The Druid Path

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The Once and Future Druid: A Continuum of Druid Belief and Practice from Ancient Times to Today
By: Athelia Nihtscada (2007)

For many people, the word Druid evokes images of bearded, white-robed elderly men with long white beards who lived in ancient Europe and worshiped trees.  To others, Druids might be seen as pompous Victorian men who formed Druidic societies similar to those of the Freemasons, or perhaps as modern white-robed ‘tree-huggers’ performing Summer Solstice ceremonies at Stonehenge.  From the first time Druids were noted as being the learned class of the Celtic people by Roman, Greek and Alexandrian observers, the practice of Druidry has undergone three incarnations which are all linked by the three characteristics of service, connection and spirituality. These incarnations are the ancient Druids, the revivalist Druids and the modern Druids.

Gaius Julius Caesar, in his book, De Bello Gallico, Book IV, noted that the ancient Druids were prohibited from writing their lore down lest their knowledge enter the public domain.  Because of this, no first-hand documentation of the ancient Druids’ activities, philosophies or beliefs were available for future generations (Berresford Ellis, 1998).  In spite of this fact, British scholars and philosophers in the eighteenth century who would become the revivalist Druids, sought to revive the Druid tradition based on what Classical literature was available mixed with their own fertile and romantic imaginations.  Similar to the Freemason’s lodges that were forming during that time, revivalist Druid lodges were also growing in number. Some of these lodges, such as Ancient Order of Druids, are still in existence today with branches operating worldwide.

The twentieth century brought with it the third incarnation of Druids, which drew inspiration from the New Age movement, less social restrictions and more sophisticated academic literature in the subjects of archeology, mythology and archetypal psychology. This incarnation, often referred to as the Modern Druid movement by historians, took its root in peaceful rebellion. Two acts in particular were responsible for this: the formation of the Reformed Druids of North America by a group of students in 1963 as a humorous protest against Carleton College's rule of mandatory Sunday chapel attendance and the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids which was founded in 1964 in England by a historian who disagreed with the practices of the Ancient Druid Order and started his own group. Both of these groups grew into the two largest and most established modern Druid organizations known in the world today (Carr-Gomm, 2006).  

Druids have always served their community based on the current needs of the community and the abilities they had to offer. It was noted by many classical sources that the ancient Druids possessed great knowledge in medicine, law, philosophy, astronomy and spiritual matters which they shared through teaching others and serving the communities they lived in (Berresford Ellis, 1998). The revivalist Druid lodges of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries served their community through the charitable acts in a time when social services were non-existent and money was scarce. Modern Druids serve in the capacity of promoting change, focusing on the sanctity of nature through maintaining environmental responsibility and striving for social justice through the many causes they involve themselves in. Whether it is protesting war, planting trees, volunteering in the community or pursuing a career in a helping profession such as medicine, psychology or forestry, the modern Druid carries on the tradition of service (Talboys, 2005).

The ancient Druids were well known for their roles of connecting people through public religious services, judgments, teaching and political reasons while the revivalist Druids of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries connected with others through their lodges and ceremonies.  Through instant messaging, emails, websites and wireless communication, modern Druids can coordinate tree-planting campaigns and ceremonies, discuss philosophy, write letters to politicians to advise them, take courses at universities and teach others on a global scale.  Druids have also believed that the Divine Force of Spirit connects the Otherworld, the Earth which is our world of form and each living thing in the universe (Carr-Gomm, 2006). All Druids throughout history have been known for their love of nature and connection with the Earth Mother.

Just as Spirit is the driving force behind the universe, truth is the driving force of Druid spirituality and practice (Talboys, 2005). Caesar observed the following about the spirituality of Druids in Gaul: “The Druids officiate at the worship of the gods, regulate public and private sacrifices, and give rulings on all religious questions. Large numbers of young men flock to them for instruction and they are held in great honour by the people.  They act as judges in practically all disputes….” (As cited in Berresford-Ellis, 1998, p. 53).
 
Since the Romans did not conquer Ireland, many of the observed beliefs and practices of the Irish Druids were provided in writing by the early Christians who were also Irish and still respected the traditions of their forebears. Many of these texts stress the sanctity of truth in the areas of leadership, judgments, heroic acts and everyday life.  One of these texts, the Testament of Morann son of Moen, a renowned judge in the 7th-century AD, provided instructions for benevolent leadership to High King Feradach Find Fechtnach since Morann was dying when young Feradach ascended to power.  “Let him preserve truth, it will preserve him” (Quoted in Myers, 2006, pg. 65) is the first line of advice given by Morann, showing how vital preserving truth would be to the new ruler.

While truth is important, it is not up to the Druid to dictate what truth is but to encourage the seeking of truth for oneself.  To some practitioners, Druidry is simply viewed as a philosophy which enhances their own religious beliefs, or lack thereof. There are many modern Druids who are Christian, Buddhist, Agnostic or even Atheist.  Others worship the Irish, Gaulish or Welsh Gods and Goddesses and see Druidry as a modern Pagan religious path (Carr-Gomm, 2006).

Druidry has always been a spiritual if not religious practice, and all incarnations of Druids have believed in the immortality of the soul.  Roman writer Diodorus speculated that Celtic warriors were so courageous in war because the Druids taught them “that the souls of men are immortal, and that after a definite number of years they live a second life when the soul passes into another body” (As cited in Myers, 2006, pg. 86).

Did the ancient Druids really fade into oblivion, leaving subsequent generations of Druids deprived of their knowledge, or have the Druids of old simply been transmigrated through the generations as they originally believed: to serve, connect and to seek truth?

References:
Berresford-Ellis, P. ( 1998). The Druids. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co..

Carr-Gomm, P. (2006). What do Druids Believe? London: Granta Books.

Myers, B.C. (2006). The Mysteries of Druidry. Franklin Lakes: New Page Books.

Talboys, G.K. (2005). Way of the Druid: The Renaissance of a Celtic Religion and its Relevance for Today. Hants: O Books.

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Druid Organizations and Groups That Offer Information and/or Training

  • ADF Arn nDraoicht Fein – http://www.adf.org
  • British Druid Order (BDO) - http://www.druidorder.demon.co.uk/
  • Druid Network – We are affiliated with this group, whose purpose is to provide a connection point for druids, groups and merchants around the world.  They are largely non-biased and are growing strong!  http://www.druidnetwork.org
  • Henge of Keltria – http://www.keltria.org/
  • Imbas – Home of the excellent articles! - http://www.imbas.org/imbas/
  • Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) – OBOD has an excellent study program that is known throughout the world. Well worth a look!  http://druidry.org
  • Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA) – Awen Grove is affiliated with this group which started as a protest against mandatory church attendance in 1964 and ended up becoming one of the largest relaxed Druid Groups out there.   They have a brilliant archive of texts which gives their history as well as the history of many other groups and people out there!  http://www.geocities.com/druidarchives/

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September 16, 2011 - After a  hopefully relaxing Summer break, we will be starting study groups in Mid-September. 
 

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