The Pagan Heart Diversified Paths - a look at Comparative Religion

Druidry

The Druids By Anne S.     Modern Followers of an Ancient Path Druid - the very word conjures up images of robed men and women weaving magic across a misty landscape, silence heavy upon the air. We've seen the white-beared, Merlin-styled version of a Druid, we've heard the tales of mistletoe harvesting by moonlight with golden sickles, laughed off the idea of Druids building Stonehenge, but what do we actually know about these people? For the last 200 odd years various groups have worked to recreate and restore the old faith of the Celts, Druids, Bards, and all. Naturally, considering how leery of writing down their religion the Druids were, much is based upon conjecture and head-scratching interpolation of ancient myths and legends. What we do know is that the Druids grew to become the philosophical, religious, intellectual, and judicial caste of the Pagan tribes of Europe and Britain. "Its [Druidism] history, so far as we can trace it, has been one of continuous evolution; a process which continues to the present day. Unlike Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, Druidry had no human founder, nor does it have a fixed canon of scriptures. Perhaps its nearest equivalent is found in Hinduism, where the Brahamana caste have much the same socio-religious role as the Druids in pagan European society. Like the Brahmins, the Druids of old were teachers, priests and priestesses, doctors, historians, prophets, guardians of lore and givers of law. Brahmin and Druid were both noted for their devotion to the concept of a transcendent and all-encompassing Truth. The word Druid may indeed derive from an Indo-European root 'dreo-vid,' meaning 'one who knows the truth.' In practice it was probably understood to mean something like 'wise one,' or 'philosopher-priest.' Some Druids did (and still do) perform priestly functions; officiating in public and private worship, initiating and instructing, healing and blessing." ~ Greywolf, The British Druid Order    Archaeological evidence is mounting to support the long-held unsupported theory that the Druids originated in Britain and migrated outwards to educate the European Celts. Previously it was supposed that they migrated to Britain with the Iron-Age Celts between 800 and 200 BCE. Now, evidence from the Neolithic sites is showing a clear linkage between the Neolithic peoples and the later Celts of Britain. It is now accepted that the early proto-Druids may have indeed been involved with the construction of the henges. Regardless, the unfortunate reality is that no matter what suppositions we make, the history of Druidism is murky and at best, filled with guesstimates. Modern Druidism aims to infuse itself with the traits of the ancestors: "We call ourselves Druids, and we look to the ancient Druids - the priests, priestesses, wise ones and magicians of the ancient Celts - for much of our inspiration. Like them, we're people who value excellence - physically, intellectually, artistically and spiritually....Druids were an intellectual and religious caste among the tribal peoples of pagan Europe and were custodians of their cultural and spiritual heritage in the centuries before our Common Era (BCE). They practised their rites in urban shrines and woodland groves, holding the natural world as sacred, in particular honouring certain trees, plants and animals, rivers, lakes and springs." ~ Greywolf, The British Druid Order    The last of the old Druids died out millenia ago. However, the Bards and their traditions survived for some time. Debate exists as to how long they lasted but much of their work has been preserved. In the C18th the ideas and beliefs of the Druids and Bards were dug up and resurrected, albeit under a very Christian tone. It is from the Bards that much of what we know of the Druids and the Celtic mythology comes. Much of their work was preserved by the Church, written down in Christianised form. With the revival of Druidism in the C18th the Christianised content of the mythology was seen as evidence for a commonality between Druidic faith and Christianity - in a way the Druids were Christians who'd never heard of Jesus. The early Druidic groups were strongly influenced by Christianity and are best referred to a Christo-Druids. Since then linguistic and mythological studies have advanced significantly enabling scholars to determine what parts of those myths are Christian insertions and which parts hearken back to the proto-Celts. So although we lost much of the history and knowledge of the ancestors, through the related order of Bards, we managed to retain much as well. Since the resurrection of Druidism in the 18th century, much study and inspiration has gone into creating and developing a rich and thriving religion that is descended spiritually from and strongly influenced by old Druidism, but is at the same time new and vital. Over the years non-Christianised versions of Druidism have sprung up. People are rejecting the Christianised idea and turning to the scholastic studies on linguistics, archaeology, mythology, and so on to discover who the Celts and Druids were and weave that understanding into the modern faith. As a result there is Druidism for the Christo-Pagan through to the complete and utter Celtophile Pagan! However, despite these differences, there are beliefs and ideas common to all Druidry. Modern Druidism The modern Druids are a branch of the NeoPagan tradition, with a strong "sacred earth" concept and a polytheistic practice. The goal is to recreate the spiritual nature of Druidism within the modern context, and evolving path not a static recreation of Druidism as it was 1000 years ago. The modern faith needs to meet the needs of this generation and all upcoming ones while also setting a strong ethical, moral, and spiritual framework by which to define ourselves. Druidism looks to a specific pantheon of deities (depending upon which Celtic Nation the Druid is drawn to), each responsible for certain things. The pantheons of the different areas of Britain, Ireland, and Gallic Europe are composed of different deities, although they are often similar in nature. Some have carried from one region to another, but most are unique. From Modern Druidism comes the eightfold Wheel of the Year, the generic Pagan holidays - although it is doubtful the ancient Druids celebrated each of the eight festivals. Evidence indicates that they observed the solstices and equinoxes as astronomical events marking the change of the seasons, but not as spiritual one. The other four fire festivals (also known as cross-quarter festivals) were, it seems, observed on a religious level. Today, many of the traditions surrounding the cross-quarters are derived from history. The solstice and equinox celebrations are however modern creations in all their religious aspects. The eight festivals were certainly celebrated in some form and combination or other by the various Pagans of antiquity). The various Celtic traditions flourishing today all have their roots within ancient Druidism, much evolving from the recreated Druidic paths over the last few centuries. Art, literature, music - these Celtic influences are strong in our society and their inate qualities (be it emotional, ethical, moral, educational, etc) are cornerstones of various Druidic practices to achieve harmony and balance within the self and with the world. As with any faith, there are specific aspects crucial to the Druidic path. These include the Three-fold Path, the Awen, Honouring of Ancestors, Brehon Law, Worship, and the Sacred Earth. Triad nature of Druidry Druidism is obsessed with threes. The Sacred Triad is the one of the realms: Land, Sea, and Sky. These are what a Druid calls upon in ritual rather than the Quarters or Elements. The Land is where we live. The Sea is the domain of the ancestors and the Otherworld. Within the Sky live the gods. It can be said that within the Sacred Triad is found the second Sacred Triad - living people, ancestors, and gods. Another common Triad is the rhetoric of the Irish (and possibly the other Celtic Nations, although no evidence remains one way or the other). These Triads are triple sayings of wisdom: Three things from which one should never be moved: one's Oaths, one's Gods, and the Truth. Three gains of those who heed the advice of the old ones: Illumination, Wisdom and Clarity Three candles that illuminate every darkness: Truth, Nature, and Knowledge. Three-fold Path Most Druidic groups view Druidry as being composed of three connected, yet separate paths: Bard, Ovate, and Druid, which are described in the Poem of Taliesin. Taliesin gains three gifts from Ceridwen's Cauldron - poetric inspiration, prophecy, and magical shape-shifting. These gifts are seen as the heart of each path. The Bard is the singer, the story-teller, the living history of the people. The Ovate is the philosopher who divines, prophesises, heals, and explores. The Druid has the gift of walking between the worlds, shifting form, manipulating reality. To follow the path of Druidism is to walk each of these paths - at times concurrently, others singly. The paths themselves overlap as well. This spiritual quest is different for each initiate, and while guidance can be given (usually by the Druids), only the initiate can find the Cauldron of Inspiration and drink. From the Cauldron flows the Awen, the spirit of Druidism, of the gods, of the universe. There is a tradition of Gorseddau - gatherings for Bards at "sacred sites in Britain and overseas. These Gorseddau...offer Bardic initiation, rites of passage and the celebration of the cycle of seasonal festivals, encouraging the forming of spiritual and aesthetic links with the sacred land." (~ Greywolf, The British Druid Order) The Awen The underlying principle of Druidism is connection to the Awen (flowing spirit) - even in the Druids who do not use the term there is a strong desire to connect to the divine. While the word is more modern (there is no record of the ancient Druids using it), the concept is very applicable to what we know of them. From the Awen comes all inspiration, all energy, and all connection to each other and the world. Joy, peace, love, healing, divine inspiration - all these can be found by connecting to the Awen. A healthy Grove has balance and harmony at the centre of their connection to the Awen. But it is a group connection formed from individual ties - each member finds their own way to open to the Awen. Six Principles Rule the Druid The Six Principles are the basic 'rules' to Druidism. These are the guidelines to live and act by: Honour - this refers to adhering to one's commitments, ideals, ethics, and oaths and following the right course not the easy one Loyalty - this is about remaining true to family, friends, and leaders regardless of convenience Hospitality - simply put, one should care for all guests as if they were the closest family Honesty - both internally and externally, truth must be given in its fullness to self, the gods and the people Justice - all effort must be exerted to maintain an unprejudiced awareness of the inherent worth of all people and the recompense due when an assault is made upon that worth Courage - this is about remaining true to the self and standing strong in the face of adversity, whether alone or with others Brehon Law Brehon Law is Irish in origin, as is much of what we know of the Druids. However, enough evidence remains to indicate similar systems existed throughout Britain. Primarily a legal system, Brehon Law covered all aspects of life and from it modern Druidism draws a number of principles: Every action has a consequence that must be observed and you must be prepared to compensate for your actions if required. This is not the Three-fold Law. It is a system of balance based upon a scale. Every action creates a reaction to maintain balance. The natural reaction can be offset by "paying" a fine to redress the loss felt by the aggrieved. All life is sacred You do still live in society and are bound by its rules Work with high standards Make an honest living Take care of yourself Serve your community Maintain a healthy balance of the spiritual and mundane Be sure in your convictions Honouring of Ancestors Ancestors are important within the Druidic tradition. There is a belief that life does not end with physical death. A belief in a form of reincarnation, although not necessarily on this plane. As such, the ancient Celts would lend money to a man heading into battle - if he died before repaying it, he could meet his debt in the next life. While the ancestors (both recent, personal ones, and the ancient spiritual forebears) have left this world, they are still within reach. They may be invited to rituals, called upon for guidance and protection, offer strength and support. Knowing who we come from is also an important part of understanding who we are, and honour should always be paid to those who went before. Worship Druids are famous for their outdoors style of worship. The Romans referred to the sacred groves and holy trees of the Celts, and this idea has remained with us today. The closest the Celts came to temples was the henges (built but the Neolithic people, the ancestors of the Celts. No evidence exists to show that the Celts, let alone the Druids, themselves used the henges). For certain rituals involving the Otherworld, Druids (the only records are for the Irish) would enter an underground room, similar to a cave, where they underwent trance, dreamstate, and divination. Astral travel seems to have also been a significant feature. This, however, was not so much worship as communion - similar to the bull-hide ceremonies - where the Druids sought to connect to the Ancestors and gods. Aside from that, the Druids certainly held rituals out in the open that venerated the Ancestors and gods. The exact form of these is lost to us, but it is likely it featured sacrifice, offerings, and ritual prayer if the hints within the literature are any indication. Human Sacrifice Human sacrifice crops up whenever ancient Celtic religion is discussed. There are certainly some recorded instances of it - but it seems to have been unusual and not the norm. The sacrifices were often captured enemies - occasionally volunteers. Criminal sacrifice was not a Celtic practice - they preferred exile, shunning, blood money, indenturedness, and pretty much any other penalty they could use except death. Where sacrifice occured it seemed to be an "ultimate" offering to the gods as almost payment for a hoped-for outcome. For a healthy, fit warrior to voluntarily give up his life to help protect a building and its inhabitants, for example, is a tremendous sacrifice on his behalf and that of his tribe. The value of his death was used as trade for what was being sought - if you want the gods to protect your village, you'd better offer them something worth a great deal. Same with a warrior captured in battle - great effort was expended at great danger to obtain that enemy. There is often reference made to the 'triple-death' - strangulation, slit throat, and drowning, for example - as an example of how brutal the Druids were. However, the state of those sacrifices found tends to indicate a peaceful death - despite the horrific-seeming nature of it. One of the most famous is the 'Lindow Man' - an Iron Age British Celt for the first or second century Common Era. Lindow may have been a criminal, but the forensic evidence supports the theory that he was a sacrifice. Aside from Lindow only a handful of other 'sacrifices' have turned up, indicating that it was not common. The vast majority of support for the popularity of Celtic Sacrifice (and the brutality of it) comes from Roman and Greek texts - hostile witnesses in other words. Sacred Earth Modern Druids are usually very interested in ecological matters - a natural follow on from the animistic tendencies of many practitioners, as well as being related to the strong sense of being "within" the world not separate that imbues Druidism. Seeing oneself as equal to all life, responsible for one's actions for now and the future, caretakers of the land tends to encourage a certain degree of "tree-hugger". This attitude is quite similar to that of certain MesoPagan traditions such as the Native Americans, Australian Aboriginals, and Pacific Islanders. Modern Druids share other similarities with these paths - a growing trend in trancework, sweat lodge, and shamanistic practice for example. The ancient Druids were not Shamans - there are certain elemental differences between what Shamans do and what the Druids did. But there is also an area of likeness which has encouraged many modern Druids to look towards Shaman traditions as a way to reconnect with the divine. Sweat lodges are increasingly popular (and there is definate evidence of a historical tradition within the British paths back into the Bronze Age). Trancework through the use of music, especially drumming and dancing, is very common too.         Druidic Deities The gods and beliefs of the Druids are drawn from three pantheons. These pantheons were worshiped by three groupings of Celtic tribes: the Goidelic (Irish, Scottish, and Manx), Insular Brythonic (Welsh and Cornish), and Continental Brythonic (Gallic, or mainland European). There are a vast multitude of gods, however, the Irish and then Welsh are the ones most people are familiar with. This list is not exhaustive, but aims to introduce a number of the preeminent deities. For further information about these gods and their attributes, and to find other deities, try Celtic and Roman Deities - be aware that it lists all deities as Celtic. Pay attention to the location to learn where they are really from.

Irish Deities Brigit - a goddess of pastoral matters, inspiration, war, healing, and music The Dagda - the most powerful god, he is father to many of the other deities, protector of the tribes, and the leader and archetype of the gods Danu - the Great Mother goddess of Ireland Goibniu - the god of smithcraft and ale Lugh - an early solar and harvest god, Lugh is a bridge between humanity and the gods Macha - a horse and fertility goddess The Morrigan - A triple crone goddess and consort to the Dagda, the Morrigan was also known as Nemain (Panic) and Badb Catha (Battle Raven) Welsh Deities Arianrhod - a goddess of reincarnation, the moon, fertility, and women's power Blodeuwedd - a version of the earth mother, she is the May Queen Gwynn ap Nudd - a god of war, death, and the hunt, he is the Winter King Llew Llaw Gyffes - a god of the sun and rebirth, he is the Summer King Gallic Deities Belinos - a god of the sun and of healing Cernunnos - a god of fertility, regeneration, wild animals, and abundance Epona - a goddess of water, horses, fertility, rebirth, and death Maponus - a god of music, poetry, and hunting Rosmerta - a goddess of prosperity and abundance Taranucus - a god of thunder Druidic Festivals Featured in The Pagan Heart Alban Hefin Alban Elfed     For further information about the rituals, deities, beliefs and traditions of Druidism please visit these sites: Ar nDraiocht Fein:: A Druid Fellowship A Comprehensive Bibliography for the Neopagan Druid Irish Mythology Grove of Danu Henge of Keltria Order of Whiteoak Summerlands The Druid Network

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