Stones in druidry

Do druids believe in things like using crystals for healing or energy? And do they have beliefs related to striped metamorphic rocks?(i couldnt upload a picture)
I realized, because that is as far as i go with magic and i only believe in a goddess who IS the earth, that i dont belong in wicca.
If you believe stones have power, then i belong here

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Standing stones were prominent in Ancient Celtic religion and culture. They were believed to capture light from the sun and send that energy into the ground. These stones were often honored with food and flowers; they were also cleansed periodically during the Fire Festivals (water milk and honey on Lughnasadh, water and ashes from the sacred fire on Samhain, milk water and honey on Imbolc, and milk water and ale on Beltane).

Thank you very much

Interestingly, the big standing stone structure that everyone thinks of - stonehenge - likely had little to do with Druidry. It predates them. The druids, according to most literature that exists of them (which is precious little) worshiped primarily in oak groves. Truth be told, most druidic traditions died out after the Romans conquered the regions where they worshiped. The Druids typically were at the heart of any rebellious intentions and the Romans, just as typically, destroyed any rebellious heart with utter ruthlessness. Modern conceptions of druidry are a mixture of what writings exist from the Romans themselves about the subject and conjecture.

The same is true for Goddess worship. The historically named Druids focused more on masculine energy whereas the so called "Old Ones" focused mainly on a feminine energy. While historically and anthropologically goddess worship and structures like Stonehenge predate the Druids, OBOD includes these practices as part of Neo-Druidic practice.

We actually have no idea what the ancient Druids focused on as they left no written records. As we do know that they had many Goddesses as well as Gods I think it would be fair to believe that they viewed the Divine in a balanced manner and not simply concentrated on "masculine energy".

As for the "Old Ones", we know even less about their beliefs and practices. At one time it was suggested that only the Great Goddess was worshipped, but this seems to have been linked to the feminist movement and is not supported by archeology. Certainly the great monuments at Stonehenge and the other great Neo-Lithic sites appear to have measurable solar connection as well as connection to the Heavens...all of which are generally associated with male aspects of divinity.

I would be very hesitant to claim that this civilization worshipped only feminine energies and that one only male. We have absolutely no hard evidence that I am aware of to support that position.

It's interesting that you all single out stonehenge as if it , itself is the only thing in that landscape. I think to understand stonehenge is to understand the landscape it is placed it. There is avebury , a few narrows - west kennet for example - and the river Avon. Although its true that its unlikely we will ever understand what was going on, it isn't to say that we are wrong or right. We simply do not know.

The Druid however are a thing of the bronze and iron age. Before that shamen and ritual specialists were used. We think however. Druidry as we know it probably isn't so accurate, but again we do not know. Animism is the majority supported idea by most historians and archeological experts

I recomend everyone has a look at the orkney islands for they are largely untouched since the first settlers par a bit of vulgar graffiti in Maes Howe. A theme runs through both these sites that the landscape is key to understanding the individual monuments.

I've studied this formally at college incase anyone is actually wondering why I'm banging on about landscapes xD

Before the Celts migrated from their old Aryan home and became a separate people, their religion was based on nature spirits. Men and women had separate cults. Men, being hunters, focused their spirituality on the animals they killed, to which they apologized for their slaughter. This apologetic attitude, shared by most other primitive hunters, was the basis of their religion.
Earth, was considered the fruitful mother, and as the roots of agriculture at this time were of women, the spirits associated with agriculture were notably feminine. When men involved themselves in agriculture (this was mainly the lowland celts), it would logically follow that there would be a shift from feminine to masculine emphasis. This is not to say that all energies shifted, and it is also not to say that none did. As we see from other religious developments, with time vaguer spirits became gods and goddesses, and animals became divinities.
Whether or not you agree with my anthropological theory, both Stabo and Caesar confirmed that women in Gaul were prolific while men dominated. This does not follow with a past of Aryan focus on femininity. This is evidence of a shift.
The basis for the argument is not an analysis of the nature of Stonehenge but rather with analysis of anthropological patterns. The conversation seems to no longer be about standing stones here.
It is also very important to make the distinction between Megalithic cultures and their conquers. It is also important to note that written documentation is not the only way to understand culture.

As spiraldance said much of what I was going to with a reply. It was a male dominated culture, and as we examine most such cultures during the same period we see a focus on male gods (typically), unless a female divinity was one's particular patron, or it was a time specifically devoted to a female divinity. Equality is a relatively new concept, even in religion, with the occasional rare deviation throughout history.

As for discussion of Stonehenge, it was only brought up because it is likely what most people think of in terms of "stone circles. Generally speaking, it, and all other stone circles, had little to do with druidry. As far as the original questions, and ancient druids believing in the power of crystals and the like - who knows? I don't believe I've encountered anything indicating that they did. Modern druids may well believe so.

However, if you're defining your faith by crystal/rock worship, then I suggest the Fraggles.

I believe it to be unlikely that the ancient druids will ever be truly understood, for how can one try to recreate something from nothing. We know oak trees were considered important to them, they worshipped Celtic deities, made many sacred standing stones, and most other knowledge is inconclusive to reforming a variation based on its tradition.