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Paganism
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Modern
Druidism
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A
caveat: With the exception of Dr. Ronald Huttons
work, references to ancient Druidism in the books on Druids
and Druidism herein should be taken with a grain of salt.
Although these are all generally well researched, scholarly
materials (and they wouldn't be here
if we couldn't recommend them), most contain speculation,
rather than hard fact, about the ancient ones. Because it
was an oral tradition, no one really knows for sure what
the Druids thought, or believed, or how they functioned,
so when confronted with uncomfortable chasms in their findings,
some authors try to fill in the blanks with their own speculations
and prejudices. In other words, your personal gnosis about
the ancient Druids is as good as anything you'll read here. |
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THE
DRUIDS. 2007, Dr. Ronald Hutton. This is the
best book on the ancient Druids yet written! It cuts through
all the bullshit, and reveals what scientists and scholars
actuallly know about the Druids. A must read for anyone
on the Druidic path. |
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| THE
BOOK OF DRUIDRY,
1975, Ross Nichols. A comprehensive survey of Druidry,
from their earliest history to the current renaissance--including
a study of the shaping of their ideas, their principal deities
and myths, their learning and social organization, and more,
as seen through the eyes of 18th century antiquarians, who
made up for their lack of source materials with very good
imaginations. Many assertions in the book (like Druidry's
origin in ancient Atlantis for example) can be neither proven
nor disproven. Lot's of romantic fun! |
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| BONEWITS'S
ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO DRUIDISM, 2006, Isaac Bonewits |
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| CELTIC
BARDS, CELTIC DRUIDS, 1996, R.J. Stewart & Robin
Williamson. The core of the book is a personal selection
by the authors of high myth, folktale and poetry drawn from
the various Celtic tribes, ranging from the well-known Irish
(The Wooing of Findabair) and Welsh (such as the Birth of
Taliesin and Culwuch and Olwen) material to the lesser known
- including the undeservedly neglected Breton magickal tales
of Princess Marcassa and The Palace of Crystal. The whole
is interspersed with essays on various aspects of the historical
traditions, including druidry and bardism, and scattered with
poetry and invocations, and ends with appendices on Magickal
Storytelling and antiquarian writings on megalithic structures
and druids. Beautifully illustrated, with a mixture of full-page
color paintings, knotwork and black and white line drawings.
It's an inspiring book to curl up with on a dark night, whether
the reader is a new-comer to Celtic lore or well-versed in
the subject. All in all a most satisfying collaboration by
these two modern "bards-in-every-sense-of-the-word".
(Note: Robin is an honorary
OMS Druid and an honorary OBOD Bard.) |
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| DRUIDRY,
2001, Emma Restall Orr. Druidry is often described as
the native spiritual tradition of the West. It is an increasingly
popular path, which gives a sense of inner belonging, celebrates
individuality and creativity, and honors the spirits of nature.
The author includes the history of druidry, from ancient times
to modern day, as well as: -- The basic beliefs behind the
tradition -- The practices of modern druidry, such as herbcraft,
healing, the druidic rites of passage and the eight festivals
of the druid's year -- Information on how to find your nearest
group. |
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DRUIDS
& DRUDISM,
1950, T.D. Kendrick. Druidism, its early mention by Greek
and Roman writers (ca. 52 b.c.), and the temples and religious
practices of these ancient people. The author, a noted expert
on Druidism, was in charge of British antiquities at the British
Museum from 1938-1950. His thorough study of a fascinating
topic will appeal to anthropologists, folklore enthusiasts,
and anyone interested in the early religious and cultural
life of Celtic Britain.
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| DRUIDS,
CELTIC PRIESTS OF NATURE19??,
Jean Markale. Druidism was one of the most exalting adventures
of the human spirit, but because of the oral nature of Celtic
civilization our understanding of the druids remains shrouded
in mystery and misperception. But, using the descriptions
of the druids and their beliefs provided by the historians
and chroniclers of classic antiquity, the author has painstakingly
pieced together all the information known for certain about
these esoteric religious leaders. This book delivers the most
comprehensive portrait yet of the Celtic religion, it's intellectual
speculations, cultural, scientific and magical practices that
have come down from Celtic Priesthood. |
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DRUIDCRAFT:
THE MAGIC OF WICCA AND DRUIDRY,
2002, Phillip Carr-Gomm. Druidry and Wicca are the two
great streams of Western Pagan tradition. Both traditions
are experiencing a renaissance all over the world, as more
and more people seek a spirituality rooted in a love of nature
and the land.
Increasingly,
readers are combining the ideas and practices of both traditions
to craft their own spiritual practice, and in this down-to-earth,
inspiring guide Philip Carr-Gomm offers a name for this Path
that draws on the common beliefs and practices of Wicca and
Druidry: Druidcraft.
Druidcraft
draws on the traditions of scholarship, storytelling, magical
craft and seasonal celebration of both Druids and Wiccans,
to offer inspiration, teachings, rituals, and magical techniques
that can help you access your innate powers of creativity,
intuition and healing. |
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| THE
DRUID RENAISSANCE, 1996, Phillip Carr-Gomm. The
Druid tradition lies at the heart of Western spirituality
and today it is experiencing a renaissance unprecedented in
its long history. |
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| THE
DRUID WAY, 1993, Phillip Carr-Gomm |
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| IN
THE GROVE OF THE DRUIDS: THE DRUID TEACHINGS OF ROSS NICHOLS,
2004. Phillip Carr-Gomm. Carr-Gomm, who succeeded Nichols
as Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD),
has produced a curious work which is part eulogy, part magickal
biography and part edited selection of Nichols’ writings.
Being partly so many things it isn’t really any one of
them, which makes it somewhat difficult to review meaningfully
but perhaps we can sum it up as an appreciation of an individual,
a history of an order and an introduction to the ideas upon
which the latter was founded. (Read full review at http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/reviews/grove.htm
) |
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| MYSTERIES
OF DRUIDRY, 2005, Brendan Cathbad Myers |
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| SPIRITS
OF THE SACRED GROVE,
1998, Emma Restall Orr. Modern Druidry is a fast-growing
spiritual tradition. Far from being wrapped in a veil of secrecy,
it is celebrated openly, in the sunlight of a meadow or a
shady forest glade. This is a very personal journey through
the seasons with a modern female Druid, which reveals Druidry
as an accessible and compelling spiritual path that offers
great potential for healing and self-empowerment. |
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