AODA Grand Grove Bios

John Michael Greer ~ Grand Archdruid

Born in 1962 in Bremerton, Washington State, USA, John Michael Greer was raised in a nonreligious family but developed an intense interest in spirituality, mythology, and esoteric traditions in childhood. He began studying the Golden Dawn tradition of Hermetic magic in his teens, and followed the "golden thread" of esoteric teachings into a wide range of related subjects, from martial arts and Asian mystical traditions to environmental science and sacred geometry, in the years that followed.

He attended college at Western Washington University (1980-1983) and the University of Washington (1991-1993), graduating from the latter magna cum laude in 1993 with a BA in Comparative History of Ideas. In the interval between his college years he married and worked at a variety of jobs while developing his skills as a writer. His first published book, Paths of Wisdom, a handbook of Golden Dawn cabalistic philosophy, was released by Llewellyn in 1996, and has been followed by eight other books to date.

Dissatisfaction with some aspects of the Golden Dawn system, especially its lack of contact with the realities of green nature, led him to Druidry. In 1995 he joined the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD) began its correspondence study program, and progressed through the three degrees of Bard, Ovate and Druid, receiving his certificate as a Druid Companion of the Order in 2002. In 2003 he was honored with OBOD's Mount Haemus Award for Druid scholarship. In 2001 he also joined the Druid fellowship Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF). He remains active in both these organizations.

is journey to the northern chair, the seat of the Grand Archdruid in the Ancient Order of Druids in America, was made complex by the Order's own difficulties during and after the resignation of Grand Archdruid Robert Johnson in 1998. Unbeknownst to him, his first attempt to contact AODA - after reading about it in a reference book, and finding its traditional Druid Revival approach intensely appealing - was made during the middle of this crisis and went nowhere. He finally succeeded in making contact with one of the Order's Archdruids in 2001, only to find the Order inactive. In 2003, after a series of discussions about AODA's potentials, he was brought into the Grand Grove as Archdruid of the East. On December 21, 2003, on the resignation of Grand Archdruid Betty Jean McCloud Reeves due to ill health, he moved to the North as the seventh Grand Archdruid of AODA.

He currently lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife Sara, an herbalist, musician, and writer who serves as Archdruid of the South of AODA and is also active elsewhere in the contemporary Druid movement.

John Michael Greer's published and forthcoming books include:

The Archdruid Report Grand Archdruid John Michael Greer's weekly commentary on nature, culture, and the future of industrial society.

Paths of Wisdom: Cabala in the Western Tradition (Llewellyn, 1996)
Circles of Power: Ritual Magic in the Western Tradition (Llewellyn, 1997)
Inside A Magical Lodge (Llewellyn, 1998)
Earth Divination, Earth Magic: A Practical Guide to Geomancy (Llewellyn, 1999)
Natural Magic (Llewellyn, 2000; reprinted as The Encyclopedia of Natural Magic, 2005)
Monsters (Llewellyn, 2001)
The New Encyclopedia of the Occult (Llewellyn, 2003)
Learning High Magic, with Carl Hood Jr. and Clare Vaughn (Weiser, 2004)
A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism (ADF Press, 2005)
The Academy of the Sword by Gerard Thibault (translation; Chivalry Bookshelf, 2006)
The Druidry Handbook (Weiser, 2006)
The Geomancer's Handbook (Renaissance Astrology, 2006)
The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies (Element, 2006)

Photo credits: Portrait by Bob Carroll; JMG at Stonehenge by Sara Greer

Sara Greer ~ Archdruid of the West

Sara Greer, Archdruid of Fire, has been involved in modern Druidry since Lughnasadh 1994. She is an archpriestess in the AODA, and a priestess in the Druid arm of the Universal Gnostic Church. In addition to AODA, she is a member of ADF, OBOD, RDNA, and the Druid Gorsedd of the First Circle. Under her pen name Clare Vaughn she is coauthor of two books, one in print (Learning Ceremonial Magic) and one forthcoming (yet to be titled). Her formal name in the AODA is Cadwres y Llafn Gwyrdd, but she is generally known in the Druid community as Oakmouse.

Jackie Olsen ~ Archdruid of the South

Jackie Olsen is a former advertising/public relations professional who has studied the healing arts for over 25 years. She is a Licensed Spiritual Health Coach, Master Essene Healer, Reiki Master/Teacher, and 4th Degree (Yondan) Black Belt in Uechi-Ryu Karate-do. She is a Gnostic Druid Bishop of Ancient Ways in the Universal Gnostic Church.

In 2004 she studied with the Okinawan Masters in Okinawa, Japan. Jackie is also active in the Magickal Order of the Golden Dawn, a New Age Book reviewer, and walks the Deer Path of Medicine as a Road Woman.

Gordon Cooper ~ Archdruid of the East

Gordon Cooper, 47, began his study of nature spirituality and magic in 1976 while serving in the US Navy. He has participated and taught in many alternative spirituality venues over the years, and is one of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids Mt. Haemus scholars. His formal degree work is in anthropology and Turkish language studies, and he has been active in the martial arts since 1981.

Grand Pendragon ~ Mary Claflin

Kellas (aka Prospero's Mistress) has been a Druid for 15 years. In addition to AODA she belongs to ADF, OBOD, and RDNA. She and her husband, Grey Badger, own Rogue Regalia and the Claflin Academy of Sewing & Design.

Grand Herald ~ David Kling

David Oliver Kling, Jr. entered the world June 16, 1970 and has enjoyed the ride so far. He is Chief Druid of Three Roads Community a grove of the AODA, and an Archpriest in the AODA. David is a religious syncretist combining Nature Spirituality, Gnostic Christianity, and Roman Paganism in ways that speak true to his soul. In addition to his involvement in Druidry, David is also a Bishop in the Universal Gnostic Church, the Church of the Triune Gnosis, and a priest and magistrate within Nova Roma. David is also known as Tau Athanasios, and within the Roman community as Gaius Fabius Buteo Modianus.