Are you an OBOD Druid, or another Druid, or a Druid at all?

[katie bridgewater]

Hereditary Druid, but it doesn't have a box

[Huathe]

HedgeDruid could use one too!

[wolf560]

I think there's something to be said for the fact that OBOD is the largest druid organisation, surely the proof is in the pudding.

Actually, since I am a former member of the BDO, the ADF, the BCD, (and a few others) I am sure that each would tell you that they were the "largest organization".

If the Henge of Keltria or FoDLA had a message board that worked this well I would probably leave and go there and spend at least this much time. If the AODA and UAOD had a little less dogma I might have stayed. If the BCD and BDO had been able to stay afloat I would still be among them.

I been through quite a few systems of Druidic learning and/or Pagan education and the OBOD is on par with the rest of them. The things that really set the Great organizations aside are
1. Low cost or free coursework (less than $50/year and totally optional)
2. A way to easily discuss things online (with a searchable 'archive')
3. Constant 1-on-1 interaction (e.g. weekly online chats and/or a mentorship program).

Unfortunately the OBOD has only one of these; the discussion board. Which is probably the best board I've seen in a long time (not the best but who's being picky?).

I'm not sure how I feel about paying so much...
There are some that say that courses and groups like these are for the "Elitist crowd" since not everyone can afford the course (215 Brit pounds). Others agree with charging since "anyone can be a Druid but if they pay it shows a dedication to learning".

[DJ Droood]

Actually, since I am a former member of the BDO, the ADF, the BCD, (and a few others) I am sure that each would tell you that they were the "largest organization".

lol...yea...it is quite possible that they would...well, maybe not...I would think the ADF would have enough self-respect and organizational maturity not to embarrass themselves with a statement like that...don't know about the "BCD", though...never heard of them.

From the ADF website:

As of this writing, the largest Druid organization in the world is the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD), and the largest Druid organization in America is Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF). While there are dozens of other Druid groups in the American Druid community, ranging from independent local groves to Druid orders with international membership, these two between them probably account for something close to a majority of American Druids who belong to any organization at all.

typing "largest druid organization in the world" into google turns up lots of similar hits.

Of course, an easy end-run around numbers is to say OBOD isn't a "real druid" organization, for one reason or another. (and only me and my cat, Aoibheann, are real druids, so we are the world's largest.)

[wolf560]

Interesting.... never looked at the ADF website for that info

Pretty kewl thanks..!!

[Bart]

Just wandered in from the NOD group. Nice to discover this new source of information.

[wolf560]

Welcome aboard fellow Noddie..!!!

[Huathe]

Same here, from another NODie!

[Bart]

I see you have not changed your name yet.

[Huathe]

Bart,

I have not figured out how to do it here yet. But " Huathe " is still the " Hawthorn Ent "!

[wolf560]

Some new information as to the size of the ADF

It seems when you click on the statistics all you get are CURRENT Members who have paid their annual dues.
So the number reflected (for whatever reason) is FAR Lower than what the organization actually has.

If we were to apply the same reasoning to other websites and group membership rolls I am sure the numbers would fall away dramatically as well.

I am member #2956 and joined in 2003, so if we had almost 3,000 members then there is no way to say how many exist now.
I guess the philosophy is that if you are not keeping up with your annual dues then perhaps you are no longer practicing any longer, which is a valid way of looking at things.

But it is certainly greater than 2,956... we have about 15-20 participating members in the Phoenix AZ Grove, but I have run across almost as many that say they are "happy to stay (somewhat) anonymous internet ADF solitaires.

[deepwater]

For many years my grandfather came for me and took me to the forest with him,,Being young I learned small things and grew in knowledge,,My father when he was home took me out as well and between the 2 of them over 16 or so years I had a wealth of plants and animals,,harvesting preserving and special things to look for in the plants and the innards on animal,,I had never heard the word Druid,,one day coming home late from school I heard my mom and grandfather speaking loud and angry and I heard him say that I was a Druid,,like my father and his father and his fathers father before,,and mom told him to leave and not come back,,30 years later I'm still remembering things I was taught

[wolf560]

I wonder how much it really matters which group someone belongs to.

I joined as many groups of Druids as I could so that I could learn as much as possible.
My problem was that each group had different learning criteria and considerations.

In the end, I chose one group and completed their training. That was eight years ago and in that time I have completed one other course in Druidry. I also studied in College and beyond anything even remotely "Druid", including Celtic, Germanic, and all the cultures that surrounded or had contact with the primary cultures of the Celtae Togatae and the Celtae Galatae as the Romans knew them. The 'Romanized Celts' and the 'Long Haired Celts'.

There is a great deal to learn about being a Druid. The more we talk to each other and the more we research things about Druids the more we will learn about ourselves.

[Huathe]

Mark,

How did the NOD course compare with the BCD course? And what is your opinion of the OBOD course?

There is a great deal to learn about being a Druid. The more we talk to each other and the more we research things about Druids the more we will learn about ourselves.

- Wolf560

Mark. How true this is! Druidry is certainly a path of self-exploration.

[wolf560]

Mark,
How did the NOD course compare with the BCD course? And what is your opinion of the OBOD course?:

I was enrolled in the OBOD almost a decade ago, so I remember very little (especially considering I barely completed the first section). What I do remember was that it was very similar to the BDO which I also stopped doing about the same time.

My main reason for stopping?
The cost of the coursework was bankrupting me back then.

I saved the best for last; the Bandarach College -vs- the New Order of Druids.
I found both systems of learning very well constructed and detailed with an easy-to-follow "periods of Instruction" (methodology for teaching in a series of classes). The BCD and the NOD are both free (you can pay an annual fee for personal mentorship). The BCD and the NOD rely upon a Celtic/ Gaelic background with which to pull peoples thoughts together.

The BCD curriculum stood upon the reading and understanding of both Gaelic and Celtic history from documented sources. We were expected to complete the reading, essays, and mentor-led reviews of the works of roughly 23 books. The reading list was similar to the ADF and OBOD but laid out very well (I am including that list of books and the ones that I completed reviews on at the bottom of this page.)

The Bandarach had a discussion board very similar to the OBOD which I really like.
The Bandarach had a Sunday afternoon IRC chat that we used to answer students questions
The Bandarach had a real lack of mentors

The NOD has a discussion board very similar to the OBOD which I really like.
The NOD has a quarterly magazine that is very well put together
The NOD needs a few more mentors as well

All in all, I still cannot afford to pay the price of some of the mainstream Druidic education systems and so I would still recommend something else. The more "one-o-one" a suystem is the better the student will turn out to be. Whatever and wherever you go, you have to talk to the people around you. Book knowledge is not enough and neither is learning by walking in the Forest. Reading Gaelic history is important but so is reading about the Middle Ages and even the Victorian Age.

[Huathe]

Mark,

Academically you gave all three high ratings but those of OBOD come at a high cost as a disadvantage. Though I was impressed by the demos of the OBOD Bardic Grade I just found it too expensive, at least at the current time. If one got both the audio and written course material for all three grades of the OBOD course it would probably easily top a thousand bucks, plus you have to wait for the course material to be shipped to you. With computer downloadable courses like those of NOD there is no waiting. But you can buy, for a very reasonable price, physical books of the courses if you wish. Despite the high cost of the OBOD courses I may still end up taking them. The audio material may have some advantages.

One thing that surprises me in a way is how big OBOD is. Even with their more expensive coursework they are still the largest of the druid orders. The NOD is only about 8 years old or so.

I wish the BCD was still around. They look awesome. By my impression you may give them by a small margin, the highest marks. Being free I would almost certainly take their coursework. Were they Christian-adaptable as NOD and OBOD is?

I have been very impressed with the New Order of Druids. Their coursework has been a very learning experience and has had me delving deep into myself. The people on the forum has been very accepting and friendly. I feel very at home there. I have noticed a shortage of mentors there as well. I hope to work up to mentorship there at some point. My Christian viewpoint may enable me to have a somewhat different viewpoint than some others. I look to upgrade my NOD membership in the near future.

[wolf560]

One thing that surprises me in a way is how big OBOD is.
I wish the BCD was still around. Were they Christian-adaptable as NOD and OBOD is?
... the New Order of Druids... and a shortage of mentors

I will stay with the NOD in my current capacity as Mentor for as long as I can and that will probably be for at least the next several years. So no worries there my friend.

As far as Christian-adaptable; I don't see why not ...

The OBOD is a big group and says it "does not drop membership" of the 13,000 members. The ADF drops membership of any non-paying member, and so has less than 2,000.
Since I am member #2956, I know there are a great deal more lapsed ADF members.

The difference stems from the fact that the ADF is set up in the style of a 'Church' and that the belief is if they do not want to be members they should have their numbers counted against their wishes. I see value and honor in both ideologies.

[Hennie]

NOD is NOT free. You have the fee to join, the annual fee, and if you want to have something out of their course you have to get an upgraded membership, which costs, year in and year out.

[Bart]

Not to start a pro NOD forum, but the basic course is free. You just don't get a mentor and have to do the course on yourself.

There is a different approach between the OBOD and the NOD. So understanding why you choose the specific course would be wise. Money could be one.

[Huathe]

NOD is NOT free. You have the fee to join, the annual fee, and if you want to have something out of their course you have to get an upgraded membership, which costs, year in and year out.

With the New Order of Druids, their basic membership is free along with the three primary courses, Bard, Ovate & Druid. Their upgraded membership gives you some extra courses, a personal mentor and a subscription to their e-zine, the Oran Mor. All can participate on their forum.

I also greatly appreciate the fact that even though I am not an OBOD member that OBOD will let others join their Druid Grove forum. So Thank You OBOD! Also, their web site is second to none.

And they got Damh the Bard!