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DRUIDISM >>
THE DRUID'S PATH
This short essay is an attempt to help define the difference between the two versions of the “Druid” path available today – the True Path of the Celtic Druid and the Confusion of the ‘Roman Druid’. I was recently (2006) asked by a 22-year-old Irish woman “what does it mean to be a ‘Druid’?” I answered from my own personal perspective and said - “to see with different eyes, to hear with different ears and to feel with a different heart”. I thought that this was a short neat simple summary because it indicated (for me anyway) that I do not see, hear or feel the way I used to when I was not on the Path of the Celtic Druid. “Is that it?” she said. “More or less” said I, but I felt inclined to add “I am also an astrologer, psychic, healer, teacher and holder of ceremonies”. There was no further comment from the young Lady but I felt that I had not impressed her. I did not set out to impress her but I sensed that she felt let down. Looking back later that day I realised why she seemed so disappointed. I had not made any fantastic claims of direct descent from ancient druid lineage, mysterious priestly powers, ability to channel dictates from the other realms, or any other of the hoped for ‘high’ abilities. I realised that I was being measured against the ‘popular’ model of what I call the “Roman or Romantic Druid”.
I see the difference clearly - a Celtic Druid works with the Three Realms and the Roman Druid works with the Four Elements of Roman/Greek (classical) model. To those who don’t know much about the Three Realms - they may be summarised as Sky, Sea and Land and for the Roman Druid (and many Wiccans and Witches) the Four Elements are Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Full teachings about the Three Realms are available in the Druidschool Homestudy Course.
The reality is that there never was nor could there ever have been any Roman Druids because the Romans have a completely different model of existence to the Celtic Women and Men and their Druids. The modern Romantic revival since the 1700’s (written about on the Druidism page) took their ‘facts’ from the war propaganda that was created by Romans engaged in war with the Celtic world to gain extended support for the funding needed to wage war. The modern romantic revival since the 1700’s used these ‘facts’ to create a new religion with priests and other non-sense. In so doing they fooled themselves because the Roman spin-doctors created a completely false model of a Celtic Druid based on what would be acceptable back home in the knowledge that no one could or would challenge their false reports.
In 2005 I heard a “Druid Priest” call on St Patrick to guard the west as this man in a bleached white cotton smock held a public ceremony in Glasgow. I have met a group of five American Ladies at Tara in 2003 who had just been made into Druids at Stonehenge, a certificate, a touching on the shoulder with a sword and it only took one weekend and cost only $1400 each. I have seen an American Druid on Tara in 2004 as facilitator of a Public Ceremony call on the power of Air from the East when a very strong wind was blowing from the West. A well-known Wiccan told me in 2003 that a Witch in Ireland is called a Druid... Winston Churchill was a Free Mason Druid 1908.... A student druid of mine was asked when would she become a priest in 2006.... a certain fascist claiming to be a ‘druid’ was given his high title by an Irish DJ 1997… this ‘druid’ hates freely and loudly and is unable to show any tolerance at all as he claims to be a Catholic Druid… this is a short list of foolishness but it can be seen that the term Druid is often misused and misunderstood for many reasons, but mostly this foolishness is based on fantastic romantic images of power over others. A true Celtic Druid would not be able to have much exchange with foolishness as shown above.
I am going to suggest that the Roman Druid model can be summarised as “to see with romantic eyes, to hear with romantic ears and to feel with a romantic heart” because it is easy for them to do this. The fabricated romantic image is based on the spin that is easily or readily accessible and a sense of power can be felt by those who need it by saying ‘I am a Druid’. The surge in Druidry in the last 20 years or so has in many ways been based on a debased form of Cabbalism that was handed down in stages, each time becoming diluted even further from its original purity. I can also say that today’s Wicca once had its roots in the Cabbala but that so many branches from so many other traditions have been grafted on to the base stem that this method or path is or has become a version of Roman Druidry by accident.
For clarity - the Cabbala is a system of knowledge that came from the Hebrew tradition and had / has nothing to do with the pure expression of the Celtic Druid Path. Romantic Druidism began as a modern revival in the 1700’s in English Freemasonry, which many see as the ego club that wishes to dominate Nature and as such is the exact opposite of Celtic Druidism that seeks harmony with Nature. Wica (Wicca) as a ceremonial practice, was first declared in writing in 1949 to the public by Gerald Gardner (who was a mason and cabbalist) after Alistair Crowley had formally introduced him into magic ritual. Witchcraft is one name of the natural traditions of the common people. The Catholic Church has directed much time and energy to demonise Witchcraft. Its knowledge was and is used for good or bad purposes depending on the practitioner. Cabbala, Roman Druidism and Wicca are mostly seen as Religions and much of todays Witchcraft is fashioned as a Religion but its foundation is in the hedge and not in book or rules.
Celtic Druidism however, is a spiritual search for truth and inner happiness that brings great results to those who are brave enough to see, hear and feel differently. It is a spiritual path that is native to Ireland and its roots predate the religions mentioned above. Celtic Druidism as a spiritual path gives you a direct connection to source and by so doing you plug into truth. It’s a simple choice – if you are really interested in the natural spiritual path of the European and Irish tradition where you can connect to the Three Realms of Sky, Sea and Land – then you must awaken your Celtic Spirit and choose the Celtic and not the Roman version of what it means to be a Druid. It takes effort but the rewards are deeply satisfying.
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