29/05/2024
Druids feature prominently in the mystical lore of Prehistoric Britain. In one tale, a Druid named Figol threatened his enemies with a raging fire and the inability to relieve themselves, causing their bodies to fill with urine. While modern knowledge debunks such feats as impossible, accounts of Druids often brim with mysticism, magic, and likely exaggeration.
The word "Druid" has an uncertain origin, but it is widely believed to derive from "doire," an Irish-Gaelic term for oak tree, symbolizing knowledge and wisdom. Druids revered the natural world, especially trees like the oak, which they deemed sacred.
Druidism, a shamanic religion, intertwined spirit world contact with holistic medicine for treating and sometimes causing illnesses. They were reputed to induce insanity and accurately predict the future, with some knowledge possibly inherited from megalithic times.
Historical records on Druids are sparse, cloaking their history in mystery. They are thought to have been part of Celtic and Gaulish cultures, first mentioned in classical texts in the 2nd century BC. Druids played roles akin to modern priests, linking people to gods while also serving as teachers, scientists, judges, and philosophers. Their power and respect were immense, allowing them to exile lawbreakers and mediate conflicts. Unlike many ancient societies, Druid women had significant equality, participating in wars and divorcing husbands.
Julius Caesar's writings from 59-51 BC in Gaul provide some of the earliest accounts of Druids, portraying them as part of an elite group alongside nobles. Most historical knowledge of Druids comes from Roman writers, whose accounts, possibly biased, describe a polytheistic society with female deities. These records often reflect a sense of superiority over the nomadic and less civilized Druids, casting doubt on some historical accuracy, especially concerning practices like human sacrifice.
Druidic society had a hierarchical structure with color-coded robes signifying different roles. The Arch-druid, often the wisest, wore gold, while ordinary Druids in white acted as priests. Sacrificers wore red and fought, Bards in blue were the artists, and new recruits in brown or black performed lesser tasks.
Their lives followed natural cycles, celebrating eight main holy days aligned with lunar, solar, and seasonal changes. New Year, or Samhain, marked the last harvest on October 31st, a day rich in mysticism as the living and dead were believed to be closest. Yule, the winter solstice, involved overnight vigils waiting for sunrise rebirth. Imbolc on February 2nd celebrated motherhood with sheep’s milk, while Ostara marked the spring equinox. Beltane on April 30th was a fertility festival, and Litha, the summer solstice, saw the transition of power from the ‘oak king’ to the ‘holly king’. Lughnasa on August 2nd celebrated the first harvest, and Mabon marked the autumnal equinox. These celebrations reflected their belief in reincarnation and balancing past sins in future lives.
Druids worshiped in secluded natural settings and stone circles, with Stonehenge being a notable example, though it predates their arrival in Britain. Other sites like Anglesey and Wistman’s Wood are also linked to Druids, with Anglesey considered a learning center where lore was memorized rather than written, contributing to the scarcity of records.
The Roman Empire's expansion in the 1st century AD saw Druidism suppressed, notably by Tiberius, due to alleged human sacrifices. By the 2nd century, Druidism seemed to vanish, possibly due to disease, famine, warfare, or the spread of Christianity. However, a Druidic revival occurred in the 1700s in England and Wales, involving figures like William Blake.
Modern religions, including Christianity and Wicca, have been influenced by Druid beliefs, especially the significance of the number three and circular symbolism representing the cycles of life and nature.
