| Order Of Bards, Ovates And Druids |
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In 1988 Philip Carr-Gomm was asked to lead the Order. The teachings were arranged in the form of a distance-learning course and are now mailed to members all over the world. A network of tutors has grown up, many using email, and they support the students’ progress through the grades of Bard , Ovate and Druid . Members meet at camps, at workshops and assemblies in various parts of the world, and a network of groves and seedgroups also exists. There are a number of internet forums, a private members’ website in addition to OBOD’s public-access site, a monthly journal ‘Touchstone’ and quarterly journals in Dutch and for Australasia. Over the years, OBOD has developed a way of teaching Druidry and Druidcraft that is experience-based, leading students through the course of a year on a journey through the old Bardic tales that leads to the gradual acquisition of magical skills and understanding. Although underpinned with historical, mythological and psychological material, the aim of the course and of the Order is to help individuals develop their creative and spiritual abilities through working with a tradition that holds the Earth and all of Nature as sacred. This, however, is not the only way of learning the "crafts" of the Druid . Upon joining OBOD there is sometimes the opportunity of joining a "Druid Grove". This can be compared to a Wiccan Coven , although it is not as strict in its procedure for joining. Unlike open rituals for the Eight Sabbats that can be found up and down the country, the "Grove" is only open to members of OBOD. Where as undertaking the OBOD experience-based course is primarily designed for the solitary Druid , a Grove offers a deep group spiritual journy where you can learn the craft in a more traditional way. While the course OBOD supplies can be undertaken and completed in a year, there is some argument that rushing through the course can lead to a misunderstanding of the teachings. At camps, members enjoy storytelling and music-making around campfires, hold ceremonies and create magical adventures. A member says of the area of land that he practices in: “We’ve developed a way of exploring and ‘entering into’ the old stories and myths, so that they become exciting and educational games that take place across two fields and in the woods. We hold Druid sweathouse rituals and initiations, and big communal ceremonies under the stars.” SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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