Some beautiful shots here of members of the Order of Bards Ovates & Druids and friends celebrating the solstice at Stonehenge Aotearoa:
Posted by: Philip Carr-Gomm | April 17, 2009
Druids in New Zealand
Posted in Miscellaneous | Tags: druids
Awww…It’s great to see lots of familar faces from the Grove of the Summer Stars. And I have to say, that was much more balanced than the last time chanel 3 ran anything about Druids.
By: Brigh on April 18, 2009
at 2:05 am
I’m afraid I’m not getting any sound from this video clip, not when I watch it on Youtube either. Is that the way it’s supposed to be? It would be exciting to see it with sound. Thanks for a great blog!
By: neina on April 19, 2009
at 12:54 am
It does have sound Neina. Must be a problem at your end!
By: Philip Carr-Gomm on April 19, 2009
at 10:13 am
Hi there. I am currently writing a book on Aramoho Wanganui. I know the Druids were strong there in the early 1900s but can find nothing about their history and what happened to them in the end. There was a Druids Hall in Waverley too so they seemed to be strong in country areas as well as towns. Can anyone help? Shame this history should be lost!
By: Laraine Sole on June 26, 2010
at 6:04 am
Hi Laraine,
The group who set up these halls in NZ were the Ancient Order of Druids. They (the NZ branch) dissolved some time quite recently when their finances went adrift (I believe). Their building can be seen in Wellington (now occupied by other offices, but you can see the name carved on the lintel). You can get an idea of how they might have looked had they survived by looking here: http://www.druids.com.au/. The story of how some Druid groups ended up selling insurance and bonds is a bit of a digression, but covered in many books on the history of Druidism! Best wishes in your research! Philip
By: Philip Carr-Gomm on June 28, 2010
at 4:54 pm
Thanks Phiip!
By: Laraine Sole on July 14, 2012
at 1:05 am
Does anyone know of a decent Druidry course I can take that’s cheap? The OBOD one was over $400 NZ a year and I don’t have that much money in my bank account, and I don’t think my parents would be willing to pay that much for me on that.
If anyone knows of one that’s free or under $100 NZ a year, and is a decent course that won’t take up too much time what with homework and all that, could you please post the link here?
Thanks
By: Helen on May 8, 2011
at 1:07 am
Helen…
Contact the Grove of the Summer Stars and talk to them.
Peace
Meaghan.
By: Meaghan on October 4, 2011
at 11:03 pm
Hi
Would someone know the meaning of dropping the customary acorn into the grave of a Druid – it was mentioned at a funeral for a member of the Star of Paeroa Lodge of Druids in 1910.
Many thanks
Meg.
By: Meg Hawkes. on June 18, 2012
at 10:55 pm
No idea Meg, but I suspect a very nice inspired idea to symbolize the cyclical nature of life, and the deceased being a ‘person/sage of the oak’ (from dru (oak) – id (sage).
By: Philip Carr-Gomm on June 19, 2012
at 9:49 am