Due to the Druid's custom of not putting anything into writing, but rather develop a strong knowledge, based solely on memory, not much is known about them today. A great deal of that which we do know comes from Julius Cesar, recorded in his Gallic Wars, and other early Christian literature. It is interesting to note that the early Christian missionaries and Saints, sought to make prohibitive almost all of the Druidic culture and custom'thus their prohibitions give us an idea of what the Druids were doing, what their teaching was, and even, who they were. It must be noted the Druids were literate, using at first the Greek and then Roman scripts for their own language. Also, they used the runic script as well, but it seems only for sacred rather than for profane writing. They in effect, left nothing but their traditions behind, and some very interesting legends. From oral tradition, it is said that Jesus during his 17 year absence from mention (the Bible mentions Jesus at 13 years old, then again at 30 years old) had traveled widely with Joseph of Aramothea. One of the main placed visited was the British Isles, and there, had extensive contact with Druids. It must be remembered that the Druids spoke Greek as well as Latin. Jesus spoke Greek and Latin. St. Columba had often mentioned that Jesus was his "Druid", and more, many of the later Christian traditions appear to be druidic in origin. At first the missionaries would suppress the Druidic tradition, but then would accept it and Christianize it. In fact, the early Christian missionaries and Saints were required it seems, to demonstrate similar powers and qualities as the Druids. It is said of St. Martin of Tours that he could, by the power of holding up his Cross, stop people in the their tracks, and prevent them from moving. Although the coming of the Christian era in the Celtic lands seems to have ended the role of the Druids in every day life, it may have only driven them underground. In the early 18th century the Druidic tradition was re-discovered with the founding of the Ancient Order of the Druids in London (in 1717). Quite remarkably, modern Freemasonry was established in the same year and the same place. Also, some very notable Britons were self-declared Druids, including William Blake, John Aubrey, John Toland and William Stukeley. William Blake was even an Archdruid, and said to be the group's leader from 1799 to 1829. Blake's artwork and mystical writing can be much better understood when taken in the Druidic context. Other notable Britons were Druids, including Winston Churchill. Little or nothing is known about what the famous English leader did as a Druid, but it can be safely assumed that much of the oral tradition of the ancient Druids were saved and passed on to subsequent generations. The Druids were great scholars and scientists, fortune-tellers, seers and prophets, magicians, sorcerers and more. They were the carriers of the ancient history of the Celtic people. Today the Druids still celebrate their traditional holidays near and around Stonehenge (and other Druidic sites), and practice such paranormal activity as divination, trans-channeling (as did Edgar Cayce), and the casting of spells. |
