berry_baggins@... asked this question on 3/25/2000:

Hi,

I am doing a term paper on Celtic/Druidism, and am a little unsure of what Druidism is. Is it a completely separate religion from Celtic? Or another branch of it? Do they worship the same Gods and Goddesses? And what exactly is the Tuath de Dannann? Thank you for your time. Please send your response to berry_baggins@hotmail.com

Rev_Jim gave this response on 3/25/2000:

I will send you the information per your address.

Rev_Jim gave this follow-up answer on 3/25/2000:

Druidism has its roots in celtic lore, the most notable Druid being Merlyn from the tales of King Authur.

The Triads of Brittain record the three lost masterpieces of Druidism: "The Book of Feryllt", "The Gorchan of Maildrew and the "Song of the Forest trees".

The Pheryllt [feryllt] were the legendary Priests of Pharon, an extremely ancient god, whose worshippers were said to be inhabitants of the Lost Continent of Atlantis. Accordingly, the myth, as told within the Pheryllt text, relates:

When Atlantis dissappeared "in a single day and night of misfortune," many of its Sun-Priests washed ashore onto the Western Bank of Wales -- the one country most often referred to as the "homestead of Druidism," and there re-established their highly insightful and advanced religion.

To the Druids,then, this legendary Priesthood represented the roots of their own religion - ancestors so to speak. This could also explain why the Druids revered the mountain of SNOWDONAI [Yr Wyddfa: the tallest peak in Wales]to the extent that they did, for it was upon the roots of this mountain that the Pheryllt Priesthood was said to have its chief sanctuary. To this very day there does exist at the point indicated, the remains of an immense circular building of stone that baffles even today's experts.

There was a time called 'Dark Age Brittain' which refers specifically to the vitally important but little-understood historic period, from the withdrawel of Rome in 425 to the Norman Conquests, culminating in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It was a time of settlement- of land won and held at bloody sword-point, of lesser kings warring amongst themselves- a fragmented nation. It saw the coming of Christianity, and along with it, the persecution, absorbtion and virtual extinction of native Celtic religion ... namely, the Druids.

The DRUIDS themselves, were the Priests of the Celts. While the British Celtic Culture as a whole tended to be matriarchal by tradition, their national religion was not. The word "Druid" means "oak-men" in many languages, the root 'dru' always referring to 'oak,' -their most coveted tree, the "King of All." They were an organized order which called themselves 'Primal Mystics,' and whose magical systems were so profound, that mankind has never ceased to ponder over them. They were the doctors, scientists, lawyers and ministers to the Celtic tribes- the mediators between man and the gods- held in awe by all, and afforded power in keeping with that of any king.

Since one of the primary taboos of Druidic doctrine prohibited the WRITING DOWN of any segment of their lore, the only extensive descriptive records which survive today are those written by Roman writers- by the nation which launched the most vile efforts to extinguish the Druidic Religion in favor of its own. ----- I hope this is helpful to you.

Rev_Jim

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