Many organizations that teach Druidry highlight the peaceful nature of a Druid. This is fair enough, but I feel it's at the expense of that streak of ferocity in battle as historically recorded. In one of the books I was reading at the library, (might have been The Ancient Celts by Barry Cuncliffe) the author recounts interaction between a Roman ambassador and a Celtic warrior. The Romans had been helping a people group win skirmishes with the Celts over land. The Celts entreated the Romans to watch a final battle between the two so that they may know that the Celts were the most superior in battle throughout the region. When the Roman asked the Celt what right his people claimed to the land belonging to others, the Celt replied that the right to claim lay in the strength of their arms.
The Druids of the Celts taught reincarnation to the community as the reality of afterlife. Roman writers attribute the Celtsic warrior's absence of fear of death to this belief.
To me, this doesn't sound like a people group who love peace. There is an aggression and almost arrogance surrounding the war stories of the Celtic culture. To deny this aspect within Druidry I feel would greatly dishonour the ancestors of that culture. Battle and bravery seem to form part of the Celtic identity.
So, in modern Druidry we attempt to take the principles of what we know of Celtic culture and apply them to contemporary society. How can the heart of a warrior be displayed in Druidry today?
For me, I'm not overly aggressive. I don't believe in taking from people just because I can. The warrior in me is more of a guardian.
So, how would you display warriorship in your day-to-day as a druid? What do you find yourself battling and how do you fight back? What principles do you stand for and what is your reaction when these are violated?
The Druids of the Celts taught reincarnation to the community as the reality of afterlife. Roman writers attribute the Celtsic warrior's absence of fear of death to this belief.
To me, this doesn't sound like a people group who love peace. There is an aggression and almost arrogance surrounding the war stories of the Celtic culture. To deny this aspect within Druidry I feel would greatly dishonour the ancestors of that culture. Battle and bravery seem to form part of the Celtic identity.
So, in modern Druidry we attempt to take the principles of what we know of Celtic culture and apply them to contemporary society. How can the heart of a warrior be displayed in Druidry today?
For me, I'm not overly aggressive. I don't believe in taking from people just because I can. The warrior in me is more of a guardian.
So, how would you display warriorship in your day-to-day as a druid? What do you find yourself battling and how do you fight back? What principles do you stand for and what is your reaction when these are violated?
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