Druid

Druids /Ovates are the practitioners of an ancient system of knowledge based on the laws of nature. Their mystery schools have always existed and exist still; they are intertwined with, yet mostly hidden from the modern world. The term ‘Druid’ refers to both male and female practitioners of Druidry. The word ‘Druid’ refers to Oak Tree, a Doorway and Mysteries. A Ovate is a seer healer and a Shaman of these lands. He/she is in communication with the seen and unseen worlds and nature. The whole world is seen as a living being.

Druidry is the traditional spirituality of these lands and of the Celtic people. Druids are both men and women who are interested in discovering the sacred through the magik and mysteries of nature. There are many - some say infinite - interweaving interconnecting realities of existence and the Druid and Ovate is committed to understanding, connecting and skilfully working with them for the good of his Land, his community and all beings. A Druid is surrendered to the power that rules his fate and is under guidance. In a very real way his life is not his own and he awaits “instructions” for what he has to do and where he has to go in any stage of his life. He is usually given projects to fulfil; either by other members of his Order, or by Spirit itself. As he completes these projects so he progresses through life.

here is some of what was Shared by Philip Carr-Gomm.

DRUIDS WITH ATTITUDE – THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS

The Order began its present cycle of activity on Valentine’s Day – 14th February – 1988 when I was asked to lead the Order that Nuinn and his colleagues had founded 24 years earlier. So 2008 offers us a chance to celebrate 20 years of the Order in its present cycle, and a chance too to review what we have achieved in those two decades and what we can choose to focus on in the decades to come.

In a nutshell you could say that in this time we’ve broadened and deepened not only the Order, but Druidry itself, to make it a spirituality that has relevance and value in the modern world.

When I joined the Order in 1970, Druidry was at the very fringes of the fringe of alternative spiritualities, and we were numbered in the dozens not the thousands.

Today, about ten thousand people have taken the Bardic grade course and are considered members, and to a great extent, because of the work of the Order and its members, Druidry stands firmly in the mainstream of the alternative religions and spiritualities who are challenging the supremacy of the so-called ‘established religions’

So Druidry has broadened in a way that now makes it appeal not just to radicals and eccentrics but also to that much-maligned category of persons – the average, the everyday, the so-called normal!

But Druidry as a spiritual path has deepened too, and there’s a way in which this has happened as result of each one of us treading the path in our own unique way. Some of us might have a more public profile than others, we might write books, give talks or appear on radio or television, but there is a way in which all of us by our dedication, enthusiasm and commitment have helped to build and define Druidry for today. In a magical sense, whenever we have entered our groves, inner or outer, and have worked in them, we have helped to build and grow the tradition, and I think we can all feel justifiably proud about that.

Thanks to the work of Ronald Hutton, and to the good fortune of his history department at Bristol being awarded a substantial research grant by the British Academy precisely for this, the history of modern Druidry has now been substantially explored and articulated, and I think we’ve reached an interesting moment. The Order’s ‘path’ or ‘way’ has been sufficiently developed now for us to turn our attentions outwards to new goals.

So what is there to do? Where should we focus our attentions?

The world around us is going to change tremendously over the next two decades, as a result of climate change, the increasing rate of species extinction and population pressures. There are some people who aren’t sure we’ll make it as a species to the end of the century. In addition, as we approach 2012 there is likely to be increased anxiety due to the much-cited but often inaccurate information circulating about ancient prophecies that suggest major changes around this time.

We cannot be certain about what will happen over these two decades and beyond, but it seems pretty clear that life will get more stressful and difficult for many people. I am deliberately understating the case here, given the enormity of the problems that face the world, but there is a reason for this understatement that I hope will become clear.

As life becomes more difficult, people are likely to react with fear, and this is where the importance of a spiritual world-view becomes paramount. Put simply, if you think ‘this’ is it, and this is threatened, then you will panic and you may not act in your own or others’ best interests. If you think ‘this’ is contained within a wider, deeper, more mysterious universe and context, then you will have a different perspective that will render you more capable of responding to change and difficulty in an effective way. In this sense that cliched motivational slogan ‘Attitude is everything’ is fundamentally true.

A psychologist called Viktor Frankl wrote a fascinating book entitled Man’s Search for Meaning in which he draws on his experience as a concentration camp survivor to demonstrate this very point, because it was in the camps that he noticed how a person’s ability to survive difficulty was directly correlated with the strength of their belief in life having some form of meaning. A religion or spirituality such as Druidry offers a powerful sense – and hopefully experience – of our lives being more than just a series of random events in a meaningless universe.

Times of crisis are also times of opportunity, and the opportunity that presents itself to us now is one of being of service, of value, to those around us. This is what I hope we can achieve in the years to come. Let’s use our Druidry to anchor us firmly at an emotional, intellectual and spiritual level so that we can become sources of calm, clarity and support to those around us.

Over the coming months and years I hope we can develop, as individuals, as an Order and as a community, ways in which we can support and foster each other so that more and more we can act as these anchors – points of connection to Spirit, points of stability in an unstable world.

Shane's Thoughts

I was at the gathering on Saturday and Philips talk touched and inspired me, it also reminded me of our responsibility to be integral also to have integrity in all that we do, for many years my spirit has guided me, drawn me closer and ever closer to the spirit of the ancient traditions of this land. I have a heartfelt pride in sharing the Druid tradition with those I meet , I am in a position that I do share and try always to lead with example , to touch and plant seeds in a way that fosters and nourishes growth.

With this comes a deep sense of responsibility , and many things can and should be questioned , tried and tested , some people may not be comfortable with the whole idea of a Grove , or an Order and the hierarchy system attached to a order, and how that structure fits into Druidry. In recent correspondence with Philip through the Orders message board he put this idea into brilliant perspective.

Philip went on to say "At first sight they do seem old-fashioned, and I have struggled with them as concepts/structures for a long time, but what I now sense is this: having an Order avoids the 'personality/ego problem' that can often exist in spiritual movements. An Order is an impersonal structure that is independent of any individual leading it. Secondly as the world becomes increasingly unstable, we do need some things that are stable and are 'ordered' - so an 'Order' is quite an appropriate term. It does have resonances with 'monastic orders' and so on which might be difficult for some people, but the thing to do then is remind oneself of 'magical orders' and of 'Buddhist orders' etc.!"

Shane's Thoughts

My feeling is that as Druids, a Order a Grove we have a great responsibility to hold true, to have integrity and share that integrity with all those we share time with , to be true to ourselves and those around us ,this I feel this will become ever-important in the time ahead. we can lead by example. Becoming grounded and rooted in all that we do , form one moment to another , being a source of calm and peace, Too help people in the times ahead , to act as lights and to guide people in change and transformation, to empower people to jump into the driving seats of their lives and to deeply transform the fear and uncertainty , I see and spend time with many people who are stirring form a place of unhappiness and pain and fear , I see our responsibility is to guide people that these are not negative times, that pain ,fear ,loss and confusion are motivational forces for creating change. I feel this time is upon us, people are angry, scared and lost and uncertain .As a Grove, and as Order of Druids, we have the tools that can be a inspirational grounding and deeply supportive ,that nourishes transformation and change, as we change the world around us Changes.

This does not have to be in a forceful or aggressive manner and my feelings are we have work hard to stay in our calm space, our calm center, just like I was tested of late , these times can only but teach us , inspire us and reinforce our truths . I sense People guided to the earth based traditions of this land to heal and simplify and to change inside out , for many people have been seeking change outside in , and for me Druidry will be in the center , we in many ways will become individually and collectively ambassadors of the land and the people.

I am glad to have been guided to Druidry and the Order , and as always the unseen world teaching and sharing its wisdom. For me it was like coming home, this is a experience that many people I am sure will feel , which once again reinforces the need of integrity and the responsibility we hold as we support those who seek out our tradition . As we all know that in time of great wounds and healing people can and are often very vulnerable . I also sense we need to extend that out to the wider community offering our voice our truth , and importantly as others have said pulling together , working for the greater good of all people no matter what faith , belief or religion, I was told of late the devils greatest work was religion. Maybe there is truth in that , right now we have a lot to offer the wider world , it’s a time to be brave, be strong and have the courage to share our truths and importantly walk our talk in a way that honors the past and the future.