what is druidism ?

Nevyn

What is Druidism ? Taken from http://www.religioustolerance.org/druid.htm


Quotation:

"Druidry is not a religion. It's a philosophy and you can worship a God or a Goddess, it's up to you. You can be a Christian or a Moslem or anything else and still be a Druid. "But while a Christian will say God made that tree, a Druid will say the energy of a creative force is in that tree." Kieron, a North-East UK Druid.

History:

Modern Druidism is one of the Neopagan family of religions, which includes Wicca and recreations of Egyptian, Greek, Norse, Roman and other ancient Pagan religions. Some present-day Druids attempt to reconstruct of the beliefs and practices of ancient Druidism. Others modern-day followers of Druidism work directly with the spirits of place, of the gods and of their ancestors to create a new Druidism.

Within ancient Druidism, there were three specialties. "A general categorisation of the three different grades accords the arts to the bards, the skills of prophecy and divination to the Ovates and philosophical, teaching, counselling and judicial tasks to the Druid." 1
The Bards were "the keepers of tradition, of the memory of the tribe - they were the custodians of the sacredness of the Word." In Ireland, they trained for 12 years learning grammar, hundreds of stories, poems, philosophy, the Ogham tree-alphabet.
The Ovates worked with the processes of death and regeneration. They were the native healers of the Celts. They specialized in divination, conversing with the ancestors, and prophesizing the future.
The Druids and Druidesses formed the professional class in Celtic society. They performed the functions of modern day priests, teachers, ambassadors, astronomers, genealogists, philosophers, musicians, theologians, scientists, poets and judges. They underwent lengthy training: some sources say 20 years. Druids led all public rituals, which were normally held within fenced groves of sacred trees. In their role as priests, "they acted not as mediators between God and man, but as directors of ritual, as shamans guiding and containing the rites." Most leaders mentioned in the surviving records were male. It is not known whether female Druids were considered equal to their male counterparts, or whether they were restricted to special responsibilities. References to women exercising religious power might have been deleted from the record by Christian monks during the Celtic Christian era.

Since ancient Druidism was an oral tradition, they did not have a set of scriptures as do Christianity and other "religions of the book. 2 "Some Druidic "teachings survived in the Bardic colleges in Wales, Ireland and Scotland which remained active until the 17th century, in medieval manuscripts, and in oral tradition, folk lore and ritual." 3

Druidism and other Neopagan religions are currently experiencing a rapid growth. Many people are attempting to rediscover their roots, their ancestral heritage. For many people in North America, their ancestors can be traced back to Celtic/Druidic countries.

Most modern Druids connect the origin of their religion to the ancient Celtic people. However, historical data is scarce. The Druids may well have been active in Britain and perhaps in northern Europe before the advent of the Celts.

Many academics believe that the ancestors of the Celts were the Proto-Indo European culture who lived near the Black Sea circa 4000 BCE. Some migrated in a South-Westerly direction to create the cultures of Thrace and Greece; others moved North-West to form the Baltic, Celtic, Germanic and Slavic cultures. Evidence of a Proto-Celtic Unetice or Urnfield culture has been found in what is now Slovakia circa 1000 BCE. This evolved into a group of loosely linked tribes which formed the Celtic culture circa 800 BCE. By 450 BCE they had expanded into Spain; by 400 BCE they were in Northern Italy, and by 270 BCE, they had migrated into Galatia (central Turkey). By 200 BCE, they had occupied the British Isles, Brittany, much of modern France, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, North West Spain, and their isolated Galatia settlement in Turkey.

Although the Celts had a written language, it was rarely used. Their religious and philosophical beliefs were preserved in an oral tradition. Little of their early history remains. Most of our information comes from Greek and Roman writers, who may well have been heavily biased (the Celts invaded Rome in 390 BCE and Greece in 279 BCE). Other data comes from the codification (and modification) of Celtic myth cycles by Christian monks. The latter included the Ulster Cycle, the Fenian Cycle, the Cycle of Kings, the Invasion Races Cycle from Ireland, and The Mabinogion from Wales. Unfortunately, much Celtic history and religion has been lost or distorted by an overlay of Christianity.

The Christian Church adsorbed much of Celtic religion: many Pagan Gods and Goddesses became Christian saints; sacred springs and wells were preserved and associated with saints; many Pagan temple sites became the location of cathedrals. By the 7th Century CE, Druidism itself was destroyed or continued deeply underground throughout most of the formerly Celtic lands. There is some evidence that Pagan religions did survive in isolated areas of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the 20th Century.

Myths about Druids

Ritual Killing:

Many historians believed that the ancient Druids performed human sacrifices. All of these references can be traced back to the writings of one individual, Julius Caesar. He may well have been prejudiced against the Celts because of their continual warfare with the Romans. In war, the enemy is routinely demonized. Some remains of executions have been found in the archeological record, but it is not obvious whether the victims were killed during religious rituals or to carry out the sentence of a court. There is one reference to human sacrifice in Celtic literature, but it appears to be a Christian forgery. The ancient Celts might have engaged in ritual killing; certainly other contemporary societies did. Modern Druids, of course, do not.
Stonehenge, Avebury, etc.: Many people believe that the Druids constructed Stonehenge, the complex of standing stones in South Central England. Stonehenge I ("Old Stonehenge"), which was composed of the 56 "Aubrey" holes, was constructed circa 3500 BCE. The current formation was completed circa 1500 BCE. This was almost a millennium before the start of Celtic civilization. The Druids may have preceded the Celts in England. Thus, either the Druids or their fore-runners might have been responsible for the finishing of Stonehenge and other monuments. There is no historical proof that they were or were not involved. Even if they did not actually construct these monuments, they may well have performed rituals there, and understood its astronomical meanings and uses.

In Ireland and Great Britain, there are many ancient "Druid" altars, beds, rings, stones, stone circles and temples. However, radio-carbon analyses assign dates such as 1380 BCE (Wilsford Shaft) to 3330 BCE (Hembury). Again, ancient Druids may have used these megalithic monuments, but did not necessarily build them

Ireland now has countless wells and springs dedicated to the Christian Saint Bridget. She was obviously descended from the Celtic Goddess Brigid/Brigit. "Finding the cult of Brigit impossible to eradicate, the Catholic church rather unwisely canonized her as a saint, calling her Bridget or Bride." 4 The sacred ownership of the various Pagan holy sites were simply translated from Goddess Brigid to St. Bridget after the area was Christianized.
Celtic God Samhain: This non-existent God is often mentioned at Halloween time. He is supposed to be the Celtic God of the Dead. No such God existed. Samhain is, in reality, the name of a Druidic fire festival. It can be loosely translated as "end of the warm season".
Monotheistic Druids: Some writers have promoted the concept that Druids were basically monotheistic, following a sort of pre-Christian belief system. There is essentially no evidence of this. Druids worshipped a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses.

Nevyn

Beliefs and Practices:

Beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts are being pieced together by modern Druids. Because so much information has been lost, this is not an easy task. Some findings are:
Goddesses and Gods: The Celts did not form a single religious or political unity. They were organized into tribes spread across what is now several countries. As a result, of the 374 Celtic deities which have been found, over 300 occur only once in the archeological record; they are believed to be local deities. There is some evidence that their main pantheon of Gods and Goddesses might have totaled about 3 dozen - perhaps precisely 33 (a frequently occurring magical number in Celtic literature). Some of the more famous are: Arawn, Brigid, Cernunnos, Cerridwen, Danu, Herne, Lugh, Morgan, Rhiannon and Taranis. Many Celtic deities were worshipped in triune (triple aspect) form. Triple Goddesses were often sisters.

Afterlife:

They believed that the dead were transported to the Otherworld by the God Bile (AKA Bel, Belenus). Life continued in this location much as it had before death. The ancient Druids believed that the soul was immortal. After the person died in the Otherworld, their soul reincarnates and lives again in another living entity -- either in a plant or the body of a human or other animal. After a person has learned enough at this level, they move on after death to a higher realm, which has its own Otherworld. This continues until the individual reaches the highest realm, the "Source." A Druidic visitor to this web site wrote: "All things are created from the Source, including the Gods. We are just sparks from its flame." At every birth, the Celts mourned the death of a person in the Otherworld which made the new birth possible.

Creation Myth:
No Druidic creation story appears to have survived, although there are numerous accounts of the supernatural creation of islands, mountains, etc.

Baptism:
There is some evidence that the Celts had a baptism initiation ceremony similar to those found in Buddhist, Christian, Essene, Hindu, Islamic, and Jainist sacred texts. Other researchers dismiss baptism as a forgery by Christian scribes as they transferred Celtic material to written form.

Moral code:
Druids do not follow the Wiccan Rede which states (in modern English) one is free to do anything, as long as it harms nobody. The closest analogy are the Celtic Virtues of honor, loyalty, hospitality, honesty, justice and courage. "Daven" briefly describes the Virtues as follows:

"Briefly stated the virtue of Honor requires one to adhere to their oaths and do the right thing, even if it will ultimately hurt others or oneself in the process. A Druid is obligated to remain true to friends, family and leaders thus exhibiting the virtue of Loyalty. Hospitality demands that a Druid be a good host when guests are under one's roof. Honesty insists that one tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth to yourself, your gods and your people. Justice desires the Druid understands everyone has an inherent worth and that an assault to that worth demands recompense in one form or another. Courage for the Druid does not always wear a public face; it is standing-strong-in-the-face-of-adversity, alone or with companions. Sometimes Courage is getting up and going about a daily routine when pain has worn one down without complaint or demur." 7

Divination:
Druids used many techniques to foretell the future: meditation, study of the flight of birds, interpreting dreams, and interpreting the pattern of sticks thrown to the ground.

Awen symbol:
This is a symbol drawn in the form of three pillars, in which the outer two are sloped towards the center pillar, as in /|\. Sometimes, one or three dots are added above the pillars. The symbol has been in use since the 17th century; it recalls the Druidic fascination with the number three. "Awen" means inspiration in Middle Welsh.

Triskele symbol:
This is an ancient Druidic symbol consisting of three curved branches, bent legs or arms radiating from the center of the symbol. The flag of the Isle of Man contains a triskele.

Seasonal Days of Celebration:

Druids, past and present, celebrate a series of fire-festivals, on the first of each of four months. Each would start at sunset and last for three days. Great bonfires would be built on the hilltops. Cattle would be driven between two bonfires to assure their fertility; couples would jump over a bonfire or run between two bonfires as well. The festivals are:
Samhain (or Samhuinn) Literally the "end of warm season". November 1 marked the combined Feast of the Dead and New Year's Day for the Celtic calendar. It is a time when the veil between our reality and that of the Otherworld is most easily penetrated. This fire festival was later adopted by the Christians as All Soul's Eve, and later became the secular holiday Halloween.
Imbolc (or Brighid) Literally "in the belly". February 1 marked The Return of Light. This is the date when the first stirrings of life were noticeable and when the land might first be plowable. This has been secularized as Groundhog Day.
Beltaine (or Bealteinne). May 1 was the celebration of The Fires of Bel. This was the peak of blossom season, when domesticated animals bear their young. This is still celebrated today as May Day. Youths dance around the May pole in what is obviously a reconstruction of an earlier fertility ritual.
Lughnasad (or Lughnasadh, Lammas). August 1 was The Feast of Lugh, named after the God of Light. A time for celebration and the harvest.

There were occasional references in ancient literature to:
the winter solstice, typically December 21, when the night is longest
the summer solstice, typically June 21, when the night is shortest.

Modern Druidic Movements:


Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD): There are two beliefs concerning the development of this group. One traces their origin to the Ancient Order of Druids (AOD) by Henry Hurle in England in 1781. This group repeatedly split due to internal dissension into many separate organizations. By 1918, there were five groups attempting to perform solstice ceremonies at Stonehenge; all were breakaway groups from the original Ancient Order of Druids. By 1955, all had disappeared except for the British Circle of Universal Bond which subsequently split in 1963 to form the OBOD. The other lineage is claimed by the OBOD who trace their ancestry back through the AOD to a group founded in England in 1717 by John Toland. He is said to have combined local groups of Druids (called groves) from a 10 locations into the Mother Grove. The OBOD's current address is: PO Box 1333, Lewes, East Sussex, England, BN7 3ZG. Email address: office@obod.co.uk


The British Druid Order was founded in 1979 by Philip Shallcrass and Emma Restall Orr. They "see Druidry as a process of constant change and renewal whereby the tradition is continually recreated to address the needs of each generation." They currently have about 3,000 members, mostly in the UK. 3 Their address is: British Druid Order, PO Box 29,
St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex TN37 7YP, England. Email addresses are: greywolf@druidorder.demon.co.uk and bobcat@nemeton.demon.co.uk

The Reformed Druids of North America: This movement started as a type of undergraduate prank at a mid-western U.S. college (Carleton College at Northfield, MN) in 1963. (One source says 1957). The administration had required that all students to attend church. Some students invented the RDNA as a reaction to this rule. The leaders were amazed when many of the students wanted to continue the RDNA, even after the protest against the administration had been won. From this source, a number of Neopagan Druidic movements have split off, including:

Ar nDraiocht Fein: (ADF) This can be loosely translated as "our own Druidism". Their name is pronounced "arn ree-ocht fane". It was founded by Isaac Bonewits who is currently the Archdruid Emeritus. The ADF emphasizes scholarly research, and " a blend of ancient practices and modern realities". His motto is "paganize mainstream religion by mainstreaming paganism". Their goal is to recreate a Pan-European Druidism, involving elements from Baltic, Celtic, Germanic Slavic and even pre-classical Greek and Roman beliefs. The ADF publishes a quarterly ADF journal, a bimonthly News from the Mother Grove, and a semi-yearly Druid's Progress. As of mid-2002, they have 43 groves in the U.S. and two in Ontario, Canada. Their web site is at: http://www.adf.org Their Email is at address is: ADF-Office@adf.org. Their postal address is: ADF, P.O. Box 17874, Tucson, AZ 85731-7874
bullet The Henge of Keltria: Five ADF members compiled a list of 13 concerns about the ADF at the Pagan Spirit Gathering in 1986, Emulating the actions of Martin Luther, they attached the list to the door of Isaac Bonewits' van in 1986 . Fortunately for Isaac, they used tape in place of the nails that a Christian urban legend says that Martin Luther used. Keltria has focused on ancient Celtic religion and holds only non-public rituals. They published a journal: Keltria: A Journal of Druidism and Celtic Magick" from 1986 to 1998.

Nevyn

References used:

1. "Bards, Ovates and Druids," at: http://druidry.org/obod/text/OBOD.html
2. Greywolf, "A little history of Druidry," at: http://www.druidorder.demon.co.uk/druid_history.htm
3. "Ancient Druidry," at: http://www.druidorder.demon.co.uk/index1.htm
4. Douglas Monroe, "The 21 Lessons of Merlyn," Llewellyn Publications, (1992).
5. B.G. Walker, "The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets," Harper & Roe, (1983), P. 116 to 118.
6. Isaac Bonewits, "Symbols of Druid Identity 2.7," at: http://www.neopagan.net/
7. Daven, "Druidism and Wicca; a comparison," 2003-JUL-31, at: http://davensjournal.com/


Books on Druidism:
J. Bonwick, Irish Druids and Old Irish Religions, Dorsett Press (1986) Out of print, but may be obtainable from Amazon.com
P. Carr-Gomm, The Druid Tradition, Element, Rockport MA (1991) You can read reviews, and/or order this book safely from Amazon.com
C. Chippindale, Stonehenge Complete, Thames & Hudson, New York (1994) Review/order this book
Review/order this book
E.E. Hopman, The Druid's Herbal For The Sacred Earth Year, Destiny Books, Rochester, VT, (1995) Review/order this book
Douglas Monroe, The 21 Lessons of Merlyn, Llewellyn Publications, (1992). Reviews /order this book
R. Nichols, The Book of Druidry, Aquarium, London (1975) Review/order this book
B. Raftery, Pagan Celtic Ireland: The Enigma of the Irish Iron Age, Thames & Hudson, New York (1994)
Emma Restall-Orr:
"Thorsons Principles of Druidry," Thorsons Publ, (1999) Review/order this book
"Spirits of the Sacred Grove: The world of a Druid Priestess," Thorsons Publ, (1998) Review/order this book
"Ritual: A Guide to Life, Love & Inspiration, Thorsons, London (2000-SEP) Review/order this book
Philip Shallcrass, "Druidry," Piatkus Books, (2000-OCT) Review/order this book

"Ritual: A Guide to Life, Love & Inspiration, Thorsons, London (2000-SEP) Review/order this book
Philip Shallcrass, "Druidry," Piatkus Books, (2000-OCT)


Copyright © 1997 to 2004 incl. by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2004-MAR-26
Author: B.A. Robinson

Suaimhneach

http://www.druidschool.com/druidry/druidism2day.asp

Another good link, if it's alright to suggest em.

ancathach

Jesjes wrote:

http://www.druidschool.com/druidry/druidism2day.asp

Another good link, if it's alright to suggest em.

I'll ditto this one- Con is very much a man of the living irish tradition and his site (and apparently his training, but I cant speak of this bit first hand) is worth investing time in.

Also http://www.wildideas.net/cathbad is a good guide to Druidry.

B.

Suaimhneach

Jesjes wrote:

http://www.druidschool.com/druidry/druidism2day.asp

Another good link, if it's alright to suggest em.

Just realised that's a dead link and I can't edit the post so here is a different one here

joseph dawton

I've met Con who runs druidschool. Although he has some interesting views and has a body of druidic knowledge I was not impressed by his negative attitude to christianity and also towards OBOD. It's true that the Church suppressed native beliefs but that's the Church for you - it doesn't follow that Christianity is bad.

I don't like it when people slag other beliefs as part of spreading their own. The ancient druids embraced greek and egyptian ideas and as far as can be seen they tolerated other religions in the peoples conquered by the celts.

joseph dawton

the notable exception to this is the desecration of the Oracle at Delphi in Greece, otherwise Druidry seems fairly tolerant, certainly most modern exponents of druidry would encourage religious tolerance and some druids also practice other faiths as well.

ConConnor

Undoing the history of disinformation on Druidism

The Romans and the Greeks
There is a lot of outrageous rubbish written about Druidism. In ancient times Druidism did not have Priests and no Classical writer (Greek or Roman) ever applied the term Priest to any Druid but they did use the term philosopher while also making a clear distinction between "Druid" and "Priest". No Classical writer ever refered to Druidism as a religion. The majority of Classical references consist of anti-Druid propaganda by the spin-doctors of the Roman Empire. Caesar had to "spin" the truth to get the funding and support to fight his battles against the Celtic nations. Hitler and Bush used the same technique to force their demands and got away with it even though many knew that these powerful men were twisting the reality to suit their own agendas.

The Romans gave us the image of the Druids as bizarre, barbaric murderers who continuously sacrificed innocents to tell the future from looking at the entrails of their victims. The opposite is the truth. Even the Roman Pope Dionyisus (ad259) attended the bloodthirsty spectacles called "the games" held in the 'circuses' and he is also recorded as owning gladiators. Greek literature is full of references to human sacrifice since 500bc and Roman literature is full of references to human sacrifice until 500ad. We have to wait until the fifth century ad when Rome was invaded by 'barbarians' for those 'barbarians' to put an end to the bloodthirsty Roman orgy of violence. It is obvious that the Romans have lied extensively but even with only a little research it is glaringly obvious that these lies are still being told.

Those that the Romans called "Druids" did not use the word Druid to describe themselves at all. Most linguists see Druid as cognate with a Greek word meaning "an oak". Some Celtic linguists have derived its root as an intensive particle with a second part meaning "to know", this together says * those whose knowledge is very great. Another translation is "those familiar with the oak". Here we have the Romans using a Greek word to describe the native magicians and philosophers of Gaul (France) in an unflattering manner for political reasons.

As the Romans expanded their empire the Celtic culture and the free expression of Druidism retreated west to the edge of the European mainland and then to England. In 55bc Caesar landed on the southern shores of England and defeated the Celtic Cantii. This was followed a year later with a second campaign gaining formal submission from several important southern English Chieftains. Rome never completely conquered England. The remnants of Celtic culture survived by moving west once again. In 82ad plans were drawn up to invade Ireland, but these plans were shelved because of the Irish in what we now call Scotland could not be pacified. The destruction of the Celtic culture by the Roman war machine was stopped by the Irish Sea and by the Celtic armies in the north of England. Only in Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and Ireland did the Celtic culture (and the Druids) survive the onslaught of the Roman armies.

The universal church
The next and most serious threat to the Celtic culture and the path of spiritual Druidism was the creation of the universal (Catholic) Church. In 325ad at the Council of Nicea Constantine the Great fixed the date of Easter and in so doing he fused the political and military might of the Roman Empire with the Christian Church creating an even more potent state religion. Constantine found the tenets and organisational structure of the Christian Church as very suitable to merge into the existing imperial structure of the Roman way. His mother was a Christian and lobbied hard for her god to be accepted. It was his money that she used to build the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, both of which still stand today. He was only baptised on his deathbed. However, he transformed a church that had no central authority for 300 years into a single cohesive religion.

In 410ad, a Visigoth army sacked Rome and destroyed the concept of Roman Imperial might forever. But the Church survived. This Church was designed by Constantine as a vehicle to enhance the political might of Rome but as the empire crumbled the Church ended up superseding it. This happened because the invaders of Rome dropped their gods and embraced the Catholic Church. This was vitally important because the Church claimed jurisdiction not just over lands and armies but also over souls. This created a new social order in Europe * Pagans had adopted the Catholic Church and its jurisdiction as theirs.

This new church spread throughout what was the Roman Empire with ease. Even England became mostly catholic and slowly but surely the church entered Ireland, which had been the last outpost of pure Celtic culture and Druidism. A strange thing happened in Ireland because the existing spiritual system absorbed the new church and became what we today call the early Celtic Church. The Druids disappeared into this new Celtic Church and continued the "old ways". There is so much written during this period by the monk chroniclers that is deliberate disinformation and it is only in recent years that the truth has become known.

But the natural spiritual awareness of the Druids of Ireland connected easily with the early church and ran alongside and inside the system. This can be seen by the Druidic tonsure, which although outlawed survived into the middle ages. The church leaders repeatedly banned the half shaved head of the Druids but it was still in evidence in the second millennium ad. Druid schools disappeared and became centred on individual teachers of families and they began to specialise in medicine, Brehon law and so on. The Druid awareness was re-branded or re-packaged and successfully argued / presented at the highest level.

It was during the middle ages, a time of great darkness when the church of fear was killing (or sacrificing) millions to their false dogma that the Druids saved the Light. This they did by being invisible and by presenting their truth as an advanced awareness of the true Christian way that they had adopted from before the time of St. Patrick onwards. These Druids dressed as Monks went to Europe and held the highest teaching models of the time. Irish Universities (read as invisible Druid schools) were established all over Europe.

The cannons of Cromwell
Back in Ireland, the mostly invisible Druids were now primarily attached to the ruling dynasties and their supports systems in the castles of the great Irish families. Cromwell destroyed almost all of the castles of the Irish families with the advantage of his huge cannons. Nowhere was safe from these cannons and the support system of the local king¹s advisors (invisible Druids) was completely destroyed. This was followed by a prolonged and protracted genocide of the native Irish that some say is still in evidence in the north of the island. Colours and styles of dress were banned and the bearing of arms outlawed, singing and story telling were made illegal. Druidism, like Irish race consciousness, was almost eradicated by the English Empire and the Roman Church.
Somehow, through the poor farmers and travelling labourers the ancient traditions survived in poem and song and were eventually recorded by German, Scandinavian and occasionally Irish researchers. In these poems and songs that were the remnants of the oral tradition, the key to undoing the disinformation of the monk chroniclers survived and modern analysis has through deep research returned the true concepts of our native Druidism to us once again. Modern language analysis has shown us that the systems and knowledge of the Druids is hidden inside the Old and Middle Irish language despite the attempts of the church to eradicate it.

Romantic English Druidry
Outside of sole practitioners, it is reckoned that Druidry in England had disappeared or become extinct by 750 CE. In the seventeenth century, William Stukeley began to recover what he presented as the 'Druid Wisdom' of the past and in 1694 he re-founded the Mount Haemus Grove at Oxford. John Toland (1670-1722) founded a Druid organisation in London. These gatherings had no-thing to do with ancient Celtic culture and their mystic incantations are chanted in the English language. Despite this false premise, the romantic attraction of Celtic culture has inspired many to believe that this modern English Magic is true Druidism, when it is pure fantasy. It was around this time that the term priest began to be applied to the Druid as if to validate the new "tradition" as an acceptable religion.

Nineteenth century Druidry was influenced by the works of Iolo Morganwg (1747-1826) and evolved into a mature system with the occult revival launched by Eliphas Levi (1801-1875). Eliphas Levi is the man that Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) claimed to be a re-incarnation of. There are many today claiming to be Druids who have no practical personal research done except on the romantic modern version of Druidry. Druidry from the 1900s to the 1960s re-evolved in England as an occult (hidden) society of philosophers and alchemists, magicians, painters, poets etc, shapers of society who were for the most part quiet and private about their Druidical magical practice. WB Yeats, AE Russell and Bram Stoker are some of the famous Irish names from the Golden Dawn period of modern Druidry.

ConConnor

Modern Druidism: Representing the modern path of Druidism
Romantic Revivalism
In the 1960s, modern paganism began to increase its active membership and this brought difficulties for the core beliefs of Traditional British Druids. This was because most modern Druids practice according to traditions of knowledge evolved since the Druid Revival of the seventeenth century but most modern pagans wanted an earth based religion instead. There has accordingly been an evolution or expansion of what is meant by the term Druid for many and this has expanded the Druid practices of traditions based on the 17th century re-invention. Whether this is appropriate will be shown by the passage of time.

Much modern Druid expression is romantic and appeals to the dreamer in us, but this diverts us from the full and true expression of Druidism. Druidism is not a religion - so it cannot have a priest hood. Religion is a Latin word meaning "to be tied with ligament" * this means to be have something fixed to you or to be held to a set of laws. Priests interpret these laws and in doing so they put themselves above and between you and the source. This denies your right to full and direct connection to source except through those who claim to be your betters. This system has served its purpose and now belongs in the past.

The potential of the Path of the Celtic Druid today
Celtic Druidism is the ancient spiritual tradition of Ireland, it roots lie in the oldest temples in this island where many modern Druids still honour the Solar and Lunar cycles. Druidism is a spiritual path to gaining and holding inner Light and expressing your higher self. This path does not lead anywhere but as a Celtic Druid you have to walk it all the time. Walking this path is only possible by being balanced and in your centre. To be in your centre is to achieve a balance between thinking and intuiting. It is only in your centre that you can discover and express your magical higher self. Being in this balance means being in the godlike awareness we call the 'Witness'. This is where the modern Celtic Druid of today holds his/her awareness ie 'turned on and in balance'.

Technically speaking, this is not about killing the ego, it is not about killing the intuition, it is not about killing our base brain (medulla oblongata) * it is about working with all three and not being controlled by any of them. We need our left brain (thinking) and our right brain (intuiting) synchronised to transcend the reptilian brain (fight or flight) to activate the connecting bridge (corpus collosum) to hold our awareness in the higher mind. This I suggest is best done by focused magical training on a spiritual path of self-realisation in unity with Nature.

A suggestion for teaching a modern path
There are three recognizable stages to becoming a modern Celtic Druid today in the teachings of Ireland's Druidschool and the following description is but a brief outline (of stages that overlap) as an indicator and should not be confused with three distinct separate steps -
1. On a Celtic Druid path
This is where as a beginner you can begin to build foundation knowledge of the subtle energy of the invisible realms. This is where you may discover that the whispers of Spirit (that are often called conversation with the holy guardian angel) are actually coming from you. If you are lucky and have a balanced teacher * you may have the chance to create a framework on which to hang your expanded awareness so that this new type of knowledge can begin to make some sort of sense. This may be seen as paddling in the surf with your trousers rolled up.
2. Apprenticed Celtic Druid
As an apprentice Druid, you seek focused training so you can stay on the path. As you progress on this path you gain proficiency with magical tools and skills. You are now consciously influencing your own reality and the invisible realms. You are very much aware that this apprenticeship is to the path and not to a teacher. Your teacher may prod you or guide you but you have to make the progress yourself. You do not expect results by just paying money or collecting certificates but by holding your awareness focus with the high intention of self-transformation. You begin to learn by seeing (but not judging) others as they struggle through life and by acknowledging your successes as you gain some mastery over your own life. Your point of perception (or assemblage point) shifts and you see the world through different eyes. This may be seen as swimming in your depth while staying close to the shore.
3. Being a Celtic Druid
As a Druid, you are a healer, teacher, counsellor and ceremonial leader. You seek to attend Solar and Lunar Ritual Ceremonies at sacred sites. You realise that because you have transformed yourself that the world you live in is also transformed * you know you cannot go back to the 'old you' even if you wanted to. You begin to see that the many different stages of your life have all always been leading to where you are now. You are at peace with yourself. Books seem to open on the most appropriate page, messages from spirit are clearer, the things you need (as opposed to the things your ego wants) appear with increasing ease, new teachers appear just as you need them, you feel the invisible realm with your entire reality, you have abandoned judgement of self and others as you purge dead emotions and you hold your light quietly to yourself. This may be seen as swimming in the deep oceans and flying in the sky and standing on the earth = pure being in triplicity.

Modern Celtic Druidism, a suggestion...
A Celtic Druid is one who has the keys for you to become a Celtic Druid. A Celtic Druid may help you recall that that you are already a Celtic Druid and therefore happy and at One with the Source or God / Goddess. This is the deepest of truth and it is probably the only true role of a Celtic Druid. Celtic Druidism is a path to knowing yourself, to know where you came from, to connect with and activate your incarnational potential, to discover the secrets of the universe, to understand Love, to be happily at One with the Source.

With the inner stillness and peace of the Celtic Druid Path you can once again connect with God as you dissolve any illusions of separation. We all know the truth of Oneness, it is just that we have forgotten it. The Celtic Druid path is a way to remember our purpose, why we must practice meditation and why we must find the Light and dispel the Darkness. As a Celtic Druid you have direct access to the spiritual realm, no intermediary is ever needed to pray, meditate or to gain wisdom. Everything, every place and everyone is sacred because all is filled with the spirit of creation.

Surion

Dear all,

I have read through this thread with great interest. Having once been involved in various groups (including OBOD and the dublin pagan moot) some time ago. A number of friends and I would regularly visit many Irish sites to feel the spirit of place their.

However after 4/5 years of this practice & a considerable wealth of knowledge I began to critically assess our 'practices' and indeed beliefs in Druidism. In fact, this occurred more gloabally toward all 'belief' systems or practices.
I knew/have known many wiccans, druids, spritualists etc etc etc. They believe in spirit, as do I, and felt it in their lives or the world in general. They said it was great!!

However (and here I cut a long story short) their lives were in ruin or stagnation at best. Their 'practice' as such didn little to help them - except continue to prop up their ego. As I began to look further I saw that this was evident WITIHOUT exception to one level of it or another. Frightening really - and let me state, we must all fucntion in the here and now, irrespective of spirit being with us. Getting in to work for 9am is tough sometimes !

I began to think that following in these dead religions (and they have died to history) was tantamount to be wandering lost in a wilderness. The result being...I left that 'world' behind me.

There is a book I read recently - and unfortunately I have forgotton the authour - but the title rang along the lines of "what we can really know about druidry & the celts" (roughly!). I was impressed. The best example I can recall was that we do not know they were branched into bards, ovates & Druids! Ovates is of french derivative not celtic and especially not Irish (and we here have inherited a language FAR older than latin).

Nor are any of the current rituals, including the wheel of the year etc etc original to the time as nothing remains. They died too. So we are left, to some degree, with a reinvention of fantasy. For people who have a dear NEED of something.

Before you go balistic on me, can I say I am open minded but pragmatic also. I would really like to initiate critical discussion on this topic not a flame war. For the record, I do believe that their is an element of the earth (energy, spirit whatever) reaching out to us - but the manner of it is pure invention by us and the method is akin to watching Yoda and believing in His presence!

They symbol of Awen is, shall we say, modern and as for the tripe spiral - to my knoweldge it was found in just one place, in Newgrange, and not obviously placed. SOME, consider it ancient grafitti - and that is also possible!

Sorry for the long thread but I look forward to hearing from you all!

joseph dawton

An interesting viewpoint.

I would agree to some extent. Anyone who claims hereditary or any other direct link to the ancient druids is a liar and a charlatan. The last chief druid here was executed (in 597ad I think). In Britain the last of the Druid hierachy were wiped out on Angelsey in Wales during The Reign of Claudius (circa 50AD).

It is certain that some druids survived in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and Brittany and their knowledge was retained to some extent in books via the monastic system - e.g. the 4 ancient books of Wales, plus in Ireland the Book of Leinster, Book of Durrow etc. The bardic schools survived here into C16th and the beginning of C18th in Scotland. There is in fact a surprisingly large quantity of celtic lore still in existence, some of the Irish volumes held in libraries and museums have yet to be translated into modern Irish or English.

Modern druidry is a revival at best and re-invention at worst. That does not means that it is without value or that it is based on fiction (as is the case of the US Jedi religion). Some druids make great efforts to explore and rediscover the knowledge of the original druids, others are less bothered and take a more relaxed approach. I can't say what is the correct answer as ultimately one's relationship with divinity is a very personal experience.

This is a useful source of general info and links: www.irishdruidnetwork.org

jocmilt

http://orderofdruidsinireland.wetpaint.com/

heirenach

Hi,Surion.Excellent Post.I too had an interest in all this.I found alot these religions were re-invented and modernised to suit today.Did you notice so many have have secret personalties who pretend to be higher than the Gods themselves.Why do so many people play a competition between these religions on paths of life,there can be no winners in Gods or religions.Some are expert in God given powers.We all have our own paths in life not to be controled by others ,but our real faith is in our own self realisation.

potholes

I know this man who claims to be a druid.

He's very condescending on many issues.. i'm not trolling, but is that common for druids?
Please remember, i'm not religious at all.
I believe i'm spiritually in touch with earth, but do not worship gods or powers, just nature itself.

Noble Knight

I thought the Romans wiped out all the old Druids?

The orginal Druids as far as I know relied on a verbal tradition and thus when they died the old tradition died also.

So what is the present form of druidism and how does it relate to the older form?

Thanks

Yeshua

Noble Knight wrote: »

how does it relate to the older form?

I don't believe it does or that they claim it does.
I think they've just taken the name because it's cool.