suggestions not meant to be mean

[Dancing Bear 54]

1. Make soom effort to meet a disabled member half way on buying your stuff. I cant get access to members sections because I cant buy some paperback book. Some money is better than none.And your attitude makes you look like a rip off.
2. I've been a bard all my life.Your not letting me into any Bard group is raither dumb. But I will continue to write regardless because thats what i do ,since the stroke stole my ability to perform music.
3 You have a creative good group of folks, don't become anal like the American Druid group. Let your artistic community grow and produce and OBOD will grow also

       your flustrated DRUID    :old:

[Jingle]

Hi Dancing Bear!
The Bard Group is more for discussing the lessons in the course, and not necessarily for sharing poetry, so it wouldn't make much sense to access the bards forum if you're not taking the course.  The public forum "Poetry and Writing Forum" is for sharing bardic talents, poems, getting constructive criticism, etc.  You should check it out!

Looking forward to seeing more of your talent!

[Creirwy]

I'd second what Jingle said. The Bard forum is for members that are currently or have taken the Bardic course - which is outlined very well on the druidry.org website.

The poetry and creativity forums are there for everyone to share their expressions of Awen

C
x

[Selene]

Dancing Bear,
Have you read the FAQs about joining the Order on the main OBOD web site? (http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=7&page_id=49)

We do not want financial hardship to prevent people following the course, so if you really find that even with the easier payment methods, you still cannot afford the fees, please write to us explaining your circumstances. Concessions are also often available for camps, retreats and workshops in the event of financial difficulties.

You need to e-mail the Office at obod@druidry.org and discuss your situation with them, because we here on the message board have nothing at all to do with the cost or any discounts that may be allowed.

As Jingle and Creirwy have said, the members' forums are for discussion of the course work and if you are not doing the course, the topics discussed would be meaningless to you. The Bardic course is not directly concerned with poetry or writing, although many find that the course stimulates their creativity in those directions. I would describe it more as an experiential journey of self-discovery and self-evolution. To pull another quote from the main web site,

You...follow a path laid down, initially probably thousands of years ago, and which has been encoded in an old story about a young boy who becomes the finest Bard in the land - Taliesin.

Have you looked at the sticky in Discuss Druidry called "Questions about OBOD's course"? If not, I recommend that you do, because a lot of members have contributed their thoughts there and it might make a bit clearer what the course is really all about.

And if you haven't checked out the Creative Bardic Pursuits section of the board, you really should, because that's where most members express their creativity. And, to again agree with Jingle and Creirwy, the Poetry and Writing forum is the perfect place for sharing your poetry and reading the works of others. While someone occasionally posts a poem in the Bards forum, I fear you'd be disappointed if you went there expecting it to be something like you see in Poetry and Writing.

Good luck to you,
Selene

[Dancing Bear 54]

Thru the board being wiped out, and all the flustration of being alone unable to even find a fellow OBOD Druid near I've still loved this group. Thank you all for the suggestions and I followed your advise and wrote the main office. Thank you for taking the time to write

                                    Wayne  :hug:

[Unikorn]

Hi Wayne, I hear your frustration.

Its sometimes challenging to feel alone.  One of the things very important to me is community, for the same reason - from being geographically alone for a long time.

I have noticed recently that through this board and through other forums like the chatroom ... people have slowly been able to connect with others in a vague geographical area and meet up.  I don't know how computer literate you are - but I would like to welcome you to #inthetrees chatroom anytime - you can get there via the link in my signature.  It's pretty much a virtual grove that I dreamed of some years ago...because of my geographical isolation from other druids and like-minded folk.  It has become a wonderful place for sharing and community over time as people have formed this kind of virtual tribe, and I have watched several people move from isolation to community - over time.

Bright blessings on your journey and please contact me via PM if you would like to chat

Love and bubbles
Unikorn

[Mey]

I PMed you