Spellcraft And EarthMagick

The Druids were the Magi or philosopher-magicians of the early Celtic civilization. Druid history dates back to the migration of the Indo-European-speaking people in the second millennium B.C. (approximately 4000 years ago) when nomadic tribes who occupied the area around the Caspian Sea in southern Russia began to migrate southeast-ward into the Indus Valley (India) and westward into Asia Minor the Balkans and the European plain. Around the tenth century B.C. a people recognizably Celtic began to emerge from Bohemia (in western Czechoslovakia). In the eighth to the sixth centuries B.C. they began to migrate down into Italy and Spain and further west into France and Belgium and eventually into the British Isles.
These people were generally tall and skilled horsemen, metalworkers, and warriors. The Welsh Triads or "Traditional Chronicles" hold that Hu Gadarn or "Hu the Mighty" who was a descendant of the patriarch Abraham led a party of settlers from Asia Minor to the British Isles and established a religious practice among the Celts that we now refer to as Druidism. Several meanings are offered for the word Druid including: "a servant of truth" "all knowing or wise man" "an oak" or "equal in honor." Generally a Druid is considered one with gnosis or spiritual?.
B. C. Posidonius the philosopher-historian had traveled throughout Gaul during the time of the Druids and had written about them in his Histories written at the end of the second century B.C. Unfortunately these writings were lost out portions were later referred to by the historian Strabo (63 B.C. - A.D. 21). The best records by people who lived during the time of the Druids were Caesar's Conquest of Gaul and Natural History by Pliny the Elder who died in A.D. 79. By A.D. 37 Gaul and much of Britain were under Roman control and Rome prohibited Druidic practices. However Druidic beliefs and practices have been passed on though oral traditions within secret circles throughout Europe.

Within the Celtic culture was a brotherhood or perhaps a class of priests known as the Druids who served as the spiritual leaders and wise men of their day. Druid record-keeping of their spiritual practices and culture did not exist, so most of what is known about them comes from the records of their conquerors and the myths and legends of the Bards. The Romans considered the Druids to have been an established institution by the fourth century.

The influence of the Druids on the Celtic culture and on Western civilization has endured for thousands of years. Seasonal celebrations and festivals were adopted and adapted to the new Christianized cultures of Europe -- such as Christmas at the winter solstice and the Druid festival of Samhain or All Hallows Sabbath -- which we now call Halloween. More over Druid beliefs and customs such as kissing under the mistletoe have also been passed down to the present day. Wiccan groups appear to be heavily influenced by the Druids; however as any form of "pagan" worship was repressed in Christian societies such rituals were practiced very discreetly and little is known or available to the public. Thus to this day many Druid practices remain secret to the public.

In the latter part of the eighteenth century Druidic cults and societies appeared all over western Europe; one of the first was the Ancient Order of Druids which was founded by an Englishman Henry Hurle. Later the Ancient Order of Druids became more of a benefit society and some of the members who were more interested in the esoteric side of Druidism formed other orders. Other noted orders include The British Circle of the Universal Bond; The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids; and The Order of the Golden Dawn. Today there are numerous orders throughout Western societies; however most of the older traditional ones do not solicit or even admit members unfamiliar to them. Druids believe in the eternal nature of the Soul and see a living spirit in all forms of creation. There is an ancient saying attributed to the Druids "Spirit sleeps in the mineral breathes in the vegetable dreams in the animal and wakes in man." Druids hold that souls could be contacted after death and that souls reincarnate. The universe is the Druid's living bible written directly by the hand of God. Moreover mankind is seen as evolving and unfolding in its awareness of itself. Within the spiritual makeup of creation is a pantheon of gods and goddesses as consciousness for the attributes in nature. Some of the most recognized are TARANIS -- the father of the gods associated with the oak tree; BELENOS -- the god of the Sun celebrated on Beltane or May Day; CERNUNNOS -- the horned god of the hunt who rules the dark side of the year (winter); LUGH -- the many-skilled; ESUS -- the pastoral god and magician; TEUTATIS -- the warrior god and ruler of the people; EPONA -- the horse goddess associated with fertility; MORRIGAN -- the goddess of war; CARIDWEN -- the mother goddess and triple goddess of fire water and air; RHEA -- the mistress of life and sovereign of time; and DIANA -- the huntress and goddess of the moon. The many gods and goddesses were known by many names depending on the region and period of time.

Druids are the interpreters of the gods the judges and teachers astronomers and seers as well as physicians and healers. Rites and rituals are generally held outdoors typically in an oak grove or around a stone circle. Druids celebrate the four major Sabbaths: SAMHAIN -- All Hallows or Halloween; IMBOLC -- The Feast of Lights or Candlemas; BELTANE -- May Day; and LAGHNASADH or LAMMAS -- the Feast of Bread; as well as the four lesser Sabbaths related to the changing of seasons namely the spring and autumn equinoxes and the summer and winter solstices. Druid rites are generally merry occasions with feasting dancing and singing where feelings of love for the gods and goddesses are expressed and an appreciation for nature's abundance is celebrated.

Druids are also typically homeopathic healers and astrologers. However Druids are principally the teachers of Truth who assist their aspirants in seeing the divine spirit within themselves and indeed within all things. Druids use natural science and experience to verify truths and spiritual development is an interactive process and not a faith. A triad of the three fundamental Principles of wisdom is: Obedience to the Laws of God effort for the welfare of mankind and heroically enduring the unavoidable ills of life.