Of The Ancient Druids: Interesting Blogs and Articles

The Excellence of Ancient Word: Druid Rhetorics from Ancient Irish Tales
by Seán Ó Tuathail  (1993)
http://www.imbas.org/articles/excellence_of_the_ancient_word.html
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Druids in History
By Maria Palmer
http://www.aislingmagazine.com/aislingmagazine/articles/TAM27/Druids.html
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The Sacred Trees of Ancient Ireland

Our Guest speaker is well know and wise Druii Searles O'Dubhain.

>> The Sacred Trees of Ancient Ireland

Many say that the Oak was not important to the Druids of Ireland but this list of sacred trees from the past tells a different story:

Each Irish Tuatha had a special tree that was chosen to represent the heart and spirit of the tribe. This was known as the Bile. This tree connected the tuatha to the Three Worlds and the Gods. It was a place of meetings, especially those requiring the resolution of spiritual matters and kingship.

 Patrick Logan showed in his book “The Holy Wells of Ireland,“ how these Bile were frequently located next to sacred wells (which were also considered to be passageways to the Gods and the Otherworld).

Some of the famous sacred Bile are: Eó Mugna (an oak), 

Eó Rossa (a yew), Bile Tortu (an ash), 

Bile Magh-Adair (sacred tree of the ÓBriens.. probably an oak),

Ruadbetheach (Red Beech, sacred tree of the Ó Connors),

Craebh-telcha (sacred tree of the Ulaidh), 

Bile Tulach Oc (sacred tree of the Ó Neills), 

Crann Áhulla (a stunted ash), 

Bile Brighid (a sacred oak in Kildare) ....there are/were many, many others.

There were oaks and oak groves with the name "Derry" or the suffix "daire" appearing in many place names. Since these are names for oak groves in Old Irish, let's not continue this misunderstanding about the place of oaks for the Irish Druids.  <<

>> In Ireland, there was a division of the trees into groups that ranked them. One of these groupings had 28 trees in it. In general, I think the trees were also assigned a kind of honor price based on their natures, their usefulness, and their symbolic values. Everything was considered to have a definite value by the ancient Irish, even a human life, so the idea of sacredness is one that was assigned through ritual activity and lore as far as I can see.

 
The sacred tree or Bile was considered such because of its origins, its location for rituals and its nature, all in a threefold way. Everything is sacred but some things become elevated over others through choice and ritual action. Each thing has its brí from the gods but the combined spiritual/magical energy of a thing or place can be increased through buas.This is as true for trees and places, as it is for objects like swords, wands, staves and crafted items.

If this were not true, then there would be little worth to having magical tools or sacred objects and places. Everything would be as usual and nothing would be more special or interesting than anything else. I do not think we came into this life to blend everything into one big homogeneous stew.

 I believe that we came here, into this life, for the differences, the competition and the ability to excel in the face of adversity.

A sacred tree is a symbol of the tribe's prestige and , as such, it is linked closely to its kingship. The idea of kingship is directly linked to the Goddess of Sovereignty (who is the source of prosperity for the life of people, animals and places). It is no small wonder that certain trees would be recognized as being blessed and chosen to represent this sacred link.

The idea of trees, their nature, and their worth to the people, was such that there was an entire law tract devoted to them called Fidbretha (Tree Judgements). If one's tree was harmed or destroyed, there was a "blood price" to be paid or extracted from the those who committed the crime. <<

Druii O'Dubhain also shared some links for us.

Trees in Ireland in early tradition and place-names
http://homepage.eircom.net/~archaeology/two/trees.htm

Sacred Trees in Early Ireland
http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/08/sacred-trees-in-early-ireland/

5 Sacred and Magical Trees in Ireland
http://holidaysaroundireland.com/2013/03/5-sacred-and-magical-trees-in-ireland/


In Terms of Sacredness: Trees and Status in Medieval Ireland
Presentation by Michelle DiPietro
https://www.academia.edu/4403496/In_Terms_of_Sacredness_Tree_Laws_and_Status_in_Medieval_Ireland

Heritage Trees of Irelandhttp://www.ouririshheritage.org/page_id__58.aspx

Tree Council of Ireland Native Species 
http://treecouncil.ie/native-species/

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  Searles O'Dubhain Here's the translation that D.A. Binchy did of the "Old Irish Tree List" that Fergus Kelly discussed in his work as well:
  
  (translated by D. A. Binchy from Crith Gablach):
  
  AN OLD IRISH LEGAL POEM
  
  “What are the most oppressive cases of tree-cutting 
  for which fools are mulcted? 
  
  The hospitallers of the forest, 
  the ivied hazel. 
  A danger from which there is no escape 
  is the penalty for felling the sacred tree. 
  
  Thou shalt not cut a sacred tree 
  and escape with the fines for the seven noble trees 
  on account of the fine of three cows 
  that is fixed for cutting its stem. 
  
  There are others, seven 
  atoned for in seoit due for undergrowth. 
  
  Let me venture for [the benefit] of the immature 
  to state the immune things of the forest: 
  a single cauldron’s cooking-wood that is cut, 
  a handful of ripe nuts 
  to which one stretches not his hand in satiety. 
  
  Freest of it all 
  is the right of removal. 
  The penalty for the oak, 
  the penalty for lobbing its larger limbs 
  with its life-sustaining mast; 
  the stem-cutting of the yew; 
  the same penalty for cutting the holly tree. 
  
  Most oppressive of it all 
  is the penalty of the seven commoners of the forest 
  for each of which there is a cow as payment: 
  the stem cutting of the birch, 
  the peril of the alder, 
  the undermining of the willow. 
  
  Declare restitution for them. 
  the maiming of the whitethorn 
  and of the blackthorn; 
  its restitution extends to the undergrowth of the wood, 
  the undergrowth of fern, 
  of bog-myrtle, of reeds, 
  save that these are free to lords. “

Searles O'Dubhain "The Druids in Ireland did not worship the oak as is popularly believed instead their venerated trees were the hazel, yew and rowan."

Some people who otherwise seem to know what they are talking about think that.

"They bare no resemblance at all to the white-robed oak- worshippers of Julius Caesar. Irish druids wore, not white hooded robes, but rainbow capes, often feathered tunics and head-dresses (note, in the kast roscin this collection, how the druids mock the monks' hooded robes!). The important trees were rowan, yew, and hazel, and mistletoe was not found in ancient Ireland. "
http://www.imbas.org/.../excellence_of_the_ancient_word.html

Druids in History Maria Palmer

From the very earliest times ancient man has had his tribal holyman, or shaman, to answer those esoteric questions which defied his logic or reason. This position of holyman can be found within the ancient cultures of tribal societies throughout the world. The early Celtic peoples were no different…
http://www.aislingmagazine.com/aislingmagazine/articles/TAM27/Druids.html

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  George King If one is Teacher to the Gods one Worships little but trys to know all, I Believe.
  TDK

Postscript:
110514a

The image of the tree in Gaelic culture
Meg Bateman 

http://pure.uhi.ac.uk/portal/files/1104943/Bateman_Image_of_the_Tree_RnaG6.pdf
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Rituals, ceremonies and customs related to sacred trees with a special reference to the Middle East

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1988790/

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Wishing trees

http://darraghdoyle.tumblr.com/post/84828406239/irelandseyeonmyth-this-is-a-wishing-tree-at
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clootie tree or witch tree 

http://witchmountain.wordpress.com/tag/clootie-trees/

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clootie_well

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Forest and tree symbolism in folklore

http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y9882e/y9882e08.htm
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Sacred Wells and Wishing Trees

http://www.carolynemerick.com/the-archivists-corner/sacred-wells-and-wishing-trees
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The old Irish term "bri"

Define "Bri":
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/br%C3%AD
From Old Irish bríg ‎(" force, power, value "), from Proto-Celtic *brīgo-‎(" strength ") (compare Welsh bri ‎ ... Old Irish Etymology .
Ref.
From Old Irish bríg ("force, power, value"), from Proto-Celtic *brīgo- ("strength") (compare Welsh bri ("fame, distinction")), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷrī-g-, the suffixed extended form of Proto-Indo-European *gʷerə- ("heavy").Noun, strength, vigor, meaning, significanceOrigin & history II From Old Irish brí, from Proto-Celtic *brixs.Noun braehttp://www.wordsense.eu/br%C3%AD/


http://howtobeadruid.blogspot.com/2015/11/what-does-old-irish-term-bri-mean.html

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People and Trees: Intimately Connected Through the Ages

http://www.pachamama.org/blog/people-and-trees-intimately-connected-through-the-ages?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Facebook+Posts&utm_term=Ryan+Landes-Gilman&utm_content=Blog+People+Trees+Connection+6+27+15


THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF TREES
http://www.psychicsuniverse.com/articles/spiritual-insight/spiritual-power-trees
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Under ancient Irish Brehon Law, trees were protected and heavy fines were imposed for the destruction of trees based on a hierarchical classification.

1. Airig Fedo - ‘Nobles of the Wood’ (Cheiftain Trees): Daur - Oak, Coll - Hazel, Cuilenn - Holly, Ibar - Yew, Uinnius - Ash, Ochtach - Scots Pine, Aball - Wild Apple.

2. Aithig Fedo - ‘Commoners of the Wood’ (Peasant Trees): , Fern - Alder, Sail - Willow, Scé - Hawthorn (Whitethorn), Cáerthann - Rowan (Mountain Ash), Beithe - Birch, Lem - Elm, Idath - Wild Cherry.

3. Fodla Fedo - ‘Lower Divisions of the Wood’ (Shrub Trees): , Draigen - Blackthorn, Trom - Elder (Bore Tree), Féorus - Spindle-Tree, Crithach - Aspen, Crann Fir - Juniper, Findcholl - Whitebeam, Caithne - Arbitus (Strawberry Tree).

4. Iosa Fedo - ‘Bushes of the Wood’ (Bramble Trees): , Raith - Bracken, Rait - Bog-Myrtle, Aiten - Gorse (Furze), Dris - Bramble (Blackberry), Fróech - Heather, Gilcach - Broom, Spín - Wild Rose (Dog Rose).

An early legal poem, translated by D.A. Binchy, reads: “A danger from which there is no escape is the penalty for felling a sacred tree”. Historically, there were five great trees of Ireland: Bile Uisnigh, the ancient tree at Scé; Bíle Tortan at Ardbreccan in County Meath; Craobh Daithi in County Westmeath; Eo Rossa, a yew at Old Leighlin in County Carlow; and Eo Mugna, an oak at the mouth of the Shannon. Some of these trees were reputed to be large enough to shelter a thousand men. Trees such as oak and yew were associated with kingship. (the Irish word bíle means ‘sacred tree’) Many other individual trees were considered sacred too.

Sacred trees and groves were considered as sanctuaries and were often the location of celebrations. The ancient Irish built no temples. Instead, they treated nature as a temple. Trees were the oldest living things and were looked upon as sources of great wisdom. Fairy Thorns and Rag Trees were thought to be frequently visited by beings of the Otherworld. Mass Bushes served as the location for sermons and Monument Trees as the location for weddings, royal inaugurations, seasonal festivals and other social events. Even today, there is a reverence for Fairy Trees; highway construction workers have diverted the course of their road so as to leave a single hawthorn standing.

If you think that is an exaggeration then take the case of Eddie Lenihan, the renowned storyteller author, lecturer and broadcaster who came to international attention in 1999 when he stood up to road builders in County Clare who were about to cut down a special whitethorn tree. (The whitethorn is considered in local Irish lore and Celtic folklore in general, to be sacred to the Aos Sí – the fairy folk of Ireland.) In local tradition, this specific tree was believed to serve as the meeting place for the fairies of Munster whenever they prepared to ride against the fairies of Connacht.

Eddie’s protests made international headlines and he succeeded having the course of the road altered to spare the tree. Eddie, demonstrated for us all, the great time honoured and ancient Irish tradition of reverence for nature as well as the punishments that will accrue to those who harmed the abodes of the fairies

Approximate pronunciation guide
Bile – bil-a
Dris - Dr-ish
Eo - oh
Féorus - Faor-us
Fróech – Froo-ach
Scé - Scah
Uisnigh -u/w ish nee

Image: Woods at Gormanston College, Co. Meath, Ireland

Vatis or Ovate sister group

We will be adding soon a Sister group for those studying (Vatis or Ovate as seer, psychic and prophet )

It will have its X- Mancy books Library covering at least a small bit (one or more free books or links) of different forms of divination (fortune telling, divining, prophecy, prediction, soothsaying, augury, clairvoyance, second sight)

These will not be limited to accepted Druid / Celtic only ancient Draíocht, Fiodhrádh / Ogam, Augury, Taibhsearachds methods.

mancy
> combining form of divination by a specified means."geomancy"

This will be a bit like or Sister Bardic group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BreathBarhrin/

TDK / Admin

DLW-0006 UPG and Druidic Sigils Signs Nemetonic Ritual and Greeting

UPG "Unverified personal gnosis" is and important part of Neo-PHD "Pagan Heathen Druid" study and life.

Yet while the term may be somewhat new or reborn, this is not reason to assume much of our ancient Senchus did not also have some roots in UPG. And yes clearly so tales show this to be true.
So read the blog and give it close though, then search your own beliefs and see if some or many fit the UPG bill?

http://thedruidking.blogspot.com/2014/09/my-upg.html
Next we look at a bit of applied UPG to how Druids can have their own special signs and somewhat hidden greeting our both very public ones. And their use in part of creating Sacred Nemetonic Ritual Space.

While the description here relates only to sigil or signing movements. I will try to post a more detailed study later on this important subject.

So give the blog a look, try it out have FUN!

http://thedruidking.blogspot.com/2014/09/my-upg-druidic-signs-greeting-and.html

TDK

PS adding one more to read.


I Believe UPG and Dogma
http://thedruidking.blogspot.com/2014/09/i-believe-upg-and-dogma.html




 

Druid Magick Draiocht Rosc Blessing Cursing DruiDo

Yes Ancient Druids were Masters at Conjure and I believe we should be also.


Ár nDraíocht Féin Our own Magick. Most often given Lip Service in Modern Druidry or Druidism.

But who really beliefs in it being real in the ancient past or Neo-Druid Present?

The Un-Reformed and Techno-Druids do and yes we do do DruiDo.

Below are a few thought on the ancient Druid Art.


What is Druido and Druid “Gris Gris”
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-is-druido-and-druid-gris-gris.html

Druid Magick or Conjure  (Ár nDraíocht Féin > Our Own Draíocht)
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/04/druid-magick-or-conjure-ar-ndraiocht.html

Got Mancy ? Need Mancy? Find your local Druid
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/07/got-mancy-need-mancy-find-your-local.html

Deosil or Widdershins Witch Way to Turn
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/06/deosil-or-widdershins-witch-way-to-turn.html

Afraid to use Ár nDraíocht Féin ?
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/06/afraid-to-use-ar-ndraiocht-fein.html

Druid Curses - Madman's wisp
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/06/druid-curses-madmans-wisp.html

The Hidden Toutas of your Garden's Grow
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-hidden-toutas-of-your-gardens-grow.html

Ancient Druids and The Mahatmans
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/04/ancient-druids-and-mahatmans.html

"Aegis" The Druid's Crain Bag or Goat Skin Draíocht
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/04/aegis-druids-crain-bag-or-goat-skin.html

Penta Pentacle Pentagram
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/05/penta-pentacle-pentagram.html

Modern or Ancient Learning Techniques and Conjure Work.
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/08/modern-or-ancient-learning-techniques.html

Leanan Sidhe over Feairy Love
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/06/leanan-sidhe-over-feairy-love.html


Druidic Seeds of D. H. R.
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/06/druidic-seeds-of-d-h-r.html



And for those wishing to learn more about real Conjure:

The Hard Magick Rosc and Conjure or DruidDo side of the working Druid

The Special Family!

A very special group.

HooDoo Vodou DruiDo in the Grove

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HoodooVodouDruidoGrove/?ref=br_tf

Hoodoo Vodou Druido in the Grove

http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/

Fate Karma and more:

Here is a few blogs on important Druid Celtic Heathen cosmetology and one's soul. 

Have you Woven your Wyrd Well

http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/08/have-you-woven-your-wyrd-well.html

Orlog Fundamental Law Germanic North European concept

http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/08/orlog-fundamental-law-germanic-north.html

HAMINGJA and your Bloodline. 

http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/08/hamingja.html

Germanic Norse Icelandic mythology,Asatru and Heathenrt as part of our study and paths:

http://thedruidpath.blogspot.com/2014/08/druidism-and-germanic-norse-deep-wells.html

The Nine Noble Virtues:
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/08/nine-noble-virtues-of-asatru.html 

More Irish Celtic:

Old Irish Tabus or Geasa 

http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/07/old-irish-tabus-or-geasa.html

DLW resources Old Irish Celtic Chakra System

http://thedruidking.blogspot.com/2014/07/old-irish-celtic-chakra-system.html 

The Druid's Ley Way Codes Morals and Virtues series:

The Druid's Rede

This is a Rede of of our Druidism / Druidry's faith and worship and Rule of SummerLands Druid Oak and Ley. 

TDK / The Druid King, Druidic (Keeper/Host Druii) of "How to be a Druid Virtual Church and Grove"


The Druid's Rede

We are Druids.

We are the caretakers of the Earth.

We feed the hungry, heal the sick or injured and aid the despondent.

Whether Human,  Animal, Insect, Reptile, Bird, Fish or Plant.

This is the Mandate, our purpose.

We are the nexus of all living and non-living beings.

By the will of the Earth we exist.

By our will the Earth flourishes.


by Druidess Janice Scott-Reeder King  Druidic of  "How to be a Druid Virtual Church and Grove" April 20,2015http://thedruidking.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-druids-rede.html

The Ten plus Four Noble Virtues of the Druid Gods 
http://howtobeadruid.blogspot.com/2014/07/dlw-cmvs-001-ten-plus-four-noble.html

DLW-CMVs-002 The Ten plus Four Ignoble Virtues of the Drui Gods Enemy the Fomors or Giants
http://howtobeadruid.blogspot.com/2014/07/dlw-cmvs-002-ten-plus-four-ignoble.html

The Nine Noble Virtues:
http://hoodoo-vodou-druido-grove.blogspot.com/2014/08/nine-noble-virtues-of-asatru.html   

The Æsirian Code of Nine
http://holynationofodin.org/education/codeof9.html


14 Codes of the Aryan Ethic
http://holynationofodin.org/education/14codes.html


The Rede of Honor for Odinism 
http://holynationofodin.org/education/redeofhonor.html


The Instructions of King Cormac http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/cormac3.html


Mirrors for princes
As there were so many Mirrors for Princes, I leave it to the reader to pick which ones are of value to them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirrors_for_princes

THE COLLOQUY OF THE TWO SAGES a most important work.
http://thedruidpath.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-colloquy-of-two-sages.html

DLW resources Old Irish Celtic Chakra System
http://thedruidking.blogspot.com/2014/07/old-irish-celtic-chakra-system.html