Druidry
is one expression of the ageless wisdom. It is a way of looking
and being in the world—a nature-based spirituality—which
emphasizes the sacred connectedness of all life. The source of
Druidry is not to be found in the ancient past or in any specific
geographical location. The wellspring of Druidry lies in the always-present
world of spirit—within the heart of the seeker.
Throughout the centuries our ancestors have gathered in circles
around the mystery of fire. They have stood in awe of the sunrise.
They have gazed into the night sky and marveled beneath the stars.
Throughout history our ancestors have been confronted with the
sheer power of life and death, the beauty of a world filled with
amazing creatures and breath-taking landscapes, and they, like
we, have been inspired to express these mystical feelings through
song, dance, poetry, sacred stories, and rites and rituals.
Druidry, as an earth-based spirituality, understands that people,
animals, plants, and minerals are all part of an organic whole.
Our Scandinavian ancestors called this the Web of Wyrd (pronounced
“weird”)—the interwoven threads of destiny linking
all things.
Although Druidry evolved over thousands of years out of religious
practices of various Celtic tribes of Western Europe, the Celtic
Folk-Soul is no longer only the soul of a people, but has evolved
into something much larger—an expression of the collective
spiritual yearning of countless seekers. The times and methods
may have changed, but the goals are the same: to live fully, creatively,
and passionately; to be filled with divine inspiration; to bring
magic and joy to those nearby; and to grow in wisdom. The druid’s
quest is for wholeness, not perfection. At the heart of Druidry
is the quest for inspiration—called Awen (pronounced: “ah-oo-en”)
—the food of the soul. We seek this nourishment in the beauty
of the natural world, in relationships, music, poetry, song, dreams/visions,
prayer, meditation, and ritual.
Today, modern Druidry is a path of transformation that invites
us into a deep, living relationship with the source of all that
is—God. Transcending national boundaries and religious divisions,
Druidry encourages us to deepen communion and cooperation with
the deep self within each of us, between ourselves and Nature,
and between ourselves and the god of all that is.
The catalytic way of the Druid is compassionate wisdom-in-action.
The guardians of yesterday call us to re-awaken the root-wisdom
hidden in our hearts and to act as a force for goodness for the
hope of tomorrow. Druidry offers an alchemical and shamanic view
rooted in Western European culture and mythology. Druidry fosters
intellectual and spiritual growth and encourages expression of
innate creativity and development of intuition.
Formal training in Druidry is often a spiraling apprenticeship
of years in the three arts of magic. The first is the Bardic magic
of Creativity—understanding, experiencing, and manifesting
the inspiration of Awen. At this level the Bard serves as a Communicator
of the Tradition. The second is the Ovate magic of Questing used
to explore the Otherworld. At this level the Ovate serves as a
Visionary Healer. The third is the Druid magic of Changing or
Transformation. At this level the Druid serves as a Custodian
of the Tradition.
The duty of the Druid is to reconcile the ‘seeming’
opposites and discover Unity. The keynote of the Druid is Compassion
and Patience. The Druid seeks to know two things: What am I? What
is god? It is said that when the Druid recalls the answer to one,
the other is also remembered. So what of you seekers?
I step back and reflect on this and am often reminded what my
friend Penda, Archdruid of my Grove, says: “Ah… it’s
already in you”.
References:
Ellis, Peter Berresford, The Druids, Eerdmans Pub Co,
1995
Bonewits, Issac, Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism,
Citadel, 2006
Greer, John Michael, The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice,
Weiser Books, 2006
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