The Aussie thread....

[Art]

There used to be an Aussie thread here.

It was one means I had of seeing how many OBODies might be in and around Sydney. Since Tom Byrom moved - and I only got to attend one get-together he organised - I have no idea if anyone's going to do anything. I have found that the Druids Down Under blogspot hasn't been updated since January, and after doing a bit of searching someone of PaganSpace linked me to this website http://druidryaustralia.org/. This website seems to be a work in progress, and there's no information under the contact option.

I would like to have an Aussie thread that is pinned so that it doesn't go AWOL with the new pruning system. There are quite a few of us and yet we seem to have no central certain point for contact. I would love to be able to get together with other local OBODies from time to time. It would be great to have a real Sydney seed group, even if we only got together four times a year or something like that. All we need is one or two people willing to make things possible.

[Dragonwyst]

*sigh* - I guess no Aussies are looking anymore.

No matter, I have a sort of more witchy group to meet up with now and then. I will wait.

[Davin Raincloud]

I think there needs to be more of an inter-order focus down under.

I don't think we can afford to be too focussed on OBOD or ADf or others down under....when there are stuff-all committed Druids.

Perhaps a part of why I'm not committed is because there is no organised presence here.

Also, I'm honestly not that keen in meeting up sometimes. I worry about what would the focus be? People are diverse, and just because we have Druidry in common, doesn't mean we wanna hang? LOL



I think the number one issue that needs to be addressed are these bloody seasons and times and stuff. Also how does someone in Cairns, celebrate the same winter as someone in Melbourne? They don't.

I think onlien e-lists and such hav ebeen started before, but the interest has waned.

[Aurora]

Hi Dragonwyst

Sorry to be replying late as i wan't online over the weekend, I know Julie form druids down under organised something for the flower festival and then the spring equinox that i wasn't able to get to due to work/travelling. DDU's open to all who are interested in attending, though an obod seed group would be great

[wyeuro]

hi dragonwyst,
there's plenty of action here in oz once you get in on it. we don't advertise much, but we're beginning to grow so that might improve. there's an annual assembly, groves and seed-groups, and serpentstar is the newsletter downunder. i've just handed over the editorship to kim morley, and you can reach her to subscribe at ladya.serpentstar@gmail.com (it's free on-line or you pay for postage etc - not much). Melbourne grove is very active - contact details at http://druidnetwork.org/node/1001598 (i googled melbourne grove elkie white). elkie is very approachable and is a contact for it. the not quite annual assemblies are wonderful if you can get to them - druids from kingaroy to perth gather for two days or more of deeply magical ceremony (you have to be in it to know how deep and powerful it feels), sharing and talking, partying, and believe me, thrilling eisteddfod. kids get worked in happily too. some assembly hosts even let you take the dog as long as it's controlled. the next one is in 2011 at cooringal grove in port lincoln, sth oz. details will appear in serpentstar, so it's worth subscribing. it's a good little newsletter, too, and welcomes contributions.
i agree it would be good to also get something going that included all druids. and yeah, one of the big things is the need to re-craft our ceremonies for our local conditions at home, and also for general reference when we all get together from far-flung corners of the continent for ceremonies. but the emphasis is often much more on rites of passage, initiations, namings, cronings, etc, so the importance of the seasonal stuff is tending to diminish a bit at those shows.
hope to meet up with you at the next assembly.
wyverne /|\

[Dragonwyst]

Thanks for the info, Wyeuro. That certainly helps and it would be great to be at the next assembly if I can find my way there.

[LadyAoftheshire]

Hello Dragonwyst,

I am from Sydney, and would be interested in meeting up at some point..

As Wyeuro mentioned I have taken over editorialship of Serpentstar, and am looking for lots of contributions please!

Perhaps this thread needs to be in the Southern Hemisphere section of the forum? Although that section doesn't seem to be very active

[Dragonwyst]

Thank you LAotS - I have sent you a pm.

[Aurora]

Congrats LadyAoftheshire on becoming editor

Would like to meet more fellow OBODIES who live locally, I know a few who might like to meet some others aswell, i can check with them if you want?

Aurora

[Dragonwyst]

That would be good, Aurora.

[Bronzewing]

Hi fellow Aussies,

I am probably late dropping into this thread but if it is going to keep going then what the heck. I didn't actually know there was a southern hemisphere section on the board. I get so lost here and must admit that I don't visit much any more as I didn't seem to be making connections. Would love to know there was one spot I could come to and actually get to know some people who it might be possible to meet one day. Hubby and I hope to do a bit of a trip across the country next year and one thing we would like to do is meet up with some Obodies along the way. Maybe attend a festival or open ritual if the timing is right.

As to seasonal celebrations, we just found it so hard to work. As we know, reversing them doesn't really cut it either. What our little seed group did was sit down and work out what each time meant to us, what deity most seemed to have an affinity for that time, what local animal seemed best fitted to join with the established ones as the totems for that time of year, and a word or phrase that summed up how we were feeling at that time of year. I drew that into a local wheel of the year and it is a big help. I am sure that over time we will fit that into a bigger group of traditions for each festival, but at least now we don't get so confused when trying to work out what is coming. Wouldn't be a lot of use away from our little corner of WA, but I do encourage any other groups out there to give it a try.

We were subscribed to Serpentstar but I haven't had one arrive in quite a while. How do we get back on the mailing list?

Hugs,

Bronzie

[Fox of the Oaks]

Hi everyone,

I live in the suburbs of Adelaide, again a different climate than most other places of Australia. While I have been rather solitary thus far in my journey, I am feeling a gently growing space for connection with other local Druids. To bring my personal journey in balance with the wider community would be wonderful.

I also have thought somewhat about ritual circles and so on in the Australian environment. My approach has been to work with various animals and plants, places and times, as they come to me, and see what evolves naturally. I think anything of this nature takes time to develop, just as any Tradition does - they don't just happen over night. Exchanging ideas and experiences, is certainly something I think would be valuable for Australian OBOD members, so I would support a thread or section of the forum for that purpose.

I look forward to meeting with some of you in the near future, how and when I am yet to know.

PineRaven.

[Ra3vyn]

Hi Everyone

I'm in the South of Western Australia, born and mostly raised in Perth but been as far afield as Tasmania

Great to see you all, just thought I'd pop my head in and say Hi

and Blessings
Ra3vyn

[Fox of the Oaks]

Hi Ra3vyn

[Steven Pitman]

Hi all,

I went to the last gathering in April, hosted by The Melbourne Grove. A fantastic couple of days. I went along with similar concerns to Davin in regards to divided ideas about what druidry was all about. But I actually came away enriched by the contact with other peoples way of looking at things. We had opportunities to chin wag about the landscapes we come from and our different ways of approaching ritual and ceremony. I can only say that it has enhanced my personal rituals and ceremonies by attending.
There were some amazing people there too, storytellers, musicians, poets, academics, mystics, healers... the lot... A few lap harps too, which got me all inspired and I ended up buidling my own as a completion of my bardic journey. We even had a web link with the chosen chief for a led meditation and some meet and greets.
The http://druidryaustralia.org/ started coming together post the gathering by a pair of very talented participants and will no doubt develop further over time.
I agree that it is good to have a multi-organisation approach, and one of the things that I like about OBOD is the organisations ability to relate with other druidic groups. Shows great maturity for an organisation me feels. And this is certainly reflected in the druidry australia website where the links section also points to some of the other organisations out there.
Many of the gathering members have been in touch with each other since and I think all participants came away with some strong friendships.
My recommendation is definatly keep your eyes on serpenstar for info on the gathering at cooringal in october next year.
Congratulations Lady A on editorship. Look forward to future serpenstars!!!

[Aurora]

Hi Bronzie, PineRaven, Ra3vyn and Steven

Thanks for the website link Steven it looks really awesome, will definately keep an eye on it as it develops

[Bronzewing]

Hi Everyone and especially my fellow Sandgroper, Ra3vyn ,

I thank you for that link too Steven. I've registered under the same user name as here but haven't had a look around yet. I hope the site goes from strength to strength!

Hugs,

Bronzie

[Dragonwyst]

The http://druidryaustralia.org/ started coming together post the gathering by a pair of very talented participants and will no doubt develop further over time.

However patience will be very necessary. My request for membership is still not approved. All in good time.....

[Steven Pitman]

Yes indeed Dragonwyst... as I said... seems to be developing in druid time.... If there is enough groundswell of interest then these things seem to take off of their own accord. I think serpenstar is a good example of something that has taken off and taken a life of its own. We shall see how websites and the like develop... and if they generate the same amount of energy around them...

[Serenity]

Hello fellow Aussies
So interesting to see how Druidry is developing here. I've been trying to subscribe to Serpentstar but can't seem to find the right link. Would welcome instructions. Many thanks.