What is a Druid? Who is a Druid? How Do I become a Druid? These questions can never be answered with words, especially printed words. People love definitions and labels. We try to categorize our world constantly, making assumptions and forming opinions by the second, so it helps when something can be easily explained. Spirituality and one's expression of this, is completely unique to the individual and as complex as you can get, well at least when you try to explain it! When you know, feel, live and love it, it becomes the simplest thing in the world.
When people want to become Druids they seek a clearly defined path, a set of guidelines and procedures. We live in an information age so it would be great if all this could be summed up nicely in a book, with pictures and symbols and step by step directions. I love books. The room I'm typing in is full of books, all sorts of books, religious, spiritual, philosophy, drama, DIY. The thing is, not one of those books can tell me how to express my spirituality. It would be like deciding you want to become an artist from reading a book. You might learn certain techniques, some hints or tips but you won't become an artist. You become an artist when you have found your own unique way of expressing your creativity.
When people want to become Druids they seek a clearly defined path, a set of guidelines and procedures. We live in an information age so it would be great if all this could be summed up nicely in a book, with pictures and symbols and step by step directions. I love books. The room I'm typing in is full of books, all sorts of books, religious, spiritual, philosophy, drama, DIY. The thing is, not one of those books can tell me how to express my spirituality. It would be like deciding you want to become an artist from reading a book. You might learn certain techniques, some hints or tips but you won't become an artist. You become an artist when you have found your own unique way of expressing your creativity.
The Druid path is as unique as you are, some on a Druid path can write a book about their own experiences and perhaps you can learn something from them but no Druid can write a book to tell you how to be a Druid. I think it comes down to an obsession with labels. I often wonder what 'Druids' called themselves back then. People spoke a different language back then, they lived in different community groups, their context for their spiritual practice was different. Their perspective on their own world was not the same as ours now. We need to leave room for our spiritual expression to grow and evolve instead of looking for affirmation in the past.
Read books, love books, write books, just use them as reference guides. Analyze any and all books, ask who wrote the book,who translated the book, why was the book written, what intention did the author, translator, publisher put into the book? Lots has been written about Celtic spirituality, a lot of these books have been based on writings of the past. Most of these past writings were propaganda and belong in the past, if you use these as a basis for your spiritual practice today then you give energy to the intention of the past. Just because it was written along time ago doesn't mean it has any shred of truth in it or that it is in any way relevant to the world we live in today. Yet, when it comes to explaining what or who a Druid is today most people still use the definitions put forward by people of the past, people of the past who's intention was to destroy any culture outside the control of their own.
We as Celtic Druids in Ireland today do not define ourselves by the writings of classical scholars. As the Path of the Celtic Druid is being rediscovered there is a stream of expression that is romantic and appeals to the dreamer in us, but this diverts us from the full and true expression of the Cosmic Tradition. Celtic Druidism is the ancient spiritual tradition of Ireland, its' roots lie in the oldest temples on this island where many still honour the Solar and Lunar cycles. Celtic Druidism is a spiritual path to gaining and holding inner Light and expressing your higher self. This path does not lead anywhere but as a Celtic Druid you walk it all the time.
Read books, love books, write books, just use them as reference guides. Analyze any and all books, ask who wrote the book,who translated the book, why was the book written, what intention did the author, translator, publisher put into the book? Lots has been written about Celtic spirituality, a lot of these books have been based on writings of the past. Most of these past writings were propaganda and belong in the past, if you use these as a basis for your spiritual practice today then you give energy to the intention of the past. Just because it was written along time ago doesn't mean it has any shred of truth in it or that it is in any way relevant to the world we live in today. Yet, when it comes to explaining what or who a Druid is today most people still use the definitions put forward by people of the past, people of the past who's intention was to destroy any culture outside the control of their own.
We as Celtic Druids in Ireland today do not define ourselves by the writings of classical scholars. As the Path of the Celtic Druid is being rediscovered there is a stream of expression that is romantic and appeals to the dreamer in us, but this diverts us from the full and true expression of the Cosmic Tradition. Celtic Druidism is the ancient spiritual tradition of Ireland, its' roots lie in the oldest temples on this island where many still honour the Solar and Lunar cycles. Celtic Druidism is a spiritual path to gaining and holding inner Light and expressing your higher self. This path does not lead anywhere but as a Celtic Druid you walk it all the time.
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