| The Druids are believed to be an intellectual class | | | | agriculture and herding cycles. The four holidays |
| of philosophers, educators, seers, astronomers | | | | were Imbolc to celebrate Spring, Beltain to denote |
| and astrologers who lived in the 2nd century BC. | | | | life after spring, Lughnasadh to enjoy the ripening |
| The term "Druid" means "an oak tree of | | | | of fruits and Samhain to mark the end of |
| knowledge". "Drus" is the Greek word for an oak | | | | harvest. Presently, Imbolc is called Groundhog day, |
| and "vida" which is the Sanskrit term for | | | | Beltane has transformed into Easter and Samhain |
| knowledge. Some insist that the term "id" means | | | | as become Halloween. |
| the One. Hence Druid became the name given to | | | | The Druids encouraged a healthy awareness of |
| learned men and women of that era. Women and | | | | nature, its spirits and deities. They believed in the |
| Men had the same status as knowledgeable | | | | magick of communicating and communing with |
| people of that era. | | | | deities and spirits to help us manifest our |
| The Roman writer Pliny the Elder in his book | | | | intentions. This magick included Immram which is a |
| "Naturalis Historia" mentions that the druids | | | | journey into the realms of Gods, Imbas, the |
| performed religious rites with oak leaves and | | | | poetic and often altered states of consciousness, |
| mistletoe. Some people believe that the Druids | | | | Echtra - adventures or journeys that occur at a |
| were pre-Celtic inhabitants of Britain and may | | | | sacred site, Firinne - truth or justice. |
| have ancestors who were instrumental in creating | | | | The positions attained in Druidic society were |
| the ancient stone circles similar to Stonehenge. | | | | common to that of the structure of a tree. "The |
| Celtic society is assumed to have appeared in | | | | leaf" (Guiteraes) is the apprentice who learns as |
| Britain around the second millennium BC. They | | | | much knowledge as possible. At this time, they |
| celebrated lunar and solar cycles and built shrines | | | | learn to meditate and control their minds. They |
| to unify the people. The Druids were the priests | | | | move on to the next level only when they have |
| whose paramount authority preserved culture and | | | | proven that they can recite what they have |
| laws as well as scholarship and science among the | | | | learned so far. |
| Celtic tribes. | | | | The next position is that of "the branch" |
| The prominent writers of that time including the | | | | (Maghivellwyn) where they learn plant and animal |
| Indian Brahmins, The Pythagoreans and Chaldean | | | | lore and how to commune with animate and |
| Astronomers of Babylon probably contributed to | | | | inanimate objects. Here, they are also taught basic |
| the vast knowledge that the Druids were known | | | | healing crafts and divining magick. These branches |
| to have. They spread the doctrine of the soul's | | | | are tested by the other Druids in their master of |
| immortality, reincarnation and karma as well as | | | | using both magick and natural skills. |
| the movement of the stars and the size of the | | | | The students then step into the Trunk stage |
| earth. | | | | (Llwellyn) where they are on their own. At this |
| They were considered polytheists who | | | | point, they can study whatever fascinates them. |
| worshipped nature, the sun, the moon and the | | | | They may experiment with new magickal |
| stars. Fire was regarded as a divine symbol. Their | | | | methods and also devote some time to the |
| calendar year was marked by the lunar, solar, | | | | progress of their community. |