Chaos magick is arguably closer in method to traditional forms of western esotericism and shamanism than either the Golden Dawn or O.T.O. (Thelema) could ever hope to be.

It can be argued that Wicca, even inasmuch as that is the general public's first introduction to a systemized form of earth religion which recognizes the cycles, also takes its inspirations from the O.T.O., and therefore, Golden Dawn, as Gardner himself admitted taking some inspiration from Crowley in the creation of certain rituals for Wicca. Chaos Magick, too, is not bereft of this influence. Crowley's influence persists, like a clawed black hand across a green landscape, tearing into the Earth's flesh and attaching Christian and Masonic dogmatism to what would be an otherwise unique system.

So really the best methods of studying and understanding Druidry, other than joining a grove such as OBOD, are to touch grass and hug trees and sit in some nature for a bit. Perhaps read through the few bits of information we have on Druidry pre-Christian influence.

And If the Watchtowers find you, still, let them.

While I did make a post earlier praising chaos magick I do not fuck with the mayo magicians kind of chaos magick that attempts to bypass tradition. Here are the facts: tradition exists because of trial and error. Those who have come before us have already done the work. And in so doing tradition has become its own egregore.

The repetition of steps, as done by hundreds of magus for hundreds of years, holds its own power, which the magician can tap into. The associations of millennia ago become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you work with tradition you tap into the same well of magical power your ancestors did. Do not forego the strength of your ancestors' ways in your pursuit of your own way, for you are yourself all of your ancestors.

I think as fae I should expound on this a bit. This is neither in defense of or a word against chaos magick, but for full disclosure, I am also not a practicer of chaos magick, because chaos magick is really just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks, and often times, you might not like what sticks. Chaos magick is full of unintended consequences, and isn't very scientific.

Science is a pursuit and documenation of knowledge in a particular area. It is filled with what we know to be true, what works. Magick is as much a science as any other science and Tradition is the foundation of the science of magick. It's what we have tried, and what we have documented, works magickally. Or at least worked at the time we documented it.

Tradition cannot be ignored, but we would not want that to be construed to mean it means it must remain the same. Tradition is meant to evolve. It began with discovery, investigation, testing, and documentation, then repeating that loop with that new foundation. Tradition that becomes unchanging will stagnate, because nature itself does not remain the same.

As with most things, the path of balance remains as ideal as it always has. Some religions codify their knowledge in a book 6 megabytes in size, attach the constitution of the US on the back, and sell it for $50 a pop, while codifying "This tradition does not change because god does not change" as a core tenet. But Nature does change. The gods, the fae, and the spirits are not static beings unable to deal with a difference in ways of doing things (in fact the fae will get quite bored of this in pretty short order, in cosmic terms).

The tl;dr is that Tradition cannot be ignored, but do not be afraid to build on it. In fact, when things do work, write it down. Explore it, contemplate why it work. Try to understand the forces you are dealing with. Interact with them with respect but treat them like they are individual people too, with their own identity, wants, needs and raison d'etre. Do not let tradition become static, as eventually that road leads nowhere.