About Me

Hello! I’m Scott Schumacher, and I want to welcome you to my website, Northern Druid. Through my blog and subsequent pages, I hope to impart some knowledge and ignite your curiosity about the natural world.

I was raised in Iowa and have spent most of my life living in the Upper Midwest.  Since 1996, I’ve lived in Minnesota, and today I live happily with my partner of over 7 years and our dog, Junebug (She’s often the star of this blog!). We frequently split our time between the suburban Twin Cities and a cabin retreat in Northern Minnesota.

While growing up in Iowa, my father built his own solar panels, which he attached to the entire south side of our small 2-bedroom house. I was always surrounded by the ethics of sustainable living, do-it-yourself projects, and a love for the great outdoors. The times spent gardening and camping with my family are some of my fondest memories of childhood. I often joke that my ethics of sustainability have come about through genetics.

In high school I discovered my talent for singing, and went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance. I am still active with my voice, which has settled into a rich, medium, “2nd Tenor” sound. In early 1996, I received my Masters Degree in Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Iowa. After that, my “real learning” began!

Soon after arriving in Minnesota, I made the conscious choice to become antibiotic-free, and to learn as much as I could about alternative, holistic, and herbal remedies for health and well-being. To this day I’m still antibiotic-free and my health seems to have improved each and every year! In 1999 I became a Certified Massage Practitioner and practiced massage for 10 years. I’ve also been a Reiki Master since 2002, having studied many other hands-on therapies such as Acupressure, Reflexology, Zero Balancing, and Polarity Therapy. I’m a firm believer that the human body is an Earth-based energy system.

In 2005 I began exploring more traditional spiritual practices such as Shamanism, Druidry, and Celtic traditions. The realm of Druidry seemed like a natural fit for me, especially when I began studying my own Irish, English, and German ancestry. I consider myself a “Living Druid” and a member of the modern Druid Reform movement.

Presently I earn my living  as a web designer, virtual assistant, and personal/business coach.

Spiritually, I consider myself an Earth-Loving Unitarian Universalist. However, I’ve always been “out of the box” politically – respecting the gifts of human diversity, supporting equal rights for all people, being a steward of the land – yet at the same time holding fast to more “Libertarian” values of freedom, liberty, self-reliance, personal responsibility, health freedom, school choice, and the right to self-protection.

I believe that all of us are born with an intuitive nature, a connection to the land, the right to our own personal definition of spirituality. Even in the realm of Druidry, I believe that one’s own definition is “their own right definition”. Only a love of Nature is required.

So whether you’re a person who likes yoga and meditation, hunting and fishing, hiking and biking, canning and cooking, herbalism and beer brewing, sustainable living and off-grid survival, archery and target shooting, or even prepping for “the end of the world as we know it”, I’m here to reach out to you! I hope you like the website and the offerings here!

May the Forest be with you!

Scott