Druidic Concepts
Some Druidic Concepts
Here are various concepts and beliefs from different groups and traditions. These do not represent any one tradition, and not all are believed by each tradition.
Nature is the Embodiment of the Divine and should be preserved
Druidry reveres nature and urges its followers to reconnect to the earth. Modern society is disconnected and broken, leading to its destruction of nature. As a result, ecology and environmental activism is an important part of most forms of druidry, especially for the spiritual and fraternal forms.
Life and Nature are Circles
Human life follows the same cycle of Birth-Death-Rebirth that nature and its seasons do. Everything in this world seems to follow this cycling wheel - the day, the year, a lifetime, even emotions and concepts rise and fade to rise again. This concept is clearly seen in the Celtic Cross or Celtic Wheel.
All Life is Sacred
The life of a person or animal or plant should not be harmed or taken without due deliberation or regard. One of the myths of druidry is that it believes in human sacrifice. The only accounts of this on record were written by the Romans who were busy conquering the Celts and had no need to make the Druids look sympathetic. Wicker men were probably used for executions of prisoners as opposed to sacrifice. Bones of babies found in fire pits of ritual circles were probably already dead and were burned as part of their funerals.
Reverence for the Three Kindreds -
The Dead, the Nature Spirits, and the Deities
The Dead are the ancestors. It is believed by many that the knowledge gained by our ancestors is not lost. Through meditation, one can reconnect with the ancestors and relearn those ancient lessons. Even though the ancient druids left little of their ways documented, we can still learn their ways through meditation.
All Spiritual Paths are Valid
All religions and paths to divinity are valid. None are better than others. One must find the path that is most comfortable. Druidry does not believe in conversion. Druidry, at least in the spiritual form, has no dogma. Either one is called to the Druid path or one is not.
The different types of Druids
There are many types of Druids. Here we distinguish them all:
The Ancient Druid
Celtic spiritual leaders, healers, poets, teachers, mystics, judges. 3 grades - Bard, Ovate, Druid. Sometimes includes proto-Druids that were pre-Celtic, the group that built Stonehenge, etc.
The Fantasy Druid
Featured in many fantasy novels and role-playing games. Lives in the woods, casts fantastical spells based on nature and healing, shape shifts into animals. Typified by Merlin in kiddie stories.
The Fraternal Druid
Beginning in 1717, Ancient Order of Druids was founded. Since then, several more British revivalist groups formed, often to this day acting more as a fraternal or charitable group, such as Masons. Usually only men, often Christian. Members have included Winston Churchill to British royalty.
The Neo-Pagan Druid
The majority of American druid groups, including ADF and Keltria. Neo-pagan. Polytheistic, usually based on Celtic pantheon. Sometimes merge Wicca with Celtic deities. Druidry as earth religion.
The Reconstructionist Druid
These groups don’t always call themselves “Druids”, and try to recreate the ancient Celtic religion as closely as possible based on the limited historical documentation of the era. Includes IMBAS.
The Spiritual Druid
Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, in particular. Druidry is seen more as a spiritual philosophy than a religion. Based on ancient teachings and values learned through meditation. Very ecological in orientation. Members include Pagans, Christians and people of other faiths.
The Hereditary Druid
Family tradition groups. Claims Druidry has been passed down through the generations of the family. Members of these groups must often prove lineage.
The Goth Druid
Read too many fantasy books or played too many role-plying games. Thinks it’s cool. No serious study.
Druidic Divination
There are 3 types of Druidic mantic work used by the Ovates:
I. Augury
Predictions based on signs and omens. Use of the 4 elements. Tea leaves, watching clouds, bird flight, animal behavior, gazing into fire or pools of water etc.
II. Prophecy
Using no outer methods, channeling higher wisdom in relation to future events.
III. Divination
Methods to find hidden things, whether intangible or tangible. More sophisticated form of Augury. Ogham, Druid sticks, card sets, etc.
The Awen
Central to Druid philosophy is the force known as the Awen. Literally Awen means "flowing spirit" and it is this flowing spirit that guides us through the Druid work and, because the force of the Awen is described thus, it can be seen as many different things. The force of divine poetic inspiration, which is held within the three drops of potion brewed in the Cauldron of the Goddess Ceridwen, to the Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, both could be described as the Awen.
The symbol of the Awen is the "Three Rays of Light" shining from three single points surrounded by three circles. The three points represent the directions of the sunrises of the Soistices and Equinoxes. On the Summer and Winter Solstices the Sun rises east-north-east and east-south-east respectively, whilst on the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes it rises due east. The Awen also symbolises the three drops of inspiration from the Cauldron of Ceridwen. The three circles represent the three Circles of Creation in Welsh cosmology, ie Abred, Gwynvid and Ceugant. The central blackness represents the realm of Annwn.
During a Druid ritual, the Awen can be intoned as a single monotone note using three syllables "Ah-oo-en"(some Druid Orders intone the three letters I. A. U. in a similar way). The power held within the Awen mantra can be used in many ways - from initiating poetic inspiration, to drawing down the blessing of the God and Goddess or evoking a change in the atmosphere of a ritual circle. It is truly a sacred word.
The Circles of Existence
A discussion of modern Druidry would not be complete without reference to Edward Williams, whose Bardic name was lolo Morganwg. He lived in the 17th century and is now seen as an inspiration to some, a forger to others. However, it is difficult to deny his influence over the direction of what is now termed the "revivalist" period of Druidry. lolo presented the world with several "authentic" documents, which he claimed were the ways of the ancient Druids, in a book called the "Barddas". These gifts included the Circles of Existence. There is little doubt that some of the Iolo material is authentic; however, he was such a good forger that it is almost impossible to discern the bogus from the credible.
The Barddas is now 200 years old which makes it an ancient document by modern standards. It contains much visionary material, but it is the Three Circles of Existence- Abred, Gwynvid and Ceugant - that we shall explore here. The central space represents the cauldron of Annwn.
The Three Circles of Existence
The three circles represent the journey of the Spirit/Soul.
Annwn: All life begins in Annwn. This is the home of the Cauldron of rebirth - the smelting pot of Spirit. Once born the Spirit is within the Circle of Abred (physical).
Abred: Abred is the Circle of the physical - of mineral, plant, animal and human. It is the Spirit's journey of enlightenment through the four realms which is taking place in the world around us. There are many roads we can travel during our lives, and the realm of Abred is our learning ground on the way to oneness with Spirit. If our lives have been lived with an awareness of all existences then the cycle continues; others may slip back into the Cauldron to be reborn again, retaining the lessons learnt. Some may find peace within the shape of animals, or the running Spirit of a river.
Gwynvid: Once the physical journey is complete and that oneness with Spirit has been attained the Journey moves into the Circle of Gwynvid. Here we find the Enlightened Ones who have gone before - spirits who have greatly affected the spiritual direction of Abred with their teachings. Merlin, Christ, Buddha and other great prophets contact the living within the Circle of Abred through dreams and spirit vision which teaches us on our Journey. It is possible (nobody will truly know until they get there) that our personal Spirit Guides/Helpers teach us from the Circle of Gwynvid. At the time of Samhain it is possible for Druids to enter Gwynvid and Annwn to seek guidance on their Journey.
Ceugant: This is said to be the Circle of the Spirit / Goddess/God alone - the one governing force of the universe and nature which watches over us all. It is the ultimate space of creation from which all came and into which all will return.
Some see the Circles as a spiral which takes us on our inward (rather that outward) Journey to the Source . It is important to state that the three Circles do not form a dogma. It is true that they influence many on the Druid path, but it is equally true that others find them too constricting and have their own ways of understanding the Spirit and its relationship with God/ Goddess. What has been discussed here is only the beginning of the symbolism of the three Circles.
Druidic Concepts
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