Druids

By Ron McVan

There is no higher incentive for learning than the self-esteem that flows spontaneously from the awareness of a great past.”

The Druids were the wise, high spiritual elders of the ancient Celts, the teachers and keepers of high esoteric knowledge and sacred lore. The Druid mystique has always maintained a curious fascination in the Western World; even Julius Caesar had become intrigued with the Druids during his Roman invasions into pagan Gaul over 2,000 years ago. The Druid High Priests evolved from the Indo-European social order, practicing an Aryan religion which contained many elements already ancient in the days of the Gallic Empire. In those far distant times, to become a Druid was not an easy task. Training for a Druid would normally begin in early childhood and could take as long as 22 years of rigorous physical and mental conditioning. The Druids were always highly respected for their arcane wisdom throughout the Celtic world and professed to know the will of the gods. Caesar stated explicitly that, “Druids had a tradition of secret instruction, specifically about numbers and the secrets of the universe and nature of things”. They were exempt from taxes and from military service. In Ireland, no one, not even the king, was allowed to speak before a Druid had spoken, since the art of correct utterance was considered a mystical power exclusive to a Druid high priest. Words, as the ancients knew well, had the power to destroy and wound as well as to bless and heal.

Early tribal Celtic society was powerful and widespread across Northern Europe. Students in modern history classes are inaccurately taught that Columbus discovered America or the Vikings had landed first 500 years before that. There is in fact more than enough substantial evidence now obtained to prove beyond any speculation that the Celts were superb seafarers in the most ancient of times and had already explored America as far inland as Oklahoma and Arkansas, no less than 1,200 to 1,500 years earlier than the Viking explorers. In Washington State a 9,000 year old Aryan skeleton has recently been discovered and equally significant findings of Celtic Ogham writings in stone were discovered in Utah. The eminent English poet William Blake, himself a practicing Druid in his time, believed that the Atlantean King Albion, led the last of his subjects to Britain, where they became Druids. Ancient Egyptians, Goths and Scythians were all believed to be escapees from the doomed continent of Atlantis.

The wind blows heavy, loud they thunder thru’ the darksome sky, uttering prophecies & speaking instructive words to the sons of men…. These, the visions of Eternity. But we only as it were the hems of their garments When with our vegetable eyes we view these wondrous Visions.” ~ William Blake

The Gods of Britain were much like the Cabiri of Samothrace. Osiris and Isis appeared in their Celtic Mysteries, under the names of Hu and Ceridwen; and like those of the early Persians, their Temples were enclosures of gigantic un-hewn stones. Druids preferred practicing their ceremonies out of doors in the grandeur of Nature. Often the Druids would worship their gods in sacred groves and forest glades, preferably near a spring-fed pool. The religious responsibilities of the Druids may have been complicated by the number of deities they served. The Celts supernatural realm was crowded with a multitude of gods, most of whom had to be approached indirectly, and not by common men but by specialists: the Druids. They and they alone, dealt with otherworldly powers. Altogether at least 400 different deities have been identified by modern scholars—-partly through inscriptions on altars, partly through ancient Irish literature. The main god of the Celts, always unnamed and unnamable—the Dis Pater of the Gauls— is a trinity represented with a triple head.

O, the life of the Druid is the life of the land. We are one with the dark earth on which we proudly stand. One with the Mother, who has suckled us from birth, Her streams and her rivers, we are one with the earth; One with the Father, whose oak supports the sky, Who gazes on us daily with his great, immortal eye…” ~ Philip Shallcrass

Celts were well known for their warrior prowess. In the first century B.C.E. the historian Diodorus Siculus described them thusly:

They are very tall in stature, with rippling muscles under clear white skin. Their hair is blond, but not naturally so; they bleach it to this day, artificially, washing it in lime and combing it back from their foreheads. They look like wood-demons, their hair thick and shaggy like a horse’s mane. Some of them are clean-shaven but others, particularly those of high rank, shave their cheeks but leave a moustache that covers the whole mouth… they wear brightly colored and embroidered shirts, with trousers called ‘bracae’ and cloaks fastened at the shoulder with a broach, heavy in winter, light in summer. These cloaks are striped or checkered in design, with the separate checks close together and in various colors.”

Modern man equates civilization with buildings. Because Egypt and the classical countries built houses, baths and temples, and people who did not value these things were considered to be “barbarians”. The Greeks categorized them with the Scythians and the Iberians, as one of the three great barbarian nations and with the rest of the ancient world viewed them with that terror. The Romans led the way in this narrow estimate, understandably; it is less understandable that modern historians have mostly followed suit. Whilst paying lip service to the clear demonstrable facts of fine art Celtic jewelry, chariots, armor and weaving of extraordinarily high quality, these myopic academes felt that the Celts did not measure up, as a highly cultured civilization. The Celtic culture is unique in and of itself and displays its own high level of genius, originality and aggressive dynamism; they were a tribal people, much attuned to the spiritual ways of nature and had no special need for large civilizations. Power for the Celts and Druids came from the land, from their ethnic gods, from the individual, and from their folk, which provided them a consummate nature-based lifestyle, and therefore no need to compromise with hierarchical empire systems of control. The Celts were highly spiritual and spirit moves through all things. If the human body was devoid of spirit it would not be much different than that of a plant. The earth too has a spirit and should be highly respected by all humanity. The Druids venerate the earth, and to them all life is sacred and worthy of protection.

Authorities who govern us have issued fine decrees, To build motorways through wildwoods, and root up all the trees, While licenses for factories are granted without heed, To poison air and water in the holy name of greed.” ~ Philip Shallcrass

Celtic culture was musical and eloquent; the individual was valued more than the concerted achievement and personal adornment, more than built-up walls. They had exquisite, abstract designs on their metal work and on the many incised stones. It was a world quite at odds with the singular, crude, warlike stereotype which had been assumed from biased classical sources alone. The Druids shared a common god with the early Greeks. The god Apollo being originally of Northern Hyperborean origin was likewise worshipped by the Druidic priesthood among other essential ethnic Aryan gods. The Irish harp which is as much a symbol of the Celts as the Shamrock, extends back to the early influence of Apollo among the Celts. Apollo received his trademark harp from his brother Hermes who invented the instrument. The island of the Hyperborean’s as told by Hecateus (circa 500 B.C.E.) was the birthplace of Leto—-that daughter of giants—-and on this account her son, Apollo, was venerated there above all the gods.

The Book of Pheryllt is perhaps the most important and essential book of Druidic teachings that still remains in existence. The Pheryllt were the legendary Priests of Pharon, an extremely ancient god, whose worshippers were said to be the inhabitants of the Lost Continent of Atlantis. The Druids were great believers in the transmigration of souls and in the Book of Pheryllt it is stated something to the effect that new life sparks are always coming into being as emanations from Ceugant; and that all (degrees of) souls are eternal, and all are in process of expanding beyond the experiential bounds of their present state—heading toward THE BEYOND. All souls evolve through the Mechanism of Cycles: that supreme Law of all nature. When a soul of any grade becomes “saturated” with the experiences available within that life-form, then there is movement onto another higher one. Regression is impossible.

The Book of Barddas is a Druidic work published in 1862. The writings are said to have been taken from old manuscripts collected in a house which was destroyed by the Roundheads more than two hundred years before that time. Much of the existing Druidic belief that the world has come to know is, as most will find, quite similar to Pythagorean doctrines found in the Mediterranean.

Stone Carving for the Druids was a hopeful guarantee that the sacred Gnostic wisdom would be carried on to the future generations, as most Druid teachings were passed down orally. The stones themselves carried a profound energy, some stones containing higher frequency than others, which was further enhanced when stones were placed in particular geometric formations. The greatest of stones was of a rare, green quartzite called the “Liafail” (the stone of fate), or “Cloch na cincamhna”, (stone of fortune). Wherever that stone rested, one of Gallic blood was to rule. The Lia Fail stone comes from the tribe of the goddess Danu and was considered their greatest of treasures in the ancient Celtic city of Falias.

As soon as the pendulum started to swing…the hand resting on the stone received a tingling sensation like a mild electric shock and the pendulum itself shot out until it was circling nearly horizontal to the ground. The stone itself…felt as if it was rocking and almost dancing about.” ~ Legend of the Sons of God

The oak tree (Valonia oak) was absolutely sacred to the Druids and in those days the chopping down of a great oak was punishable by death. The name Druid itself has its origin in the Indo-European word ‘dru’ which means oak. The oak was symbolic of tradition, wisdom and longevity. The oak and its leaves and nuts are still used symbolically today in a variety of ways as well as the mistletoe which is closely associated with the oak. Sacred wood of the Druids aside from oak were the yew, hawthorn and more especially the rowan tree. A Druid’s staff was generally made from the wood of the yew tree. The yew was always considered the guardian of the mysteries.

Druid’s Egg was, according to Pliny, an egg like object allegedly made from the spittle and secretions of angry snakes, This ‘Druids Egg’ was used as an amulet to help the bearer gain victory in the law courts. The Roman Pliny describes it as ‘round’ and about as large as a smallish apple. The higher Druids were classified as “Adders” and wore what was known as a Glein Naddred, or “Serpents Egg”. The egg was actually a blue-green glass bead set in gold and strung on leather and to be worn around the neck. This was to indicate to others that they had reached the level of Serpent Wisdom as a Druid Adder. When a Druid Adder succeeded in acquiring seven eggs, he or she became an Arch Druid. The mythical legend of Saint Patrick chasing all the snakes out of Ireland was not to be taken literally; it meant that he had driven out all the remaining Druids in Ireland.

Stonehenge rightly remains a traditional symbol for Druidry even though its origins are more than likely much older. The public appeal of the Druids, especially as an ancient people connected with Stonehenge and other monuments is not difficult to understand. By today’s standards Stonehenge is often referred to as a “Temple of the Sun”, when in fact, in ancient history it was clearly linked with the moon. The whole area of Stonehenge has the number of the moon in 999. Also the moon is figured by the exact astronomical numbers of 19 (the number of years taken for the moon to return to its place in the sky, the Metonic Cycle), and 56 (both the cycle of the moon’s eclipses and 4 times the moon’s 14 nights from new to full).

For it is by the moon that they measure their months and years and also their ‘ages’ of thirty.” ~ Pliny

The Trefoil Shamrock is one of the symbolic spring plants that appear in the footsteps of the goddess Ceridwen and Olwen in their youthful shapes. The three of the trefoil leaf has always been highly significant in the arcane mysteries. For the Druid the number three stands for general creative energy, the triangle or triangular 3 rays has become a trademark symbol of the Druidic order. The Welsh Triads reveal to us that the Druids followed a process of study which required the practicing Druid to SEE ALL, STUDY ALL and SUFFER ALL in the effort to reach beyond the cycles governing rebirth.

The Three Rays symbol was the original symbolic name of God, symbol of The Trinity, and known as The Three Columns of Truth, because there can be no knowledge of truth, but from the light thrown upon it; and the three columns of sciences, because there can be no sciences, but from the light of truth, This special sign was used as a sort of supreme gesture above all others—the “Fifth element” of Nyu, Akasha or Spirit. The three ray’s symbol pointed downwards represents the invoking active/male energy and the three ray’s symbol pointed upward represents the banishing passive/ female energy.

Mistletoe was held in high esteem among the Druids. The Roman Pliny in his writings of the Celtic Druids commented:

“Seldom was the Mistletoe found growing upon the Oak, but on such occasion, the Druids gathered it with due religious ceremony, if possible on the sixth day of the new moon—when the influence of the orb was waxing, and said to be at its height. Following an elaborate banquet a white-clad priest cut the plant from the oak tree with a golden sickle, while another Druid held out a white cloak for its reception. They believed that the Mistletoe, immersed in water within a cauldron, would import fecundity to barren animals, and that it is the antidote for all poisons—its name meaning ‘all healing.”

Mistletoe to the Druids was thought to be saturated with the serpent life force and thus, in ceremony, should be handled by the high Druids only. The Teuton’s also viewed mistletoe as sacred to the god Baldur, while the Romans believed it to be the ‘Golden Bough’ that gave access to Hades.

The Tau Cross was a sacred symbol among the Druids and was T-shaped in form. Like the later cross adaption used by the Christians the Tau also symbolized both life and salvation. In Teutonic Wotanism the Tau was symbolized in Thor’s mighty Hammer. Druids were known at times to divest a tree of part of its branches to form the shape of a Tau cross. They would preserve it carefully, and consecrate it with solemn ceremonies. On the tree they cut deeply the word Thau, by which they meant God. On the right arm of the Cross, they inscribed the word Hesuls, on the left Belen or Belenus, and on the middle of the trunk Tharamis. This represented the sacred Triad.

Druidesses, according to the Greek historian Strabo, were “The Devotees of Bacchus” and he mentions that Celtic women paid Bacchus homage on an island in Okeanos (the specific location is unknown but generally believed to be somewhere in the British Isles). Here they formed an exclusive female society, maintaining both the Bacchus and Druidic mystery tradition and performed ancient rites of initiation.

The Dragon was viewed by the Druids as an entire energy system of the Earth manifested in the singular symbolic form of a Dragon. The magnetic ley lines which criss-cross the surface of the globe at strategic points were known as Dragon Lines. The Earth itself generated these lines of force, and at certain points where this energy coiled and twisted to the surface, great occult power was to be found there. Inspiration is a quality traditionally seen as a gift of the Dragon. Awen is the old Welsh word for inspiration or illumination, as in that which is channeled down from above, and fills a person’s soul during rare moments of spiritual ecstasy. The Celtic god Hu was called “The Dragon—Ruler of the World”, and his car was drawn by serpents. His ministers were styled adders. A Druid in a poem of Taliessin says, “I am a Druid, I am an Architect, I am a Prophet, I am a Serpent (Gnadi).” The car of the Goddess Ceridwen was also drawn by serpents. In ancient Druid times one that was well versed in the mysteries was called a serpent, or Adder. When a Druid summoned a dragon to manifest at a particular spot he would begin a mantric chant such as this: “Cum saxum saxorum, In dversum montum oparum da, In aetibulum, In quinatum—Draconis!”

During the period of transposition, Druid training colleges were taken over, and with nominal changes, they became monasteries and nunneries. Druids became Culdees (Chaldeans or magic workers), or magi (Seers); the word “Druid” was strictly forbidden by the Christian authority. Through the Middle Ages much of the sacred high teachings of the Celts was transformed or lost. The schools of the Filid (Seers) of Druidic nature are said to have survived in the Scottish Highlands until the 18th century, Ireland and parts of Scotland having escaped Roman influence. Contemporary Welsh Druids consist of three ranks of membership: Bard, Ovate and Druid. Druid being the highest. The most senior of the Druid rank is given the title “Archdruid”. Druids believed that souls do not suffer death, but after death pass from one body to another; and they regard this as the strongest incentive to valor, since the fear of death is disregarded.

The Purpose of following the Druidic path is to seek a deeper understanding of Nature, the Planet and oneself. Through the path of Druidism one will also gain a deeper understanding of his ancestral roots, spirituality, his ethnic gods, life, death and the All High Creator God of the universe. Druids are and should be scholars hungry to learn all the important knowledge of life and the world of which we are an essential and active part. The Druid also does not waste and squander his time; he is well aware of the swiftness and importance of life and uses his time wisely and effectively for the greater good. Druidism also serves as a process by which we can balance our inner world of thoughts, intimations, insights and emotions with the activities and pressures of the ‘outside’ world. Tlachtga and Mog Roith are the Celtic Lord and Lady of the Wheel of Life and Death, the keepers of Druidic Knowledge, and the secrets of both still remain in their hands.

Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past, and is dead for the future.” ~ Euripides

In today’s times, as we move amidst the debris of the technological, chemical and nuclear age, we find ourselves far removed from our ancient traditions, and in the Western World we stand witness to the imbalance of man, earth and spirituality. When man is reduced to economic-man he becomes an animal that preys on its own kind and set far adrift from his indigenous tribal instincts. The existing government controlled schooling institutions of mis-learning grossly destroy the thinking process of our youth, and rape them of all sense of identity as does the Fourth Estate (media). The medical institutions genocide our race en mass with abortion, birth control pills and medications that severely damage the human body. By means of rampant immigration, and miscegenation, governments further work at destroying the ethnic identities of all races both genetically and nationalistically. Hollywood filth and multi-media mind manipulation, crime ridden cities, vital industries sold out to foreign investors, our youth slaughtered in ongoing no-win foreign wars which only continue to fill the pockets of the controlling Power Elite. Dying oceans and rivers, choking atmospheres, widespread mental illness and most everyone swallowing tranquilizers and antidepressants, junk food, increasing forms of cancer and heart attacks, inadequate health care for the elderly! Is this the life that you really want to live in, promote, defend and protect? Can you in good consciousness say that this is the type of world that you want your children to live in, to look up to, learn from and covet?

The current plight of Euro-tribal survival is very grim indeed and as a result many Aryans are rediscovering their ethnic European spiritual roots such as Teutonic Wotanism or the Celtic, Slavic and Olympian pantheons. It is an attempt, not only to reconnect with their indigenous folk soul and heritage, but also a need to reclaim an essential identity, strength and dignity as a people which is so very vital in these rapidly declining times. The survival of our race as a species and culture will never come about if we do not first share a collective ethnic ‘vision’. Vision forms ‘direction’ direction brings about ‘unity’ and from unity comes ‘strength’. As individuals we must unabashedly call upon our ancestral folk soul within and around us. We must become rooted again in national pride as a strong and vibrant people in the great wealth of our heritage. We need only look to our ethnic gods and noble ancestors to find that enrichment that we seek in our present day lives. Roots in the past, Minds in the present, Eyes to the future!

The Mysteries of antiquity have seemingly perished. The faith, however, of the Golden Age—the first religion—can never wholly die. In all its pristine purity it is preserved even to this day and may be rediscovered by everyone who will devote his life to this supreme and holy task. It is not decreed that man should be so easily deprived of that which is his own; for even in this generation, which is a stranger to the gods, he who will follow in the footsteps of the neophyte of old may still receive the priceless heritage of Truth and Light.” ~ Manly P. Hall

Source Article from http://www.renegadetribune.com/druids-mcvan/

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