Order of Bards, Ovates
& Druids
(OBOD)

• Based in the United Kingdom. Over 7000 members.

• Website: www.druidry.org

• 2 formal groves and 6 seed groups in the US.   There are many more in UK, Europe and Australia.

• Best known for their correspondence course, a 3 year program that concentrates on Druidry today in your own life through meditation, ritual and environmental concerns.

  Environmental work includes: the Sacred Tree and Grove Planting Programme, and the Campaign for Individual Ecological Responsibility.

• Not a Neopagan tradition. OBOD’s Druidry falls between Neopaganism & Christianity. Can be practiced as a religion or as a philosophy and supplement to a religion.

• OBOD grew out of the Ancient Order of Druids, which formed in 1717. OBOD was born in 1964 when it split from AOD with Ross Nichols as its Chosen Chief. Now led by Philip Carr-Gomm, author of The Druid Way, The Druid Tradition, and The Druid Animal Oracle.

• Well known OBODies include Carr-Gomm, and authors John and Caitlin Matthews.

• Levels of membership: Bard, Ovate and Druid, representing the three courses offered by OBOD. Otherwise, there is little hierarchy besides the Chosen Chief, except for tutor-student relationships.

• OBOD celebrates the following days in the eight-fold year:

  The 4 solar festivals (Alban Arthuan, Alban Eiler, Alban Heruin, Alban Elued)

  The 4 fire festivals (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh).

  Monthly lunar phases are not specifically observed.

Want to know more about OBOD?
Read The Order on the OBOD website.

Druid Orders

Keltria