- Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
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The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids (OBOD) Founder Ross Nichols, refounded by Philip Carr-Gomm Religions Contemporary druidism Scriptures None; influence from the Lebor Gabála Érenn, Mabinogion etc. Languages Cymraeg, Gaelige, Deutsch, English, Français, Português The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids or OBOD is a Neo-Druidic organisation based in England,[1] but based in part on the Welsh Gorsedd of Bards.[2][3] It has grown to become a dynamic druid organisation, with members in all parts of the world.[4]
The concept of the three roles of bards, ovates and druids originates from the writings of the ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo, who in his Geographica, written in the 20s CE, stated that amongst the Gauls, there were three types of honoured figures: the poets and singers known as bardoi, the diviners and specialists in the natural world known as o'vateis, and those who studied "moral philosophy", the druidai.[5] Nonetheless, Strabo's accuracy has been called into question, as he was not actually well acquainted with Gaul and was likely relying on earlier sources whose accuracy is also disputed.[6]
Contents
Founding
It was founded in 1964 as a split from the Ancient Druid Order with Ross Nichols as its leader.[7]
In 1988, after studying in the order and helping to further its reaches,[8] Philip Carr-Gomm was asked to lead the Order. Other notable members also hold somewhat senior positions in the order, often with the title of "Honourary Bard",[9] a good example of this being Damh the Bard,[10] who is involved mostly in the UK groves and running the podcast.
Dissemination
The teachings are arranged in the form of a distance-learning course mailed to members around the world.[11] There is a network of tutors,[12] many using email, to support the students’ progress through the grades of Bard, Ovate and Druid. Members meet at camps,[13] 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,[14] a private members’ website in addition to OBOD’s public-access site,[15] a monthly journal ‘Touchstone’[16] and quarterly journals in Dutch and in English for Australasia.
Teachings
The teachings of the Order could be seen as typical of Neo-druidism [17] today, in that it teaches its followers the belief of the sanctity of nature and a belief in the Otherworld. However, something about the Order that is considered atypical in that it is not practiced by many other Drudic orders is the acceptance of members regardless of religion, meaning that membership is open to those who may hold Christian beliefs [18] and not necessarily conform to an otherwise "typical" Druidic belief, such as reincarnation.
Many members of the Order prefer to learn at home, solitary,[19] as opposed to recorded Druids of early pre-Christian Britain that would have congregated to share wisdom or meet for occasion.[20] Members are sent course information and materials, and may be assigned a tutor if they wish to have someone to communicate with.[21]
The pantheon of which an individual Druid is also allowed to be decided by that individual and the group that they practice in. This means that the Order holds members of mostly Celtic pantheons, usually relating to the four, pre-Christian Celtic nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This also evokes the beliefs of Paganism and associated religions, such as the practice of Ancestral worship,[22] Naturism,[23] Polytheism and Spiritualism.[24][25][26]
References
- ^ "About the Order". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=2&page_id=79. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Alban Arthan - The Winter Solstice". http://www.druidry.org/obod/festivals/arthan.html. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "About OBOD - bardwood.org". http://www.bardwood.com/gdg-OBOD.htm. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "OBOD in Various Languages". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=0&page_id=85. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ Strabo. Geographica. IV.4.4-5.
- ^ Hutton, Ronald (2009). Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain. Yale University Press. Page 10.
- ^ Guiley, Rosemary (3rd Revised edition edition (15 Dec 2008)). The encyclopedia of witches, witchcraft and wicca. Facts on File. p. 111. ISBN 978-0816071036. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nDdcVt9-jnMC&pg=PA110&dq=the+%22order+of+bards+ovates+and+druids%22+1964&ct=result#v=onepage&q=the%20%22order%20of%20bards%20ovates%20and%20druids%22%201964&f=false.
- ^ "Phillip Carr-Gomm". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PostWrap&file=index&page=http://philipcarrgomm.druidry.org/. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Honorary Bards of OBOD". OBOD. http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=2&page_id=84. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Damh the Bard Biography". http://paganmusic.co.uk/biography.html?mid=3&smid=6&r=0.943257917650044. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Membership in OBOD". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=8&page_id=46. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Further Information On Courses". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=47. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "OBOD Gatherings and Camps". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=2&page_id=80. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "OBOD Forum". http://www.druidry.org/board/dhp/index.php. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Training In Druidry - OBOD". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=0&page_id=64. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Touchstone OBOD Monthly Journal". http://www.druidry.org/obod/intro/touchstone.html. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "OBOD Beliefs". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=30. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Christianity and OBOD". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=103. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Training in Druidry". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=0&page_id=64. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Druids of Old". http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/1937/. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Teachers in OBOD". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=47. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Ancestors and OBOD". http://druidry.org/obod/ancestors/index.html. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Naturism in Druidry". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=6&page_id=22.
- ^ "Tree Lore in OBOD". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=72.
- ^ "Plant Lore in OBOD". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=152.
- ^ "Animal Lore in OBOD". http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=71.
External links
- The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
- Druidcast - A Druid podcast by the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids
Neo-Druidism Common beliefs
Orders Ár nDraíocht Féin · Ancient Order of Druids · Ancient Order of Druids in America · British Druid Order · The Druid Order · The Druid Network · Honouring the Ancient Dead · Reformed Druids of North America · Order of Bards, Ovates and DruidsNotable Neo-Druids Erwan Berthou · Isaac Bonewits · Philip Carr-Gomm · François Jaffrennou · Robert Larson · Gwenc'hlan Le Scouëzec · Robert Wentworth Little · Iolo Morganwg · Ross Nichols · Emma Restall Orr · William Price · Philip Shallcrass · William StukeleyRelated Categories:- Neo-druidism in Britain
- Religious organizations established in 1964
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