What is Druidry?

[Cryptic]

Hi...after some searching, I am curious to know in summary, what do Druids believe in?

Multiple Gods/spirits?

What are some key things that Druids believe in?

I really enjoy reading books about Arthurian tales/legends as well as historical romance novels/movies, etc.

Which group most closely associates with chivalry, courage, heros, nature, etc. Are there any paths that incorporate the Arthurian tales in it, or chivalry?

As you can see, I am completely new, but wanted to learn from others. I wanted to learn more about what paths are out there that incorporate some of what I read into my belief system. Any suggestions or comments about this is appreciated. I am trying to learn more about this area of interest.

Thanks!

[KellyP]

If you are most interested in a path that integrates chivalry and Arthurian romances specifically, I would suggest that you look for one of the many groups that attach "Avalonian" to their name. While there are very clear exceptions to the rule, most organizations that use the key term Avalonian seem to draw inspiration from the tales of Arthur or similar tales of The Isles.

[Cryptic]

Yes, thank you...I had forgotten about this post :)

Since posting, I have come across two sites:
http://www.sistersofavalon.org/
http://www.avalonian-institute.org/

For Druidry, http://www.druidcircle.net/

[Brearley Arn]

Druids believe in the immortality of the soul.
Most Druids seem to believe in many gods.
They believe in personal integrity, truth and honor.
The pursuit of wisdom is a core concept in Druidry.
Respecting the natural world and creating balance is an important belief for Druids.
Serving the Tribe is important to Druids.
Druids believe in the Otherworld a world that lies behind a veil but is connected to ours.

Druids serve man functions for their tribe, ranging from Historians, Entertainment, priests to judges and scientists and doctors.

[Sekhmet Soul30]

Druids believe in the immortality of the soul.
Most Druids seem to believe in many gods.
They believe in personal integrity, truth and honor.
The pursuit of wisdom is a core concept in Druidry.
Respecting the natural world and creating balance is an important belief for Druids.
Serving the Tribe is important to Druids.
Druids believe in the Otherworld a world that lies behind a veil but is connected to ours.

Druids serve man functions for their tribe, ranging from Historians, Entertainment, priests to judges and scientists and doctors.

This is what I believe to, great post.

[DiscordianKitten]

Since posting, I have come across two sites:
http://www.sistersofavalon.org/
http://www.avalonian-institute.org/

Are these sites down? I can't access them.

[omar]

Unlike most people the Druids believed they was created from trees, some others Celts,Gauls & Norse people had the same or simular beliefs. Man is was made from an Oak tree, women from an Ash tree. This is why all trees were sacrad. There was a penalty for cutting trees, one calf for a tree. Anyone who cut mistlatoe that was not a Druid priest was executed. They used strung up tree leaves to wright ,like Native American wampom belts. They believed your soul could start as as a fish & change to many forms before becoming humane. I think thats called Otherkin?

[odubhain]

Unlike most people the Druids believed they was created from trees, some others Celts,Gauls & Norse people had the same or simular beliefs. Man is was made from an Oak tree, women from an Ash tree. This is why all trees were sacrad. There was a penalty for cutting trees, one calf for a tree. Anyone who cut mistlatoe that was not a Druid priest was executed. They used strung up tree leaves to wright ,like Native American wampom belts. They believed your soul could start as as a fish & change to many forms before becoming humane. I think thats called Otherkin?

Could you provide us some more details on all of this? I've only heard about the fines for cutting trees. I also have heard of a "Book of Leaves" but believe it was actually called the "Elements of Wood."

Searles O'Dubhain

[skilly-nilly]

Unlike most people the Druids believed they was created from trees, some others Celts,Gauls & Norse people had the same or simular beliefs. Man is was made from an Oak tree, women from an Ash tree.

I slightly recall a Norse myth that states this but a quick google doesn't turn up anything.


This is why all trees were sacrad. There was a penalty for cutting trees, one calf for a tree. Anyone who cut mistlatoe that was not a Druid priest was executed.

Brehon Law listed penalties for tree cutting but they varied according to the status of the tree (shrub, peasant, chieftain). It's a complex system and can't be reduced to one sentence.


They used strung up tree leaves to wright ,like Native American wampom belts. They believed your soul could start as as a fish & change to many forms before becoming humane. I think thats called Otherkin?

I think that this is an imperfect recollection of the story of Taliesen, although he was Welsh. He became many animals through Magic; there is no evidence that I am aware of that the Celtic Nations believed in the modern concept of Otherkin.

As well, old (pre-paper) books were made from parchment which is prepared from domestic animal skins, untreated leaves are far too fragile. Although as I recollect, there are references to Magic being performed by writing Ogham on wood, although that's not really the same.

To me, Omar's contribution is a lot of vague ideas skimmed from various and perhaps not too reputable sources. I feel that the Paths forum can request primary sources when discussing historical subjects.

[omar]

They worshiped the Celtic Gods. They were Celtic priests. Even the modern Druids in England are not sure of what the "old Druids" worshiped. Yes! I got part of the info from Taliesen's poem. Taliesen was suppose to be the one thst trained Merlin,who trained Arthure & when he became King at 15yrs. old he also become Pendragon or head man of the Druids.

[skilly-nilly]

They worshiped the Celtic Gods. They were Celtic priests. Even the modern Druids in England are not sure of what the "old Druids" worshiped.

There really are no "Celtic" Gods. "Celtic" refers to a language group (Scots and Irish Gaelic, Manx, Cornish, and Breton). There were individual nations and cultures connected to each language but there are no Pan-Celtic Gods. Even Lugh and Bridget, Who carry across cultural lines, are not the same in Their different cultures. There are a number of old texts which give us an idea what the various Celtic cultures worshipped and those are what should be employed when discussing ancient history, imo.



Yes! I got part of the info from Taliesen's poem. Taliesen was suppose to be the one thst trained Merlin,who trained Arthure & when he became King at 15yrs. old he also
become Pendragon or head man of the Druids.

Taliesen wrote about changing himself into a number of different animals by means of Magic to escape capture. He didn't have anything to say about fetal development.

Very little is known about the reality of King Arthur, even if he existed. I think so but other opinions vary. Even so, the romances written in the Age of Chivalry cannot be accurate.

IMO, the Pendragon is the Chief who makes the Great Marriage with the land, supported by but not in charge of the Druids.

[odubhain]

.
As well, old (pre-paper) books were made from parchment which is prepared from domestic animal skins, untreated leaves are far too fragile. Although as I recollect, there are references to Magic being performed by writing Ogham on wood, although that's not really the same.

The Ogham "Elements of Wood" is called Dúile Fedha. Not much is left of it. In Auraicept na n-Éces it is a short treatise on the Forfedha. I have to believe it was once much more than that.

There's also a tale in Irish where the king lists of all the kings of Ireland is revealed to a File by a god. The File carves their names on rods of wood. Here is a quote of the applicable part of the tale from my teaching materials:


Following this discussion of memory aids and Ogham, it should come as no surprise to us that there are reports of Ogham and carved staves being used by the Filidh and Druids in ancient Ireland. In the tale, Baile in Scáil (“The Phantom’s Frenzy”), just such a use of Ogham was mentioned about the Poet Cesarn’s efforts to recall and recite a díchetal about the kings of Ireland from Conn of the Hundred Battles until the end of time:

“Ba tron iarum la Cesarnd filid an díchetail sin do thabairt fri oinhuair co n-ecmaing tre oghum hi cetheora flescae iphair. Cethir traigid fichet fott cacha flesci ocus ocht ndruimne cacha flesci.”

“The Poet Cesarn had trouble remembering the incantation in one piece, so he cut its Ogham in strokes on four staves of Yew. Each staff had four divisions of twenty measures with the strokes inscribed along its eight stem lines.”

In this way, Cesarn was able to remember the names of the kings of Ireland (as foretold by Lugh in the tale) from Conn onward. He wrote the Ogham letters as a mnemonic device to store the king lists on staves of wood and to serve as prompts for his recollection during future recitals. All he would have had to do to remember these names would be to hold his Ogham inscribed staff in his hands, read the keyed prompts, and proceed up the ladder of its strokes as he chanted the names.[/QUOTE]

Searles O'Dubhain

[Myrddyn Emrys]

Very little is known about the reality of King Arthur, even if he existed. I think so but other opinions vary. Even so, the romances written in the Age of Chivalry cannot be accurate.

As well, Arthur is more often referred to as "Dux Bellorum" (Duke-or leader-of Battles) than King. Evidence keeps pointing to an acutal historic person, or perhaps even an amalgam of several people, that were the basis for the Arthurian legends. Sadly, without Doc Brown's DeLorian I don't think we'll ever really know.:bigredgri

No, certainly we can't trust the Chivalric Tales about Arthur. Way too much chaff to separate for too few grains. Unfortunately, it's mostly what we've got!



IMO, the Pendragon is the Chief who makes the Great Marriage with the land, supported by but not in charge of the Druids.

Agreed wholeheartedly! Supported by, yes...in charge of, certainly not. It's a common theme through the Celtic Tales that not even the King was allowed to speak before his Druid did. Doesn't sound too much like a leadership role to me.

Oh, and a side note to Omar's post...Arthur was 14, not 15, and that was merely when he freed "Excalibur" from the stone while serving as Kai's Squire (some tales place this at Easter, some place it at Midwinters/Christmas). He wasn't "officially" made "King" at that point, that happened some while later after battles with those who didn't acknowledge his claim to the position and against invaders to the land. Even he had to prove himself in combat.