The Druid Network/Order Of The Yew

[LadyOfTheTrees]

Does anyone belong to The Order of The Yew on The Druid Network as well as OBOD? I just became a member of The Druid Network for, basically, networking - to find local groves and seek groups, etc. I see they have their own Order as well though for people that pay to be members of The Druid Network. I'm not sure what it consists of because it has no courses or really much of anything that I can see... It looks like it's just a title. What do you guys think of it? Does anyone belong to it?

[athelia143]

I am a member of the Druid Network and the Order of the Yew. The Order of the Yew is not a teaching order, it's one where you have to direct your own path. You have to make your own goals and your are honourbound to fulfill them. It is not an order that's going to hold one's hand and tell one what to do or how to believe. That's why I like it. It's not for everyone, though.

The Druid Network has free courses in its online learning area for those who want to learn more, as well as links to other courses, such as OBOD, ADF, etc. They are free of charge (no paper sent out anywhere, so no costs associated with it). (Shameless plug: I wrote one of the courses )

One gets out of the Druid Network what one puts into it.

Athelia /|\

[katie bridgewater]

I am also a member of TDN. I joined because they are one of the few druid organisations prepared to define themselves in terms of belief, practice and ethics. I have found the other members to be really interesting and sensible people (ie no purple-unicorn brigade) rooted in an understanding of nature and their place in it. There is very little airy-fairy about the TDN, the courses are all free and the fact that they were prepared to define themselves as a religious organisation is why I joined. I am not a member of OBOD for all the same reasons!

[athelia143]

There is very little airy-fairy about the TDN, the courses are all free and the fact that they were prepared to define themselves as a religious organisation is why I joined. I am not a member of OBOD for all the same reasons!

That is one of the main reasons I joined TDN in 2003 when they first started. TDN allows autonomy of its affiliated groves and they are defined as a religious organization. ADF is also defined as a religious org (they're a registered church with recognized clergy in the USA). While I am a member and happily so, I didn't affiliate our grove to ADF because they have very strict guidelines about how ritual should be done, etc. I was drawn to the more scholastic and self directed nature of the courses, which are included with the annual membership fee.

The beauty of modern Druidry is that there are many different options depending on one's beliefs, practices and values.

Athelia /|\

[Equidae]

Please excuse my n00bishness, but what is The Order of the Yew?

[serenarian]

I too am a member of the Order of the Yew.

[fulbert-avebury]

Rather interesting thread about the Order of the Yew at TDN. I am a member of TDN, and while I am somewhat active in its related (though not official) discussions on Facebook, I like the organization and those through it whom I have met. I am not sure what concrete it offers druids at this point, except it is a registered charity / religion, and has had the wherewithal to stand up for a set of beliefs the members seem to value. This is one of the things I like about it and why I remain a member. I wish I were able to find a way to put more in / get more out of my membership, though I sense there is some transition that is happening at this point, so perhaps a wait and see is the best? I have tried some involvement, though not in the Order of the Yew, with some mixed results.

I welcome this discussion, as I think the Order of the Yew is an interesting concept though have also not quite figured our what it means to become a member of it (what is owed it and what it contributes back). Like some of the other posts in this here thread, I like the freedom that is offered in TDN, though perhaps freedom is healthiest once one already knows and understands the lay of the land (pun intended), which I am not sure I do just yet.

Jeffrey

[LadyOfTheTrees]

Oh wow, I had no idea they're a registered church/religion. That's really cool. I have been a paying member there for a while since before I started with the OBOD, I'm just not familiar with "the Yew Tribe," despite being a TDN member. I believe, once you join it, you get further access to more forums, basically. I asked a similar question to the one I asked here on TDN and the people there said that The Order of The Yew is a very family-oriented type of thing for them - a locked area where they can share their intimate life details and get support and advice from others all within the themes of their Druidic values.

[fulbert-avebury]

Oh wow, I had no idea they're a registered church/religion. That's really cool. I have been a paying member there for a while since before I started with the OBOD, I'm just not familiar with "the Yew Tribe," despite being a TDN member. I believe, once you join it, you get further access to more forums, basically. I asked a similar question to the one I asked here on TDN and the people there said that The Order of The Yew is a very family-oriented type of thing for them - a locked area where they can share their intimate life details and get support and advice from others all within the themes of their Druidic values.

It does seem a little hidden, which is not unusual in my experience of druidry.

Jeffrey

[Serpentia]

I'm a quiet member because I like to support their work, and I really like their course. I came to TDN through Emma Restall Orr, whose books I consider gems and whom I'd love to meet one day. One day I may even finish the course translation into German that I promised her last year...

Serpentia

[LadyOfTheTrees]

Since first posting this thread, I've been studying their mission statement, talking with TDN members and have done some soul searching and I plan to join it.

[LadyOfTheTrees]

I finally joined The Order of the Yew. I just wanted to answer my own question and some of the questions other people posed... The Druid Network is the only registered/recognized Druid church in the USA, first of all. As for the Yew, it is basically more of the TDN website. The main idea is that you understand the concept of their statement and make a similar statement vowing to help the citizens of USA recognize Druidry as a real and respected "religion." They keep a large collection of all their "dedication statements" that any of the TDN members can view. Once you join, you have access to a few more forums than you would otherwise, but they're just as slow as the rest of TDN - not much conversation goes on. It's more of a networking site to contact and meet/meet up with other Druids in person. However, the Order of the Yew does have quite a few activities that you wouldn't otherwise have access to, including pre-scheduled online chat sessions for online ritual and holiday celebrations as well as learning sessions, pre-scheduled offline group tree planting projects, a record of all current Yew trees across the USA, the UK and as many as they can get track of in the rest of the world - i.e. where they're located, etc. They also have yew recipes for oils and incenses, and ways to use the yew for medicine. These things aren't "secret" but you do you have to be a member to access these articles - that's the other thing, there are many, many articles and any Yew member can write one and submit it, however it is subject to editing, research and source checking before it's added to the library area. So yeah, anyway, that's what's in The Order of the Yew is and what to expect should you decide to join. So far I have been enjoying it.

[AgDamhsa]

My understanding is TDN is a registered religious charity in the UK. It's a bit of a leap to say that it is a recognised religion.

I'm a member of TDN but haven't used the site or network much to be honest. I'm glad it's there and when I'm less en-mazed in my own path I may turn there again. Interestingly, it's ADF's focus on being a religion with hierarchy, rules and guidelines that keeps me from engaging much with it. I really enjoy the personal path of OBOD and also the social side of it it. The diversity within modern druidry is wonderful. A place for us all to be and create and be of service to the world.

Blessings,

P