Druidism. ABOVE: Druids and other Neo-Paganits celebrating solstice-rituals at Stonehenge in England.

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1 Celtic Druidism is one of several Neo-Paganism religions that have revived in parts of Europe and North America since the second half of the twentieth century. Druidism Celtic Druidism is one of several Neo-Paganism occultic religions that have revived in parts of Europe and North America since the second half of the twentieth century. Druidism, a form of nature worship, was the general religion of the Celtic tribes, which migrated to the west through Europe from East Asia in approximately 800 BC. These tribes inhabited the British Isles, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, north western Spain and a part of Turkey by 200 BC. Some researchers are of the opinion that Druidism might even have been practised in the areas concerned before the arrival of the Celts, but reliable information is scarce. ABOVE: Druids and other Neo-Paganits celebrating solstice-rituals at Stonehenge in England. Differences between sources With the expansion of Christianity in Europe, ancient Druidism had practically disappeared by the seventh century. Although some modern Druids claim that their groups are the uninterrupted continuation of ancient Druidism, this is very improbable. Sources on ancient Druidism differ considerably, and for this reason it is difficult to say for sure exactly what the originals Druids' views were on, among other things, gods and goddesses, the meaning of feast days, rituals and other practices.

2 Basic doctrines Despite the limited and sometimes confusing information, some modern Druids try to keep their practices and rituals as close as possible to those of ancient Celtic Druidism. Others use only the basic doctrines of the original religion and mix them with the practices of other schools of magic to form a new Druidism that fits in with their needs and modern beliefs. Nature Nature plays a central and very important role in ancient as well as modern Druidism. Nature is regarded as a being (entity) or force that determines the origin, growth and character of all life. Nature always tries to achieve a balance in everything - between order and chaos, life and death, and between elements. Without balance, life and survival are not possible. Druids believe that a person's soul has a free will that gives one the ability to disturb the balance in the natural world through one's actions. Druids regard it as their task to help maintain the balance in the natural world through their knowledge and actions, and thus to help ensure the continuation of life. Gods and goddesses One God or many? An important issue, about which modern Druids apparently cannot agree, is whether Celtic Druidism was a monotheistic or polytheistic religion. Some believe that all the gods and goddesses that are referred to undoubtedly prove that polytheism was practiced. These gods and goddesses mainly represented different forces of nature or qualities of nature. Other sources indicate that the different gods and goddesses worshiped by the ancient Druids were all aspects of one Supreme Being. Because man is unable to understand this Supreme Being (God, also called "source") in his fullness, his different qualities and forces are divided and worshiped separately as different gods and goddesses. The ancient Celtic Druids were not a single, well-organised religious group. Rituals and beliefs differed from one tribe to the next, as did the names and descriptions of the gods and goddesses. Among the total of 374 Celtic gods that have been identified thus far, more than three hundred are revealed in only one archaeological record, which means that they were probably local gods and goddesses that were not worshipped by all Druids. In other cases the same god or goddess was worshipped in different areas under different names. Most important in divine heaven Apparently there were about 33 to 36 truly important gods and goddesses in the ancient Celtic divine heaven, among which Teutatis, Esus and Taranis were probably the main ones. Teutatis' qualities were a combination of those of the Roman gods Mars and Mercury, and he was regarded as the god of the people. He was at the same time the god of war, healing, fertility and protection.

3 The role of Esus is not very clear, but most people feared him. Taranis' name means thunder, and he was the god of the air and the bringer of thunder, similar to the Roman god Jupiter. Other sources describe Lugh, god of light, as the most important among the gods and similar to the Roman Mercury (see Fae - 'bright people'). Life after death Like other Neo-Paganists, Druids do not believe in heaven or hell. Some believe that a person's soul is like a spark that flies from the source (of life). The source is like a fire that is surrounded by several circles that each represents a level of reality, and each circle consists of an ordinary world (like the one we live in) and an other-world. The soul starts in the outer circle and has to learn certain lessons in life before it moves to the next world and closer to the source. Druids believe that a human s soul is immortal. When people die in this world, their souls are taken to the other-world by the god Bile (also called Bel and Belenus), where they are reincarnated in a new body. Others believe that the other-world is a resting place for souls before their next reincarnation. Depending on whether people have learnt all the lessons in life that they should have, they are born into a new body through reincarnation, either in this world or in the next circle (closer to the source ). Because of this belief, ancient Druids mourned at each birth because the birth had been made possible by a death in the other-world. They believe that the world in which we live, like all the different worlds in the circles around the source, is enclosed by the other-world. According to some sources, life in the other-world does not differ much from life in this world. Others allege that it is merely a resting place where the soul can reflect on its previous life and prepare itself for the next. Gods and goddesses also appear in the other-world. Druids believe that a person's soul can be reincarnated not only in the body of a human being, but also in another form of life. Ancient Celtic tales are told of individuals who had been reincarnated in turn as crows, soldiers, water monsters, demons and even worms. Holy writings Despite the fact that the ancient Celts had their own written language, their religious and philosophical beliefs were communicated largely orally and were never written down. A few myths and customs were, ironically enough, later written down by Roman Catholic monks after most Celts had been converted to the Christian faith and Druidism had largely disappeared. Some of these writings, including the Celtic Myth Cycles, the Ulster Cycle, the Fenian Cycle, the Cycle of Kings, the Invasion Cycle and the Mabinogion, are sometimes consulted by modern Druids. Except for these writings, Druidism today is largely without an accurate record of the original beliefs, practices and rituals of the religion.

4 Rituals and customs As in the case of the other Neo-Paganism Celtic religion, Wicca, many of the rituals and customs in modern Druidism are mixtures of ancient Druid rituals and various other schools or groups in the occult. The aim of rituals can vary from healing, soothsaying (by different methods), teaching (where the chief Druid teaches the other members), dedication of aids and initiation of new members (see Fire festivals and change of season, as well as Stonehenge for more information on rituals). ABOVE: Some tools used by druids and other practitioners of the occult. Note the pentagramsymbol. Energy in magic Druids regard magic or magic as the energy that is present in everything and that can be used to create something. This energy is found in living as well as non-living objects, and in spiritual as well as material things. Druids use the energy in themselves, as well as the energy in people, objects or supernatural beings, to practice their magic. The conditions for practicing magic are that other people's energy may be used only with their permission, and that magic may be used only to help others. Symbols As far as is known the Triskele is the only remaining ancient Druid symbol. It comprises three bent branches or human arms or legs that point in different directions from a central point. A triskele can be seen in the flag of the Isle of Man.

5 ABOVE: A Triskele. Another Druid symbol is the so-called Awen symbol, which probably dates back to the seventeenth century. It comprises three pillars, with the tops of the outside two leaning inwards to the middle one (/I\). It indicates the importance of the number three (because it represents perfect balance). Like other Neo-Paganism religions, modern Druids also recognise and use a variety of other occult symbols and signs that do not necessarily have a bearing on Druidism. =========================================================================== Glossary Amulet: A good-luck charm (usually a stone) that contains magical power and protects the wearer against evil forces or brings him/her good fortune. Astral level: In Druidism this is regarded as a spiritual field that links all the circles of reality that encircle the source. The soul can explore the different realities and worlds in this level through astral journeys. Burning Times: Period from 1550 to 1850 AD when a total of approximately people in Europe were accused of witchcraft and devil worship and killed - mainly by burning them alive at the stake. Celts: An Indo-European nation that developed a unique culture from about 800 BC and migrated west through Europe and lived in the British Isles, modern France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, north western Spain and a part of Turkey by 200 BC. Chalice: Used during rituals to drink, among other things, water. The liquid it contains is a female symbol of the element water, and by drinking of this together, the goddess is made part of the group. Circle: A special round area indicated by string, sticks or drawn in the ground within which Neo- Paganists (especially Wiccans) practise their rituals. Magic is generated in it and it also offers protection against evil forces while the ritual is being practiced. Cone of Power: Spiritualistic energy that is raised during rituals and released to achieve certain objectives in magic. Curse: A practice in magic to harm someone by casting a 'spell' on him/her. Druid: Highest order in ancient and modern Druidism. Plural: Druids. Today the term is also used to

6 indicate someone who practises Druidism (see witch and wizard). Elements: Five natural elements, earth, air, water, fire and spirit (akasha), which form the basis for all natural magic. Familiar: A spirit or protector that becomes the companion of a witch or wizard and manifests itself in a special object or pet. A cat is easily used for this, thus the old perception that witches all have black cats. Handfasting: A Celtic custom where couples plight their troth for a year as a kind of trial marriage. In this year they usually live like a married couple, after which they can decide to get married or to split up. Hexagram: A geometric representation of two overlapping triangles. Originally a Judaist symbol known as the Star of David. Used in modern magic to raise spirits or to drive them out. Magic: The manipulation of supernatural forces to accomplish change in the visible (natural) and invisible (spiritual) world through a variety of rituals, spells and other practices. In brief: any action or gesture that activates magic or possesses magic. Meditation: Method of deep reflection in which thoughts are 'emptied' of disturbances and only one issue is focused on to gain special insight into it. In Druidism it is an important method with which contact is made with supernatural beings (gods, goddesses, dead forebears and even fairies). Medium: A person who serves as an intermediary between the living and the spirit world. Occult: A study and alleged 'science' of the hidden, secret, esoteric, demonic, paranormal and supernatural - not related to the true God of the Bible. Offerings: A sacrifice or gift to a supernatural being as a plea, in thanks or as a penalty. It can consist of food, drink, animals or even people. Pentagram: A five-pointed star drawn in one continuous line that is commonly used as the sign of the occult and allegedly has special powers. In Neo-Paganism the five points represent the five elements, with spirit at the top. Reincarnation: A conviction that the souls of the dead repeatedly return to the earth (or otherworld in Druidism) in a new body. Druids believe that a soul can be reincarnated in a person's body or as an animal or even an insect. See articles Hinduism and Buddhism. Spell: An expressed or written formula to cause change to circumstances, a person or events through demonic powers. Soothsaying: Practice of making predictions or obtaining secret knowledge on the basis of signs or phenomena. White witch: A term to distinguish someone who practices so-called white magic from someone who practices black magic. Witch: Someone who practices magic (man or woman). In the context of this article, a Druid. Witch hunt: The prosecution of witches and wizards. Refers particularly to the Burning Times. Witchery: See magic.

7 Wizard: Someone who practises magic, and usually a man. In the context of this article, a Druid (see witch). Note: The meanings given here refer to the use of the words in a Neo-Paganism context. A few of these words also have other meanings. Article by Manie Bosman ( maniebosman@mweb.co.za)