Degree Program Overview
Each Degree will take the initiate through a mythical story over the course the year, along with required reading, memorizations, and participation. Each full degree is completed in three years. The full degree program is completed in nine years. At that point, the Adept may choose to take on an additional degree – the alternate Druid-level degree (either Merlin or Morgan, see below). Or they may take on the role of mentor and teacher and assist in the training of initiates in any prior degree.
All members are expected to undertake the first three levels within the Ovate degree as those provide foundational reference to the Order of the Stone Circle, general Druid concepts, and to revivalist Druidry. There is no requirement for members to progress beyond the Ovate degree, though we hope you will do so.
Ovate, Bard, and Druid Degrees
Revivalist Druid orders generally progress through the degrees of Ovate, Bard, and Druid – in that order.
The Ovate degrees will focus on the story of the Tuatha De Danaan, the Celtic deities and their mythology.
The Bard degrees will focus on the myth of Ceridwen and Taliesin.
The Druid / Druidess degrees will focus on the newer Druid figures of Merlin and of Morgan Le Fay. All degree seekers at this level will learn about both these figures. Coed groves and men’s chapters will focus on Mystery narratives related to Merlin. Women’s circles will focus on Mystery narratives related to Morgan Le Fay. Those who progress past the Druid degree for Merlin or the Druidess degree for Morgan Le Fay have the option of participating in the Mystery narratives for the other figure, if those other Mysteries are offered in their Grove, Chapter, or Circle.
Self-Study versus Grove Degrees
The Grove degree program focuses on in-person participation. Solitary and Triad degrees focus more on reading and watching movies.
The main difference between the self-study program (for solitaries and triads) and the grove program (for groves, chapters, and circles) is that the grove program focuses on in-person participation (where individuals learn and grow in the context of group meetings, rituals, and initiations) and the self-study programs requires more reading and movie watching (which includes both non-fictional and fictional portrayals of Druids). This allows initiates to see what Druids are and have been, as well as stretching the imagination of what Druids could be.
Supplemental Degrees
Supplemental degrees allow for creativity and specialization.
In addition to the main degrees of Ovate, Bard, and Druid, OSC allows for the formation of supplemental degrees for specific populations and interest groups. This might include supplemental degrees focusing on LGBTQ aspects of Druidry or focusing deeper on Druid topics such as shapeshifting or astronomy/astrology. These supplemental degrees may be undertaken as self-study or in a group setting at any time once the full Ovate degree has been completed. However, only one degree (standard or supplemental) may be undertaken in any given year.