Druidism

Druidism was a religious faith of ancient Celtic inhabitants of Gaul and the British Isles from the 2nd century BC until the 2nd century AD. However, today it is making rapid come back in North America. Since Christian times Druids have been identified as wizards and soothsayers. However in pre-Christian Celtic society they formed an intellectual class comprising philosophers, judges, educators, historians, doctors, seers, astronomers, and astrologers. This gave the Druids a system, which was deeply rooted in the ways of Nature and the Spirit world. The word Druid comes from an ancient Celtic word, druii, meaning Wise (and closely related to the word meaning Oak ) and id which means One , so druid means Wise One. In the Celtic social system, Druid was a title given to wise men and women possessing oak knowledge or oak wisdom. Eventually Druids formed a belief structure which revolved around the concept of balance in all things.

The early Druids started out as a closely-knit groups working together to help their specific tribes. This seemed to work well at first when there were only a handful of tribes. However, the various groups of Druids soon realized that in order to keep all of their own tribes in balance they needed to understand the other tribes as well as their own. This awareness led to support between the various Druids groups. As more tribes formed due to growing population, the Druids began to work ever more closely together in an effort to pool their knowledge and understand their world more clearly. Eventually the Druid groups had decided to become only one group that was dedicated to keeping in balance with Nature and the Otherworld.

Celtic people in this time began to recognize the wisdom that the Druid s carried. Thus they gave the Druids the power to create the laws which Celtic society would follow. Also at this time, certain Druids began to be more noticeable. They maintained great memories and knowledge. They were known as Bardghs. They were the judges of the laws that the Druids created, and they were the historians, poets, and musicians of the tribes.

Customarily, Druids were known for their curiosity and their willingness to discover an answer to any questions they may have had. They were also known for their intense dedication to their people and to Nature. Druids were very open-minded individuals. So open minded that they would accept and idea until it was proven wrong. Druids believed that there are many paths to enlightenment and to truth, and that no one path is better than another. All have validity.

Druids started to train at a very young age. Usually they started around the age of five years. Or as druids believed as soon as the gift recognized within a person. This training could continue fifteen to twenty years. The training was set to be unforgiving on the body and the mind, as is Nature. A Druid needed the ability of survival and to control the powers of Nature. Just like in today s society a student wasn t limited to only one teacher. Everyone of the Druids in a community would share knowledge with a student. Thus, creating a snowball effect. For even new students would share their knowledge with newer pupils.

Any one who studied Druidism became as knowledgeable in as many areas as humanly possible. Druid s would learn information and absorb it. In essence a Druid was a walking encyclopedia. They would use each piece of knowledge and use it to further their understanding of the workings of the universe and the worlds around them, both seen and unseen.

Advancement in Druid society was taken in two areas. First, the student must display a dense understanding of the knowledge. Usually it was demonstrated in an oral presentation. In the presentation they would state the knowledge they had learned and interpret what it meant to them. Such as we do in Philosophy. The second area in which a Druid would advance was a sign given by Nature.

The position or advancement that one held in Druid society was based upon the structure of a tree. The first was the Leaf of a tree. A Leaf in Druid society was expected to absorb as much information as they possibly could. Within this time they start to control their minds and learn basic control over their own bodies. To advance to the next level they must demonstrate their ability to recite their knowledge and what it means and why it was important.

The next position in advancement is the Branch. The Branch learns animal knowledge and plant knowledge. The Branch also learns how to communicate with all living and nonliving things. In addition, they learn how to communicate with the elements and basic healing, combative, defensive, and divining magics. They then prove their skills in a contest. The contest is against Nature. Other Druids also use their magic and physical obstacles to test the student.

After a successful completion of the Branch test, the student would now be considered a full pledged Druid. However, part of a Druids philosophy is to never stop learning. They would then be referred to as the Trunk. They are now expected to gain knowledge on their own. T hey are given the privilege to study what most fascinates them. While all along sharing all knowledge that they gain with others. With this newfound freedom there also comes danger. For, they are experimenting with new magics and new methods for older magics. Also, the Trunk is anticipated to devote time each day to their tribe and Nature in order to advance it.

If a Druid becomes successful as the Trunk, Nature will call the druid to become the Root. Thus, giving them the title of Head Druid. They aid other druids and are aware of what happens within and without their tribe. They are most responsible Druids for the making tribal laws. They are said to be the link between both the Otherworld and Nature for other druids.

Every so often, even the Roots aren t enough. Nature will call upon the most wise and learned Druids to lead all the Druids of an area. They are known as the Tree or the World Around the Tree. They solve whatever disproportions are present in their area.

Druids usually preferred to dress in simple attire. Most often they were known to wear robes. The color of a robe wasn t a specific color. The exception to this is that Leaves and Branches almost always wore gray. This symbolized their potential. Only in a very specific ritual would a druid wear a pre-determined color, and even then it was not mandatory. They were also seen to hold mistletoe in their hands. It was a symbol of great reverence as was the oak tree.

Druids saw magic as the potential for creation. This potential existed within all things. Magic was seen as the energy that existed within everything. Including the living, nonliving, spirit and substance. Druids were said to draw the energy in themselves as well as that of things around them to perform magic. It was never taken forcibly from others. A Druid used this energy to aid others and never him or her self.

Sacrifice was also a part of Druidism. Sacrifices of both animal and humans were said to be performed by Druids. Sacrifices were to be followed by two specific rules. The first was that sacrifices must be willing. Druids performed sacrifices as calls to the Otherworld for aid and as pleas to influence the forces of Nature to a particular act. Many people today believe that the Druids constructed Stonehenge, the complex of standing stones in South Central England. They believe that the Druids may have performed rituals there, and understood its astronomical meanings and uses. However, no proof can be found as complete evidence.

Druids are also said to have believed in after life. The dead were transported to the Otherworld by the God Bile. Life was thought to continue as much as it had before death. The Druids thought that the soul was immortal. After the person died in the Otherworld, their soul would live on again in another human body. Very, much like today s belief of reincarnation.

Druids celebrated a series of fire-festivals. Each festival was held on the first day of every four months. Every festival would start at sunset and last for three days. The first festival was the Samhain. Which stand for the end of warm season. 3

It marked the combined Feast of the Dead and New Year’s Day for the Celtic calendar. It is said to be a time when the barrier between the living the Otherworld is most easily infiltrated. This festival was later adopted by the Christians as All Soul’s Eve, or as we know it to be, Halloween. The second fire festival is known as Imbolc. This was held on February 1. It is known The Return of Light. For, this is when the first signs of life become visible. In today s society this had been modernized as Groundhog Day. The third festival is Beltaine. On May 1st, the Druids celebrated The Fires of Bel. This was the peak of blossom season and when animals started to bear their young. This is still celebrated today as May Day. The last festival is Lughnasad. Held on August 1st is The Feast of Lugh, named after the God of Light. It is known as a time for celebration and the harvest.

.However, due to the intellect of the Druids, the Romans feared them. It was the common folks reverence towards the Druids that interfered with Caesars attempt to overcome the Britons in 55 BCE. Druidism was the prevailing philosophy in Briton at the time. Caesar found the Druids to be a threat to his authority and he ordered their end. After the invasions by Rome, the Druids that were left converted to Christianity through persuasion or fear of genocide. The Christian Church thus adsorbed much of Celtic religion. Pagan Gods and Goddesses became Christian saints, sacred springs and wells were preserved and associated with saints and used for baptism. Many sites of spiritual antiquity became the location of cathedrals. In the 7th Century, Druidism was destroyed throughout most of the formerly Celtic lands. If not destroyed it was hidden deeply underground.

Modern Druidism is now one of the Neopaggan family of religions. The family includes Wicca and recreations of Egyptian, Greek, Norse, Roman and other ancient Pagan religions. Some present-day practicing Druids attempt to reconstruct the beliefs and practices of ancient Druids. Others modern-day followers of Druidism work directly with the spirits, gods, and of their ancestors to create a new Druidism. Sacrifice of plants and humans is no longer a necessary part of Druidism.

Druidism and other Neo-pagan religions are experiencing a rapid growth. There are currently 768,400 Neo-pagans, including Druids in North America today. The growth is mostly due to the fact that people are attempting to rediscover their roots and their ancestral heritage. Many people in North America can trace their ancestor s back to Celtic/Druidic countries. Most modern Druids connect the origin of their religion to their ancestry and the ancient Celtic people.