Myth and Legend
Behind every myth lies a truth; beyond every legend is reality, as radiant (sometimes as chilling) as the story itself. Phyllis McGinley
The Middle Ages are synonymous with the Dark Ages quite simply because most of the knowledge attributed to this era has either been destroyed or hidden since antiquity. Many ancient scholars wrote about this period including Greek polymath Aristotle who studied the Celts but his reports have been lost to the annals of time.
The Celts were described as an Indo-European group originating from the Black Sea area from the Carpathian Mountains to the Volga and Dnieper Rivers. Their ancestors settled in Central Europe, and were cattle herders, horse breeders and extremely fond of storytelling. They lived among clans and were ruled by chieftains who memorised history, taught ethics, and religious lore. The Celts were a people well versed in the art of natural healing, who venerated nature, especially trees such as beech, oaks were seen as symbols of a high god of the sun or sky. They used their affluence to develop arts and craftsmanship. Artisan products included battle axes, and chariots with ball bearings and axles. They would make mead from honey and were expert hunters.
Celtic Britain extended as far back as 450 BC but has since become embroiled in mythology and legend. The Celts on their arrival had found the Britons to be simple religious folk with basic stone houses. They themselves were Natural horsemen, brave, loyal and strong. They built large houses, with arched timber, wicker-work and clay walls and had a firm obedience and discipline to religion and magic. Who amongst us today is not familiar with the mistletoe which Druid’s used as a healing herb on specific solar dates or the festival of Samhain or Halloween where the veils to other dimensions became thinner. Origen a christian apologist, remarked how the people of Britain before Christ who were predisposed through the doctrines of the Druids, and Buddhists, recognised the unity of Godhead.
The catalyst for their downfall was the Roman occupation, lasting from 43 AD leading to the widespread slaughter of tens of thousands of Celts in cities such as Verlanium and Londinium until their withdrawal in 425 AD. England was not officially christianised until 597AD by Augustine. The Romans labelled the Celts as Barbaric long haired heathens and destroyed the vestiges and books of their faith. Remnants of Celtic Druidic lore still survive today and whilst they did not necessarily build megalithic sites such as Stonehenge in Britain they utilised them recognising the abundance of power they held. Their name was derived from the Greek ‘Keltoi’,and they had strong early links with the Thracian Greeks. It is thus indicated they gained many of their rights and practices from the schools of the Pythageroans and Platonists. They remained as a significant culture up until the battle of Hastings in 1066.
Due to the decimation of the Celtic community by the Roman Empire the bulk of the teachings were lost and hence what people practise today is often a pale imitation of the original doctrine. These days many antagonists jump at the chance to brandish the Celtic druids as heathens. As far back as the time of Adam pbuh when he noticed the days had shortened and were darkening he thought it was due to his sins so fasted and supplicated to God for 8 days. It was only after he realised that they were lengthening again that he became aware of the Winter Solstice and this became an 8 day festival of thanksgiving to the new sun. The druids in turn practise the festival of the winter solstice but are mocked or brandished as heathen for honouring a tenant of the Abrahamic faiths.(legend of the Jews Vol1).
The community had a tripartite alignment which lends itself into a direct analogy with the Ideal state as proposed by Socrates pbuh. They were a society divided up in three core elements: a warrior class representing courage and protection for the community, a producer class in turn honest & generous derived from the ‘TUATH’ or tribe, whose land was held in common. These people were herders and farmers, weavers and merchants, the producers who sustained the life of the community and would pay tribute to the warriors. Finally there was a guardianship made up of the priesthood and rulership espousing truth, holding the community together like glue and ensuring harmony and justice were maintained.
The community was headed by a King to lead the people with prowess and wise acumen. The King or ‘Rig’ was the ‘Deiwos’ or shining man of God who ruled in conformity with a divine law, presided over an assembly, an equitable 'round table' of advisors who gave wise and fair counsel. This guiding principle clarified the King was ultimately a divinely inspired man and imbued with magical vitality. The system replicated that of ancient Egypt with their host of Divine kings, especially from Heliopolis in Egypt, in which the God of Sun, Ra, gifted life and strength to the King and crown prince. Through him the fertility of soil, animals of the land and fish in rivers were given vigour. The King had spiritual and temporal authority over the people, and was identified with a Godly race, known as the ‘Tuatha De Danann’, like the pantheon of Greek Olympian Gods, who were reborn into this world as Divine kings with superhuman qualities and capabilities.
A Celtic King, Cormac Mac Airt, in 3 A.D. clarified to his successor the tenants of the faith, and the best conduct to establish amongst the people. ‘Firmness without anger, patience without strife, friendliness without haughtiness, giving justice & possessing & speaking truth, peace, to attend to the sick, benefit the strong, rebuke falsehood, love uprightness,defeat criminals, judge truthfully, promote learning, improve the spirit,, slay evildoers,honour the good, maintain peace, stop unlawfulness, imprison the unjust’. - Cormac ( Tecosca Cormaic ) or Instruction of the Kings ( Teagasc na Riogh ). Such principles likewise were in tune with those that were proposed by Plato in his Republic to represent the character of the Philosopher King of this state. To be the most wise, humble and just hence being the most capable and worthy to lead the people. He is a lover of truth and therefore as testified by St Augustine a lover of God, ‘City of God’
The creative and mystical part of their creed was attributed to the ‘Druids’ who usually came from aristocratic families and professional classes. These ‘Oakseers’, in Greek, represented truth and steadfastness for their communities. They were the priesthood and kingly advisors, the Arch-Druid traditionally would receive prophetic wisdom about the appointing of the next righteous King. They were responsible to be the law givers, interpret religious edicts and help regulate worship and sacrificial events in the community. Many would resort to abodes in far off forests or near a lake to receive divine guidance.
Like their Greek equivalents the apprentices were required to undertake many years of study and trials to prove their worth and become accustomed with the arts. Geoffrey Monmouth, reported how there were many colleges for upto 200 initiates each who became skilled in astronomy, prophecy through astrology. They learnt by heart the art of the sacred healing verses and lyre, medicinal healing from herbs, white magic. Of course such knowledge would be dangerous in the wrong hands and so was preserved for those who were vetted and endured trials before higher knowledge was given.
The Druids were extremely intune with nature and felt a sacred connectedness to all life, conducting ceremonies in sacred groves called ‘Nemeton’. These sacred grounds were a place to connect with heaven from earth. The space was consecrated to the gods in a circular shape as a symbol of the manifest world. There was a maypole which represented a spinal column, an axis mundi between heaven and earth. On the day of praise known as Belatine day to celebrate the coming summer, worshippers were encouraged to gaze at the fire of sacrifice for 10-15 mins entering into a trance state. To gather around the fire was very important as it represented the heart and hearth of the community, ritual bonding helped improve the connectedness of the people.
This love and reverence for the natural order was known by the Greeks as ‘Physiologia’. They believed in the total interdependence of all elements in the universe and sought to maintain and where necessary restore the cosmic balance to nature. So on a very simplistic level if we took fruit from a tree we were to make sure we planted a seed or help to nourish the soil, honouring the law of reciprocity.
The Druid class was made up of three branches; the musical Bards, priesthood and diviners and medical men. The ‘Bards’ or poets, musicians, were renowned for the harmony of the harpist. Just as with the Pythageroans, certain music was ascribed to different seasons and the noble harp strains. There was a strain to invoke laughter, lamentation or even induce sleep. Testimonies revealed the curative effect, when a dumb prince Moan was restored to his right mind by the melody of a harpist. The magical power of a divine muse entranced the audience like the delphic Pythia who was induced into a prophetic trance. Some reports claim the bard could even bring out their enemies in blisters. Much of their training was committed to memory.
Another branch was those of healers, whose rights were often hereditary and they would use combinations of herbs and poultices for remedies. Each case was evaluated separately and they were able to discern the best time to administer herbs and medications based on the movement of the stars and lunar phases.
Many ancient historians wrote about the Druids such as Pliny the Elder and Diogenes Laertius and Greek astrologer Posidonius. They were described as Persian Magi astronomers, similar to the Chaledean, Babylonian priesthood, with a quasi-magical reputation. Cathbad was a druid who had magical powers and through observable natural law could apparently perform acts of prophecy, sacred healing and clairvoyance.
So evidently the arch-druid or chief priest was an astrologer and sage advisor to the King in his conduct with his people. The concept links us to the legend of Merlyn the priestly advisor to King Arthur. There is no doubt the original story has been embellished over 2000 years but the fact remains it is still embedded in our psyche as a testament to the impact of the legend. We are naturally drawn to the character of Merlyn who, using his divine wisdom, was able to prophecy the coming of a divine King just like with Jesus and the Magi. Merlyn told King Uther Pendragon on seeing a comet, he would give birth to a powerful son whose Kingdom would be vast: “The star, and the fiery dragon under it, signifies yourself, and the ray extending towards the Gallic coast portends that you shall have a most potent son, to whose power all those kingdoms shall be subject over which the ray reaches. - Geoffrey of Monmouth, - ‘History of Kings’. Who cannot fail to be in awe of King Arthur who by Divine decree was the only man able to draw the sword Excalibur from the stone granting him the right to lead his people. The gallantry, chivalry and bravery of Arthur and his Knights, a great fellowship of over 150 men including Lancelot, Galahad and Perceival presided over the concerns of the oppressed and victimised at the courtly round table. They were extremely honourable and would only war against the corrupt oppressors and blood thirsty saxons' warlords. The relationship of King of the Jews, Moses and Aaron, his priestly advisor, is reminiscent of the legendary relationship between Arthur and Merlin.
Celtic women were held in high esteem within the fabric of society and were permitted to hold positions of authority. In marriage they had equity of possession and could inherit property. Polygamy was allowed but only with strict guidelines adhered to by all parties concerned. The community encouraged the wedded people to be fruitful and multiply in order to help it to become established. A foster home was set up for the adolescent boys and together they grew up and learnt skills of service to the people, away from the over comforting environment of the paternal home.
'Lanamans' wedding ceremonies were a place to exchange vows with a binding contract focusing on Intimate love and child rearing. The vows emphasised ‘One step for stamina, two steps for energy, three steps for prosperity, four steps for joy, five steps for cattle, six steps for the seasons, seven steps for truth, eight steps for courage, nine steps for intimacy.
They recognised a clear demarcation of ages to express clearly the principles of psychiatric and physical development. Interestingly enough these are in tune with some advanced psychological reasoning today. From the ages of infancy 0-1 years the utmost trust in parenthood was established. Likewise in childhood from 2-11 years as this trust was reinforced as well as the need to install good morals and manners. In adolescence from 12-18 years a sense of autonomy and ego separateness was developed. At this stage industrious and the application of initiative with the need to remove self doubt and guilt complexes. They sought to develop a caring world view and to establish fundamental loyalties to family and state.
A young adult 19-45 had to learn how to take responsibility for one's actions. Such a phase culminated in a ceremony of manhood for young initiates, the fires were lit for those destined to either become Druids, intellectuals, warriors or merchants and farmers. From an old age, a period 46-65 years the emphasis was on caring and trying to avoid rejecting ideas too hastily. They tried to develop wisdom, avoid dogma and disdain especially for things unfamiliar.
Wedding days were heartfelt ceremonies and a chance to bond in community feasts. The Feast of the dead ended in a wake with wailing and a bard signing eulogies with a grand Fire ceremony to the King of the sun, kindle within me a fire of generosity and love to all—to my friends, my kindred, my foes—and kindle within me a fire of bravery, eloquence, and generosity; of truth, strength, and wealth; of beauty, charm, and grace, so that I may inspire the folk of my túath.
There Was a sense of adhering to a high standard of moral values in all aspects of society. It was advised for the King the best conduct was to establish, ‘Justice, peace and a powerful and loyal army to avoid sloth, treachery and evil counsel. The bad man is bitter, full of hatred and cowardice’. The badge of honour was ascribed to maintaining, “truth in our hearts, strength in our arms, and fulfilment in our tongues.” The tenants of the faith were in harmony with the golden law of Pythagerous. Y GWIR YN ERBYN BYD, `The Truth Against the World,' meaning a constant quest for truth and mastery over oneself. Their custom of hospitality was to feed strangers before even asking about their business. The people were encouraged to control the hand, the tongue, and their wayward desires.
Cormac a third century Celtic King told his family how he behaved, ‘as a lad I was a listener in the woods, was a gazer at the stars, I was blind where secrets were concerned, I was silent in the wilderness, I was talkative among many, I was mild in the mead-hall, I was stern in battle, I was gentle toward allies, I was a physician to the sick, I was weak toward the feeble, I was a listener in the woods.’
Of the Druidic lore only fragments still remain today, such as the Barddas, as recorded in the 16th century by Llewellyn Sion. This text spoke of the dualistic aspect of this worldly plane. God being the creative force who manifested all organic life when He called for it from the primal substance, from atoms, each divine microcosm. He created and sustained these life endowing energies in direct contrast to the destructive and annihilation encouraged by ‘Cythrawl’ or the evil force. This concept is in tune with the one proposed by Bouddha and also Prophet Mani who was the successor of Jesus. There is a constant battle of the light to fight to overcome the darkness and the aspect of a dark lord of the senses and creator of this material world ‘Mara’, "the personification of the forces antagonistic to enlightenment." That the soul must determine itself to overcome these forces to avoid returning to this material plane in further incarnations. It is profound as this battle within us between light and darkness is testified to by all divine messengers. The ‘puca’, represent the wild mischievous, devish imp that acts as a tempter to misguide the initiate. The positive force to assist humanity was attributed to the ‘Tuatha De Danann’ , the shining beings from the light who were divine within themselves. They represented the pantheon of Greek gods in opposition to the Titans. They could even act as intercessors to the absolute God, such as Apollo or Mars known as Nouns or Jupiter as Taranis Celtic lore. The most venerated according to many texts was Mercury, Hermes or Lugh the messenger God and protector of the highways. Taranaus is the thunder God in control of thunder.
Lugus, the god of light, has arrived. He has mobilised the high gods in battle with the Fomors. It is time for the King of the Sun and Heavens to replace the older and maimed King of the Gods.
Their enemies are the Fomorians 'underworld' who are evil personified and full of hostility and apathy for mankind.
The Druids recognised a sublime Cosmic Order to the holy creation, a Multiverse of cause and effect. They ascribed to the Hermetic principle, ‘As above So below’. In this earthly plain ‘Falias ‘terra firma’ their feet were firmly planted on the ground but they recognised other realms such as of the waters presided over by Lir the king of waters. Just like in the Vedic scriptures and Edda of Scandinavia they believed in a series of aeons or kalpa with a cycle of creation and destruction and how eventually everything will return to become primordial nothingness again. At the end of each aeon would be a return of souls, like a Nordic Ragnarok, the righteous and wicked coming together in a critical battle of light against darkness.
They believed the universe is made up of concentric circles, the source of life is the innermost circle. Through the experience of our lives and overcoming suffering it leads to our elevation. The circle extends to the circle of purity, and finally the circle of infinity of God alone. The ambition is for the soul force to merge with the divine like Nirvana, or Brahma.
They supported the fact that we are part of this interconnected family of life, which fosters values of love and reverence to naturally flow. Everything we do should be in the form of a sacrifice in the cycle of giving and receiving. We are truly grateful for both opportunities, therefore there should be no inclination to become embroiled in the competition of outdoing one another except in piety to our creator and we should maintain mutual respect for our kinship. Consequently, they recognised that any form of abuse and exploitation came from the illusion of separateness. This awareness generated such an upwelling of positive energy that led to the desire to first do no harm or ‘Ahimsa’ as in Eastern philosophy. This became the true ethos of their divinely appointed kings and family of truth.
Help the people live! Nourish the people! Help them live yet lay no claim to them. Benefit them yet seek no gratitude. Guide them yet do not control them. This is called the hidden Virtue. - Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching: Chapter 10
From the Druidic Soul map it is apparent we have a collective unconscious made up of a Personal unconscious and an inner conscious and outward persona. It is our Consciousness that survives our death. At the heart of the Celtic Druid creed was the concept of reincarnation, they had very integrated beliefs about the soul in accordance with Plato and Pythagerous, believing the soul to be divine and immortal. Pomponius Mela, in his De Situ Orbis explained “that souls are eternal and that there is another life in the infernal regions' Julius Caesar in his ‘De Bello Gallico’, commented that the cardinal doctrine of the druids was that after death the soul passes from one body to another, known as reincarnation or ‘athena’. From the ‘Poems of Taliesin’ they reveal how we can be reborn as humans or into lower forms as animals, depending on how we acted positively or negatively in our previous lives. Strabo discussed that regarding the most just of men, in his book ‘Metempsychosis’ written in 6th BC that the soul at death can enter animals as an expiation of sins for life.
The Druids stated when our physical needs, belongingness, self-esteem were settled the soul can flourish and seek union with The ‘Anatemaros’, the Great Soul. It is incredible to see how integrated the Celtic faith was in the construction of the society. It was integral to daily life, politics and society alike and as a result was critical to ensure harmony and justice was maintained within the community.
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