Solo Druid Ritual

[billymagfhloinn]

Wow, where did the Gundestrup replica come from?

[ChickenClaws]

Wait a minute...this isn't world of warcraft...

[Hekatos89]

This is not Druidism!!! Druids are dead centuries ago!!!

[Hekatos89]

druidism is dead centuries ago and the wisdom

has gone forever

[Aconite666]

Wow! This was an excellent vid! I did find your words a little wooden to begin with, but as you began to "Get in" to the ritual, the power of your words resonated within me.

[mjolnirian]

hey, i know almost nothing but i'm interested in druidry. Can you tell me something about what druids can do and what druids must do?

[cyberwolf001]

Nicley done sir. I showed it to my girl friend, while she liked it her main complain, an mine for that matter, is the lack of explaining why with neopagan rituals.

It would be nice for another video that went into the details of why this or that is done. An the biggest question she had, but I saddly couldn't really answer. Is what is the point of this ritual, somthing else I'd love to see explain that isn't really covered in many neo-pagan books.

[sylvanus93]

If its still in print i think those doubtersand skeptics here should read Ians book

Druidheachd Symbols & Rites..plus the book of songs he has published which the name escapes me

slan go foill

[possibleninja]

Hey this is really informative. I actually recreated this ritual and lets say its better than the rituals I usually make. I was actually in a full on trance, not just an in-out trance thank you. I'd like to see more soon.

[Gypsy65]

I think Yunta51 should probably just stick to his Cuban Salsa. LOL

[yunta51]

"Cuban Salsa" should be fine without me for the moment. But to address the previous post, sure, there will undoubtfully be "reconstruction", but there's a difference between reconstruction when *necessary* and eclecticism. The notion of being a "solitary" Druid for example sounds like a carry over from Wicca or CM, as it's certainly alien to Celtic culture.

[yunta51]

Just because this guy plgs in a few Celtic symbols into his "Ceremonial magic" ritual doesn't mean it's Celtic or "Druidic" in anyway. He should call it what it is "Ceremonial Magic" or "Wicca".

[Gypsy65]

If you understand "Ceremonial Magic or Wicca you will notice he doesn't call the quarters or caste a circle. There is no athame or pentacle on the altar. Also Druids were around alot longer than the Wiccans so they got most of their European lore from the Druids not vice versa & Druids were Ceremonial Magicians in their own right. Also the Tree, Fire & Well (Earth, Sky & Sea) symbols on the altar are very Druidic and a very central part of ADF ritual.

[yunta51]

"Druids were around alot longer than the Wiccans". Really? Yeah, I guess since wicca was invented in the 20th century it would mean the druids pre-dated them. "So they got most of their European lore from the Druids". I suppose they got it *directly* from the druids, eh? "Symbols on the altar are very Druidic". I'm glad you admit it's an *alter*, which btw derives from "CM" tradition

[adfutube]

Altars were a standard part of ancient Pagan worship. This rite is a very stripped-down, living-room version of our forms. A next video will show a solitary rite done in an outdoor setting, with no 'altar'. Rather the world-tree symbol will be stuck in the ground, with the fire and well at its base. I had given some thought to doing this rite on the floor, seated before the symbols but putting them up on a working table makes them easier to reach - no bending over.

[adfutube]

I can't see how this resembles Wicca in any way, really, or ceremonial magic either, really. No 'circle casting' or 'elemental quarters', no 'names of power' or cabalistic stuff... The rite is based in firmly Celtic principles, such as the Sacred Center, sacrifice, and divination. When did you see a Wiccan or CM rite that gave the Landspirits and Ancestors equal weight with the Gods?

[Morpheus3x]

ADF druidry is about as far away from ceremonial magic or wicca as you can get. There is no circle casting. There are no watchtowers or four elements. There is no Lord and Lady but the honoring of the three kindred. That being the Gods, Nature spirits, and ancestors. Oh.. and he isn't just "this guy", he is representing a whole Druidic church and the format used by all of its members.

[yunta51]

Yes, he "Ian" has exchanged some of the "Wicca" externals for some "Celtic" externals and PRESTO! Now we have an authentic Celtic ritual...give me a break dude. His background is Wicca and "CM". He even admits that his is a "Wiccan system that's strongly influenced by Celtic myth and mystery". So don't even try to say this isn't just more Neo-Paganism passing off as Celtic. You're free to express yourself spiritual anyway you like but you should call it what it really is.

[adfutube]

Well, my background is in Wicca and CM, certainly. I learned my first Gaeilge words in the old 'Celtic Traditionalist' coven. But then 'reconstructionism' hadn't been invented yet, at that point... All modern American and European Paganism is Neopaganism - there is no remaining European paleopaganism. Celtic Reconstructionism is as Neopagan as any hippie drum circle, they just like kilts better than tie-die ;)

[adfutube]

And just where did I call this an 'authentic celtic ritual'? I believe I described it as 'in the style of Ar nDraiocht Fein's Order of Ritual'. Our OoR is based on shcolastic inquiry into what euro-pagan and celtic ritual would have been like, mixed with what we have learned about what makes good working modern ritual. There is no single record of an ancient Druidic ritual, so everyone who tries is making it up. This is just our version.

[Morpheus3x]

Exactly.

[yunta51]

So I'll ask again. How does this idea of "solitary druid" fit into a Celtic cultural view?

[adfutube]

I see little evidence that Druids were always part of a tribe, and plenty that Druids were separate from tribal structures and obligations. Druids are said to be able to pass tribal boundaries, and archeology finds Celtic holy sites placed on the boundary between tribal lands. Druidic names almost never include a patronymic - 'mac-anyone'. We find many tales of Druids dwelling alone in the woods. There's no reason to assume that some Druids weren't solitary, or that modern Druids can't be.

[yunta51]

Yes, all this reflects the high status that the various grades of Druids enjoyed. This status is *given* by the people or tuath. A "Druid" is inherently part of a (Tribe or Tribal Confederacy)to whom he/she extends certain services, in exchange for reciprocal goods and services. Druids had rights outside their own tuath the same way that poets did. Poetry was regarded as a hereditary profession so logically it would seem the same for druids.

[adfutube]

I think Druidic status was more likely to have been confered by one's teachers than one's tuath. Druidry was/is a set of skills, more than a social rank, and only the ability to demonstrate those skills would have granted the privileges. I don't really doubt that most Druids were attached to a tribe. However, our work is creating a neopagan Druidry, not trying to duplicate the iron Age. We have lots of solitary members, so we train solitary Druids. Real need trumps scholastic doctrine...

[yunta51]

"Real need trumps scholastic doctrine". And with most evangelical new-age spiritual movements like this, your so called "real need" also trumps over the larger cultural and linguistic context of the societe that created it. I agree with you, this is geared toward the individualist mindset, and whom the ancient Celts would have referred to as "deorad" (kinless or outsider)can now refer to him/herself as druid/ess.

[yunta51]

Noone at all is saying you should duplicate iron age societe, only that these rituals are no more than empty forms without the traditional bonds of family and community that they have always revolved around.

[adfutube]

Perhaps we should have made the vid with a wife and kids doing the rite with me. I assume many of our members will use that rite as a hearth-rite with their families. But many of our members, unfortunately imo, are solitary. We don't disallow involvement in this path due to lack of a community, but we encourage all our members to find and build community. But even those who work in groups need to know how to do a rite alone at home, at need.

[adfutube]

As I say, kinlessness may have been mandatory for Druids. I see nothing in lore that requires that Druids be bound in kin the way warriors and farmers were, and several bits of evidence that suggest they were not. The notion that 'celticness' is defined by being in clann is a doctrine I doubt at its core.

[Inklings]

what does it mater what he calls it. there is no dogma in pagan beliefs.

[geolondon1]

this was an interseting look at druidry. i can see how showing people ritual can dispell myths but i certainly wouldnt expect the rituals to wrok!. remember to know, to dare,to will and be silent!

[adfutube]

Yes, we discussed this as we were making it. The vid is mainly intended as an instructional example for our students. Nevertheless, as I did the piece I found myself in my usual ritual trance. The omen was quite proper and good, and I assume I got as good a blessing as usual for a simple ritual. Even the script support folks and cam operators found themselves entering ritual mindset...

We don't practice secrecy in ADF, for the most part, and it has never harmed the effectiveness of rites.

[mattistone]

Fascinating Ian

[elitemrp]

wow

[Somacandra]

ADF emphasizes public rites of worship for high holy days. Why would a solitary working be any different. I've been in his public rituals, and he is excellence personified in ritual. If it fosters excellence in Drudic practice, then it is good.

[ryanmercer317]

I don't approve... taping workings is just wrong.

[cyberwolf001]

Not every group is anal about secrecy my friend.

[rolsby]

Volume is a little low, but I am very excited to see this online. I gave you five stars and added it to my favorites.

[joe44118]

nicely done, simple, direct, and informative.

[DuaneCh]

Thanks Ian, this is a great compliment to Skip Ellison's book A Solitary Druid

[dawnsohma]

thank you this was good

[DaSheabhaig]

Ian, Good job on a needed addition to the Pagan World! It is a synopsis of our ADF rites and holds the power of those rites in a form usable by solitaries. Thanks.

[BlueFireWitch]

Love to see more Pagan stuff on the web. Well done.

[Chirael]

Wow, this video is the best - your ritual is so nice! Where can I get more info about your druid org (ADF)?

[revenantiryn]

Excellant! This is such a great idea. Thank you so much for this!

[skullarix]

Very nice! Thank you so much for creating this video!