Contemporary Pagan Traditions. Druidry

Transcription

1 Contemporary Pagan Traditions Druidry

2 Druidry Ancient Pre-Christian Druidic practice (Paleopagan Druidism) The Druid Revival (18 th C.) (Meso-pagan Druidry) John Toland, An Druidh Uileach Braithreachas (Druid Circle of the Universal Bond) (A.D.U.B.) 1717 Henry Hurle, Ancient Order of Druids (A.O.D.) 1781 Iolo Morganwg, Gorsedd, 1792

3 Historical precursors Reformed Druids of North America (1963) - David Fisher Carleton College Humorous Protest Book of the Law Nature is Good! Beal/Mother Earth Isaac Bonewits Today - 40 RDNA groves, members

4 Myth of Druidism Celtic spirituality = nature based, druids as priesthood, magicians Christianity meets druidry peacefully (St. Patrick) William Stukely s 18th century thesis: celts were Jewish Synod of Whitby (644) destroys Celtic Christianity

5 Myth of Druidism Joseph of Arimathea Jesus s uncle, travelled Europe as merchant, took Jesus with him Went to England, met Druids Returned after Jesus death, taught Druids truths of Christianity so Druids are already Christian by the time St. Patrick etc. arrive Druids help Joseph of Arimathea build Glastonbury Cathedral Built on ley lines Built according to druid principles of proportion.

6 Myth of Druidism King Arthur Holy grail - cup of Ceridwen, symbol of the goddess Lady of the Lake - celtic goddess Merlin - druid - magic, mysticism, wisdom,education So, one can be both Druid and Christian

7 Worldview Animistic (nature is alive, animals, plants have souls) Pantheistic (world itself is divine) Panentheistic (nature is imbued with divine beings - gods of nature) Nature based Cyclical Rational Magical Powers

8 Ethics Grant, O God/ess, thy protection And in protection, strength And in Strength, understanding And in understanding, knowledge And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it And in that love, the love of all existences, And in the love of all existences, the love of god/dess God/dess and all goodness. Triads The People should worship the gods, do no evil, and exercise courage Universal Druid Prayer Honor, Loyalty, Justice, Courage, Community, Hospitality, Gentleness, Wisdom, Eloquence

9 Theology Polytheistic Tuatha de Danaan Bel (sunlight, rebirth, new beginnings - Beltaine) Brigid (fires, healing, fertility - Imbolc) The Dagda (the Good God, patron of Druids, social justice) Dana/Danu 1 st goddess, mother of all the others, Earth Donn (God of the Dead) Lugh (arts & crafts, society, Lughnasadh) The Morrigan (death, war, battles)

10 Organization Groves Bards (creativity, imagination) Ovates (mysticism, magic, theology, ritual) Druids (scholarship, magic, knowledge) (or, First, second, third circle druids)

11 Organization Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids (OBOD) Founded by Ross Nichols (1964), previously member of the Druid Order, tracing roots back to John Toland s 1717 revival group Christian/pagan emphasis Reorganized much more of a pagan emphasis Clergy training program - female clergy rank called Modron

12 Organization ArnDraiocht Fein (ADF) Founded by Isaac Bonewits (1983) Our Own Druidism Public Rituals required Indo-European emphasis

13 Organization Henge of Keltria Private rather than public rituals Celtic rather than indo-european Mistletoe Rite (healing) - 6th night of the moon Vervain Rite (magic) - third quarter of lunar cycle, when neither moon nor sun is in the sky Patron and Matron deities for each of eight seasonal festivals

14 Organization Celtic Reconstructionist Pagans (CR) Four seasonal festivals only - Oiche Shamhna (Samhain), La Fheile Bride (feast of Brigid, or Imbolc), La Bealtaine (Beltain), and La Fheile Lunasa (lughnassa, lamas) Attempt to stay true to archaeological, textual, etc. sources Total rejection of any Christian emphasis

15 Rituals Fire, Well, Tree Ancestors, Nature spirits, Shining Ones The Wheel of the Year