Workshops for 2019
Taw, Annwfn and the Hidden Heart of Awen—Kristoffer Hughes
We will focus on the hidden, lesser known mysteries of Awen and how we bring it into Manifesttion from the Deep, from Annwfn the indigenous Celtic Otherworld. At the crowning of the Chief Bard, the Archdruid leans forward ans whispers a secret into the Bard’s ear, changing him or her forever. Learn what that secret is. We will also explore the hidden magic that swims within the currents of Awen.
Tarot Masterclass—Kristoffer Hughes
Learn to read the Tarot in 60 minutes!
Connecting to the Land with Sound Healing—Chris Johnstone
Join Chris for a sound healing connection to the spirits of the earth, trees, stones, and rivers surrounding Camp Netimus. Let the sounds of crystal bowls, drums, gongs and chimes open your mind, body and spirit to the energies of the land around us. Each instrument has a special connection to the realms of land, sea and sky that you can explore during your sound journey. There are gentle yoga poses included at the beginning of the sound bath that you may participate in if you desire.
This session will take place in the field so that we may gather in a circle and allow the waves of sound to wash over us. You may wish to consider bringing a blanket or lawn chair so you can directly connect to the earth lying down or sit comfortably, weather permitting.
Chris Johnstone has been a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids since 2014 and has over 20 years experience in nature-based spiritual practices. He spent most of his childhood on a greenhouse farm surrounded by nature and has always been a passionate explorer of holistic, energetic and creative arts. He has professional training in sound healing, spiritual direction, yoga, reiki and tarot and is a graphic artist in the educational sector. He provides on-going Elemental Sound Baths at Wonderworks (www.gowonderworks.com) in Toronto, Canada. Visit him at www.elementalsoundhealing.ca
Energy work- Grounding, Centering and Releasing—Gabrielle Roberts
Grounding is a fundamental practice that starts with a simple, natural connection to Mother Earth and leads to improved health, well being, emotional balance, healthy boundaries, mental clarity, and enlightenment. Centering is an ancient visualization technique that teaches you to focus on the here and now, taking power away from outside concerns and negative thoughts, and helping you remain stable and grounded. When you can release energies that no longer serve you, focus on the now, and ground yourself, you can quite literally change your life.
This workshop will be interactive, talking and sharing techniques, and practicing some methods that work.
Gabrielle Roberts is an Ovate in OBOD, who has been practicing Reiki since 2012 and is a Reiki Master. She is the mother of the Awesome Mindy and uses grounding and centering in her practice, as well as in being the mother of a pre-teen. She will share with you her personal experiences with it.
Awareness and Connection with the Land: A Druidic Perspective -- Thea Ruoho and Erin Rose Conner
As Druids, we know that peace begins with us. How do we each connect with the Earth? How do our daily lives draw us to awareness of the health and happiness of the whole? In this class, we will take a good look at our lives, and how the words of our culture, in media and in our collective habits, tell us how to treat the world around us. Our daily choices can be made with awareness and as an offering to the Earth, or we can just do what we think is easiest. We will learn how our choices have shaped our world, and in doing so, how we can change the story.
Join Thea Ruoho and Erin Rose Conner in a survey of how each of us can make a difference, and in doing so, deepen our relationship with the Land. We will offer a number of useful tools including some basic Permaculture principles, ritual techniques and some simple lifestyle changes that over time build awareness and connection. We ask participants to bring a notebook, as there will be no handouts provided. The class will be held in sacred space. If you feel so moved, please go through your altars and find any small items given in ritual that either no longer serve you, their purpose has been forgotten, or you need to release. There will be an opportunity to do so at this workshop. As an offering to the Land, we ask that each of you bring and use one of the following at camp this year: A bandana (in place of paper towels), a reusable cup for hot and cold drinks, or a reusable water bottle.
Thea Ruoho and Erin Rose Conner trained in the Reclaiming tradition and bring that witchy perspective to their Druidry. Raised in the heart of the city, they can be found talking to trees, shopping in thrift stores, and repurposing things discarded in the streets of Oakland, California. They are also members of the Wild Druid Collective, which runs the OBOD Hospitality Room at Pantheacon, facilitates public rituals, and the monthly Druid Study Group in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A Journey to Meet the Spirits and Guides at Netimus—Lorraine Soria
Journey with the Lorraine to meet the Spirits and Guides that have chosen to be with you during the weekend.
Lorraine has been a member of OBOD since 2004. When she is not running ECG, she can be found talking to the bears and other wildlife in her yard in the Poconos.
A Journey to the Very Old Gods—Christian Brunner
Long before the ramified pantheons of the Celtic Nations on the British Isles, the Gauls of old had their own small, yet powerful set of Gods and Goddesses. Rather than personified Gods of the land, the sky, or the forest, they were the Land, the Sky, and the Forest.
In Christian’s workshop we will not only explore a renewed relationship with these mighty entities, but also how the understanding of what the Gods are shifted over time. By invoking a lot of Awen and Imbas Forosnai, and with the imagery of the Cauldron of Gundestrup, we will journey through the veil into the world of the Gods of Old and try to learn about them directly from the source.
Christian F. Brunner was born in Austria and lived there for more than 30 years before he moved to the United States in 1997. In his teenage years, he started to research ancient and contemporary indigenous methods of alternative healing, and practiced with a group of pagan naturopaths in Vienna for several years. His practice, based on folklore and customs of the Alps, has been the core of his work for more than two decades, and has eventually lead him to Druidry. Now, he is an OBOD Druid, working on becoming a Druid celebrant. Several of Christian’s articles have been published in “Touchstone”, OBOD’s monthly newsletter,‑“Druidenstein”, OBOD’s German magazine, and AODA’s “Trilithon”. He is also the Author of three books in German: a novel, a cookbook for the eight festivals of the year (which is being translated into English), and a book on his research on Alpine lore and customs. The latter is available in English under the title “Mountain Magic: Celtic Shamanism in the Austrian Alps.”
Connecting with the Plant Community Through a Druid’s Staff—Frank Martinez
Plant's don't speak the way we do, but I've found that one way to connect with them is through physical practice and the use of a staff. I have learnt steps that have proven effective to talk with them. We will discuss teaching yourself to find, attune and use a part of their world to do so. With training, you can use the magical tool of a staff to detect and work with other energies around you.
This is a practical, physical discussion, so if you have your own staff, feel free to bring it.
With a (very old) degree in biology and a senior thesis in photosynthesis, Frank Martinez came to love the trees he's been interacting with since he was a child. He was called by the redwoods that he loves to become a Bard in the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids in 2015. He has worked with the rituals and methods of the Anglesey Druid Order for a short while and is currently studying in the Reclaiming tradition. Currently, he and his several staffs enjoy ritual together with his neighbor trees in Northern California.
We will focus on the hidden, lesser known mysteries of Awen and how we bring it into Manifesttion from the Deep, from Annwfn the indigenous Celtic Otherworld. At the crowning of the Chief Bard, the Archdruid leans forward ans whispers a secret into the Bard’s ear, changing him or her forever. Learn what that secret is. We will also explore the hidden magic that swims within the currents of Awen.
Tarot Masterclass—Kristoffer Hughes
Learn to read the Tarot in 60 minutes!
Connecting to the Land with Sound Healing—Chris Johnstone
Join Chris for a sound healing connection to the spirits of the earth, trees, stones, and rivers surrounding Camp Netimus. Let the sounds of crystal bowls, drums, gongs and chimes open your mind, body and spirit to the energies of the land around us. Each instrument has a special connection to the realms of land, sea and sky that you can explore during your sound journey. There are gentle yoga poses included at the beginning of the sound bath that you may participate in if you desire.
This session will take place in the field so that we may gather in a circle and allow the waves of sound to wash over us. You may wish to consider bringing a blanket or lawn chair so you can directly connect to the earth lying down or sit comfortably, weather permitting.
Chris Johnstone has been a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids since 2014 and has over 20 years experience in nature-based spiritual practices. He spent most of his childhood on a greenhouse farm surrounded by nature and has always been a passionate explorer of holistic, energetic and creative arts. He has professional training in sound healing, spiritual direction, yoga, reiki and tarot and is a graphic artist in the educational sector. He provides on-going Elemental Sound Baths at Wonderworks (www.gowonderworks.com) in Toronto, Canada. Visit him at www.elementalsoundhealing.ca
Energy work- Grounding, Centering and Releasing—Gabrielle Roberts
Grounding is a fundamental practice that starts with a simple, natural connection to Mother Earth and leads to improved health, well being, emotional balance, healthy boundaries, mental clarity, and enlightenment. Centering is an ancient visualization technique that teaches you to focus on the here and now, taking power away from outside concerns and negative thoughts, and helping you remain stable and grounded. When you can release energies that no longer serve you, focus on the now, and ground yourself, you can quite literally change your life.
This workshop will be interactive, talking and sharing techniques, and practicing some methods that work.
Gabrielle Roberts is an Ovate in OBOD, who has been practicing Reiki since 2012 and is a Reiki Master. She is the mother of the Awesome Mindy and uses grounding and centering in her practice, as well as in being the mother of a pre-teen. She will share with you her personal experiences with it.
Awareness and Connection with the Land: A Druidic Perspective -- Thea Ruoho and Erin Rose Conner
As Druids, we know that peace begins with us. How do we each connect with the Earth? How do our daily lives draw us to awareness of the health and happiness of the whole? In this class, we will take a good look at our lives, and how the words of our culture, in media and in our collective habits, tell us how to treat the world around us. Our daily choices can be made with awareness and as an offering to the Earth, or we can just do what we think is easiest. We will learn how our choices have shaped our world, and in doing so, how we can change the story.
Join Thea Ruoho and Erin Rose Conner in a survey of how each of us can make a difference, and in doing so, deepen our relationship with the Land. We will offer a number of useful tools including some basic Permaculture principles, ritual techniques and some simple lifestyle changes that over time build awareness and connection. We ask participants to bring a notebook, as there will be no handouts provided. The class will be held in sacred space. If you feel so moved, please go through your altars and find any small items given in ritual that either no longer serve you, their purpose has been forgotten, or you need to release. There will be an opportunity to do so at this workshop. As an offering to the Land, we ask that each of you bring and use one of the following at camp this year: A bandana (in place of paper towels), a reusable cup for hot and cold drinks, or a reusable water bottle.
Thea Ruoho and Erin Rose Conner trained in the Reclaiming tradition and bring that witchy perspective to their Druidry. Raised in the heart of the city, they can be found talking to trees, shopping in thrift stores, and repurposing things discarded in the streets of Oakland, California. They are also members of the Wild Druid Collective, which runs the OBOD Hospitality Room at Pantheacon, facilitates public rituals, and the monthly Druid Study Group in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A Journey to Meet the Spirits and Guides at Netimus—Lorraine Soria
Journey with the Lorraine to meet the Spirits and Guides that have chosen to be with you during the weekend.
Lorraine has been a member of OBOD since 2004. When she is not running ECG, she can be found talking to the bears and other wildlife in her yard in the Poconos.
A Journey to the Very Old Gods—Christian Brunner
Long before the ramified pantheons of the Celtic Nations on the British Isles, the Gauls of old had their own small, yet powerful set of Gods and Goddesses. Rather than personified Gods of the land, the sky, or the forest, they were the Land, the Sky, and the Forest.
In Christian’s workshop we will not only explore a renewed relationship with these mighty entities, but also how the understanding of what the Gods are shifted over time. By invoking a lot of Awen and Imbas Forosnai, and with the imagery of the Cauldron of Gundestrup, we will journey through the veil into the world of the Gods of Old and try to learn about them directly from the source.
Christian F. Brunner was born in Austria and lived there for more than 30 years before he moved to the United States in 1997. In his teenage years, he started to research ancient and contemporary indigenous methods of alternative healing, and practiced with a group of pagan naturopaths in Vienna for several years. His practice, based on folklore and customs of the Alps, has been the core of his work for more than two decades, and has eventually lead him to Druidry. Now, he is an OBOD Druid, working on becoming a Druid celebrant. Several of Christian’s articles have been published in “Touchstone”, OBOD’s monthly newsletter,‑“Druidenstein”, OBOD’s German magazine, and AODA’s “Trilithon”. He is also the Author of three books in German: a novel, a cookbook for the eight festivals of the year (which is being translated into English), and a book on his research on Alpine lore and customs. The latter is available in English under the title “Mountain Magic: Celtic Shamanism in the Austrian Alps.”
Connecting with the Plant Community Through a Druid’s Staff—Frank Martinez
Plant's don't speak the way we do, but I've found that one way to connect with them is through physical practice and the use of a staff. I have learnt steps that have proven effective to talk with them. We will discuss teaching yourself to find, attune and use a part of their world to do so. With training, you can use the magical tool of a staff to detect and work with other energies around you.
This is a practical, physical discussion, so if you have your own staff, feel free to bring it.
With a (very old) degree in biology and a senior thesis in photosynthesis, Frank Martinez came to love the trees he's been interacting with since he was a child. He was called by the redwoods that he loves to become a Bard in the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids in 2015. He has worked with the rituals and methods of the Anglesey Druid Order for a short while and is currently studying in the Reclaiming tradition. Currently, he and his several staffs enjoy ritual together with his neighbor trees in Northern California.