Re: Recognizing Druids Searles Tue Oct 27 00:04:49 1998 I recently received an e-mail requesting permission to use this post I'd made in a publication called, "The LIVE OAK ORACLE, #10." THis is put out by Niall R. Mann (formerly Nicholas) who has written several books on spirtuality and has an upcoming release called _The DRUID MYSTERIES_ (Spring 1999). *p*WHO CAN BE A DRUID? By Searles O'Dubhain*p*From everything that I've read of Brehon law, it is based upon the idea*br*that the truth of a person decides the placement or level of that person*br*in society. Many times, the starting points for people are decided by*br*their birth and family under Brehon law, but this is no guarantee that*br*they will stay at that level. The saying, "ferr fer a chiniud," means*br*that people can transcend their birth and achieve ranking and position*br*based upon their skills, arts and behavior. Simply put, for Druids, this*br*means that anyone who behaves with the skill or art of a Druid is a*br*Druid.*br**br* The real question is: who can judge whether a person is a Druid*br*or not? I would maintain that such a decision should be based upon the*br*judgement of other Druids. If a person is a Druid then they will serve*br*the Truth as their foremost consideration. In the Irish traditions, Nuada*br*surrendered his seat to Lugh because the truth was that Lugh was better*br*suited to lead the Tuatha. This was also true in the case of Ferchertne*br*and Nede.*br**br* A person should be accepted as a Druid following a competition or*br*contention among Druid peers. Such an examination should be similar to*br*what is done in awarding doctorates to scholars. IMO acceptance by three*br*other Druids that one is a Druid should suffice. If we follow truth,*br*then the level of our Draiocht should continue to improve until we have a*br*chance to surpass the skills of our ancestors. If we do not follow truth*br*them we are no Druids. This was as true for them as it is for us today. *br*A person who had told, even one un-truth could not be a Brehon, for*br*instance. *br**br* The standards should be high, but they should also be clearly*br*defined. How can one be judged without standards? In the case of an*br*Arch-Druid, they should be chosen and judged based upon standards of*br*truth, skill, art and behavior. An Arch-Druid should be constantly*br*setting an example in this area, or they are no Arch-Druid.*br* My suggestion is to bring the standards and the transgressions*br*before an assembly of Druids and let those who would compete challenge*br*one another before the assembly. Let there be a chanting of the "Spell*br*of Truth". Hone the edge of the Sword of Light so that all can see the*br*sharpness of its sight. Falsehood will be parted and only Truth will*br*walk its edge. How could it be otherwise among Druids? To those who*br*would call themselves Druids and who would still accept standards of*br*behavior that are below the norm even for mundane society, I say that the*br*Brehon law is a sharp blade that will rend your falsehood. Those who are*br*in pieces without Truth are no Druids.*br**br* Here is some information on the behavior of kings which should be*br*the minimum level for judging the behavior of Druids. These are the*br*words of Morann, son of Móen to Feradach Find Fechtnach, son of*br*Craumthann Nia Nár: (Audacht Morainn, Fergus Kelly ed., 1976)*p*Let him keep my advice which follows here...*br*Let him preserve justice,it will preserve him.*br*Let him raise justice, it will raise him.*br*Let him exalt mercy, it will exalt him.*br*Let hime care for his tribes, they will care for him.*br*Let him help his tribes, they will help him.*br*Let him soothe his tribes, they will soothe him.... (4,6-11)*p*Darkness yields to light.*br*Sorrow yields to joy.*br*An oaf yields to a sage.*br*A fool yields to a wise man.*br*A serf yields to a free man.*br*Inhospitality yields to hospitality.*br*Stinginess yields to generosity.*br*Meanness yields to liberality.*br*Impetuosity yields to composure.*br*Turbulence yields to submission.*br*A usurper yields to a true lord.*br*Conflict yields to peace.*br*Falsehood yields to truth. (54)*p*"...there are only four rulers: the true ruler and the wiley ruler, the*br*ruler of occupation with hosts and the bull ruler.*br* The true ruler, in the first place, is moved towards every good*br*thing, he smiles on the truth when he hears it, he exalts it when he sees*br*it. For he whom the living do not glorify with blessings is not a true*br*ruler. *br* The wiley ruler defends borders and tribes, they yield their*br*valuables and dues to him.*br* The ruler of occupation with foreign troops; they supply his*br*needs, though a prosperous ruler does not require foreign troops.*br* The bull ruler strikes and is struck, wards off and is warded*br*off, roots out and is rooted out, attacks and is attacked, pursues and is*br*pursued. Against him there is always bellowing with horns." (58-62)*p*The words of Cormac Mac Art to his son, Cairbe:*p*Do not deride the old, though you are young;*br*Nor the poor, though you are wealthy;*br*Nor the lame, though you are swift;*br*Nor the blind, though you are given sight;*br*Nor the sick, though you are strong;*br*Nor the dull, though you are clever;*br*Nor the foolish, though you are wise.*br*Be not too wise, be not too foolish;*br*Be not too conceited, be not too diffident;*br*Be not too haughty, be not too humbly;*br*Be not too talkative, be not too silent;*br*Be not too harsh, be not too feeble.*p*If you are too wise, then people will expect too much of you;*br*If you are too foolish, you will be deceived;*br*If you are too conceited, you will be thought vexatious;*br*If you are too humble, you will be without honor;*br*If you are too talkative, then you will be unheeded;*br*If you are too silent, you will not be regarded;*br*If you are too harsh, then you will be broken;*br*If you are too feeble, then you will be crushed.*p* If we are to be Druids or the judges of those who would be*br*Druids, then we should use this advice for our standard.*br* May the Truth be your Blessing.*p*Hopefully, we can heed the wisdom of Druids and kings,*p*Searles*p*P.S. Maybe a Druid would be addressed as "Father or Mother" as well? In the "Contention of the Two Sages," Nede addresses Ferchertne as his "father in age." Barring that, I like "teacher."*p*TopazOwl wrote,*br*<snip>*br*: That is similar to Beirdd's example of being called *br*: "Father," I believe. But here is the thing -- a *br*: priest in the Catholic church is called "Father." *br*: One even introduces oneself as "Father So-and-so" *br*: when calling on the phone or the like. He does not say, *br*: "I am a priest," because he does not *have* to. *br*: "Father" says it all. What name would a Druid *br*: introduce him or herself by? :-)*br*:*br* Re: Recognizing Druids TopazOwl 243 Mon Oct 26 20:27:45 1998