Re: Recognizing Druids
Aicerno OCathasaigh
akiernox_ocasey@hotmail.com
Mon Oct 26 17:05:17 1998
Searles wrote,*br*: I think a good rule of thumb on the use of the word, *br*: "Druid," would be the equivalent use of the word, *br*: "wise," in today's vernacular.  Would we really go *br*: around saying to our peers, "I am *WISE*!"?  Some *br*: of our peers might say that we are "wise," but *br*: that is a title that is earned by your actions, thoughts and *br*: spirit.  One cannot become wise by saying so.*br*:*br*: In a similar vein, one can say that they are Doctor *br*: So-and-So, if the necessary requirements have been *br*: accomplished in one's education and a suitable outward *br*: symbol of the accomplishment has been publicly awarded *br*: within the society in which one lives.  That leads to the *br*: establishment of standards and schools, which is what we are *br*: working toward here in The Summerlands.*br*:*br*: To me, to be a Druid one must have achieved a certain *br*: education in the ways of the physical world through art and *br*: science.  One must also have practiced the disciplines of *br*: logic and mind that are necessary to be an impartial and *br*: objective observer and judge.  Finally, one must practice *br*: certain spiritual techniques in truth and devotion that *br*: honor the gods, the people and the land.*br*:*br*: Some things we should learn and practice are a knowledge of *br*: herbs, the skies, the lands, the seas, poetry, counseling, *br*: laws, histories, group dynamics, magick, ritual, healing, *br*: psychology, chemistry, physics, biology, botany, mysticism, *br*: and languages.  Many of theseitems are covered in the basics *br*: of university study, so I feel we can follow the curriculum *br*: provided by those institutions in such areas.  It is the *br*: post-graduate work in areas of mental discipline and *br*: spiritual practice that need expansion to increase our *br*: "wisdom," IMO.  *br*:*br*: What is lacking froma basic university education are *br*: holistic practices of health and herbalism, astrology, a *br*: study of Celtic lore and tradition, the three forms of *br*: illumination: Imbas Forosna, Teinm Laegda, and Dichetal Do *br*: Chennnaibh, musical and poetical training, public speaking *br*: and presentation. psychological counseling, etc.  Now some *br*: undergraduate degrees allow for a specialization in these *br*: areas, so some overlap will occur, but I forsee that most *br*: people will benefit from retracing their educational steps *br*: with a Druidic emphasis, so there is no time wasted in *br*: gaining knowledge from other perspectives.*br*:*br*: All these things must be further quantified for us to *br*: attempt to be worthy of the title of Druid.  We've got our *br*: work cut out for us.  I'm certain that wherever we start *br*: will not be where we are in a few years.  It's also been my *br*: experience that we will have our share of detractors at all *br*: times.  Our goal should be to pursue truth beyond the *br*: illusion of those without vision and to hold to the course *br*: that is illuminated for us by the inner light of imbas.  To *br*: know where we are going, we only have to fully understand *br*: where we have been and where we are now.  Our pathway is the *br*: extension of that process into countless lives and futures.*br*:*br*: Searles*p*I have been reading a passage from "The Druids" by Peter Beresford Ellis which puts forth an argument that what Caesar meant when he said "they study for 20 years..." in De Bello Gallico, Book VI was that  they who wish to become druids study until the age of 20. Add to that the following lines that "in the bardic schools, it required 12 more years of learning to reach the rank of ollamh or professor after the elementary education and that similar ranks were held in the ecclesiastical schools...", I came upon the thought that perhaps in the old druidic colleges was held a system of "socratic dialogue" where-upon the teacher or ollamh would wander and where they stopped so their pupils would gather around. That and the person who wished to become either Bard, drui, or filidh, would study until they were 20 years of age granting of course that their education began as young children. Then after completing the elementary education at the age of twenty, and they wished to continue on or showed some special promise which attracted the attention of the Ollamh, that individual would then begin the twelve additional years of study and training until they too were a professor or Ollamh. Now what prompts me to think that the schools were set up using a means of "socratic dialog" is that the first laws establishing a permanent site for a school of education was not instituted in Ireland until around 538 CE. And that was brought about in part by the efforts of a bard who was a teacher of one of these schools. 
Re: Recognizing Druids
Searles
235
Mon Oct 26 14:00:27 1998