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what stange force of nature has constructed the present from the past
A group dedicated to exploring and researching the transcendental arts of the Mediterranean world past and present.
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- About Me
- What is a Druid?
In Celtic history, the Druids were the "clergy" or spiritual leaders and advisors of the tribes. They were professionals- meaning they possessed abilities that others did not possess, but abilities that were needed by fellows of the community. They held (and hold) the Earth and entire environment as sacred, and they were (and are) responsible for helping to broaden the spiritual awareness of others in their communities.
The Druids were judges, mages, diviners, scholars. The ancient Druids studied for many (up to twenty) years before they were considered capable of their practise, or teaching. It is said that the ancient Druids had incredible abilities- prophesy, healing, shapeshifting, levitation, weather control, and more, and they had an invaluable connection to nature.
The Druids were well-trained and eloquent speakers, they were poets, they could see all of reality clearly, they were the ultimate judges for the Celtic people, they could see the past, present, and future in any situation, they were responsible for the magickal well-being of their community, they were counsel to the kings, and were fully adept in the art of magick.
I explain some Celtic history on my Celts page, and explain that the Druids were considered a class in Celtic society.
We cannot know every exact detail of the beliefs of the ancient Druids, but we do know a bit beyond the basics of their beliefs and practises. Some Druidic history was censored, and even lost, but we are fortunate to have some sources containing information of the Druids- such as the writings of Christian monks, the Romans, archaeological evidence, and writings of contemporary Scottish and Irish artists. To learn of the Druids, we do have to piece together their history, but there is enough preserved information for us to grasp a full understanding of their beliefs. Today, many authors have done the hard work for us and pieced together this information in books that, thankfully, are available to most anyone.
- Beliefs and Practices- Please be Detailed
- Some Misconceptions
It seems that most people are very misled when it comes to Celtic history. There are even books out there that teach false information about the Celts and Druids. I'll list some of the more common misconceptions I've heard and read.
The Celts used pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns- Pumpkins are from the western world and it would have been impossible for the ancient Celts to have pumpkins or know of pumpkins. Neither was the jack-o-lantern a Celtic creation- it was a legend originating in medieval times.
The Celts worshipped the god Samhain- Samhain means "summer's end" and is the name of a Celtic fire festival associated with the dead. But, the Celts had no god named Samhain. Most myths that surround Halloween are from medieval times as well, when people developed fears of death and of the old religion.
The Druids were from Atlantis- Celts did not even exist in Atlantis (and most agree that Atlantis may not have even existed). Plato was the first to document any thoughts of Atlantis, and he speaks of the people of Atlantis worshipping Greak gods, not Celtic. Although anything is possible, there is also no evidence that the Celts ever believed the Druids were from Atlantis. This concept is just a myth.
The Book of Pferyllt- This is a text that supposedly contained magickal writings of the ancient Druids. This book was a forgery- a complete work of fiction. The Barddas, which claims the Book of Pferyllt as it's source, is also just a work of fiction. It is a book that was written by Edward Williams, an English stonemason, who used the pen name Iolo Morganwyg during the Romantic period. The texts are not good sources for historical Druidic information, and any book which claims these texts as a source is also unreliable.
There were no female Druids- there is much evidence to support the concept of female Druids. The Celts believed women were equal to men in most ways and did not separate the sexes in ways other cultures did- except for obvious separations, such as motherhood, and so on. Magickally, men and women were not separated, women were able to own and sell property, divorce their husbands, and even enter battle.
The Druids were not a class of only men.
Fire Worship
The Druids did not hold the four elements as equal- as many other cultures, such as the Greeks did. Fire was a special element, a spiritual force that was held as sacred and above the other elements. It had the powers of purification and destruction, it was responsible for the survival of civilizations, as it brought heat, light, and energy. Since fire always stretches to the sky and is a spiritual force, this most likely is the reason for the Celtic fire festivals held on hilltops. The Celts had fire rituals, gods and goddesses of fire, and called poetic inspiration the "fire in the head." Fire was indeed a sacred and spiritual element in ancient Celtic culture.
I will be adding much more soon, as I get the time. I didn't have nearly enough time today to touch base on everything I have in mind. Please don't forget to see my Bookshelf page for some excellent books about the Druids.
- How Did You Hear About the PaganMystics Community?
- anastasia
- What Do You Expecte to Get out of This Site?
- Knowlege as is always
Comment Wall (3 comments)
- At 10:56am on September 10, 2009,
Jeff wyatt said…
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- At 10:54pm on June 5, 2009,
Coyote said…
!00,000 welcomes to you, to our community of PaganMystics! When you seek, may you find answers, and when you answer, may you find questions. May the mysteries of life be in you and all around you!
- At 5:29pm on April 20, 2009,
Lady Anastasia said… 
Hello's, Wavie's and Many Welcome's to You!
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