A Druid Was...

A Druid was...:
A philosopher, a scholar and a teacher.
A carrier of the Celtic cultural, magical and spiritual tradition as it existed in
Northwestern Europe from about 500 B.C.E to about 500 C.E.
In the direct line of the Native European Tradition with its shamanic origins.
A spiritual leader who presided at divinations and sacrafices and who praised
the many gods and goddesses, and the spirits of the places of the Celtic lands.
A magician, seer, diviner, and geomancer.
A political advisor to the cheiftains and nobles.
A lawyer, historian, astronomer, calender keeper and genealogist.
A bard, musician, poet and storyteller.
A person of skill, one of the gifted people (Aes Dana), a craftsperson, a healer.
One who knew the land and its history intimately, and who taught the knowledge
of trees, herbs, rivers, animals, birds, and a reverence for such knowledge.
One who underwent long training to achieve personal integrity, self discipline, and
self knowledge, and inspired others through teaching and example.
A public servant available to support and help others, to lead at times, and to be a
judge in arbitrating disputes, settling conflicts, and other ethical matters.



A Druid was not.... :

A priest or priestess of Atlantis, a member of a lost tribe of Israel, or a member of
any culture other than Celtic.
A builder of the pre-Celtic stone circles, although early "proto-Druids" may have
organized the last stage of building at Stonehenge that took place about 1600
B.C.E.
A convert to early Celtic Christianity.
A proponent of particular religious beliefs nor did Druids study at great colleges.
Always impartial- A druid served a chieftain and a tribe, and was not necessarily
free of local loyalties and superstitions.
Usually a king or queen.




A Druid is... :
One who responds to the call of the Druid tradition and expresses it in her or his
life.
A carrier of the Celtic cultural, spiritual, and magical tradition.
A keeper of the wisdom, laws history and stories of the Celtic root and branch of the
Native European Tradition.
A philosopher of nature, a scholar and teacher who is ready to learn more.
One who seeks to know the land and its history intimately, one who honors rivers,
trees, mountains, herbs, rocks, animals and every living being.
One who follows a path of self-knowledge and self-initiation.
One who praises spirit with poetry, song, the arts, offerings, and daily work.
One who seeks to follow inner vision and the highest ideals in the pursuit of truth,
justice and the honoring of life.
A ritualist and ceremonialist who serves the needs of the people to mark special
times in the manner of the Celtic traditions.
An earth-honoring, life-affirming humanitarian.



*all text from Druid Magic by Maya Sutton, PhD, and Nicholas R. Mann,
pages 144 & 145