Workshop in Zurich, Switzerland: Singer Shaman Sage - Druidry is a spiritual way and practice that speaks to three of our greatest yearnings: to be fully creative in our lives, to commune deeply with the world of Nature, and to gain access to a source of profound wisdom. Each of these yearnings comes from a different aspect of the Soul, and we can personify these as the Singer, the Shaman and the Sage. In Druidry, Bardic teachings help to nurture the singer, the artist or storyteller within us - the creative self; Ovate teachings help to foster the shaman, the lover of Nature, the healer within us; while the Druid teachings help to develop our inner wisdom - the sage who dwells within each of us. In this workshop we will explore the ways in which Druidry can help develop these three aspects of ourselves so that Druidry becomes a living spiritual practice. Details from Parabola Forum.

21st century spirituality - away with the fairies? An Evening with William Bloom, Philip Carr-Gomm and Revd.Peter Owen-Jones in Lewes. Organised by Transition Town Lewes. To book contact Sue Fleming 07855777715 or transitiontownlewes@gmail.com

‘ASK THE WILD BEE WHAT THE DRUID KNEW’
A Druidic Retreat at Cae Mabon
Led by Philip Carr-Gomm and Eric Maddern

Cae Mabon is set in an oak forest glade and centred on a Celtic Roundhouse. To the west is Ynys Mon (the island of Anglesey), the heartland of the Druids in ancient times. To the east is Dinas Emrys, where dragons are said to have risen from the ground and where the young Merlin made his first great prophecy. So Cae Mabon is deep in old Druid country. Some say Taliesin is her guardian spirit.

There’s an old saying: ‘Ask the wild bee what the Druids knew’. On this retreat, in the company of Philip Carr-Gomm, author and Chief Druid of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) and Eric Maddern, one of OBOD’s Honorary Chief Bards and founder of Cae Mabon, we’ll explore the meaning of that folk wisdom and ask the wild bee what indeed the Druids did know.

The retreat will include:
• Talks by Philip on key aspects of Druidry
• Deep immersion in the magical forest (including walking the labyrinth)
• Practising old survival skills such as making fire and finding wild food
• Working with the sacred animals and plants of the Druid tradition
• Waking Taliesin’s creative spirit through poetry, story, song and dance
• Exploring deities called upon locally by the early Celts
• Investigating the significance of Merlin’s prophecy
• Visiting ancient and sacred places in Eryri (Snowdonia) and Mon
• Storytelling and music around the fire in the Roundhouse
• Meeting the Cae Mabon bees and taking part in the honey harvest
• Hot tub and wild swimming in the lake
• Creating ceremonies and celebration

This retreat will serve as an introduction to Druidry, the earliest known religion of the British Isles, and so will be suitable for beginners. But it will also be rewarding to old hands who want to experience the power and beauty of Cae Mabon and get to know the heartland of the ancient Druids.

Cae Mabon has recently been described as the Welsh Shangri La and declared the ‘number one natural building project in the UK’! So come and hang out in the Welsh Shangri La!

COST
£350 including quality vegetarian food and accommodation for six nights.
A limited number of concessions are available by negotiation.

Bookings
To make a booking please contact Eric Maddern
by email on eric@fachwen.org or phone on 01286 871542.
Bookings will be confirmed by sending a £100 deposit.

For more about Cae Mabon see: www.caemabon.co.uk

A Literary Dinner in Sussex: 'A Bloomsbury Set for the noughties, The Sussex House Party is a rural idyll just outside Lewes where writers and would-be-writers meet and retreat over a feast of words and local produce. Philip Carr-Gomm joins us for the first in our season of literary dinners on Friday May 8th, with an evening of magic and spirituality inspiring our thoughts and writings. See: http://thesussexhouseparty.googlepages.com/home for a diary of themed creative dinner parties and full-blown weekend house parties.

SACRED PLACES – MESSENGERS OF THE GODS
Sacred Places are found all over the world and in every spiritual tradition, but what is it about them that makes them so interesting? In this workshop we’ll start to explore their magic and purpose, and examine both the benefits and pitfalls of pilgrimage and visits to sacred sites. We will also work with a specific technique to journey in the inner world to sacred sites, and look at ways in which we can deepen our connections with them.

THE SHAG HAIR’D WIZARD OF PEPPER ALLEY - THE STORY OF MAGIC IN ENGLAND FROM THE YEAR DOT TO THE 21ST CENTURY
Hold on tight and brace yourself for a journey at break-neck speed through 45,000 years of English history, meeting a host of eccentric characters and inspired sages who have shaped the course of history and the development of medicine, science and art. Every so often you’ll be able to get off the train, mingle with these characters, and perhaps even try out some of the techniques that they pioneered.

Two workshops at the Soul Companions Gathering at Gaunt's House, Dorset, which includes workshops with R.J.Stewart, Leo Rutherford, Michael Dunning, Patrick Gamble and Karen Sawyer. Details

DRUIDISMO E LUGARES SAGRADOS - MENSAGEIROS DOS DEUSES
Workshop por Philip Carr-Gomm, Sintra, Portugal, Saturday. Plus talk in Lisbon, Friday. Details.

Talk for Lewes WellBeing Fest, Lewes Town Hall: 'Sacred Places and their Role in the World' - Visiting sacred sites can help us to appreciate the world and the contribution of spiritual teachers and great civilizations. Pilgrimage to these places is a vital component in many religions and is an important spiritual practice in itself, and yet it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking we have to go somewhere other than where we are to gain illumination. In this talk we will explore the purpose and function of sacred sites and how we can relate to them in a spirit of openness to change and respect for the Earth. Details.

Presentation on Michael Tippett, Ross Nichols & The Midsummer Marriage at the Order's Mount Haemus Awards Gathering, Salisbury. Details: The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids invites you to The Mt. Haemus Lectures - A day of Druidic scholarship and pleasant company, including lunch and sundry entertainments at The Medieval Hall, Salisbury From 10am - 5pm on 31 August 2008
With papers from: Dr Brendan Myers, 'How Beautiful Are They - Some thoughts on Ethics in Celtic and European Mythology'; Professor Roland Rotherham, 'Working With Animals'; Dr Adam Stout 'Universal Majesty, Verity and Love Infinite -The Extraordinary Career of George Watson Macgregor Reid, Chosen Chief of the Ancient Druid Order'; Philip Carr Gomm ‘I would know my Shadow and my Light’ - An exploration of Michael Tippet’s The Midsummer Marriage and its relevance to a study of Druidism

It is with great pleasure that we draw together the four scholars who have been engaged in druidic research on our behalf. This year the lectures will be held in the magnificent Medieval Hall in the Cathedral Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EY, and our simple lunch will be taken across the cathedral green at Old Sarum College. Salisbury is easily accessible by public transport: the area is rich in natural beauty and history, including the landmark sites of Old Sarum and Stonehenge.

For B&B enquiries & local information, including parking, city maps and park & ride, contact Salisbury Tourist Information Centre, Fish Row Salisbury SP1 1EJ Telephone: 01722 334956
email:visitorinfo@salisbury.gov.uk

Lunch: simple and vegetarian. Total cost for day £25/US$50. Please email for bookings or any further information about any aspect of the day: touchstone@obod.co.uk

Working with the  Sacred Plants of Britain – A workshop at Lewes Town Hall for the Lewes Well-Being Wave. In Britain we have a rich tradition of plant lore that is  thousands of years old. In this workshop participants will learn of the  thirteen ways of working with plants in the Druid tradition, and how plant  lore can help to give us guidance and insight in our lives today. Read article based on talk here

Talks and workshops in Germany - See the Tour Blog

16. Mai – Bad Honnef - Abendvortrag:
Richtung stromaufwärts – Wie kann eine uralte Weisheitstradition wie das Druidentum heute in einer scheinbar verrückt gewordenen Welt von Wert sein? Veranstalter: Villa Schaaffhausen. Kosten: 15,- € Infos & Reservierungen: Tel.: 02224 9170 oder info@villa-schaaffhausen.de

17. und 18. Mai – Bad Honnef - Zwei-Tages-Seminar:
Leben aus der Ruhe der Natur - Mit druidischer Weisheit zur Quelle unserer Kraft
Wir alle möchten unserer Welt, die so unstabil und hilfsbedürftig erscheint, zur Seite stehen, doch wir brauchen ein Medium, mit dem wir arbeiten können und welches die Menschen wirklich erreicht und von authentischem Wert für sie ist. In diesem Zwei-Tages-Seminar werden wir lernen, wie wir mit dem DruidCraft Tarot arbeiten können, um unser Leben und das unserer Mitmenschen zu bereichern. Ganz praktisch hat dieses Wochenende das Ziel, uns Werkzeuge zu beschaffen, die es uns ermöglichen, in der Welt spirituell zu arbeiten.
Veranstalter: Villa Schaaffhausen Kosten: 120,- € (+ Unterkunft und Verpflegung)
Infos & Reservierungen: Tel.: 02224 9170 oder info@villa-schaaffhausen.de

19. Mai – Bielefeld - Abendvortrag:
Druidentum als eine lebendige Weisheitstradition Veranstalter: J. Kamphausen Verlag GmbH  Kosten: 15,- €  Infos & Reservierungen:  Tel.: 0521 4002 888 oder  anmelden@j-kamphausen.de

20. Mai – Horn – Bad Meinberg
Druidische Wanderung an den Externsteinen - Weisheitstraditionen und Kraftorte (zusammen mit Volkert Volkmann + bardischen Impressionen auf der Harfe + Abschlussritual)  Veranstalter: J. Kamphausen Verlag GmbH  Kosten: 45,- €
Infos & Reservierungen: Tel.: 0521 4002 888 oder  anmelden@j-kamphausen.de

21. Mai – München - Abendvortrag:
Im Auge des Sturms – Vernünftig bleiben in einer unvernünftigen Welt
Es kann keinen Zweifel daran geben, dass die Menschheit in die schwierigste Phase ihrer Geschichte eintritt. Wie kann die Beschäftigung mit dem alten Wissen der Druiden in dieser Krisenzeit von Nutzen sein?  Veranstalter: Rainer Kitza  Kosten: 15,- €  Infos & Reservierungen:  Tel.: 08093 906254 oder  info@blumedeslebens.de

22. Mai – München  Tagesseminar:
Mit den heiligen Pflanzen und Tieren der druidischen Tradition arbeiten
In diesem Seminar werden wir lernen, das keltische Tier- und das keltische Pflanzenorakel zu nutzen, um Führung für uns selbst und für Menschen um uns herum zu erhalten. Ebenfalls werden wir lernen, die Orakel in unsere spirituelle Praxis einzubauen. Veranstalter: Rainer Kitza  Kosten: 75,- €  Infos & Reservierungen:  Tel.: 08093 906254 oder  info@blumedeslebens.de

24. – 25. Mai – Keltendorf in Sünna - Zwei-Tages-Seminar:
Sänger, Schamane, Weiser
Das Druidentum ist ein spiritueller Weg und eine Praxis, die drei unserer größten Sehnsüchte anspricht: unsere volle Kreativität in unserem Leben auszudrücken, mit der Welt der Natur auf authentische Weise zu kommunizieren und Zugang zu finden zu einer Quelle tiefgründiger Weisheit. Jede dieser drei Sehnsüchte entstammt einem anderen Aspekt unserer Seele, die wir als den Sänger, den Schamanen und den Weisen identifizieren können. Im Druidentum helfen die Lehren der Barden die Qualitäten des Sängers hervorzubringen, den Künstler oder den Geschichtenerzähler in uns – unser kreatives Selbst; die Lehren des Vaten fördern den Schamanen, den Liebhaber der Natur, den inneren Heiler; während die Lehren des Druidengrades uns helfen unsere innerste Weisheit zu entwickeln – den Weisen, der in jedem von uns wohnt.
In diesem Seminar werden wir die Wege entdecken, in denen uns das Druidentum helfen kann, diese drei Aspekte unseres Selbst zu entwickeln.
In der kraftvollen Umgebung des Keltendorfes Sünna werden wir zwei inspirierende Tage verbringen – abends wird Axel Brück uns mit schamanischer Trommelmusik verzaubern.
Veranstalter: Kelten-Hotel Sünna  Kosten: 120,- € (+ Unterkunft und Verpflegung)
Infos & Reservierungen: Tel.: 036962 2670 oder  info@keltenhotel.de

"Living Druidry Today" Workshop in Sintra, Portugal

Druidry is a spiritual way and practice that speaks to three of our greatest yearnings: to be fully creative in  our lives, to commune deeply with the world of Nature, and to gain  access to a source of profound wisdom. Each of these yearnings  comes from a different aspect of the Soul, and we can personify  these as the Singer, the Shaman and the Sage.
In Druidry, Bardic  teachings help to nurture the singer, the artist or
storyteller within us - the creative self; Ovate teachings help to foster
the  shaman, the lover of Nature, the healer within us; while the Druid
teachings help to develop our inner wisdom - the sage who dwells within each of us.
In this workshop we will explore the ways  in which Druidry can help develop these three aspects of ourselves  so that Druidry becomes a living spiritual practice.

For more information visit: www.zefiro.pt email: zefiro@zefiro.pt or telephone: (00351) 914848900

Presentation of Portuguese edition of Druid Mysteries in Lisbon, Portugal. The book presentation will be followed by Celtic music, to the sound of the Celtic harp and voice. Everyone is invited to drink the tasty and traditional mead after the session! For more information visit: www.zefiro.pt email: zefiro@zefiro.pt or telephone: (00351) 914848900

Talk for: Stars and Stones Forum - Understanding the ancient landscape, the heavens, and the dawn of agriculture, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Tickets limited to 80 at £35 each. Single day £20. Booking enquiries 01359 270524.
Available by post from The Estate Office, Rougham, Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk, IP309LZ. Cheques payable to Rougham Conferences. Please include a S.A.E for timetable, directions, local accommodation and B&Bs to be forwarded with your ticket.
Two days of lectures, talks, networking, socialising, and open forums on the origins of modern man and his development from Cro-Magnon hunter gatherer to a sophisticated being, with remarkable abilities in agriculture, animal husbandry, social organization, astronomy, surveying, mathematics, engineering, building skills, artistic expression, consciousness, self awareness, and a belief in the transmigration of the soul.

SPEAKERS: Michael Hodges (West Country historian) How ancient farmers created calendars to structure
their year, using observational astronomy and timing events with festivals.
Edmund Marriage (independent researcher) The discovery of the Garden of Eden site in
Southern Lebanon, and the diffusion of farming and civilisation around the world.
Carolin Comberti (specialist in the use of sound) How science has rediscovered the harmonic
and geometric energy grid surrounding the planet and ways to interact with cosmic forces, to
affect positive changes to the environment and people.
Laurence Main (historian) With his knowledge of the Welsh language will describe Arthur’s
last battle at Camlan, and the lost knowledge of Druidic and early British history.
Hugh Newman (Earth mysteries researcher) How the ancients used magnetic earth energy
currents to enhance seeds, fertility and re-mineralise their food
Jake Ewen (scientific researcher) How science can help us understand the workings of the
universe, through geometry, holography, cymatics, and sound wave relationships.
John Neal (master of measurement) Revealing the sophistication of the archaic world.
Dirk Campbell (composer and specialist in musical instruments dating back thousands of
years) Demonstration of a number of ancient musical traditions.Thomas Clough Daffern, a druid specialist and international peace campaigner.
Philip Carr-Gomm (Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, one of the largest international Druid groups) will talk on ‘Druidry as a Call from the Future’[ N.B.I cannot now come to this event, but Dirk will read out a brief message and I hope it is a great success!]

Ross Nichols: the Mysteriously Hidden Druid
A talk at Treadwell's Bookshop, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London
This talk explores the life and philosophy of the founder of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Ross Nichols (1902-1975). As he was a naturally private person, little is generally known about him, and little of his work has been republished until recent years, when we have seen the reissue of some of his druid essays and poetry. The main force in the excavation of the life and spirituality of Nichols, and the driving force, too in the republication of his work, is the current head of the order (and tonight’s speaker), Philip Carr-Gomm. The themes of Nichols' druidry are embedded in his life. Tonight’s talk will traverse issues of friendship, solitude, relationship with the land, personal intimacies,  the Grail, care of youth, cultivation of intuition, socialism, naturism, Christianity, paganism, and – very importantly, poetry. In Ross Nichols, a quiet creativity, a reticence filled with passion, transfigured itself into a legacy of druidry today. Philip Carr-Gomm is head of OBOD and has published numerous titles of his own, as well as editing and reissuing many works of Nichols. 7.15 for a 7.30pm start   £5 info@treadwells-london.com see www.treadwells-london.com

DRUID HERBCRAFT at CAE MABON IN SNOWDONIA

We invite you to join us in an intensive workshop that will teach you how to work with herbs to improve your health, enhance your spiritual practice and deepen your appreciation of the natural world.
Our week together will be at Cae Mabon in the magical landscape of Snowdonia in Wales. Cae Mabon is a collection of unique and beautiful structures set in woodland facing the mountains with lake Llyn Padarn in the valley below. A cob cottage, straw bale hogan, cedar cabin and barn are situated amongst lush greenery and woodland. The Afon Fachwen (‘little white river’) flows from Elidir near the thatched round house and cedar hot tub. The week will include teaching sessions, hands-on experience of working with herbs, identifying plants in the wild, and special presentations on the work of the Physicians of Myddvai and the role of plants in Druidry. There will also be time for storytelling, music-making, meditation and ritual. 

The workshop will be led by Melanie Cardwell MHNH with contributions from Dr. Angela Paine, and Philip Carr-Gomm.
Melanie is a member of the Association of Master Herbalists and author of Herbal Kitchen Pharmacy. She is well known to many members as the facilitator of the Well-Being programme at the Order’s UK camps and runs an on-line pharmacy at www.naturespharmacy.org.uk. Angela Paine is a specialist in the healing properties and botanical recognition of British medicinal plants, and author of The Healing Power of Celtic Plants. Philip Carr-Gomm is the co-author of The Druid Plant Oracle.

The cost of the retreat is £375 inclusive of tuition, accommodation and all meals (vegetarian & delicious). All accommodation is sharing in cabins – see www.caemabon.co.uk for pictures. A limited number of tent spaces exist if you want to camp but there is no reduction in cost. The teaching sessions will be filmed and we hope DVDs will be available later for participants at a reduced cost. To make a reservation, please send a cheque for £100 deposit made out to OBOD together with a note of your name, address, telephone number and email to: Penny Billington, 18 Crompton Street, Derby, DE1 1NY or for info: touchstone@obod.co.uk

The Midsummer Marriage – A Search for Harmony
A talk exploring the work of Sir Michael Tippett and the central themes of modern Druidism
Heraclitus said ‘A wonderful harmony is created when we join together the seemingly unconnected.’ When it was first performed in 1955, the opera The Midsummer Marriage by Michael Tippett, was criticised for combining too many disparate elements. Jungian psychology, Eastern Tantric philosophy, and an obscure Welsh tale, were apparently thrown together in a story that mirrored Mozart’s Magic Flute. The critics were confused, but with an understanding of alchemy, Freemasonry and Druidism we can appreciate Tippett’s opera for what it is: a masterpiece that does indeed create a wonderful harmony.
In this centenary of Tippett’s birth, participants have the opportunity to see this rarely-performed work at the Royal Opera House a few days either before or after the conference. During the talk we will hear brief excerpts from the opera, and will look at the way in which the initiatic journey is depicted by Tippett. In doing this, we will learn about the central themes of Druidry, and of their relationship to other traditions, such as Freemasonry.

For 'Seeking the Light: Freemasonry & Initiatic Traditions' -a conference held at the Canonbury Academy, 6 Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ see www.canonbury.ac.uk

The talk has been published in The Canonbury Papers Vol 4 available from Lewis Masonic.

DRUID WAY CHARITY WALK - Join us on 9th July this summer to celebrate our connection with the land and give our energy for a good cause. Organised by Firinne, of The Druid Network and led by Philip Carr-Gomm of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, this walk will tread one of our oldest paths beginning at the Lewes Mount and following the South Downs Way to the figure of the Long Man of Wilmington. The money raised will be equally distributed between the charities Trees For Life and Care For The Wild. We will begin at the foot of Lewes Mount, by Lewes station, at 10am, and from there we will take the path over the Downs to the figure of the Long Man. There will be scheduled rests along the way, with a stop for lunch at Firle Beacon, and a further stop at the Star Inn in the village of Alfriston. We will be ending at The Giants Rest pub in Wilmington at around 6pm. From there walkers will be transported back to the starting point to collect vehicles or meet the train (1 hr to London). We hope to help those walkers without personal transport, and for those travelling long distances or just wanting to spend the night afterwards details of a designated campsite will be available.

To volunteer for this event, request a sponsorship pack, or for further details on transport or accommodation please email firinne@blueyonder.co.uk

A few comments from the organisers: “It was six years ago that I first picked up a copy of Philip’s The Druid Way and was inspired to walk the route myself, and later to create a project that honoured the sacredness of the path, inviting others to share both footsteps and vision. This event has practically organised itself since! I owe many thanks to Emma Restall-Orr, Philip Carr-Gomm, and Joe Whitaker (the most inspiring man I know!) for the ease with which the bright threads of many individual visions have been woven together. I’m really looking forward to seeing it all come to fruit on the 9th of July!” Firinne

"I’m really looking forward to this walk! Thirteen years ago the idea came to me that I should set out on a pilgrimage to really open to the landscape and the earth beneath my feet, and to write about Druidry in a different way - from the perspective of someone walking the earth at the end of the twentieth century. So I walked from a small Silbury Hill-like sacred mound in our home town of Lewes in Sussex to the great chalk hill figure of the Long Man of Wilmington. That route takes you from the edge of a small Sussex town across fields that were once marshland, to join the South Downs Way at the site of an old Neolithic village. And then you're high up - with vistas out to sea and across the countryside. And all the while the Ancestors and the spirits of the land are close to you - telling you their stories and speaking to you of the journey of your life. Making such a pilgrimage allows grey dusty thoughts and feelings to slough off you like old snake-skin: pausing to sit and admire the view, opening to the Spirit of Place, you become the chalice to the blade of your walking purposefully forward with intent. Walking and stopping, standing and sitting, talking and listening, then silent and open as sun and maybe rain and wind play with you on the Downs. Feeling the presence of the Old Ones, of the Ancestors and the spirits of track and land. Feeling good on a summer's day here on the way to that god-figure who beckons you and challenges you on the hillside of Avronelle." Philip

Nwyfre and Awen are the Druid terms for two manifestations of the Life-Force: Awen brings inspiration and helps to release our creativity; Nwyfre brings us vitality and healing. This weekend offers the opportunity of taking a retreat in an idyllic setting to help increase the flow of both Awen and Nwyfre in your life. Periods of teaching, meditation, ritual and music will alternate with time for you to experience the beauty of the trees, beach and ocean.

Fee: $165

Accommodation: Fee includes 2 nights camping. Caravans available, your enquiries are welcome.

Bookings: Please complete the Booking Form

Enquires: Use our contact form. On

http://www.prana.co.nz/contact_prana_spiritual_retreat.asp

http://www.prana.co.nz

Teaching at Avronelle in Aotearoa

Details from celtival.broceliande@wanadoo.fr

Details: http://www.witchfest.net/talks.htm

Talk for the Positive Living Group, Bournemouth.

Details from angie@positive-living.freeserve.co.uk

Details on http://www.naturesmagick.homestead.com

Details: http://www.witchfest.net/talks.htm.

'Druidcraft - the Magic of Wicca and Druidry'

Druidry and Wicca are the two great streams of Western Pagan tradition. Both are experiencing a renaissance all over the world, as more and more people seek a spirituality rooted in a love of nature and the land.

Tonight we'll explore the magical territory shared by Druidry and Wicca alike - with ideas on how we can combine their inspirations and techniques to create a practice of Druidcraft.

Bookings and info: Mick Henry at kafd1@sussex.ac.uk

Residential Healing Retreat for all members of OBOD. We’ve chosen a really magical spot for this experience. There are certain places on the earth that radiate particularly strong healing powers, and one such place is just outside Albany, Western Australia. Here, on high ground overlooking Lake Grasmere, and minutes away from the white sandy beaches and rocky coastline of the Great Southern Ocean, Druid Grade member Dr Kennan Elkman, a medical doctor, Jungian psychoanalyst and holistic health consultant, has founded Ganieda Sanctuary, with his wife Anjouli, aromatherapist and healer. Ganieda is the name of Merlin’s sister, and this healing centre has been named after her in honour of the role of the Feminine in Healing.

At Ganieda, amongst great golden rocks, healing pools, and light-filled wooden buildings we will follow a programme designed to open us to our own healing powers, and the healing powers of Nature and the Divine. We will participate in healing meditations and ceremonies together, have aromatherapy and massage, explore optimal health in seminars, and use Druidic sweat-house rituals and herbalism to enhance our healing. There’ll be time for relaxation too - with excursions to the sea and local sites.

Ganieda Sanctuary is 400 km south of Perth in Western Australia. Perth is the nearest international airport, with an easy and direct connection by local flight to Albany. For those wishing to drive and see a little ‘scenery’ we hope to use the local OBOD network in Perth for accommodation and travel as needed. The cost of the Retreat, including accommodation, all meals, and tuition, is £300 ($500 USD or 750 AUSD) in basic shared accommodation on-site (any individual treatments/consultations are extra). Single accommodation off-site (at a local B&B) is also available at an extra cost. Many members may want to extend their stay to include a holiday in Australia. Your nearest Australian Tourist Office can help you plan this. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you would like to come, please contact: Kennan Elkman, Ganieda Sanctuary, PO Box 1414, Albany, W.Australia WA 6330

Write, phone or email enquiries to Kennan at gwydd@fullcomp.com.au Tel +61 98 446393

We will study what magic is, how it works, and how it can be used to transform us: to infuse our lives with a sense of meaning, mystery and wonder - to deepen our experience of other levels of consciousness, to be more creative, and to open us to the magic of being alive. Drawing on the wisdom of the Druids, and on their ancient myths, we will discover how to access the well-springs of our own spirituality, healing and creativity.

Enquiries to Kennan at gwydd@fullcomp.com.au Tel +61 98 446393

The Magic of being Alive - an evening of exploration

Sometimes life can seem magical - amazing coincidences occur and you feel wonderful. Most people believe you can"t control this kind of magic - it either happens to you or it doesn"t. But what if you could make magic happen?

Drawing from his experience with two magical teachers, and his knowledge of psychology and Druidry, Philip teaches the art of magic in a new, refreshing way. Together we will explore six steps we can take to bring magic into our lives.

Enquiries to Kennan at gwydd@fullcomp.com.au Tel +61 98 446393

The Earth is on a journey through the vastness of Deep Space. Travelling at immense speed through the Universe, it carries within the green and blue envelope of its atmosphere the DNA of millions of plants, creatures and human beings. It carries the stories of each one of us, and of every living thing on Earth.

Ancient religions, and now many scientists, believe that the Earth is not the only inhabited planet in the Universe.

Like sperm and ova, inhabited planets are travelling through the womb of Space, seeking their Destinies, weaving a story more extraordinary and beautiful than any of us can imagine.

In the silence of the New Mexico desert, and at other sites around the world, dozens of giant radio-telescope dishes of the SETI project point towards the stars – listening for messages from these other planets. Deep within us we know that in the vastness of the Universe there are beings with a more advanced consciousness than ourselves. If only we could make contact. If only we could be guided by their wisdom and understanding. Perhaps then we could receive the inspiration, the new ideas that could bring peace and fulfilment to humanity.
In the silence of deep meditation, close to the earth, a door opens in our consciousness and it’s as if we step through into another dimension, another world. We have entered a different kind of Deep Space, and here too there are Intelligences. If only we could make contact. If only we could be guided by their wisdom and understanding. Perhaps then we could receive the inspiration, the new ideas that could bring peace and fulfilment to humanity.

Perhaps we could discover our purpose, and the purpose of life on earth.

In ancient times, the old spiritual traditions made no separation between the Otherworld and the world of the stars – of Deep Space. They believed we came from the stars, that civilisation and consciousness are not confined to the earth, and that our journey through successive lives includes journeying across the Universe.

These ancient traditions are found the world over – they built stone circles, pyramids, temples, to communicate with Deep Space – to receive the messages of the Otherworld.

One of these ancient wisdom-traditions is that of the Druids, and it is a tradition that we can still learn from - through meditation, teaching, ceremony, myth and story.

If you would like to take a journey of exploration using these ways to access the inner wisdom of Deep Space, you’d be really welcome to join a group of us who have decided to meet together in a beautiful and powerful spot in Pukerua Bay, near Wellington, for a series of gatherings through the Winter.

We’ll begin by meeting for a Winter Solstice ceremony and celebration at 6pm on the day of the solstice – 21st June. The Winter Solstice is a time for rebirth, for new beginnings, renewed commitment – and so a perfect time to begin a new cycle in a new millennium.Then we’ll meet on the following four Sundays: 2nd & 23rd July and 6th and 20th August from 2pm to 5pm. Enquiries to philip at office@druidry.org

Description as March 26th. For details/to book call Peta Joyce 09 811 8719

There are three kinds of magic: good, bad and ineffective. Good magic helps to bring happiness, understanding, healing and joy into the world. It is something that benefits us, but also other people and the world around us.

Today we will learn about the Druid approach to magic, to help us find the transformation, energy and healing we are seeking in our personal and spiritual life. But we will also aim for more than this, because real magic, powerful magic, is also concerned with serving something more than ourselves. This type of magic shows us how we can make a difference to the world. It shows us how our own story is part of a bigger story - the story of the Earth, the Universe and Life itself.

At the heart of Druid Magic lies an understanding that there are two forces at work in the world - simply stated as masculine and feminine - and that creation, transformation, energy and healing is found when these two forces meet.We will explore the nature of these two forces, and focus particularly on how they manifest as two central abilities; the ability to be open, to receive new thoughts, new feelings, new experiences; and the ability to be penetrative, to be focussed on goals and activities that are in alignment with the Soul's purpose in the world. These two abilities are symbolised in the Western Esoteric Tradition as the cup and the dagger, or the chalice and the sword. In the Druid tradition, these abilities are symbolised as the cauldron and the wand. Through ritual, story-telling, meditation and exercises we will explore together some of the ways in which we can discover the cauldron and the wand within us, and how we can use them and combine their powers to bring about the alchemy of transformation in our lives.

Details/to book call Pauline Orr 06 357 1726

"Holy Source, Ancient Dream,
I return once more to you"
from Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews

Spend the day exploring the rich heritage of the Druid and Celtic tradition. By using story and myth, music and image, Philip will lead us on a journey that explores what it means for us to draw nourishment from this rich vein of spiritual wisdom. We will survey twenty thousand years of history, tracing the origins of Druidry from the very earliest manifestations of spirituality in Europe, through to the renaissance of Druidry that is now occurring worldwide. We will see how today it speaks to that need in all of us to feel close to the Land, and to the Ancestors - wherever we are.

The focus of the day will be on how we can use Druid wisdom to help us in our lives. We will explore how Druidry can help us feel closer to Nature, to Spirit,and to our own core identity - our Soul. We will learn how Druids use ritual, and the lore of Trees and Animals to gain guidance and insight;and we will discover the power of sound that the Druids harness to gain creative inspiration - known as 'Awen' - the gift of the gods, flowing Spirit.

Details/to book call Pauline Orr 06 357 1726

Advanced Certificate in the Art of Therapy

Philip Carr-Gomm with Barbara Cole. A one year part-time course for people who are already trained in counselling and/or psychotherapy and wish to add to their skills to complement their therapeutic work. The theme that underlies this course is that myth and imagination feed our souls, and if psychotherapy is to serve the soul, it needs to draw creatively from the worlds of story and myth, art and imaginaton. During the course we will explore the ways in which we can use these resources to grow personally and to enrich our practice of psychotherapy and counselling. As therapists we encourage our clients to explore their own personal story to gain insights and healing. Spiritual traditions and indigenous cultures have used myth and legend to the same end. By combining an exploration of ancient myths and stories with an exploration of our own story, we can come to a greater depth of healing and insight. The syllabus will be taught in three modules, each one lasting a term: The Way of the Artist - using painting, drawing, modelling and clay work to unlock channels through which the unconscious may communicate; The Way of the Storyteller - using the written word, poetry and the spoken traditions of storytelling to explore both personal and universal myths; The Way of the Shaman - using intuition, 'magic'; and the creation of ritual in the healing/growth process.

(URL http://www.chalicecenter.com/) at The Albion Center, Aptos, CA

(URL http://bkwsu.com/about/)