MEET OUR CHOSEN CHIEF – AN INTRODUCTION TO DRUIDRY

THE ORIGINS AND ROOTS OF DRUIDRY

After you have watched this film, you might like to undertake a practical quest. Seek out a spot in Nature – by a river or the sea, or in the woods or fields. Settle in to being in this spot, close your eyes and become aware of all of the life that surrounds you. And now sense all of that life not as as separate from you, but as you being a part of it, and that the land herself is speaking to you, gently whispering her secrets; connecting you to a stream of knowing beyond thought and beyond words, deeply felt in your soul.

Ovate: Healing, nature, connection, altered states

The Ovate is the Druid shaman – a healer, a seer. In our training we explore Druid plant, animal and tree lore; we dive deep into the well of wisdom to find the roots of our ancestry, to explore our blood and milk lines, to explore the Mysteries of Time – reaching back in our inner journeys and ceremonies to ancient times, but also forwards into the Future, to listen to the voices of Druidry coming towards us from the future as well as the past.

Here we learn about the tree-lore of Ogham, and of how we can work with the healing powers of Nature to cultivate the life-force within us, known as Nwyfre. We learn, too, the arts of divination and work with the Druid Plant and Animal Oracles.

You might like to try seeking insight and guidance from these oracles now, by formulating a question in your mind, then clicking the icon below to see whether a plant or animal guide responds to your call:

Druid: Guidance, ritual, leadership, philosophy

In ancient times a Druid was a philosopher, teacher, counsellor and magician, the word probably meaning ‘A Forest Sage’ or ‘Strong Seer’. In modern times, a Druid is someone who follows Druidry as their chosen spiritual path, or who has entered the Druid level of training in a Druid Order.

As a member of the Order, you step into a vibrant, global community of like-minded souls – fellow nature lovers, creatives, and storytellers. You’ll find connection not only through the warmth of our online community the Druid Hearth, but also in the magic of real-world gatherings, joyful celebrations, and powerful group ceremonies.

You’ll learn about and celebrate the Druid Wheel of the Year, a cycle of 8 seasonal festivals that mark the turning of the seasons:

Alban Arthan Imbolc Alban Eilir Beltane Alban Hefin Lughnasadh Alban Elfed Samhainn

Maybe you already celebrate these festivals, but maybe they are new to you. Our modern lives can be so busy that the seasons can fly by barely noticed, and this is one of the reasons many people feel a detachment from their lives and Nature, and it’s possibly one of the reasons you are here reading this – to rediscover your true place in the world.
Whether or not you already celebrate the Wheel of the Year, take a moment now to recognise where you are in the Wheel. What is the current season? What is happening to the plants and trees around you? Which one of the 8 festivals is approaching? Each festival invites you to open up to the moment, the here and now – to slow down your thoughts, breathe deeply of the air, feel the temperature of the air on your skin, and to listen to the wind and birdsong: to really take notice of what is happening in the natural world all around you. Don’t worry about getting it right – this is your journey of remembering. It is the connection you feel that is important.
Once you begin your journey of the Wheel of the Year you can go back to the same place each time, and each time you will notice small changes. Maybe Spring is earlier this time, maybe the harvest is a little later, and as you notice, so your relationship with the seasons, and ultimately with Nature and the Earth, will grow, and you will feel more and more at home in the world.

What Druidry Means to Our Members

Our members are international and often come together for different events, locally and in the UK for OBOD’s Summer and Winter Gatherings.