The Order of the Sylvan Oak is the Druid arm of Sylvan Celtic Fellowship. We are an initiatory tradition that views being a Druid as a role within the Celtic spiritual tradition. Sylvan Oak is dedicated to harmony between Druids and the sharing of knowledge about the Celts (ancient and modern) and their ways of worship. We embrace both Celtic Reconstructionism techniques and the Romantic Revivalist Druidry of the 17th and 18th centuries feeling that both are valid and needed for modern Druids to help them along their path as preservers of Celtic spiritual tradition. As such, Sylvan Oak offers many services for peoples of the Metrolina areas including:
Education: Sylvan Oak Druids offer their services to educate the public about the ancient Celts; their ways and their spirituality, the Druids, who and what they were and how they fit into Celtic tribal life and how one can celebrate the faith of the Celtic peoples in modern times and how one can become a Druid to one’s modern tribe.
Ritual: Sylvan Oak Druids hold public rituals for the Celtic High Holy days of Samhain, Imbolg, Beltainne, and Lughnassadh. These ceremonies will be open to any and all comers regardless of spiritual path.
Coming of Age ceremonies: Sylvan Oak Druids offer rites of passage/coming of age ceremonies for any and all who seek them, including: Seining ceremonies, rites of manhood/womanhood, as well as handfastings and legally binding marriages.
Networking: Sylvan Oak will be a bridge for the multitude of Druid paths in the world today. All Druids, regardless of individual tradition, are welcome at Sylvan Oak. Because we aim to see being a Druid as a role instead of a spiritual path in and of itself, we hope that this outlook will lead to understanding and harmony between the paths of differing Druid traditions.
Training: For those interested in serving their own peoples/modern tribes, Sylvan Oak provides a system of training for those who wish to pursue it. Drawing on the best modern sources Sylvan Oak hopes to provide the tools necessary to fulfill in a modern capacity the role of Druid for one’s people/modern tribe.
Sylvan Oak Druid training will work toward training seekers in all items pertinent to fulfilling the role of a modern Druid to one’s own version of tribe, as well as offering areas of specialty training for those interested in the focused skills of a Bard, Ovate, or Druid. Items covered will include but are not limited to:
-Linguist: Celtic language lessons. To really get inside the head of a people one should be able to speak the language of a people. The Celtic languages are not dead and gone and learning to speak them will enable a seeker to understand better the ways of the peoples of the Celtic cultures.
-Celtic Lore: Seekers will learn of the myths and legends of the Celtic peoples. Seekers will also learn of the surviving folklore and practices of modern Celtic speaking countries and how they can apply to modern worship.
-Historian: Seekers will become knowledgeable on both Celtic as well as Druid history down through the ages as well as world and political history. Celtic Reconstruction techniques will be a huge benefit in this area.
-Poet: Seekers will learn surviving poetry of the Celts as well as compose their own. The Bard focus will work in depth with poetry as well as song and music creation.
-Priest/Advisor/Counselor/Diplomat: Seekers will become familiar with and be able to perform religious (& non) rituals and have knowledge of Celtic religions. Seekers will want to be able to make use of counseling techniques and have some working knowledge of Psychology and Sociology.
-Magician: Seekers will learn the ways of magic and the occult, specifically as it applies to the Celtic tradition. The rites of the Revivalist Druid traditions and the Camina Gadelica are a wealth of useful magical material that will be shown to Seekers. The Ovate focus will work in depth with magic and seership.
-Lawyer/Judge: Seekers will become familiar with both ancient Brehon Law as well as the modern laws of where they live. The Brehon focus will work in depth with Brehon Law.
-Healer: Seekers will gain working knowledge of First Aid and Homeopathy/Herbalism.
-Naturalist: Seekers will become at home in nature and be very aware of the changes in the Earth and the Seasons as well as Plant and Animal lore.
-Philosopher: Seekers will gain a familiarity with Celtic philosophies. i.e. triads, sayings etc.
-Genealogist: Seekers will discover their own genealogy and that of their tribe. Seekers will learn about ancestor veneration rites.
-Teacher: In order to give back to the community a Seeker will eventually be able to teach others the Celtic path and to educate others who wish to become Druids for their tribes.
Education: Sylvan Oak Druids offer their services to educate the public about the ancient Celts; their ways and their spirituality, the Druids, who and what they were and how they fit into Celtic tribal life and how one can celebrate the faith of the Celtic peoples in modern times and how one can become a Druid to one’s modern tribe.
Ritual: Sylvan Oak Druids hold public rituals for the Celtic High Holy days of Samhain, Imbolg, Beltainne, and Lughnassadh. These ceremonies will be open to any and all comers regardless of spiritual path.
Coming of Age ceremonies: Sylvan Oak Druids offer rites of passage/coming of age ceremonies for any and all who seek them, including: Seining ceremonies, rites of manhood/womanhood, as well as handfastings and legally binding marriages.
Networking: Sylvan Oak will be a bridge for the multitude of Druid paths in the world today. All Druids, regardless of individual tradition, are welcome at Sylvan Oak. Because we aim to see being a Druid as a role instead of a spiritual path in and of itself, we hope that this outlook will lead to understanding and harmony between the paths of differing Druid traditions.
Training: For those interested in serving their own peoples/modern tribes, Sylvan Oak provides a system of training for those who wish to pursue it. Drawing on the best modern sources Sylvan Oak hopes to provide the tools necessary to fulfill in a modern capacity the role of Druid for one’s people/modern tribe.
Sylvan Oak Druid training will work toward training seekers in all items pertinent to fulfilling the role of a modern Druid to one’s own version of tribe, as well as offering areas of specialty training for those interested in the focused skills of a Bard, Ovate, or Druid. Items covered will include but are not limited to:
-Linguist: Celtic language lessons. To really get inside the head of a people one should be able to speak the language of a people. The Celtic languages are not dead and gone and learning to speak them will enable a seeker to understand better the ways of the peoples of the Celtic cultures.
-Celtic Lore: Seekers will learn of the myths and legends of the Celtic peoples. Seekers will also learn of the surviving folklore and practices of modern Celtic speaking countries and how they can apply to modern worship.
-Historian: Seekers will become knowledgeable on both Celtic as well as Druid history down through the ages as well as world and political history. Celtic Reconstruction techniques will be a huge benefit in this area.
-Poet: Seekers will learn surviving poetry of the Celts as well as compose their own. The Bard focus will work in depth with poetry as well as song and music creation.
-Priest/Advisor/Counselor/Diplomat: Seekers will become familiar with and be able to perform religious (& non) rituals and have knowledge of Celtic religions. Seekers will want to be able to make use of counseling techniques and have some working knowledge of Psychology and Sociology.
-Magician: Seekers will learn the ways of magic and the occult, specifically as it applies to the Celtic tradition. The rites of the Revivalist Druid traditions and the Camina Gadelica are a wealth of useful magical material that will be shown to Seekers. The Ovate focus will work in depth with magic and seership.
-Lawyer/Judge: Seekers will become familiar with both ancient Brehon Law as well as the modern laws of where they live. The Brehon focus will work in depth with Brehon Law.
-Healer: Seekers will gain working knowledge of First Aid and Homeopathy/Herbalism.
-Naturalist: Seekers will become at home in nature and be very aware of the changes in the Earth and the Seasons as well as Plant and Animal lore.
-Philosopher: Seekers will gain a familiarity with Celtic philosophies. i.e. triads, sayings etc.
-Genealogist: Seekers will discover their own genealogy and that of their tribe. Seekers will learn about ancestor veneration rites.
-Teacher: In order to give back to the community a Seeker will eventually be able to teach others the Celtic path and to educate others who wish to become Druids for their tribes.