roots and embraced Druidism

Drudism is a religion that predates Christianity and emphasises getting in tune with the natural world. Jemma Walton met the guardian of the Peterborough-based Druid Grove of Alban Eiler and asked her about Bardic Chairs, Eisteddfods and walking in the woods.When you're scratching your scratchcards, shopping until you drop or recovering from the hangover of hangovers do you ever think there must be more to life than this?Most of us probably do – but can't really be bothered to do anything about it. But Jody Williams was different. She could be bothered.Jody was drawn to a religion which emphasises building a relationship with the natural world rather than tuning into all the hollow distractions of modern life – Druidism. As a teenager, Jody was intrigued when a friend told her she was a Wiccan white witch.

"I said 'Ha ha –where's your broomstick?', but then she explained it to me and I became interested," said Jody. "I went along to a few Pagan moots, and liked what I heard." Now 27, she has since become a committed Druid – but not a white witch, as that is more fitting with the Wicca branch of Paganism than the Druid part. She volunteers at Flag Fen, and is organising a Druid-style festival of the arts there next year. "Druidry is basically a form of Paganism, and is all about developing your ownrelationship with nature," she said. "I can't really explain it too well as it's an instinctive thing. "Basically, for Pagans, the earth is their altar. It is about paying attention to every little thing – when you go for a walk connecting with the trees, flowers, animals and birds around you." Jody is priestess of the Grove of Alban Eiler, which basically means she is the "guardian" of her grove, or group of believers. She took on the role when the founders of the grove left two years ago. There are about eight members of her grove, and they meet up around eight times a year to celebrate every festival in their calendar. Druidry is a journey which encourages you to learn, to experience and build a connecting relationship with nature and, they say, helps you develop asan individual.......