- Is there a cost for taking part in the self-study program? OSC Chapter One has instituted a minimal fee for conferring degrees (see website for current cost). This is charged when you submit your supporting documentation at the end of your degree study and before we send you a certificate conferring your degree.
- I’m part of an officially chartered grove of OSC. Do I apply to OSC Chapter One or my local grove for my degree certificate? Who do I pay? In general, you should seek your degree through your local grove and pay your local grove. Your local grove should be able to provide you with a degree certificate upon completion of the degree program. They can contact us if they don’t have the degree certificate template on file. Your grove will keep a record of degrees conferred and pass that along to OSC Chapter One along with their annual report each year. OSC Chapter One will generally only confer degrees and take degree payment for solitary members.
- If I’ve been a Druid or Pagan for several years and have knowledge and experience, can I apply that toward the degree program. Yes, you can, but you are still required to adhere to the core requirements of each degree and write a summary of your past experiences to receive credit for them. We will allow those with previous knowledge and background, or degrees conferred from other Druid organizations (such as AODA, OBOD, or ADF) to advance the first three degrees at an accelerated pace providing they study our core requirements. This only applies to the first three degrees. Additionally, if you have years of knowledge and experience specifically as a Druid, those might be applied toward upping your status level in the Order (i.e. Initiate, Apprentice, Bard, Ovate, Druid). Of course, you’ll have to write a summary of your Druid background, knowledge, experience, and involvements to justify the advancement.
- Can I count books I’ve already read? Yes, but you will still have to write a suitable report on what you learned from them to receive credit.
- Can I work toward more than one degree at the same time? Technically, you should devote your focus to only one degree at a time, and we will not grant more than one degree per year and a day period (the only exception is outlined in FAQ #3). Also, you will only be granted degrees based on your status level in the Order (i.e. Initiate, General Membership, Bard, Ovate, Druid). However, if you do complete assignments before reaching the degree program (for example, you read a book on ley lines or Ogham before you reach the 4th Degree), you can always write your book report on it and plug the completion date into your self-study checklist. You will not submit this for credit until you reach that level.
- Why do the higher-level degrees have less reading and less tasks to complete than the lower level degrees? The lower level degrees are more about gaining a comprehensive idea about what Druidry is about and establishing basic knowledge. Higher level degrees focus more on gaining practical knowledge and while they have less tasks, those tasks are more intensive.
- The study program includes reading books of fiction and watching pop culture movies. Don’t you think these might inaccurately portray Druidry and the Old Gods from their true historical basis? We have included these in the program because we believe that Druidry is a living philosophy and/or spiritual path and that the Old Gods are adaptable – who they are and what they represent to us change with the times. OSC considers itself a 21st century Druid Order. While we look to the past for inspiration, we are not stuck there.
- The Ovate level degrees give me the option of reading a book of my choice on Druidry or on other Pagan paths. Why not focus only on Druidry? We would like our members to know more about other paths and practices. Knowledge is power.