From : Namore Saille
NamoreSaille [at] aol [dot] com
I took this course on the recommendation of a friend, and
with taking this course I learned a few things. All people are in their
own right and no one is completely wrong. Power and greed are unjust
when used wrongly. The book Stranger in a Strange Land was,
at the time I took the class, the main idea behind the teachings. If
the person doesn't grok the course, with time they might. I recommend reading
the book first before taking the course, and if you don't understand read
it again. It is a very good book to grok.
Unfortunately I was unable to complete the course I took
due to a disagreement with one of the teachings; it was put to me the idea
of thou art God, when I put this to the test it turned out that thou
art God meant everyone is God but a lesser God than Sybok. I would
still like to meet him in person but would not share water with him. I would
like to meet the other members of the Mithril Star group.
Overall the class is a good one for those beginning on their
path. A lot of fresh ideas and perspectives to learn from. As with all
life experiences, it is to be taken as a grain of salt or suger point of view.
From: Sidhe-La
spiralmoonearthdancer [at] earthlink [dot] net
I took the course to expand my horizons Pagan wise. The Order
is inspired by the novel, Stranger In A Strange Land, by the works of J.R.R.
Tolkein and by the Reformed Druids of North America. Unlike most other Druid
groups, OMS reveres the Coastal Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirons) over the Oak.
The first half of the course will force you to question any societally held
beliefs, Neo-Pagan dogma or assumptions you have. This alone is worth the
cost of admission.
The second half is more Druid driven, discussing the rituals and traditions
of Reformed Druidism, the holy days, and ends with a general discription of
the Order itself.
The teachers are drawn from the Order, and teaching the class (either online
or in local venues (live)), is a requirement for one of the advanced degrees
(of which there are seven). The teachers openly admit that the only purpose
for teaching the class is to recruit members for the Order, but even it you're
not interested in membership, you'll find the class well worth the 16 weeks
or so you spend with it.
I've taken the course twice -- once when Sybok was still Arch-Druid, and again
when his wife, Ceridwen (herself an acomplished Astrologer who teaches a course
called Astrology for Pagans) took over as Arch-Druid. The general tone has
softened noticeably. Ceridwen has re-written much of the material and there
is much more of an air of "equality among the gods." Ceridwen's
goal seems to be more toward establishing autonomous OMS Groves (each with
it's own Arch-Druid and more in line with RDNA models).
I haven't joined the Order, but since Ceridwen has taken over, I am now more
inclined in that direction.
From: Derfel Cadarn
m.prince [at] soton [dot] ac [dot] uk
I took the OMS course not online but via a CD Rom which cost
about $15.00.
(The bulk of that money is then donated to the "Save the Redwoods"
campaign)
In addition to the CD one needs to purchase a book entitled "Stranger
in a
Strange Land" and read it before commencing with the course work. In
effect
the book constitutes "Lesson 1".
The course is a bit off the wall - and many Pagans will not like it. It
dispels many of the myths that float around Paganism, it asks hard questions
of the Neo-Pagan movement and it makes you ask yourself those same hard
questions.
It is nothing like and OBOD or ADF Druid course (both of which I have
studied) so it really is unique. it is also extremely good and I would
highly recommend it.
At the end of the course you are invited to join the Order. It is not
essential that you accept this invitation but if you do you are required to
donate a sum equivelent to 3 hours pay to the Redwood cause. (The Redwood is
considered a Sacred Tree by OMS Druids)
I loved the course so much I did join the order and have found it to be the
most amazing place to practise one's Druidry. Although I am many miles from
the Mother Grove in California (I am UK based) the feeling of warmth and
love stretches across the ocean and makes you feel at one with your fellow
Druids.
I have to say that OMS is not everyone's "Cup of Tea" - many would
find it
just too different from the norm - but whether the student chooses to join
the Order or not, the course will give him or her a very good grounding in
the ways of the modern Druid.
