The Process of Embracing Your Celtic Path

First, you have to wake up, then search for true meaning discarding the fake histories of the system, church and state, next you need to release all other forms of “not me” programming to find out who you truly are, then seek a path or paths as used by your ancestors to gain community awareness, knowing that each step is a ‘choice’ and that by choosing friends wisely – you will realise that you have already taken many steps because you have embraced your Celtic Path already. Sounds easy?
First, you have to wake up - There are times during night-time sleep that one can be aware or conscious of the fact that the body is asleep while the real you is awake. This can generate realisations or inspiration causing getting out of bed quickly to capture the ‘magic’ because it is an exciting dream world notion seeking expression. Day time sleep is ensured by social conditioning slavery and fake time manipulation and constant distraction by media’s wish fulfilment scam’s but at the same time: the real you can be awake or conscious in higher awareness for varying durations as the skill develops itself. There is no switch or pill or herb or chant to hold this connection except desire. It is about where you set your gaze; into the past, now or the future. You must wake up to the Now to consciously grow the skill of wakefulness. You must learn techniques on how to quieten the thinking mind having first separated your awareness from system indoctrination. With the thinking mind at rest you realise that your intuiting mind is also rested and that the over mind or higher self can listen, learn and express freely. Then you become aware of the need for humility and the need for community connection.
Search for true meaning - This is the seeker as warrior stalking truth like the hunter stalking prey. You must hold focus on what resonates or feels good in your heart as you eliminate system control conditioning bit by bit every day. As you develop inner awareness of the true or real you the opportunity to use simple choices will grow too. A simple technique is “that’s me” and “not me” which when applied to choices can keep you close to your heart’s desires and when applied to disinformation the propaganda becomes obvious. Another filter is estimating the end result of proposed actions as to whether they are directed at fulfilling the needs of “imperial hierarchies” or “community loyalty”. This works even if you are not in a community because desire energy generates reality. Sitting with like-minded people you trust can hold a spirit of truth over the group facilitating clarity on issues because of group synergy and suspended egos. Such groups may be difficult to find indicating perhaps that you could start one taking care that recycled philosophies from the past do not block the Now. Or you can seek out an elder of your tradition to help you find clarity. If you choose wisely your elder will not answer your query / question, instead he or she will try to guide you to understanding how to get the awareness to answer your own question/s. This search never ends but it does get easier as you make progress. Constant stalking is a big part of being awake but we should try to ensure that it serves our needs and does not dominate who we are.
Seek a path or paths as used by your ancestors - The most accessible path is the one from which ever land tradition you are in. If you are in Peru for example you would have a greater challenge to find the Celtic Path than you would if you were searching for it in any of the old Celtic Nations. The Celtic Path can exist outside of the old Celtic Nations such as it does in Brazil thanks to a strong homeland desire and the dedicated and capable skills of the teacher / facilitator. Go to your local museums and look with hunger at the incredible skills of those who lived on the land you are in a long time ago. Go to the libraries and read the mythology of the ancestors of place you are in, always filtering out the system propaganda needs of the scribes to glorify the victors. Visit places of great beauty such as the high views from mountains, waterfalls and great forests – have no agenda e.g. do not spend all your time taking selfies! Visit the sacred temples of your ancestors that you can safely access, leave no trace of your visit and take home any rubbish you find. Plan and make repeat visits to some of these temples where you can ‘plug-in’ to the energy node just by sitting still with thoughts suspended. Do not ask questions or make demands or dedications etc., just sit quietly with humble patience and enjoy the peace. It is likely that you will meet others on a similar quest as you. If you hear “I this or I that or my this or my that” throughout your first contact realise that it’s an ego speaking – yours or theirs! Do not judge too harshly as everyone is at a different stage on their path, just keep on seeking and choose your confidants wisely.
Each step is a choice - Bravery is needed to leave the familiar and embrace the adventure of finding and walking a Celtic Path for your lifetime. Every part of the process is a challenge to being safe in your comfort zone but as you begin to enjoy the experience the rewards more than compensate. Middle of the road tactics are not so rewarding as only half choices are being made allowing only half results and dissatisfaction. As you stand in the doorway of your totality your choices are to retreat, to stand still or to be brave and fulfil your heart’s desire. What can slow or stop this? It is the thinking mind still carrying belief in the social conditioning programme making decisions from a fear base. What empowers each step is desire, simple as that – dump all conditioning as you choose self-empowerment. Now, let me be very clear; not all adventures will turn out as hoped, it may rain, punctures etc. can happen and change the day completely but the point is that you expressed your desire for freedom with conscious choice so just enjoy every bit of it! A student visiting a faraway land contacted her teacher asking if it was ok to use the very strong herb of the land, the teacher asked why do you want to use it and the student replied it’s a powerful short-cut! The teacher asked if she was not enjoying every step of her Path reminding her that growth along the journey is what makes the Path so rich and valuable. She replied with thanks because she remembered that when personal knowledge and direct experience are combined that this creates the wisdom she was seeking. There are no short cuts to self-awareness, every step you take (choice you make) should be towards personal freedom and common unity.
Choosing friends wisely - This is a major part of growing up for every child. There is a social need to be in a gang, to ‘belong’ to a group of friends who share adventures. But, the problem is usually a hierarchy based on individual power control and this makes a pecking order where the new member is targeted with malice to further bond the gang / group. The adult version of this scenario is often more subtle or complex but the effect is the same. If you’re victimised with aggression or distasteful humour etc. in any group you are in then simply leave because you realise that as you climb up their pecking order then you will become the aggressor in time. The simple technique of “that’s me” or “not me” can be used to see where you are at with different friendships in your life. A true friend is one who will share life’s adventures without putting demands on you. You may only become aware of such friends when you look back – he or she never asked you for anything, there was always great trust and loyalty, you could depend on him or her, etc.. This sort of friendship happens because of a combination of things for each of the friends. Each would be on a path of self-development, enjoying life and life’s challenges and neither needs to control the friendship – just enjoying every step is what matters and if those steps are shared with another Light Being then the pleasure is increased tremendously.
You have already taken many steps - If you have just read my humble sharing above then realise that in essence you have already taken many steps on your Path. You may be at various stages of progress in the different aspects of embracing your Path but be assured that you are on it! If part of this essay annoys or is dismissed by you then my suggestion would be for you to look at why such a reaction is coming out. Stay aware that the process of detoxifying your consciousness is not just a weekend workshop, it’s a process, a way of being and a defence against the dark or heavy slave conditioning of the system, in time and with dedicated desire it should become automatic for those who hold wakefulness as a valuable state of being. The balance to detoxifying your consciousness is the search for true meaning and this must be done constantly with total focus and desire. As you let go of something you create a space for a new thing, so choose to fill that space yourself or else it will just get filled with other people’s stuff! This state is what is commonly known as “he or she has done lots of work on him / her self” and this is an often undeclared requirement for being able to join any common unity as a full respected member. Feed your growing self-awareness with immersion in Nature and regular visits to sacred sites, learn how to just sit and be when you are at the temples and in time you will feel the inner glow of centeredness and connection to those who have walked a similar path in the past. Watch out for those who would make your choices for you as it may be only for their benefit while disregarding you or your desires completely. Be ready to revise your decisions as your understanding grows and try to see learning curves instead of bad choices as this practice will protect you as you walk your Path. Friendships are often accidental or spontaneous, they can be exciting or adventurous or they can be demanding and dull based on who you sat near in school or work but truly valuable friends are those on a Path. When you get to the stage of having friends who on their own Paths you are in a group or community that works in the Light. Allow that group to have a leader / facilitator and try to help him or her to hold focus for the greater good of the group itself and ultimately humanity.
From Celtic Path to Celtic Druid - The above sharing is offered to help seekers find their way from Darkness to the Light. It is comprised of the many stages you must encounter before you can begin to train as a Celtic Druid. As a Celtic Druid you would continue your practice of the techniques as outlined above, adding more knowledge and experience from other more advanced techniques and maybe specialise in a specific area. But maybe the big job for any Celtic Druid is simply holding the gate to the Celtic Path open, smiling with true loyalty and trusting in the greater good all the time holding personal connection to the Primordial Tradition.
/|\ Con Connor Winter Solstice 2016

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE OVERVIEW -
As Celtic Pagans and Druids we seek to understand this world we live in through similar eyes to our Ancestors. We believe that we are spirits incarnated in flesh and that it is wonderful to be alive and connected to our indigenous traditions, culture and heritage. We hold that the world is alive and imbued with spirit and that there is no separation - only the illusion of separation until we gain self awareness and higher consciousness. (1)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE SUPREME BEING -
Nature is the supreme being for all on a Celtic Path. The laws and mysteries of Nature are beyond our control but as we gain in understanding we may comprehend, copy and compliment Nature by aligning our choices with higher understanding / appreciation of the flow of the life force. No man or woman can be above Nature and any who would claim to be above Nature are declaring as ‘supernatural’. Nature encompasses everything from the single rain drop to the raging river to the frozen ice and all the stages between. We humans are part of Nature, just as the birds, the animals and the fish are part of Nature, so too are the trees, shrubs and herbs, flowers and all living and so called inanimate things. (2)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE EXPRESSION -
Living consciously in this physical world requires desire, each new day is a wonderful opportunity to live and love your life. As each of us seeks to be the most complete version of who we are and who we can be, we take inspiration from those who inspire us and we honour and respect this ability in others and in ourselves. Making choices determines our life direction and destination and so we must listen to our hearts always choosing the Light instead of darkness. Life’s challenges call forth our latent abilities facilitating inner and outer growth giving us strength and power thereby making us more like who we truly are. Knowing that intelligence and experience give birth to wisdom causes us to seek those who have gained it so that we may benefit by making informed choices. (3)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE LOGO -
The triple spiral from inside Brú na Boinne (Newgrange) shown the correct way up and the three leaves are the Hazel, the Oak and the Holly aka Coll, Dair agus Tinne = CDT (Celtic Druid Temple). We can see the tri-spiral as an S with a tail which equates to the Realm of Sky above the Realm of Sea below and between them and connecting them is the Realm of Land where we live. The Sun is not a realm but instead see the Sun as the driving force that moves water through the Three Realms and in that water is the Imbass, (aka Primary Lifefore, Chi, Od, Astra Fluid, Orgone, Bions, Re, Luminiferous Ether etc etc) (4)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE GODS AND GODDESSES -
The names and traits of many inspirational men and women from our rich and glorious heritage have survived two types of foreign imperialism. Because they live on in our hearts and minds they still have expression and can at times communicate with those who can hear. The spirits of these great ancestors who expressed higher abilities have survived the millennia despite repeated imposed cultural attacks and constant dis-empowerment propaganda. The seemingly magical abilities of these charismatic ancestors attracts the description of ‘gods and goddesses’ but they were / are not immortal in the physical sense, nor are they above Nature. In our Pathworking we may align with a God and or Goddess as we seek support / inspiration to face our challenges but ultimately we must follow our own Path. (5)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE REALMS AND CAULDRONS -
The three realms are the Sky, the Land and the Sea. The Realms overlap and interact and are not separate and there are special places where we can connect to all three at once; such as at a Holy Well, at the seaside, a waterfall and at ceremony through the symbols of the Realms. The three cauldrons are of Warming (belly), Vocation (chest) and Wisdom (head). The Realms relate to the Cauldrons as - Sky / Wisdom, Land / Vocation and Sea / Warming. Usually, only the Cauldron of Warming is the right way up at birth, otherwise we could not sustain our life. The goal of the Druí Dalta (student druid) is to cleanse their three cauldrons and to sustain all three in an upright position. This then allows the cauldrons to be filled and overflow as each Druí becomes a channel for Imbass. (6)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE CEREMONIAL GATHERINGS
Our open and free gatherings on the Eightfold Sun Year and at each Full Moon honour the cycles of true time as we gather together in circle for ritual and to celebrate and share news etc. These gatherings may be at Temple Crom in Co Roscommon or at any open air sacred site in Ireland such as at Tara where we have held open air Full Moon ceremonies continuously since the Spring Equinox in 2003. Temple Crom is our purpose built wooden roundhouse with an open air conjoined temple at the Celtic Druid Temple’s tree farm in north Co Roscommon, Ireland. We host Sun and Moon and Rites of Passage Ceremonies both indoors or outdoors as the weather allows. We connect to Nature wherever we gather in circle to hold ritual ceremony and when we are standing around a sacred fire we are all equally close to the same Light. (7)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE RESPECT INSTEAD OF WORSHIP
In our ritual practice and observances as a Celtic Pagan Religion with Nature as Supreme Being we see ourselves as part of Nature. We seek to comprehend, copy and compliment Nature because we are part of and involved with Nature and therefore, for us - any being set above Nature can only be seen as supernatural. We do not pray to or ask Nature for favours and we do not worship Nature as it is not a human like entity. We do however honour and respect Nature in ways that some people may consider as worship but for us; we consider the idea of ‘worship of an uncreated divine person as a manifestation of submission and acknowledgement of dependence’ that is central to monotheistic religions, but it is not our tradition as we see the notion of worship as the practice of self imposed dis-empowerment. It may understood that in a profound way we express, honour and show respect to Nature in our daily lives and at all our ritual ceremonies. (8)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE PANTHEISM / ANIMISM
We acknowledge the inherent life-force in all things but we try to avoid the left brain over-compartmentalism of academia that separates things neatly into narrowly defined pigeon holes... The over analyzing of these things takes us away from the primary concerns / realities that we can simply feel and instead intellectualizes them into sterile concepts. Pantheism sees all existence as expressing a single spirit, while Animism sees each spirit as unique - we would suggest that sets up the stage for incessant disagreements, arguing and endless debates that we quickly avoid. Perhaps there is a single great spirit expressing in multiple unique ways in multiple dimensions and in many universes at various speeds with different needs that constantly interact and overlap generating even newer / fresher expressions all the time. We know this as continuous creation and speak of it as the ‘dance of life’ and see it expressed all around us in Nature. (9)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE REINCARNATION
Everything and every person is in a constant cycle of reincarnation, rebirth and renewal. Part of the challenge to believe and accept this is the different speeds at which this transformation occurs for differing forms. But every single atom in your body including the calcium in your bones, the carbon in your genes, the iron in your blood, the gold in your fillings was created in far away stars billions of years ago. The atoms that make up each human being are over 13 billion years old and it is only at the ending of a star that the heat required to make iron is released and that iron is at the center of each blood cell in your body today! In the distant future - you will be part of a star again too. For your body to exist a star had to die - or - when a star transforms; it allows itself new and wonderful expressions such as you - you are made of stardust, currently expressing spiritual life as a human. You’ve done it before, you’re doing it now and guess what - you’ll do it again too! Know this as true and you change - when you change; the world around you changes too. Shine brightly! (10)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE PROPAGANDA AND MYTHOLOGY
Most modern Celts know of the wonder tales, the epic battles and the fantastic magic of the mythological cycles of our Ancestors. Few know that less than 10% of the written works / manuscripts have been translated. Most of these were written by non-Celts as they sought to displace our ancient culture and traditions. In many cases these old documents have been translated by people who were not Celtic in that they followed a foreign religious tradition that still today tries to erase / re-write the memory of our heritage. But inside the dis-information propaganda the core essence of our oldest Culture survives and even the most famous book of them all is adorned with Crom agus Corra, the Dragon and the Crane, our oldest fertility God and Goddess... When the story of your culture is written by people from another culture with an agenda to erase your culture as the oral traditions are replaced by their written words; you would be wise to not base your cultural revolution on their propaganda. Instead, listen to the guardians at the sacred sites, observe the cycles of the Sun and Moon and planets and the seasons of the year and let Nature be your teacher and you’ll gain your own awareness. (PS the book referred to is the ‘Book of Kells’) (11)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE RITUAL / ROBES
Every event can be ritualised but just looking the part is not of any real benefit - being the part is always preferred. As Nature is supreme being only natural clothing materials can be recommended. Natural materials produced without man-made chemicals that are climate neutral, organic and ethically made using sustainable energy and fair trade practices with low water footprint packed in biodegradable packaging are best, while synthetic fabrics from unknown places are possibly the worst option. So as you replace worn out ritual or everyday items choose the best for you and the Earth. Wearing natural material robes / costume for ritual helps focus the mind and body to higher spiritual purposes. Mahatma Gandhi promoted the idea of Khadi, a hand-spun and handwoven cloth that was elevated to an ideology for self-reliance and self government, as such it was not mere a piece of cloth but a way of life, a choice to use natural materials and methods - this choice became part of a revolution. Choose clean organic fabrics as the first option and when possible choose ethically made as a better option as you walk your talk wearing natural robes for ritual. Colours? As many as possible, choose wisely, shine brightly and become a rainbow warrior. (12)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE OGHAM
Ogham is the oldest written language of Ireland. There are about 400 known Ogham inscriptions on stones of primitive Irish and a few examples record fragments of the Pictish language. The Ogham system of writing was created by Oghma, whose lineage is Fomorian but he allies himself with the Tuatha De Danann. We can believe that the Druí used Ogham in written form and also by hand-signing - so they could ‘speak’ to each other silently without the knowledge of the uninitiated. There are many variants of Ogham suggesting that each druid school had its own unique version. Although we are repeatedly told that the Druí did not have ‘books’ - 150 Druid Books were burned and on Tara by ‘St Patrick’ (Bonwick) and he tried to cause a competition with a Druid Book and the Bible to be thrown into a barrel of water... these may have been like a form of ‘codex’ - sticks with carvings tied together. Each symbol had its own meaning and this meaning could be changed by using different wood/s and further changed by being handed over by the left or right hand... The Celtic Druid Temple is crafting its own Ogham script for use by our Druí. (13)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE BREHON LAW -
Brehon Law is the name commonly given to the old Celtic Law system of Ireland but in its day it was never called Brehon Law. It implies that the Breitheamh (anglicized as Brehon, translated as Judge) created and imposed the laws but this is not true. Fenechus meaning "that which relates to the Feine" (the free classes that formed the main body of Irish society) was the name used by the Irish Celts. Cain Laws of universal application were administered only by qualified Breitheamh but Urradhus or local laws were administered by nobles. The Senchas Már is a collection of legal texts recording the catholick version of the oral tradition. These laws formed a civil (ie not criminal) code and are the oldest, most original, and most extensive of medieval European legal systems. They were concerned with compensation for harm done, property, inheritance and contracts. There was no notion of state-administered punishment for a crime. These ‘Celtic Laws’ show us a hierarchical society that defines social status,  between lords, clients and serfs. Responsibilities could not be dodged by legal arguments focused on a point of law while disregarding obvious truths. In Ireland today - Direct Democracy is the representation system that is closest to our  indigenous Celtic Laws as it empowers the people to easily make decisions that affect their lives. (14)

CELTIC DRUID TEMPLE COMMONALITIES -
Members of the Celtic Druid Temple share the same basic understanding of our unique heritage and culture. This is based on individual appreciation and personalized connection to the Three Realms of Sea, Land and Sky and to the Three Cauldrons of Warming, Vocation and Wisdom while also integrating the Three Times of Past, Present and Future. Women and Men can be Druí today as they were in the past. The office of Druí implies a balanced consciousness that uses both intellect and intuition respecting Nature while serving the greater good. All Druí share a basic common foundation and framework for their individual Paths of self transformation that we refer to as spiritual alchemy. Druí may specialise in any field of endeavor while sharing a common basic understanding with all other Druí. Many old names for offices that a Druí can hold have come down to us but these should not be seen as a limit or a constraint for while we can see the past, we must live in the present with an eye to the future. As such; we have a responsibility to adapt the ways of the ancestors to the needs of today, respecting Nature while serving the greater good. After all, this is what happened in the past and this approach is what make ours a living Celtic tradition (15)

the above essay is a work in progress and while it will not become a book it will grow...
30/6/2016
Ard Drui Con
celticdruidtemple.com