Betwixt the Sea and Sky

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Having read many thousands of pages over the last few years on many of the pagan and neo-pagan followings, I find that my origional interest in Druidry is still the closest to my heart. Having researched the academic beginnings of the neodruidic organizations, and at this time not wishing to go in the direction of Freemasons, I find myself considering the OBOD courses.

Has anyone here, done this course, and if so can recommend it? Has anyone heard negative things about it? Any comments are welcome.

When I first started my studies of Paganism, druidry was my first calling, as well. I kept to it for some time trying to learn as much as possible. I had the good fortune of meeting a man online that I since lost contact with. He was a member of a druidic order in the UK. He told me that OBOD was a great site but that it was wrong to offer courses for payment only. According to beliefs of a Druid knowledge is a gift given freely and should remain so. I thought about it for a long time and finally decided that I agreed with him and soon after my interests branched elsewhere.

So, while I have not taken the courses I do trust the opinion of the one I spoke to. I've visited OBOD several times and think it is a great informational site. Based on what I've seen there I can imagine the courses are just as informative and detailed. It just depends on how you feel about being asked to pay for the knowledge.

In Shadow and Light...

I am in the midst of the Bardic grade with OBOD and I am enjoying it immensely; I have from the beginning. At first glance I found the cost of the course prohibitive so I wrote to OBOD (Damh, specifically), told him of my desire to enroll and of my aenemic budget. They cut the cost in half and allowed me to pay in installments. Now they have made a monthly payment an option as well since that is easier to fix into one's financial schedule than a lump sum. Another is that a regular member can offer associate membership in OBOD for 4 friends at a cost of no more than $30 for the entire grade. I have 2 friends who enrolled this way.I don't feel I am paying for knowledge as much as for the time and material put into assembling the course. Along with the course, you are assigned a mentor/tutor as well as being able to participate in online rituals with other members if there is not a grove in your area.

Great, Leila, actually taking the course now, that's good information. There is a Boston grove according to the website though it doesn't appear to have been updated recently.

I don't have a problem with the price or with paying for it. Perhaps Druidic knowlege should be free but in the long ago days, one did not just receive the information free. One either enrolled in the school, where in addition to learning the intense lessons taught over the period of years, but also participated in the typical labor required of students in a monastery environment, or one hosted the druid priest or priestess, providing shelter, food, drink etc.

In these modern days, I figure there is a cost involved with creating the lessons, printing, publishing, shipping them here, and providing the tutor availability and such. I don't think the cost is prohibitive, and it is of value to me (I should say, as long as it is decent) We spend a lot on books anyway. If I take a night course, I have to pay tuition, so I guess it doesn't bother me too much.

For Leila and others who have recieved the lesson packages, do you think it's well done? Are you learning something? Is it well organized etc?

What is it that comes in these packages?

Ack, forgive the tardiness of my reply...I just noticed your post today! In answer to your question, I do think the gwersu are well laid out. As I have gone along in the lessons, I find they flow so well from one to the other. Definitely a mark that they were thought out carefully, and with a love of the study, I might add. In talking with other OBODies, I have often heard them mention a synchronicity between the studies and one's life experience; I have been discovering this myself. It seems to deepen the particular lesson for me.

Imbas, you mentioned a grove in the Boston area...have you been in contact with anyone from it yet? One of my dear friends, Eilid, (she just completed the druid grade) is a member of the Boston one, I believe. If you'd like, I could put you in touch with her.

Oh, Wolfhound, you were asking what comes in the packages...well, the basic package includes four lessons per month (although they encourage you to study at whatever pace works best for you) as well as the Bardic Companion and ritual booklets for following the festivals of the year. There are other sendings as well not necessarily related to the lessons like a subscription to Touchstone and other odds and ends.

Great info, Leila... I too have a few questions. Have you any personal comparison between OBOD and ADF? And whats your opinion of online druidic study courses?

Greetings Leila,

Thanks, for the info. I would be interested in talking with your friend in the area. I have not yet decided on this path, or any for that matter, since I tend to be mostly content as is. But I do like synchronicity, (and all the other Police songs...), sorry, irreverance is my nature. We, Lace and I are rather independent by nature, and tend to put off ritual, strictly for ritual sake. But, as I mentioned earlier, I have always felt a kinship with many of the tenets of the new druidism. So, I can be reached here, or, my email is listed in the members area. Feel free to share it with her. Thanks!

Lacedra suggested that I attach this, she thought since you said you enjoy glass you might like this, this is my last piece, hangs in our window. It's hard to get the right colors in a photo, but you get the idea...

Does it come with the Mabinogion, the Barddas, the books of Math to study, the book of Irish invasions, and the other poetic novels that all Bards must know by heart as well?

Allo Red, Imbas and Wolfhound,

Red, in answer to your question about my own personal comparison between OBOD and ADF...hmm, I hope I can be fair as well as honest on this one. When I first began investigating avenues of druid study, I encountered ADF and while I found them interesting, their interpretation of the spirit of druidry just really didn't speak to me. On the other hand, when I first received the introductory package from OBOD and read through it, it was wild. I had this overwhelming sense of having come home spiritually. I am always one to follow my instinct and it was a very positive one I had about OBOD and following through the study of the grades. Those were my initial experiences with both organizations. Since then I have made friends in both ADF and OBOD. I have also become much better acquainted with the history and origins of both. While I do not get all over my ADF friends about their affiliation, there are just things about ADF that don't sit well with me. There is this attitude about the group (perhaps reflecting that of it's founder?) that they "own" druidry and it's interpretations. I find that haughty. Arrogant. I know I am biased but in comparison there is a gentleness and a humility about both OBOD and Phillip Corr Gom. I think it was a big part of what attracted me to the Order.

As an aside, a friend of mine (and fellow moderator of an OBOD group) I look after, recently related a terrible experience she had with an ADF grove when she first became involved with druidry. I would not go into the full details publicly but I will say this. It involved abuse of a younger member of the grove. My friend attempted to speak out on this one's behalf and unbelieveable to her, she was brushed aside by the druid overseeing the grove. She never received any reply from Bonewits in a complaint she sent him. To try to be fair, this was her experience in a particular grove and doesn't necessarily reflect on others. But does it reflect a spirit of arrogance in general about ADF? I have been pondering that a bit since hearing of my friend's involvement.

Red, I don't know how good an answer this was to your first question seeing as I am less than objective in it! To your second question, my opinion of online studies is a good one! Presently, I don't know how else I would be able to pursue a course (like the OBOD one) other than a distance study due to factors like my location being out in the country, work schedules, time factors in general. An online/distance one allows me the freedom and flexibility to work around my daily schedules which is a major plus!

Wolfhound, I can not speak to what is included in the other two grades (such as The Maginogion, Book of Invasions, etc.) but they are not included in the Bardic one. However the student is encouraged to seek out and read such works. These days that doesn't even require a trip to the library since a goodly amount of it is available online. There are many wonderful sites to find them at but in the past my favourite has been the online Summerlands library.

And Imbas. WOW! Thanks so much for sharing a photo of your creative genius in that beautiful piece!!! I am in awe of your work. (And thanks to Lacedra for suggesting you share it, too!)

Blessings,

Leila

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