Gourt > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Pagan > Celtic > Druidism (2)
In Celtic polytheism the word druid denotes the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies, which existed through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. Druidic practices were part of the culture of all the tribal peoples called "Keltoi" and "Galatai" by Greeks and "Celtae" and "Galli" by Romans, which evolved into modern English "Celtic" and "Gaulish". They combined the duties of priest, arbitrator, healer, scholar, and magistrate.
The Druids were polytheists, but also deified elements of nature, such as the sun, the moon, and the stars, looking to them for "signs and seasons". They also venerated other natural elements, such as the oak, certain groves, tops of hills, streams, lakes and even plants, most of all, mistletoe. As such, they were not only polytheists, but also exhibited a certain degree of animism. Fire was regarded as a symbol of several divinities and was associated with the sun and cleansing.
Their calendar year was governed by the lunar, solar, and vegetative cycles. Archaeological evidence suggests that ceremonies were conducted to celebrate the two solstices and two equinoxes every year. These festivals would have been governed by the position and motions of the Sun alone. In addition to these, four holidays were celebrated according to the lunar and vegetative cycles. These include Imbolc (Imbolg) to denote the first signs of spring, Beltane (Beltain) to recognize the fullness of life after spring, Lughnassah to celebrate the power of the Solar deity Lugh, and Samhain to recognize the lowering of the barrier between the world of the living and that of the dead. The timing for these latter four festivals would have been determined by the presence of a full moon and the signs of life implied by the above. Imbolg would thus be celebrated at a full moon roughly halfway between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox, Beltane between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice, Lughnassah between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox, and Samhain between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. This is contrary to popular "New Age" beliefs about Druidism that celebrate a given holiday according to the Julian calendar, which of course did not exist at the time of the formulation of these holidays. In modern times, Imbolg has been transformed into Groundhog Day, elements of Beltane have been absorbed into Easter, and Samhain has become Halloween (or All Hallows' Eve or All Saint's Day).
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@WoWInsider I know it goes against my druidism, but I'm going with mage. I could totally get into Fireballing or Barraging things on my 360.
battlechicken (BattleChicken) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:53:24 -0000
@WoWInsider I know it goes against my druidism, but I'm going with mage. I could totally get into Fireballing or Barraging things on my 360.
@jessicarbh well... I've not explored druidism yet... but I'm tight with the horned god. I'm sure something could be arranged ;)
dastels (Dave Astels) Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:53:46 -0000
@jessicarbh well... I've not explored druidism yet... but I'm tight with the horned god. I'm sure something could be arranged ;)
So I've been reading assorted stuff on Shamanism, does anyone have some recomended readings that cover Wicca & Druidism?
MurlocWrangler (dustin ) Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:37:43 -0000
So I've been reading assorted stuff on Shamanism, does anyone have some recomended readings that cover Wicca & Druidism?
Druids - Information on Wicca, ancient druidry, beginning druidism, blessings, robes, related websites, white magic, celtic religion, Druid history and religion, and mythology.
Meta Description: [ The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids :: Druid Grove ]
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Abhainn Glas Grove, ADF - We are a nonprofit religious congregation whose primary purpose is to serve the spiritual needs of the Portland Metropolitan Area of the States of Oregon and Washington through public Neopagan Druidic ritual and religious support to the community.
Meta Description: [ Abhainn Glas Grove, an ADF Grove. We are a Druidic congregation located in Oregon, serving the Portland Metropolitan area. ]
Adder Oaks Druid Nemeton - Discussion, sharing and learning site for the Community online and companion site to the Adder Oaks Druid Bookshelf.
Meta Description: [ Música y Espectáculo ]
Alternative Religions- Druidry - Basic information on modern and historical Druidry and Celtic reconstruction, plus information for research and Celtic studies. Moderated chat room and forum.
Meta Description: [ Celtic and Druid faiths, beliefs, symbols, history, and culture, plus an overview of Druid groups and orders, events, and publications. ]
Artes Magicae - A collection of articles featuring information on Rorian Druidry.
Meta Description: [ Magickal Theory & Practice in the Rorian Tradition: Rorian Druidry, Rory's Spiritual Autobiography. ]
Avalon Druid Order [ADO] - Teaching and following the root wisdoms of Avalon's first druids as they are observed today. Public resources and information and members-only opportunities for networking and mentored study.
Meta Description: [ Following the ways of Avalon's far ancestors and native Druids through Fellowship, Scholarship, and Worship. We are a 501(c)(3) religious nonprofit charity with an international membership offering spiritual community and Lifetime Membership to Seekers of the Holy Isle., Following the ways of our... ]
Awen Grove - A group based in Calgary, Alberta, providing a community for all Druids, no matter what their affiliation, based on ethics, scholarship and fellowship.
Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship - An international religious organization devoted to creating a public tradition of Neopagan Druidism.
Bard Ovate Druid and Celtic Spirituality - A forum for Celtic spirituality and Druids of any, or no grove.
Meta Description: [ Offers free forum hosting using the popular phpBB message board software. ForumUp.com is a free forum host as well as a webmaster resource site. ]
Britannia: The Celtic Druids - In this article, John Michell gives an intriguing view of these mysterious people.
Meta Description: [ Explore Britain's earth mysteries, its ancient sites and landscapes ]
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British Druid Order - Offers a path to creativity, healing, awareness and fulfilment based on the ancient druidic tradition.
Meta Description: [ The British Druid Order teaches and practices Druidry as the ancient native spirituality of Europe, re-kindling its sacred fire for the 21st century. ]
Caer Clud - Druid seed group in the West of Scotland open to all who are interested; the site gives information about their meetings.
Celtic Brittany - Information on the Celtic past of Brittany, the history of the Celt, tree of life, legends, the druids' beliefs and ceremonies, megaliths and lighthouses.
Meta Description: [ Découvrez les druides , leur histoire, leurs croyances, l'alphabet des Oghams er des Runes, visitez les sites mégalithiques, plongez dans les légendes de bretagne ]
Celtic Druidism - From the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, a description of Celtic Druidism.
Meta Description: [ Celtic Druidism ]
Celtic Tale: Colorado Druidism - Focuses on Druidism and Celtic lore, and how they relate to Colorado and modern Celts in todays world. Studies Celtic languages, Druidic philosophies, and a sacred relationship with the Land.
Meta Description: [ We are a small Celtic Pagan group devoted to venerating the Land and the Gods ]
Craobh Crua - Dedicated to the preservation of Gaelic culture in Ireland and the re-education of pre-christian philosophy, religion and spirituality.
Meta Description: [ description ]
Development of Spirituality: The Druids - Information on practicing this spiritual path today.
Druid's Grove - The Bear Mountain Seedgroup of the Order of Bards, Ovates Druids (OBOD) give some ritual ideas for the eightfold year. There is also a brief discussion on the symbolism in the festivals, together with some Druid and Goddess devotions/prayers.
Druidry for the 21st Century - A humorous site about the Druids of yesterday, today, and the future. Pro Order of the Stone Circle (OSC) and United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD). Pokes fun and satire at Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF).
Druids - An excerpt from the Encyclopedia Britannia.
Druids - Aspects of Druidry as it relates to Celtic life.
Druids Grove - Dedicated to the study of Druidry and Paganism.
Druids Path: An Online Resource Community - A community based setting with a growing library of resource material. Open to all those interested and/or currently following a Druidic path.
Meta Description: [ The Gifted Ones... And yet some humans are in reality Sidhe... Some humans are in reality becoming Sidhe... And some humans would rather chase their tales... But in Truth we all stand on common ground... We all stand upon Blessed Earth... We are all enfolded by a canopy of stars... We all are ind... ]
English Druid Groups Active on the www - A directory of English Druid groups and their places of pilgrimage.
Gathering Under The Oaks - A Druid study and fellowship grove in Houston with a mother Temple in Sandias, Texas.
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Gathering Under The Oaks - Information on a Grove in Houston Texas. The Silver Wheel Enterprize, an on-line store, has space here as well.
Meta Description: [ We are a teaching and fellowship Grove deicated to facts based on the old world Druidic faith. ]
Grove of the Great Dragon - Based in Columbus and beginning to rebuild, the group are currently accepting applications for new members.
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Grove of the Sacred Well - A group of neo-druids, located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, who choose to follow the Keltrian tradition.
Meta Description: [ The (former) home page of the Keltrian Grove of the Sacred Well ]
Gwyddon or the Traditional Witchcraft of Wales - An introduction to traditional Gwyddon, as well as Wiccan, Pagan, new age, magick, and druidic religious thought.
Meta Description: [ Gwyddon is Welsh Witchcraft, This is the Dynion Mwyn homepage and contains an introduction to Traditional Gwyddon or Welsh Witchcraft, as well as
Wiccan, Pagan, new age, magick, and druidic religious thought. This is a Gwyddon page with a difference! ]
Henge of Keltria - Information on a neopagan tradition devoted to the study and practice Keltrian Druidism and other Celtic Earth-based religions.
Hidden Wood - A site featuring information on the tenets of reformed Druidry, Pagan holidays, gods and goddesses, meditation and runes.
Meta Description: [ Hidden Wood of the Druids is a new home for Reformed Druids to start learning about a old/new way of life. ]
Les Druides du Québec - Offers information on an affiliate group of the Kredenn Geltiek Hollvedel, the world's oldest pagan druidical association founded in 1936.
Ord Draiochta Na Uisnech - Druid Tradition and Order based on continue research into historical, cultural, and spiritual beliefs of ancient peoples living in what is now Ireland.
Order of the Stone Circle - A progressive, national, meso-pagan, men's fraternal, Druid secret society based in the U.S.
Meta Description: [ osc_national: osc_national ]
Order of Whiteoak - A loose collection of Celtic Reconstructionists, philosophers, and students of Druidry concerned with the matter of ethics in the Druid community, who study the Brehon Laws and search the ancient stories for Celtic tribal values.
Ozark Full Life Church - An Arkansas non-profit Druidic religious outreach organization based on ancient Celtic and Indo-European traditions; providing Rites of Passage, Pastoral Care, and other services.
Paganism: Druids: their Functions and Powers - Information on the Druids, divination, tree reverence, and sorcery.
Meta Description: [ Social History of Ancient Ireland - Chapter V - Paganism (part A) ]
Red Oak Grove, ADF - Features information on a group of Neopagan Druids in New Jersey who are serious about worshiping the Celtic Gods in a modern context.
Sacred Oak Grove - Offers information on a Druidic Neopagan group serving the religious, spiritual, and educational needs of its members within the Druidic, Wiccan and Neopagan community.
San Francisco Manannan mac Lir Grove of OBOD - Features information on a group that promotes local practice of, and information about Druidry in the SF Bay Area, California USA.
Meta Description: [ The Manannan mac Lir Grove follows the Druid Tradition of Nature-based spirituality expressed in ritual, music, poetry, story telling, visual arts, community, and care for the Earth. ]
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Spirit of the North Gathering - An independent network celebrating native British spirituality. Includes astrology, poetry, Druidry and sacred places.
Meta Description: [ The Spirit of the North Gathering, open to all who follow Druidry as their spiritual path ]
The Dragon's Breath - An MSN group for The Druidic Order of the Oak of Rose. Membership required.
The Druid Heritage Society - A group of men and women who are reclaiming their Celtic heritage through the re-establishment of Druidry in their respective family lines.
Meta Description: [ A Society for Celtic Heritage. ]
The Druid Network - An international resource including articles, courses, events, reviews, profiles, information on belief, rituals, Orders, groves, gorseddau, sacred sites, members' database and forums.
Meta Description: [ The aim of The Druid Network is to be a source of information and inspiration
about the modern Druid tradition, Druidic practice and the history of Druidry. ]
The Druids of Caledon - Offers information on an informal group. Includes links, a discussion forum, and a photo gallery.
The Excellence of Ancient Word - Druid rhetoric from ancient Irish tales.
The General Druid Order - Edo Biolgenmed - Offers information on an Druidic organization focusing on the fair treatment of the GLBT community.
The Grove of Danu - We are a religious church, and strive to keep our Ancestral ways as true to our cultural heritage as is possible.
Meta Description: [ Artwork of Mick Tilman ]
The Henge of Avalon - Information on an organization which focuses on the philosophies of the Left-Hand practice and teachings of Druidry.
Meta Description: [ thehengeofavalon.org ]
The Insular Order of Druids - Information on a druidic order which was founded on the Summer Solstice 1993 at Stonehenge.
Meta Description: [ Dylan Ap Thuin on The Origins of the Insular Order of Druids ]
The Summerlands - A cyber community existing within an Other-worldly time and space. A safe haven for Druids, Witches and Pagans.
Tuatha de Brighid - Information on a Druidic clan featuring articles and notes, rituals, e-mail lists, and Druid links.
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