The Three Grades of Druidry: The Ovate

Skull

After requesting entry into the Ovate Grade, and having fulfilled the conditions required for entry, the aspirant passes through a magical portal into the realms of the Ovate. This acts as another initiation into a deeper level of her being. If the Bardic Grade was one of opening up to ones lightness and creativity, this grade is of descending the dark steps into ones depths, exploring the shadows to find the treasures that lie hidden within. The Ovate retreats into the deep forest of her soul and enters the Sacred Grove, the place where the great trees live and share their magical wisdom with humanity. This is the grade where students get their hands dirty! She works constantly and diligently to earn her freedom from the (internal) enemies that attempt to ensnare her. She builds a new relationship with Death and learns, paradoxically, how to live.

This grade can be a rude awakening, where our innocence and ignorance can no longer protect us from what is really going on. The Ovate learns to recognize the extensive web of cultural deceit, slavery, false assumptions and indoctrination that shrouds her true freedom and expression. She learns how to break free from the huge pressure exerted upon us all to remain in ignorance and disempowerment.

This can be a shocking and depressing realization, yet at this point she is also given a valid alternative to living out the usual shadowy quasi-life of servitude. The spirit of Druidry offers her a challenge: do you have the courage and determination to accept a new philosophy, and to work with a new awareness to fight for your freedom? For many reasons, most people do not accept the challenge, and choose to sink back into unconsciousness. However, a small percentage realizes that this is the opportunity they have been waiting for, and activate their inner Spiritual Warrior.

Grave Digging

It is said that the bird of freedom only flies in one direction: towards liberation. If this fabulous bird lands in front of you, you need to recognize it and climb onto its back in order to fly with it towards its goal. Once it has appeared, you only have this one chance, for it cannot come back once it has taken off on its definitive journey. Don’t worry – it will hang around long enough for you to prepare yourself. But don’t wait too long, for the bird of freedom gets impatient with avoidance and procrastination!

Deciding to fly with the bird of freedom is a momentous decision for an Ovate. The journey is awesome and life changing. Due to the commitment she has made, the nature of the training, and the unfolding of her inner wholeness, matters both of the light and of the shadow will arise to be faced, enjoyed, and healed. She will be tested, for how can we claim our power without real-life challenges to face and overcome? This can often be uncomfortable and alarming, and it is essential that the aspirant make a decision of strong determination to face all eventualities of her life whenever they arise, avoiding nothing. While storms may rage on the surface of her being, she must strive to find the still center at the core of her being where she can remain in peace while dancing with the fluctuations and extremes of her destiny.

There is always infinite support and guidance to be found on our unique journey of individuation, including our Druid ancestors who have made this journey before. They await modern-day Druids traveling towards the Awen with open arms, timely guidance and infinite compassion… although we may have to be patient until the support kicks in! What today seems an insurmountable obstacle can easily and effortlessly dissolve into joy and freedom tomorrow.

The skills the Ovate learns are those of self-transformation. She understands that her focus needs to be inward, and as she transforms herself, so the outer world in which she is immersed will also change. She undergoes purification of her whole being in preparation for entering the realms of the Druid, a state of consciousness where aspirants are empowered to make a profound difference in the world. She embodies and develops the skills of her inner Hunter, and tracks the energy she needs for her individual process of transformation. She learns how to accept and take full responsibility for the great gift of life she has been given. She learns the arts of healing and divination, and gains confidence traveling the invisible worlds.

Hunting - and Finding - Energy

Ovates are introduced to the energetic and magical properties of trees. These huge elder brothers and sisters of ours hold immense wisdom and healing properties that are specifically relevant to the human race. During this second year, students will build relationship with the trees in new and exciting ways, journeying with them, and cultivating them as guides through the realms of nature. They will make tree healing essences, work with them for divinatory purposes, and learn the magical Ogham tree language. They will also create a wand from the tree that is their specific friend and guide.

All the time she walks the body of the Earth, learning to interact with Her in increasingly powerful and meaningful ways, exploring, feeling, discovering, learning, and applying her knowledge and love, actively healing, enjoying and supporting Her Goddess on Her definitive journey of evolution.

The Ovate Training includes:

• *Tree Essences
• *Purification and Sweatlodge
• *Magical Portals
• *Hunting Energy
• *Ogham and the magic of Trees
• *Ceremonial Energetics
• *The Shaman’s Death and Burial
• *The Way of the Spiritual Warrior
• *Shadow Work – Fear
• *Working with Wounds
• *Petty Tyrants
• *Gender Issues/Healing
• *Cutting Ties to the Past
• *Divination
• *Working with Elementals
• *Power Animals. Making costume
• *The Purpose of Life
• *Working with a Wand
• *Moon Magic
• *Firewalk!
• *Manifesting our Path with Heart