Druid Lesson 1:

A brief History

Lesson 1 for Druidry & Traditional Herbology




So what is Druidry exactly? Nowadays there are many different forms of "Druidry", and the term is flaunted about even more -- the truth is, though, that there is only one true form of Druidry, and it is a nearly dead practice. It is very very rare to find people who follow the true traditions of Druidry and fully understand what the term and practice actually is. "True" Druidry is a practice of the ancient Druids -- the actualy historical druids you hear about on the History Chanel or Discovery Chanel or in class when your studying World History, NOT these modern day witches or pagans who call themselves Druidry -- 9 out of 10 times, people who call themselves Druids just think it's a cool name for a Celtic Wiccan, sorry to say that is completely wrong, but evenso there is some truth behind that.

The Druids were the ancient priests of the Celts, and though there were many different clans spanning the Isles of Blessed (commonly known as the Brittish Isles nowadays) the raw basic belief system was still the same - druidry itself is simply the practices, customs, philosophy and beliefs of the Druids or celts -- this is the part that confuses most people. The Druids were celts, yes, but not all celts were Druids -- the Druids were a small select group of Celts that studied the beleifs for years on end, they were the clergy pretty much. Just like nowadays there are christians of all sorts, but not all of them are Preachers. And just like Judaism, not everyone was allowed to study the Tora, and even fewer allowed to study the Kabbalah, only very specific people were allowed to study for the clergy, and even fewer given the chance for the actual path into apprenticeship, and even fewer of them completed it and became actual Druids.
In the Celtic traditions, only the people closest to the religion and beliefs were considered for the order of priests, people who would attend rituals and practice day-to-day religious practices and so forth (which in those times weren't as uncommon as now). In those times only boys and men were allowed to become a Druid, today women are allowed the opporpunity also, but it is still a rare occasion when a woman actually earns the title of Druid, since it is still a very sheltered and highly guarded and considered highly sacred practice. Young boys could start out in the practice when they "came of age", which depending on the clan, region and country of the celts could vary from age 10-16. Once the boy came of age and was considered a man, they were allowed a "hand" position to the Druids. They would help keep up temples or sacred houses -- which at times could be a hard task, as the celts tended to move often, so they temples and worshiping grounds would shift slightly, though in most cases the druids would have their own orders from region to region but would have a main place of there own, outside of the clans that most of them would live, teach, worship and learn. Once a boy showed his worth and dedication to the practice, then he *may* be considered for an apprenticeship, but even then it wasn't guaranteed. A boy could come the worship houses at 12 and never even be considered for an apprenticeship until well into his 20's, it varied from each specific person to each specific mentour and Druid. If a boy was considered for an apprenticeship, then he would start is path into Druidy, setting up a daily routine of wroship, practice and study in many various different sections of Druidry at a time by 10 or more Druids as his tutors and mentours, this path of study, if done properly and without any disappointments should last a fully 20 year --- but it is a rare occasion that an apprentice would complete there study on schedule. The Druids were very protective of their secrets, and very picky when it came to mentouring and tutoring new Druids, if it was not done perfectly, then you started all over again until it was perfect.
It was also very hard on apprentices to actually make it out of their path of study, as they could be dropped at any moment -- if the Druids were not pleased with his performance, his advancement, his easy to comprehend and learn, his attitude, his stance, anything at all, the apprentice could be taken out of study, and banned from the practice. There were no second chances in Druidry -- you had one opportunity to make it, a few more opportunities to correct what you had done wrong, but once you were dropped from the study, you were never allowed re-entry into apprenticeship, but even after you were withdrawn from study, you still had all the same restrictions as a Full Druid, as they were highly secretive and guarded their knowledge well -- they kept a check on anyone who knew too much of their practices, as to not spread their secrets, so once you were dropped from the apprenticeship you still were required to live on the worship grounds, under the supervision of the Druids. This was a very difficult task for everyone, especially when the boy/man in consideration has a family. Druids with families, though not too common, were allowed thier family to live on the grounds, or just outside the grounds with them, but dropped apprentices were not. When you went into the worship grounds hoping to be accepted, you took the risk of losing everything you had and starting a completely knew life -- this is why many of them did not have families or fiends outside of the other Druids. It was a lifetime commitment and became their complete way of life, this is why they were so intent and picky, and harsh when choosing a candidate for the 20-year path.

Today this practice is nearly dead, though is still around it is very hard to find a group of tradition celtic practitioners who still follow the way of druidry, and a significant ammount fewer are Druids. The Druid practices and beliefs are only passed down from Druid to Druid -- today there is a little bit more known about them as practices, rituals and general beliefs as in todays world, it has become slightly more leniant. Druids these days are capable of having families, and a select ammoun of information is alright to be shared with them, but is a very fine line between what is alright and what is not acceptable. Though in society today, many Druids who have families, and in death, there olde scripts, journals or logs in many cases are left to the families, giving them the opportunity to learn a little more about there secrets. It is events like these that a little more knowledge into their life and worlds has been shared to the public, though all of there traditions and secrets are still held to the Druids alone.

In Todays society this practice and belief is much more broadened and blurred --- "Druid" and "Druidry" has became a very widespread, and well known term, and in a number of cases has become a household word. The problem with this is that the majority of people out there are spreading half-truths and misinformation about druidy and traitional celtic beliefs. A Druid is not another world for a Celtic Wiccan, even though they were celts, and modern Wicca is based off of the traditional Celtic beleifs, Wicca nowadays as evolved to something completely on its own, only a shadow of the celts' ways can be seen within Wicca, and both Wicca and even tradiitional celtic beliefs are completely seperate from the order of Druids and the practice of druidry. 



Facts and Fictions about Druidry:

*Druidis and Druidry have NOTHING todo with Wicca, though many of their beleifs are similar, they are still completely seperate religions and practices.

*A Druid is not a cool name for a Wiccan

*A Druid is a preist of traditional Celtic beleifs

*A Druid cannot be self proclaimed or self-taught, they HAVE to be tutored and mentoured by a group

*There is no such thing as a solitary Druid. If you are a Druid, you are a part of some sort of clan or coven.

*You cannot randomly decide that you want to become a Druidy and simply become it.

*You cannot just decide you want to be a Druidy and then start studying and researching it and call yourself a Druid or claim to be studying for your 20 yar path.

*You MUST be a part of the traditional Celtic beliefs and some how connected to the Druids to even be considered for the 20-year path.

*You have to be chosen by the Druids to be taken on as an apprentice to become a Druid.

*You have to be tutored and mentoured by a select number of teachers while in the 20-year path on a constant and regular basis.

*Only another Druid can iduct you into Druidry and give you the title of Druid.

*If you are under the age of 38, there is no possible way of you being a Druid. Nowadays, they will only accept you when you are 18 or older.

*If you are under the age of 18, there is no possible way for you to be following, practicing or studying Druidry.

*All celts ars not a Druid; they are not the same thing

*All Druids are some sect of Celt -- all druids HAVE to be some sect of Celt, whether it Be Irish, Scottish, Brittish Welsh, Finnish etc etc, they have to be some form of Celt. The Druids were the priests of the Celts, you cannot be a Druid and follow some other beleif or customs

*There is no Such thing as a neo-druid or modern druidry. True Druidry has been highly guarded and protected in its whole, it is the same now as it ever has been -- it is one of the most well preserved religions known today.


if youre interested in this class or lesson, or if you have questions comments or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment, message [Mordigen] or join the class forum found on the Druidry class main page.

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