Tree Lore in the Anthropocene - The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids as Oak Seers in Times of Ecological Crisis

MS/150/40/022 [Video file]

Citation: Brussman, Ive. "Tree lore in the Anthropocene - The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids as Oak Seers in Times of Ecological Crisis." Paper presented at the Shaking the Tree, Breaking the Bough: Frazer's Golden Bough at 100, Melbourne, Australia, February 12, 2023. In New Age Movements, Occultism, and Spiritualism Research Library. Archives and Special Collections. Valdosta State University. Valdosta, GA.

Author: Brussman, Ive
Summary: In The Golden Bough Sir James Frazer gives attention to various forms of worshiping of trees and tree spirits − a phenomenon that has prevailed throughout history, in magic, religion, mythology and folklore to the present. This article will discuss modern versions of 'tree spirits' in relation to the contemporary context of the ecological crisis, and give attention to modern Druidry in the UK, and The Order of Bards Ovates & Druids (OBOD). The OBOD relate to ancient Druids as 'oak seers', and they characterize themselves as lovers of trees, who practice tree lore. They engage in contemporary environmental issues and are dedicated to tree lore. In 2017 they gave their support to The Charter for Trees, Woods and People which is a public appeal to protect forests of Britain. How can the ancient phenomenon that Frazer describes be set in relation to contemporary context and theoretical discourse on ecology in the Anthropocene? How can new approaches offer theoretical tools? I will draw from scholarly discourse on Eco-pagans (Harvey) in relation to the larger-than-human word, and in making kin (Haraway). In this modern tree lore, ancient mythology is set side by side with recent plant researchers, such as Wohlleben's 'the wood wide web' picturing trees as social and animated lifeforms who are able to communicate.
Subjects: Tree worship; Tree spirits; Plant spirits; Ecology; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Druids and druidism--21st century; Neodruidism; Order of Bards Ovates & Druids; England; Frazer, James George, 1854-1941. Golden bough; Video recordings
Genre: Conference papers and proceedings; Literary criticism;
Additional Authors: Shaking the Tree, Breaking the Bough: Frazer's Golden Bough at 100 (Conference); Tully, Caroline Jane; Budin, Stephanie Lynn; University of Melbourne;
YouTubeURL: https://youtu.be/1jBOX_mfmXQ
UUID: 32004751-F558-C7B9-43A2-8A5DFC5CF9C8
File: `ms150-40-022_brussman-ive_tree-lore_2023-02-12.mp4` Bytes: 903010507 MD5: E56620B8161C8DFAC29EF3D594057D7C