Illuminating Knowledge
Searles O'Dubhain

Tue Apr 30 21:34:33 2002
Knowledge, experience and inquiry are the three foundations of Draíocht. They have always been important to Druids. In the beginnings of history, these three concepts were even the names of Druids (just as principles and qualities are the names of the gods). Knowledge is to be found within traditions, schools, great works and the memories of a person, a people, a species and all of Nature (as well as all that can be created).  Experience is to be had by doing and *b e i n g   h e r e  n o w*.  Experience involves risk, growth, loss and change.  Inquiry OTOH is the strong desire to discover what works, what is true and what can be known.  Every piece of knowledge and every experience must stand up under scrutiny and objective review. Never believe anything unless it is real in all of its component parts. It is through evaluation and testing that experience becomes accepted as the knowledge of tradition.*p*Draíocht is different from many other traditions, philosophies, and religions in that its practitioners do not have to take anyone's word for anything. In Draíocht, each person is expected to do the work of study, learning and investigation that is necessary to learn and to attain the highest levels of skill and wisdom. That is why being a Druid takes such a long time. Intensive study is required. Dedicated practice and disciplined experience are involved. Being able to reason, to research and to root out the kernels of truth and falsehood are essential for a Druid. One must know "what is" and "what was" in order to discover or predict "what will be." Druids are expected to understand concepts so well that they can become the concept. They can be an avatar for its power. They can bring its essence into being through word, deed or action. This is the quintessence of what Amergin taught in "The Mystery."*p*Over the years, Druids developed a way of learning, teaching and looking at the world that developed the latent abilities of its followers in areas of insight, observation and memory.  The curriculum was designed to allow students to progress from level to level until they were able to go beyond ordinary reality and experience imbas forosnai, the illuminating knowledge. These skills or abilities are within many people but are not usually fully developed. That is why the teaching say that one must do the work of the Coire Erma. This work is a strengthening of the Druid's ability to see, to be a seer.  Not only does the Druid go beyond ordinary reality in this experience but they also expand their mental and psychic capabilities each time that they make the journey. *p*In this increase of esoteric abilities, the Druids are like the Vedic Seers, the Yogis and are also very much like Shamans. That is to say, Druids have the imbas experience within the Otherworld and they obtain hidden knowledge through journeying there and returning.  On many of these trips they experience knowings, inspired gifts from the other beings that exist in the Otherworld. That is why a strong will and a capable memory are required.  These tellings or knowings are gifts to be returned to the people. Over time as they are verified,, validated, and perfected, these gifts become a part of the tribal knowledge (which among the Irish is called coimgne).*p*I think that most people with a thirst for knowledge and the courage to seek it eventually break through the barriers of doubt and limitation that permeate our ordinary existence. There are so many who would rather safely nay-say or sit on the sidelines, never even trying to see beyond. These people are threatened when imbas is discussed in much the same way that they project their limitations as imagined deities. Deities are real and they do not have the limits that humans attempt to place upon them. In my experience and hopefully your own, encounters with spirits and deities are usually mind boggling. I think this is because we have to stretch so much in order to encounter them. If we do not thin the barriers that separate us from one another, then we run the risk of being imprisoned within our invented limitations. One of the truths I've discovered along he Druid Way is that there are no limitation except those that we embrace on our own.*p*The next time someone tells you there is no magic, that there are no gods, or that the magic is dead (or just pretending), don't get angry with them.  They are to be pitied for their self-imposed exile. They are blind in a world of color and light. They refuse to listen to the music all around nor do they want anyone else to know that joy for themselves.  Show them the joy that you've found along with the overwhelming beauty of every part of all realities. It is by example that possibilities can be seen. It is by doing that achievements are made and it is by growing that life expands to achieve all possibilities.*p*Searles







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