Druidry:
A Practical & Inspirational Guide
Philip Shallcrass (Greywolf), founder and elder of the British Druid Order, draws on nearly 50 years’ experience to bring us this unique guide to modern Druidry.
Druids were priests, magicians, teachers, counsellors and law-givers among the ‘Celtic’ peoples of Iron Age Europe. The author shows how this ancient tradition is finding renewed relevance in today’s world.
Chapters explore Druidry from its possible origins to the present day, including sections on some of its larger groups; the sacred circle; relationships with our ancestors; how to access sources of inspiration; celebrating the Wheel of the Year; the gods and legends of Wales and Ireland; bardic poetry and music; the Ogham alphabet; seership and divination; healing; the theory and practice of ritual; accessing other worlds; shape-shifting and more.
“Twenty years after I conceived of the idea of the Druid-as-‘shaman,’ final conformation came in the form of a large, adult Wolf who appeared to me during a particularly intense ceremony.”
Greywolf
CONTENTS:
Illustrations … v
Preface to the 2nd Edition … 1
including Dogmas & Catmas; A Note on Dates; A Note on Gender; A Pronunciation Guide; Acknowledgements
Introduction: Why Druidry, Why Now? … 9
Part One:
The Circle Is Unbroken
Chapter 1: Rekindling the Sacred Fires … 13
including The Sources of Modern Druidry; Druidry as Native Spirituality; The Paths of Bard, Ovate & Druid; Core Concepts; Ethics
Chapter 2: Beginnings … 31
including Honouring Our Ancestors; The Altar; Druids Today; The Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA); The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD); The British Druid Order (BDO); A Druid Fellowship (ADF); The Ancient Druid Order (ADO); The Gorsedd of Bards of the Isle of Britain; The Ancient Order of Druids(AOD); Druids, Antiquarians & Artists; Bardic Schools & Druid Survivals; Classical Druids; Druid Roots & Celtic Identity
Chapter 3: The Sacred Circle … 65
including The Aura: Circle of the Self; Sensing the Aura; Casting the Circle; Weaving the Web; The Cardinal Directions; Making Your Own Map; Working with the Circle; The Wheel of the Year; Walking the Circle
Part Two:
Inspiration & Creativity: The Path of the Bard
Chapter 4: Flowing Spirit, Feminine Spirit … 85
including Sensing the Awen; Chanting the Awen; Seeking Awen; Poetry & the Cell of Song; Creative Dreaming
Chapter 5: Ancestral Voices … 97
including Many Blessings; Tales of the Gods; Cycles of the Sun; The Mabinogion; The Story of Taliesin; Arthur, Merlin & the Matter of Britain; Gawain & the Greene Knight; Ireland: The Mythological Cycle; The Ulster Cycle; The Fenian Cycle; The Historical Cycle; A World of Legend
Part Three:
Healing & Awareness: The Path of the Ovate
Chapter 6: Seership & Divination … 123
including Signs & Omens; Second Sight; The Language of Birds; Ogham: the Secret Language; Ogham Divination
Chapter 7: Healing … 137
including Journeys of the Soul; The Ancestor Tree; Herbs & Healer Gods; Healing & the Faery Folk; The Place of Healing; A Time to Live, a Time to Die
Part Four:
Ritual & Change: The Path of the Druid
Chapter 8: Ritual … 149
including The Gorsedd Rite; Opening the Circle; Calling the Quarters; Handfasting; Blessing for Children; Bardic Initiation; Honouring the Departed; Sharing Bread & Mead; Closing the Circle; Greeting the Day
Chapter 9: Change … 167
including Boundaries Between the Worlds; Power Animals & Animal Powers; In the Paw-prints of the Wolf; Shape-Shifting; Eagle Dancing; On the Edge Between the Worlds; Hale & Farewell
Resources … 182
including Druid Groups; Pagan, Ecological & Conservation Groups; Select Bibliography & Discography
Index … 191
Forthcoming Books:
A wide-ranging introduction to Druidry as taught and practiced in the British Druid Order, with contributions from BDO founder, Philip Shallcrass (Greywolf); former BDO joint chief, Emma Restall Orr (Bobcat); Ronald Hutton, Professor of History in the University of Bristol; BDO Elder and senior nurse, Amanda Foale-Hart; Brian Bates, author of The Way of Wyrd; Andy Letcher, author of Shroom; and shamanic practitioner, Alan Tickhill.
Topics covered include the nature of Awen, the ‘holy spirit’ of Druidry; the Wheel of the Year; Wyrd Druidry; how to be a modern-day bard; sacred time and sacred space; how to make a robe; and more.
A unique guide to the history and practice of Druidry in the 21st century.