Some Powers of Druids
Searles

Sat Nov 28 12:39:35 1998
I've seen mention of honor prices and privileges being inherited by Druids and Poets (Draoi/ agus Filidh).  This information has been used by some to imply that a person could not be a Druid or Filidh unless born into such a family that studied the skills of Drai/ocht and Filidecht for three generations.  What these people are missing is that the text seems to say that the honor prices and status of a person are maintained at a reduced level in the family of a Druid or a Filidh for three generations, even if they do not practice the arts. The text in which mention of this custom is found is known as _Uraicecht Na Riar_.  It is strictly concerned with the Fili and not with the Draoi/.  It is also more about a description of a social position than it is about a spiritual function or ability, though the mention of the three types of imbas is well noted within it. I maintain that it was the possession of these three abilities that set the Fili/ and the Draoi/ apart from the other skilled people.  If a person does not have the " ...tria imbas forosandi dia foirciund... " and preserve the coimgne, then they are not a Poet.  Only the Ansruth and the Ollamh grades of Fili/ possessed this ability (after the 8th year of study).*br*________*p*A good list of the abilities of the Draoi/ among the Irish is given by P. W. Joyce in _A Social History of Ancient Ireland_: *p*They were the exclusive possessors of whatever learning was then known.*p*They were judges, prophets, historians, poets and even physicians.*p*They were magi, sorcerers, and necromancers.*p*They possessed the abilities of dlui fulla, airbe druad, gla/m dichenn, deog dermaid, nelado/racht, taisce/ladh druidhechta, imbas forsonai, teimn laegda, dichetal do chennaib, corrguinecht, celtar comga, feth-fiada, ceo/ Druidechta, fidlann, etc.*p*The Draoi/ also performed baptisms, witnessed and assured oaths, supervised the sacrifices, initiated kings, warded and inspired warriors prior to battle, taught the youth, spoke at the assemblies and determined geasa.*br*_________*p*Dlui Feda - Literally, the "magical wisp."  A handful of dust, straw, twigs that was thrown by a Druid into the face of a person, causing madness.*p*Airde Druad - An encircling hedge of magical protection.*p*Gla/m Dicenn - A satire performed by a group of Draoi/ or Fili/ against a person that basically attacked his entire existence.  The persons performing the satire and the person for who the satire was performed ran the risk of death if there was no truth in them regarding the matter.*p*Deog Dermaid - The drink of forgetfulness. *p*Nelado/racht - Divination by clouds, but also a matter of astrology and the stars as well.*p*Taisce/ladh Druidhecta - Magical observation through the use of wheels.*p*Imbas Forsonai - Literally "sudden illumination."  A form of enlightenment achieved by a Drui/ or a Filidh, following incantations to the gods and a process of meditation and/or magical sleeping and dreaming.*p*Teimn Laegda - A form of illumination (imbas) achieved through repetitious, mantra-like chanting.*p*Dichetal Do Chennaib - A form of psychometry, where a chant is produced when first observing or touching an object, which is then broken down into its true meanings through the art of Ogham kennings.*p*Corrguinecht - Literally "crane magic."  The act of existing in both this world and the Otherworld simultaneously and serving as a conduit for Drai/ocht to pass between the worlds.  This was usually symbolized by chanting on one leg, with one eye closed and one arm raised )like a crane).*p*Celtar Comga - A mantle of concealment. Also called a diceltair See Feth-fiada below).*p*Feth-fiada - Rendering a person invisible through chanting, the use of a cloak, or a magical fog/spell.*p*Ceo/ Druidechta - The magical fog mentioned above.*p*Fidlann - Using wood for divination, especially when it has been carved with Ogham.*p*I practice some of these, while others of these arts are not yet within my grasp.  My primary skills appear to be more in areas involved with "seeing" and divination, and not with manifestation or actual spell work (though I've had my occasions of success).   In my personal experience, walking strongly with spirit is required in order to accomplish any magical action.  Sustaining such a spiritual connection requires active and frequent meditation, chanting, and a control of the multiple attentions.  Sustaining such states in modern society is difficult at the best, since it is so strongly subservient to  materialism and a coveting of form.  I recommend that anyone who seeks the world of spirit should go into nature or isolation for a period of fasting, introspection, meditation and discovery.  It is away from artificial construction and their influences that the natural state of one's being and spirit can be recovered and strengthened.*p*Only a very few of the noble classes had the right to speak at assemblies.  The Draoi/ were one of three such that are mentioned in the ancient texts and tales.  Geasa are mainly prohibitions and taboos that are magically determined by Druids.  Their violation will bring harm upon the self and the family/community.  They are usually discovered and announced at births, though geasa can also be placed upon other people as obligations (in the manner of a spell that is bound through honor).  Some geasa are inherited through families while others are associated with class and position.*br*________*p*A person who has studied these things, learned them, demonstrated them, and performed them for their tuath, is Drui/.  It's not a matter of social position per se, but a matter of function, training and ability.  How many of these are possessed by the Drui/ (and to what degree), determines their completeness and their proficiency.  Being a Drui/ was not strictly a matter of family in the older days, though the establishment of higher social position was one that was defined by the Brehon laws (generally a matter of three generations of the same family having the same skill set or wealth).  This matter of generations was seen as necessary to determine the truth of the demonstrated characteristics on a familial and a social basis and not whether one was or was not of a particular class or type.  It was more a degree or qualifying of quality... i.e..  not a question of whether one was a Drui/ but what quality Drui/ one was and, hence, what was one's honor price.*p*The book, _Uraicecht Na Riar_, and _The Learned Tales of Medieval Ireland_ can be had from http://www.booksforscholars.com.  I also recommend getting _Auraceipt na E/ces_, _Audacht Morainn_ and other wisdom texts from their extensive list of Irish, Welsh and British works.*p*In our practice of the arts of Drai/ocht, let us look to spirit and imbas as guides, but we should also study the methods and techniques of the ancients, where they can be found.  The Vedas, the Cabala, and even the Bible have instances where spirit has manifested between worlds.  These can suggest avenues for our learning and understanding, but they are not strictly the ways of our people. In Buddhism and Yoga are to be found meditative and active techniques for mastering the self, and for marshalling energies of the body, mind and spirit.  Many of the techniques that we will learn and perform as Draoi/ will be similar to these in practice, though they will be implemented according to the guidance of our traditions and the gods of our people.*p*We will be studying such things in courses here in The Summerlands soon.  We are also looking to establishing sites for nature retreats and meditations for growing in our mastery of self and spirit .I hope to find many of these centers across the country and the world, so that we may more often gather together in our experiences and our growth. I look forward to much learning and many journeys of spirit, in truth, to the worlds of Drai/ocht and spirit with each of you as we all grow in work, nature and wholeness of spirit.*p*Searles