Re: A Poem About Human Sacrifice Searles searles@summerlands.com Sun Jan 2 14:28:18 2000 Welcome to The Summerlands and to An Daire Drai/ochta.*p*It has long been my realization that Druids only begin life fully after a "second birth." Such a birth requires that we step through the doorway of death that separates the parts of life. In many cases, this symbolic (or actual) death) is a leaving behind of the illusions of (so-called) normal life and an embracing of the greater reality that creates the worlds. In a very real way, becoming a Druid is a matter of sacrifice and devotion. In the ancient practice of their sacrifice, I think our ancestors lived closer to the physical manner of such offerings, while we in today's world must endeavor to elevate the form of our sacrifices from the realm of the physical to the mental, the spiritual *and* the physical. I'm *not* advocating a return to the sacrifice of humans or animals, but I am all for acknowledging the value of life when it has been given in a cause or in years of dedicated service to principles and life.*p*Everything that is noble in society has been established and safe-guarded through such devotion and sacrifice. Can we do less in remembering these costs in our own ritual, spiritual and physical life? Being a Druid means acknowledging the life after life and the immortality of the soul. In our meditations and our magical workings, we will eventually discover the place that fosters many lives and all of creation. On that day, we will know that death is truly only a doorway between lives.*p*Searles*p*Teacup wrote,*br*<snip>*br*:*br*: I just discovered/joined you last night and am spending this *br*: morning cruising around the site. I would just like to say *br*: thank you for the posts on "What is a Druid?" etc. *br*: Though I hope I'm no dummy, I've always found the Druid *br*: authors a bit daunting and confusing (though I still enjoy *br*: Bonewits immensely). After reading your posts, it all makes *br*: far more sense.*br*:*br*: RE human sacrifice: this happened to come up in a *br*: conversation the other day, where it was mentioned that the *br*: allegations of Druids practicing human sacrifice were *br*: propoganda put out by Julius Caesar to discredit his enemies *br*: (there was a war on, after all). While I find this very *br*: reasonable, I also believe human sacrifice was also *br*: practiced under needful circumstances, and I don't think *br*: this is something Celtic pagans ought to be ashamed of, *br*: because in order to be effective, the sacrifice must be *br*: willing (otherwise it's black magick). The idea of *br*: *willingly* sacrificing one's life out of love/duty in *br*: desperate circumstances certainly continues to be viewed as *br*: a noble act and if we regard those long-ago sacrifices in *br*: such a light, instead of "victims" or else *br*: purporting to deny their existence in the first place, we *br*: honor the decision they made and the devotion that led them *br*: to it.*br*:*br*: Just a few of my thoughts. I'm looking forward to spending *br*: time here. Blessed Be.*br*:*br*: Teacup*br*:*br*: *br* Re: A Poem About Human Sacrifice Teacup 570 Sat Jan 1 13:04:16 2000