Druid Lore

The memory of the Druids emerges from the mists of time and history to be with us again.There are a number of good reasons for modern people to consider Druidism today. Some see it as a way to reconnect, or "ground" themselves in history, or to improve their understanding of their origins and ancestors (if they are of Celtic descent). Some are attracted by the relationship with the natural world that a Druid cultivates, or by the artistic, creative methods used to build that relationship.There are those who choose Druidism over other forms of neo-paganism. Perhaps a reason for that is because Druidism is not only a branch of neopaganism, but also the subject of academic study. Druidism is often of interest to archaeologists, historians, and mythographers who don't necessarily consider themselves Druids, or even remotely pagan. Thus, there is a wealth of serious academic material available concerning the Druids, and many discover Druidism through it.Finally, there are those who choose Druidism over more conventional Western religions that are more accepted and widespread, such as Christianity. An exploration of Druidism is for many people a revival of one of Western Europe's indigenous spiritualities. Many seek Asatru to revive Northern Europe's spirituality for much of the same reason. To those who feel alienated or harmed by Christianity, and there are many, and who still believe religion has a place in their lives, paganism is a viable, and healthy alternative.While there is no doubt that the standards of living and the lifestyles we lead have changed incredibly since the age of the Celts, and even within each of our lifetimes, the human needs for understanding, communication, companionship, and even empowerment have not changed. To questions about human life, the age of the answer has no bearing upon its truth. The solution is not more right or more wrong for being old or new. Thus we continue to be illuminated by history, and we continue to create history. Druidism must be understood in the context of the culture that created it. Only the Celtic people called their religious professionals Druids; other cultures had other names for their clergy, and expected different duties from them. Druids were not an ethnic or cultural group in themselves, but part of a larger society in which they participated. In the pre-Christian era of Celtic culture, the Druids were members of a professional class in their culture, the Celtic Nations of Western Europe and the British Isles.Druids filled the roles of judge, doctor, diviner, and mage, mystic, and clerical scholar; in other words, they were the religious intelligentsias of their culture. To become a Druid, students assembled in large groups for instruction and training. An Irish epic called the Tain Bo Cuailnge describes the druid Cathbhad teaching as many as one hundred students in something like a college. Julius Caesar noted that apprentice Druids were trained for a period of up to twenty years. The mythologies describe Druids who were capable of many magical powers such as divination & prophesy, control of the weather, healing, levitation, and shape changing themselves into the forms of animals, trees, or people. A good word for them would seem to be "priests", yet I am reluctant to use it for two reasons: The Romans never used it, and because Druids didn't minister to congregations as priests do. The eminent scholar Fergus Kelly wrote that a Druid was "priest, prophet, astrologer and teacher of the sons of nobles". Jean Markale, another respected scholar, noted that the Druids were divided into these specializations: ·  Sencha; historian, analyst ·  Brithem; judge, arbitrator, ambassador ·  Scelaige; keeper of myths and epics ·  Cainte; master of magical chants, blessings, curses, invocations, execrations, banishments ·  Liaig; doctor who uses plants, magic and surgery ·  Cruitre; harpist who uses music as magic, master of the "Three Noble Strains" of music: music that invokes laughter, tears, and sleep. ·  Deoghbaire; cup bearer who knows the properties of intoxicating and hallucinogenic substances ·  Faith; diviner ·  Bard; popular poet and singer ·  Fili; sacred poet and diviner