The Secrets Of Casting Druid Spells

The Druids are believed to be an intellectual class of philosophers, educators, seers, astronomers and astrologers who lived in the 2nd century BC. The term "Druid" means "an oak tree of knowledge". "Drus" is the Greek word for an oak and "vida" which is the Sanskrit term for knowledge. Some insist that the term "id" means the One. Hence Druid became the name given to learned men and women of that era. Women and Men had the same status as knowledgeable people of that era.

The Roman writer Pliny the Elder in his book "Naturalis Historia" mentions that the druids performed religious rites with oak leaves and mistletoe. Some people believe that the Druids were pre-Celtic inhabitants of Britain and may have ancestors who were instrumental in creating the ancient stone circles similar to Stonehenge.

Celtic society is assumed to have appeared in Britain around the second millennium BC. They celebrated lunar and solar cycles and built shrines to unify the people. The Druids were the priests whose paramount authority preserved culture and laws as well as scholarship and science among the Celtic tribes.

The prominent writers of that time including the Indian Brahmins, The Pythagoreans and Chaldean Astronomers of Babylon probably contributed to the vast knowledge that the Druids were known to have. They spread the doctrine of the soul's immortality, reincarnation and karma as well as the movement of the stars and the size of the earth.

They were considered polytheists who worshipped nature, the sun, the moon and the stars. Fire was regarded as a divine symbol. Their calendar year was marked by the lunar, solar, agriculture and herding cycles. The four holidays were Imbolc to celebrate Spring, Beltain to denote life after spring, Lughnasadh to enjoy the ripening of fruits and Samhain to mark the end of harvest. Presently, Imbolc is called Groundhog day, Beltane has transformed into Easter and Samhain as become Halloween.

The Druids encouraged a healthy awareness of nature, its spirits and deities. They believed in the magick of communicating and communing with deities and spirits to help us manifest our intentions. This magick included Immram which is a journey into the realms of Gods, Imbas, the poetic and often altered states of consciousness, Echtra - adventures or journeys that occur at a sacred site, Firinne - truth or justice.

The positions attained in Druidic society were common to that of the structure of a tree. "The leaf" (Guiteraes) is the apprentice who learns as much knowledge as possible. At this time, they learn to meditate and control their minds. They move on to the next level only when they have proven that they can recite what they have learned so far.

The next position is that of "the branch" (Maghivellwyn) where they learn plant and animal lore and how to commune with animate and inanimate objects. Here, they are also taught basic healing crafts and divining magick. These branches are tested by the other Druids in their master of using both magick and natural skills.

The students then step into the Trunk stage (Llwellyn) where they are on their own. At this point, they can study whatever fascinates them. They may experiment with new magickal methods and also devote some time to the progress of their community.

The Next step is that of the Root level (Themaoddis) and then they are called Head Druids. Now they become more like teachers helping the other druids while leading the community by creating laws and maintaining peace.

The Druids who surpass all the above levels are called The Tree (Aretha) and they are called to solve complex problems or imbalances of nature.

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