The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids (OBOD) is a neo-druidic organization headquartered in England, but with an international membership.
Based on the Gorsedd of Wales, the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids was founded in 1964 after splitting off of the Ancient Druid Order, and now has members in more than fifty countries.
Ross Nichols, a Cambridge academic, poet, artist, and historian, is acknowledged as the founder of the Order. He wrote extensively on Druidism and Celtic mythology, reviving interest in Celtic neopaganism, although his central work on the subject, The Book of Druidry, was published posthumously in 1990. Prior to leaving that organization to found the OBOD, Nichols as a member and chairman of the Ancient Druid Order.
More than a decade after the death of Nichols, Philip Carr-Gomm was appointed as head of the Order. Carr-Gomm, a psychologist, became a student of Nichols when he was eleven, joining the Order at the age of eighteen. He is an author of books on psychology and Druidry, and the founder of the Esoteric Society in London.
Under the leadership of Carr-Gomm, the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids incorporated elements of Wicca into its practice of Druidry, creating a practice he called Druidcraft. In his writings, however, he acknowledges that Wicca and Druidry evolved separately, although they have common characteristics.
The teachings of the Order holds to the neodruid belief in the sanctity of nature, and in a belief in the Otherworld, which is a concept of a historical Indo-European religion that has been reconstructed for academic purposes. The Otherworld involves various religious, mythological, and metaphysical concepts, including a realm of supernatural beings, and spirits that are believed to be able to travel between worlds.
The OBOD incorporates ideas from Celtic literature and other sources, but it also blends concepts from modern psychology and the Human Potential movement.
The official teachings of the Order are presented as a spiritual philosophy that is compatible with several other religious beliefs, and membership is open to people who retain memberships in other religions. Many OBOD Druids identify as Pagan, but others consider themselves to be Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, or as other religions. Others consider the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids to be their only spiritual path.
Although pre-Christian Druids in Britain met together to share wisdom and for the performance of rituals, many members of the OBOD are solitary. During the leadership of Carr-Gomm, the teachings of the Order were made available through distance learning and online, although there is a network of tutors, and members meet at workshops or assemblies held in various parts of the world. There is also a network of groves and seed groups.
The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids is the focus of topics in this category. Appropriate topics may include sites representing the international Order, or any of its national, regional, or local affiliates, as well as associated organizations, or publications. Purely informational sites may also be submitted to this category if their focus is on the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids.
Recommended Resources
The official publication of the American Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids features informational articles, stories, book reviews, artwork, and opinion pieces related to Druidism from around the world. Published online, its current issue may be viewed through the site. Other resources include an editorial calendar, style guide, and submission guidelines, and an archive of back issues. Its editorial team is introduced, and its policies for sharing content are stated.
http://druidmagazine.com/
Eimear Burke: Druid, Celebrant and Storyteller
Eimear Burke is a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids who, together with her late husband, Howard Campbell, founded the Kilkenny Druid Grove, near Kilkenny, Ireland, a rural area with a ruined tower that serves as a temple and ritual space for the group. She offers a profile of Druidry in general, and of the OBOD in particular, as well as several pages of photographs of the grounds, a ritual calendar, and other details.
https://www.kilkennydruidry.com/
Midsummer Magic is an international Druid camp for members of the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids in Sweden. An introduction of the camp includes a description of the facilities and its programs, photographs, and schedules, including activities and workshops, fees, registration schedules and policies, meal options and costs. A description of its origins and founders is included, and announcements are published to the site.
https://www.druidcampsweden.com/
Order of Bards Ovates & Druids in Australia
Maintained by the organizational headquarters of the OBOD in Australia, the site offers an introduction to Druidry in contemporary times, a list of sacred places in Australia and internationally, and a schedule of assemblies and other events. A membership overview and the Order’s training course are outlined, and several featured articles are included. Other resources include audio samples, a library of resources, and an online store.
http://www.druidryaustralia.org/
Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids in the USA
Representing members of the OBOD in the United States, the organization’s site offers an overview of Druidic beliefs and practices, its membership policies, and a distance learning course that culminates in membership in the OBOD. A list of member groups in the US is put forth and their locations are shown on an interactive map. Other resources include a calendar of events, a description of its celebrations, rites of passage, and prayers.
https://druidryus.org/
The author of the site studied Druidry with Ross Nichols, the founder of The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, later achieving a degree in psychology and training in psychotherapy, as well as Sophrology and Montessori education, and is currently the head of the OBOD. His site offers guided programs in the OBOD, a sleep clinic, and lessons in magic, each of which is described here. His books, writings, videos, and a schedule of events are included.
https://www.philipcarr-gomm.com/
The Order of Bards Ovates & Druids
Headquartered in England, OBOD is a Neodruidic organization with members all over the world. The OBOD split from the Ancient Druid Order in 1964. Its site offers an overview of Druidic beliefs and practices, including shamanism, magic, and Bardic philosophies. Informational textual articles, podcasts, and introductory videos are put forth, and a calendar of events, membership information, an online store, and an interactive discussion forum are included.
https://www.druidry.org/
