The Nine Strands: NOD assignment

Exploring the Druid Identity: What a Druid's role in Society might be & how you can incorporate this role into your life.

When we take the Nine strands of Druidry-
Tribal, Art, Healing, the Metaphysical, Seership, Ritual, Natural Philosophy, Teaching and Service- we can begin to break down our ideas about the Druid path and what a Druid's role is within our modern society.

In my last essay I looked at the ideas how and why the Druid Path is relevant in today's society. Some of the same ideas may come in this exploration of the role of the Druid, and how I myself will incorporate this role into my present modern-day life.

To do this I have to explore the role of the Druid in my Ancestor's time, as well as now.
I am English, but my family are predominantly Northern Irish and Scots, moving over to England in the late 60's/early 70's. I have family on the Isle of Man also.

I grew up with a strong Celtic identity- with Irish and Scots blood in my Veins. The lines of McQueen, MacMullun and Lawther being mapped on my family Tree.

Taking each of the Nine strands, I will explore what it was to be a Druid, and what it is to be a Druid now.

Firstly, let us look at the Tribal strand.
Our Celtic-British Ancestor's lived in various tribes throughout the Lands. All were Pagan, all were 'British' but they were very much separate- many of them at War with one another.

Each tribe would have their own Gods/Goddesses that they revered- most of which were linked to the Lands in which they lived.
The Druid would move between the borders and villages, settling disputes, sharing stories and information about other tribes.

In our modern society, the 'tribe' has become a lot smaller. Whilst we are all apart of a wider society, we align ourselves to our families and friendship groups.
For me personally, my 'Tribe' is my Circle 'Celtic Moon' (www.celticmoon.ning.com)
For them I am their advisor, their Priestess and it is to me that they come with their problems.
We are also apart of the Pagan Community of Southern England, and we attend gatherings and festivals to celebrate with other 'Tribes'.
This, along with my Blood heritage, gives me my cultural identity. And my cultural identity in this modern life is a Celtic Pagan.

The second strand in Druidry is Art.
Our Celtic Ancestors were well known for their artistic endeavours and beautiful, intricate spiral work.
Their jewellery and decorated ornaments were much sought after and traded throughout Europe.
The Bard's were the storytellers, and the first 'performers'. The Role of the Bard, and the Druid, was to keep the lineage of the tribes, and to bring to life the Legends of Gods and Heroes.
I am a Drama Teacher and occasional Actress. I have been on stage many times since my youth, including in London's West End (Hamlet, Duke of York's Theatre)
My creativity is in performing, directing and in writing. I write poetry, prose and plays.
I strongly feel that in our modern lives we can still be the Bards... the storytellers of old... and that the Awen can touch us just as freely as it did our Druid predecessors. Our role now is as it was then- to bring to life our history!

The Third strand, the Metaphysical, is an interesting one. We think of our Druid ancestors as being very Shamanistic in their practices (though they would not have seen themselves as 'shamans'). There are similarities between many Native cultures throughout the world (Native Americans, Aborigines, Maori, Haatian etc).
The Druid's worked closely with the Animals of their land, and found connection to them through Spirit and Ecstatic work (spirit guides, transformative meditation)
This is something we would link more with the 'Ovate' as opposed to the Bard.
I myself work with a Spirit Guide who once was a Wolf, but over time has revealed himself to have many different forms. The metaphysical for me in my modern practice is very much about meditation and spiritual work on the Astral planes.

Hand in hand with the Metaphysical is the Seership strand. For me this is very much about Divination. We know that our Ancestors used the Ogham, and this is something which I have been attempting to learn more about. For me though, I primarily use Scrying, Spirit guide meditation, Tarot/Oracle cards and Pendulums for my Divination. And of course I rely mostly on my intuition and innate ability to empathise and 'sense' things. My Intuition is very potent, and if I ignore it I always regret it!

The Ritual strand is one that is very important within Druidry now, and was also integral to our Ancestors.
The Druid's of the past led Rituals and Rites of Celebration as well as Rites of Passage.
We can see from archaeological and historical evidence that Ritual was something which existed in almost every human culture and country.
We still have 'rituals' today that we don't really think about (Birthday celebrations, Sunday Roasts and Bedtime routines).
Drama and theatre course came from Ritualistic performance and re-enactment.
For me in my role as a modern Druid, Ritual is how I mark the passing Cycles of the sun and the moon. It is how I strengthen my connection to the Gods, give thanks and give prayers, and create Magick within my Mundane!

Natural Philosophy for our Ancestors was simple. The Earth, and the Land where they lived was everything to them. It provided their sustenance, their shelter, their very survival. They revered it, they feared it and they worked the land to ensure that their crops were successful and their Harvests fruitful.
In modern society, we have forgotten how it feels to truly be connected to the Earth, to Nature Herself. Most of us live in cities, and are lucky if have a park/woodland nearby.
We are surrounded by noise, pollution and concrete and it can be difficult to feel inspired.
But when you take time out to explore the wonders of Nature, to really spend time in the outdoors and get to know more about it, you can begin to re-establish that long-lost connection. My Husband and I Love being in Nature. We walk weekly in the local Ancient Woodland, and spend as much time outdoors as possible. We recycle and try to leave as small a footprint as we can.
We donate to the Woodland Trust and animal charities, and try to eat organic and free range.

The 8th strand is Teaching.
The Druid's of old were Teachers and trained the Dreamers of the Tribe how to heal and how to be close to the Gods.
My job is as a Teacher of Drama.
I teach in a secondary school and teach teenagers how to grow in confidence as well as in knowledge.
Within Celtic Moon I am a Priestess and a Teacher of the Magickal arts.
I teach people the basics of modern witchcraft and guide them to new areas of study as they travel along their own paths.

Linked to this is the final strand of Service.
Just like my ancestor Druids, I am here for those who need help, healing, guidance and advice.
I am here to teach people about caring for the Earth and for Mother Nature. I am here to share my experiences that others may learn and grow with me.

I am an eternal student as well as an enthusiastic teacher.

A modern Druid's role in society is still so very close to the role that they have performed for thousands of years. We may not be exactly the same... our societies may be entirely different... but the role of the Druid remains the same.
To Teach, to Inspire, to Guide, to Honour and Celebrate the Divine Spirit, to care for the Earth and her Creatures, To tell stories, to Heal and to live a life Blessed by Awen.

How will I incorporate this role into my life? As I believe this essay already shows, I am living this role daily and intend to continue to do so as I learn and grow each day that I walk this Ancient, winding path.


Bright Blessings,
Breaca

Keeping the Hearth Fire: NOD assignment

Keeping the Hearth Fire: Chapter 1 Assignment:
Why is Druidry relevant today?

In our modern, & often harsh, society, it can be difficult to see how Spirituality and Belief can be as relevant to us now as it was to our Ancestors.
Science has answered a lot of our one time philosophical questions, and the more formalised and organised religions have caused more than their fair share of damage to the ideas of Belief and Deity with enforced dogma, oppression & scare mongering.

And yet, Nature Spiritualities and belief systems are growing in their strength and numbers.
More people are turning to Paganism, to Buddhism and to other Pantheistic Nature-based paths.

Druidry is becoming one of the world's fastest growing spiritualities, which indicates that it [i]must[/i] have some relevance for us in today's society.

To our Ancient Ancestors the Druid was a wise man or woman who travelled between tribes, sharing stories and the lineage of the people. They settled disputes, led Rituals and celebrations in the name of the local Gods, and advised Tribe leaders in the decisions of warfare and diplomacy.
They were in a caste of their own, with three different stages of what we now call Bard, Ovate and Druid.
They were welcome everywhere they went, and were respected and revered amongst the tribes.
To train to be a Druid was a long and arduous experience.

Now for us today, this is not something that we can easily recognise. Religious leaders now are only really respected in their own churches and temples.
We no longer have the 'need' for storytellers and sages, advisers or impartial judges.

There are jobs within society that fill these roles. We have legal courts, actors, performers, ambassadors, politicians etc who do the jobs that once belonged to the Druids.
The Internet and the age of communication has meant that everyone in western society has the ability to garner pretty much any information that they seek- within minutes!

And yet... our Souls still call for something that cannot be fulfilled so easily.
We all have a Natural and inherent need to be close to some form of the Divine. We all feel that there is more to life than work, money and material gain.

As our knowledge has excelled within science, we have grown to know more about Nature. And in our modern world, Eco-matters and our bond with Mother Earth has become something which has equally grown in importance to us. The need to eat Organic foods, to recycle and to protect animals from becoming endangered... these are all things which show us again that we do have an inherent connection to Nature. We are part of it of course!

The fact that modern Druidry asks us to re-establish these connections as individuals, to connect to the land in which we live, the ideals with which our Ancestors lived, and to become more understanding of the world as a whole, has led to it's growth in popularity and in relevance to our modern lives.

Our Ancestors lived very different lives, but also faced very similar trials and tribulations.
We are currently going through an economic crisis (in most western countries anyway). Money is tight. Many are struggling to feed their families. In some countries, thousands are starving to death. We are finding it hard to find work, we are struggling to pay the bills...
Our Ancestors lived a life which threatened starvation on a regular basis. If the harvest failed, if the winter was too harsh, if the War was too brutal... they perished.
Their rituals, their cycles, their ways of Honouring the deities of the land in which they lived were their ways of coping.

And so in our modern age, with our modern phases of adversity, we too can find strength and comfort, power and vigour, connection and enlightenment through modern Druid Practice.

Yes, to be a Druid now is not the same as it was then. But by trying to live our lives as close to them as we can, we really can find that Druidry is just as relevant today as it was in our Ancestor's time.

Druidry is relevant today because there is something about this belief system that is timeless.
Things that are happening now, have been before, and will be again, and we are the not the first to experience it.
I truly believe that we are all connected to one another, and also to our Ancestors, and therefore what mattered to them will always be relevant to us also.

I am proud to try and live my life as close to the Ancestors, and to the Gods as possible... however modern and futuristic this world of ours becomes!

The one constant we all have is the Earth, and though even She is ever changing, our Connection to Her remains the same. She is our Mother, our Home and our Sustenance... whatever makes our bond closer to her will always be relevant and important to us in our lives- regardless of the time period.

I hope that this essay has made sense to you all!

Brightest Blessings,
Breaca

Healing Times & Moon Magick

So the Batcave (As our Lovely home is affectionately known) has been in quarantine this last week with both Hubby and I being poorly!
I have suffered with a horrid head cold but poor Vandrake has had a nasty bout of the Nora Virus!
So the house has been filled with the smell of Lavender and Tea Tree, we're been slavered in Vicks Vapour Rub and our bed sheets have been covered in Olbas oil!
Everything has been scrubbed top to bottom, and today we are both feeling much brighter!
Tonight I will be making a healing batch of Druid's soup with Roast Chicken (Potato, Onion, Heavy on the Garlic!!) to give us both the energy to get over the last vestiges of this unwelcome convalescence!
I will also be typing up the second of my NOD essays and will be loading it here shortly.
The Schools have broken up for the Easter hols, so I will be looking forward to two weeks of housework, Handfasting plans (got to get the Bridesmaids dresses) and working on my Portfolio for University.
But I will also ensure that I am taking time for Magickal study and practice. I have a list of Spells that are waiting for the Full Moon to be cast (Friday 6th of April). This month the Full Moon is the 'Growing' moon so is perfect for sowing the seeds of the near future, and it's on a Friday which is sacred to the Goddess so will give an added boost of Lunar Magick to whatever spells you may be casting yourselves!

Thursday the 5th is also the date of the Ancient Roman Festival of Fortuna, the Original 'Lady Luck' so if you and she have had a falling out recently, you may want to celebrate with her and make amends!

Whatever you may get up to this week, however much time you can dedicate to the Moon, may it be Blessed with Loving Light and may your Magick be Fruitful!
Bright Blessings,
Breaca

How did I come to be a Celtic Witch & a Druidic Pagan?

Here I am, starting my blog all over again!

I want to record my Magickal Musings and my journey along the Pagan Path as a Celtic Witch and Druid Pagan.
I will be adding my various assignments and essays from my NOD Bardic Course (New Order of Druids) as well as essays and articles from my personal Pagan Practice and Study.
I will also be sharing the wonderful experiences that I share with my wonderful Pagan Circle and Grove (Celtic Moon <3).
This year we have alot of amazing things lined up, and I cannot wait!

So to begin with, this is the first essay in my NOD course, a look back at how I have come to be where I am now.

Assignment One:
The Silver Branch
What Circumstances have drawn me to be interested in Druid Spirituality?

When I was little I believed in something but I could never give it a name.
I Loved Nature and being outdoors, and walking in the woods with my family every weekend always felt special.

I remember one particular spring day when I was walking through the forest near where my Grandmother lived, the sun was shining down and I was singing. I was singing to the wind, asking it to bring me even more sunny days where I could feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.
I was so sure, even at that young age, that the wind could hear me and someone, somewhere, could grant my request.

I was fascinated with Greek Myths in Primary school, and I remember that Athena in particular drew my attention. I liked the idea of their being Goddesses as well as Gods, and that they were equal, and just as important than their male counterparts.

The idea of there being different Gods and Goddesses with different associations made more sense to me than some guy with a beard sat in heaven dictating to the world (my innocent and childhood view of Christianity)

When I was eleven my parents bought me a silver chain necklace with a silver cage attached. The cage was for a gemstone.
I became fascinated with crystals and would go to my local alternative shop to buy new gems for my necklace. I began to learn all about the different properties of crystals and stones, how they can be used for Healing and spellwork.
I started buying books on Wicca, Witchcraft and Paganism from the store, and in the Samhain of that same year I cast my first spell (an Anti-Bullying Protection spell) and I dedicated myself to the Pagan Path.

Throughout my teenage years I continued to practice in secret, until I eventually 'came out' as it were to my family who were very supportive, and to my friends at sixteen.

I was a solitary witch through my teens, learning my craft from Books, Meditation and Practice.

I began working with my Spirit Guide, Jacob, from about the age of 15, and learnt a lot about myself from him.

I began to look at Celtic Paganism and found that with my dual Irish and British heritage, I found the Celtic Pantheons closer to me than the Greek personifications often used in Wicca (Diana, Pan etc)

I have always felt drawn to the Beliefs of my Ancestors, and have always had a passion for this time in history, so Celtic Paganism drew me in a way that no other path did.

I began working with Brighid and Herne as my Matron and Patron Gods, though I do work with other aspects of Deity for various different things.

At University I joined, and evantually led, the Pagan Society and through this I began to make contact with the wider Pagan Community, and began attending open events and Pagan Festivals.

Through this I came to find a Love for Pagan Music- especially the work of OBOD Druid Damh the Bard. His music reflected my beliefs perfectly, and explored the Myths that I have long held dear.

My Interest in the Druid path was sparked by him and his inspiring music, as well as my love for reading up on the Celtic Path.

I now run my own Pagan Circle and Online Community, as well as co-running our own Druid Grove. Within the Grove we study various different books of the Druid Path, we debate and discuss, we celebrate the Sabbats together and we are all studying Druidry in various different forms.

I follow the Path of the Druid, though I am also a Celtic Witch and a Pagan of nearly 16 years experience. I am hoping that this course will give me more insight into the Irish Myths that I Love so dear.

I am hoping that the NOD Bardic course (and eventually the other grades also) will help me to gain a broader view of modern day Bardism and Druidry, and to help me to become a more rounded and wiser individual as I continue to study this particular path.

I hope that this essay has been insightful for you all as to how I have come to be here on the Druid path, and I have personally found it refreshing and nostalgic to reflect on where I have been as well as looking at what lies ahead of me.

Brightest Blessings to all,
Breaca