007:Kathleen Opon: Archdruid of Fire and Abbess of the GCC Monastery

Kathleen has been a member of AODA since early 2015. Her personal spiritual journey began in Catholicism; traveled through the mysticism of Eastern religions; wound through the earthy wonder of Nature Based Religions; eventually arriving at her spiritual home in contemplative Druidry, the AODA and the GCC. As a Druid Apprentice Kathleen became an AODA  Mentor. After advancing to the Companion Degree Kathleen developed and coordinated the AODA Member Outreach program and earned the title of Grand Almoner. A deep desire to serve the spiritual needs of the Druid community-led Kathleen to the Gnostic Celtic Church, where she became a Deacon in 2017, an ordained Priestess in 2019, and Preceptor of the GCC and Archdruid of Fire in 2020. As Preceptor Kathleen developed the concept of the “service” path for GCC priests/priestesses and became a consecrated Bishop in 2021. After proposing and developing a monastic path within the GCC, Kathleen became the Abbess of the Gnostic Celtic Church Monastery, which opened its online doors at the Spring Equinox in 2022.

A Contemplative Druid deeply interested in spirituality, Kathleen earned certification as an Interreligious/Interspiritual Guide in early 2020, so she is uniquely qualified to provide Spiritual Guidance services to members of the  GCC clergy, as well as to others who walk non-traditional spiritual paths. Kathleen has also completed the Dolmen Arch course, for which she is now a qualified instructor.

Kathleen is an active member of Spiritual Directors International, The Theosophical Society of America, The Parliament of World Religions and is a Bard in the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, where she is currently studying the Ovate grade. She lives in Homer Glen, Illinois with her husband, their two sons and two cats.
AODA Website:https://aoda.org/
AODA Curriculum Overview:
http://aoda.org/aoda-membership/curriculum-requirements/
Gnostic Celtic Church:
https://aoda.org/aoda-structure/gnostic-celtic-church-gcc/
A Vision for AODA Druidry: Seven Core Principles of AODA:
https://aoda.org/vision/
AODA Discord Server:https://discord.gg/xJqEKVYyvf
AODA Forums:https://forum.aoda.org/
AODA Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AODADruidry
Grand Arch Druid Dana O’Driscoll Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/druidsgardenart/?hl=en
Podcast Contact Email:
[e-mail]
Podcast Instagram:
https://instagram.com/druidwisdompodcast?utm_medium=copy_link
Earth Rituals: http://aoda.org/earthrituals/
Rule of Awen & Hermitage of the Heart
http://aoda.org/aoda-structure/gnostic-celtic-church-gcc/rule-of-awen/
Requirements for Ordination in GCC:
http://aoda.org/aoda-structure/gnostic-celtic-church-gcc/requirements-for-ordination/