#Druidry

109 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

gusty urchinBOT
#
Druidry

Welcome to our community discussion thread dedicated to druidry!

potent carbon
#

Hi! I have a really long question and don’t really know where to put it, so I’m asking here!

Tl;dr - Went in sensory deprivation tank. Saw a weird entity that was made up of a weird looking eye. Problem is, I’m a pantheistic Druid and don’t really believe in divine entities because of that. Wondering what the figure is.

Ok so, had a weird experience. I went into one of those sensory deprivation tanks; I know they can cause hallucinations because of the sensory deprivation, but this really piqued my interest because it was consistent.

While sitting in there, I started seeing a single eye. I could only see this figure with my eyes closed, which was odd because theres pretty much no difference in vision between having them open or closed due to how dark it is.

Anyway, this eye had a really odd pupil in that it wasn’t circular, and the eye was lined with gold, and had three golden teardrop-shaped eye lashes on the top and bottom eyelid. A round, purple haze surrounded this eye which faded into the rest of my vision.

I asked this figure multiple questions via thoughts and it seemed very indifferent/didn’t care on a lot of things, like when asked if it was evil or if it mattered that I told anyone else about it; it answered almost as if nothing mattered to it or that nothing made a difference to it. The only things it could not answer though is what its name is and what kind of entity it is; it seemed like it wanted to say, but something was holding it back. I told it I’d try and make a spell bottle that would increase my chances of seeing it in a dream that night so that we may speak longer, but I am forgetful and haven’t done it. I also haven’t been practicing as much as I should be, because i am nearly drained all the time which I think may actually be caused by bad energy I haven’t been cleansing; I also asked the entity if it was evil because I thought it could be punishment for not practicing, which is odd as punishment for not practicing isn’t a thing in what I believe. The weird thing about all of this is that I’m a pantheistic Druid, and don’t really believe in entities that are divine or demonic, so, seeing this was pretty weird and surreal.

I drew the eye as best as I could. It appeared after 3 weeks of not practicing and has not appeared since. Since when I last practiced, I’ve had increasingly low energy and it appeared when it was pretty much starting to become unbearable. This deprivation tank was also filled with a ton of sea salt, which makes me think this entity wasn’t truly bad or evil, as the salt would have cleansed and protected me.

If anyone has any questions about my experience this entity, definitely ask as I want to narrow down what it is.

pastel harbor
#

Are there any practicing Druids here? I am looking into nature reverence and am trying to find resources/people to talk to

open tendon
#

I would like to get more interested in Druidry (partially because I’m half Irish)

thick grove
open tendon
#

thank you so much for the info! 🫶

#

unfortunately this means I can’t practice but I would still like to explore Celtic religion

thick grove
flint umbra
thick grove
#

you have to be initiated

#

it's not something you can just pick up you must learn from a person to practice. and unlike wicca which isnt a religion that can be closed (thanks to appropriating from a bunch of cultures) druidy is something that has been established as closed for a while

#

I don't have the mental bandwidth to look for sources at the moment because I'm sick rn

flint umbra
#

Dang, sorry you’re sick. I’ll look into it since this is the first I’ve heard of it being closed.

#

Though it’s important to note that there are no extant druids since they were wiped out and all druidry practiced today is modern Druidry pieced together by what we have left, with some new things added. Doesn’t mean it can’t be closed though!

flint umbra
thick grove
#

yup the link I posted mentions druid orders in the us and UK

#

we also just have little to no resources on druid practices as a whole due to them being closed.

flint umbra
#

I thought it was mostly because of the original tradition being mostly lost to time since they didn’t write much/anything down.

#

There are many books being written on the practices of modern Druidry these days that anyone can pick up, which is why I’m shocked that they’d be closed.

thick grove
#

no it's because of the way that druid practice is work you cannot most of the time share anything with Outsiders due to it being a closed practice

#

yeah those are often written by people who aren't druids at all but instead are joining druid organizations getting their content and then making books about it

#

which is why there tends to be a fee involved in joining druid organizations due to them being closed and therefore you have to pay for the materials and thus the copyright and acknowledgment that you will not share these materials with non-druids

#

there are entire initiation processes that involve active learning and fundamental teaching that is taught by druids then is then passed to those that join the organization, but you have to join to get access

#

or if they aren't stealing from the organizations in which they have joined they're mixing things like "shamanistic practices" alongside druid ones which itself is a whole can of appropriation (shamanism is a indigenous based title and set of practices)

a lot of times you'll see modern druid teachings being called Shaman work when that's not what they are

flint umbra
#

From what I can find online, people from these organizations are saying it is not closed. Anyone can join the initiation online and read the materials, but it sounds like the parts about not sharing knowledge have been removed recently.

#

Sure these are just people talking about it on Reddit, but there are some current members saying it’s not closed.

thick grove
#

I mean no one culture is going to agree massively on anything I choose to respect those that do say it's closed and not practice it as somebody that's not initiated into a druid organization

#

there are native Americans who don't care at all that people use white sage or have dream catchers which is entirely they're prerogative, but it doesn't make the people saying that it is closed wrong

so if one org have recently decided to make changes then that's up to them there's also not just one massive point for every organization on druid materials so until I get a massive change from every druid organization saying that anyone can in fact you do so then I'm going to continue treating it as closed as that's how I have been informed about it in the past

flint umbra
#

It seems like there’s also a discussion on the confusion between “closed” and “initiative” for Druidry.

#

But yes, it’s impossible to get everyone of any culture or group to agree.

thick grove
#

I will note that most initiative practices are closed by initiation meaning you cannot use them unless you are initiated so they're partially closed in that anyone can join but you have to join to use the practices

analog quartz
#

ah so this is another thing that people might disagree on, whether it's closed or open through initiation, out of respect though I disagree in partaking in a culture where a lot of the people say it should be closed

thick grove
#

this is also the case with Judaism in that anybody can join a Jewish religion you have to be initiated to join though that makes Jewish practices closed to Jewish people

#

the only difference in this would be something like Wicca in which because it's stolen so much from other practices including druidism it can't really be closed because it's a religion built off of the stolen concepts of other religions.

analog quartz
#

our beginner's resource here has good info on closed cultures / appropriation / why certain practices are closed! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PGiAVc8xU2azcIYm5PL0gqWb-AQlFgEcaJhfIt5mZTg/edit?tab=t.0

Google Docs
𝖇𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖓𝖊𝖗 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖈𝖍 𝖘𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖌𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖊

This is a document that spiritual practitioners of all levels can use as a resource to begin their craft or to deepen their existing knowledge and strengthen their foundational understanding.

flint umbra
#

I don’t think many people are saying it’s closed though. This is truly the first time I’ve heard of it and I can’t find many other sources confirming it to be closed currently.

#

I’m familiar with closed practices, and am all for supporting and respecting closed practices and cultures like many Native American religions that are so often appropriated.

thick grove
#

if something is initiation based it means that you cannot use those practices unless you are initiated that's the point of it being initiation based

#

which is why it would be closed by initiation even if nobody says that it is "closed" bc you have to be initiated

flint umbra
thick grove
#

but there are living descendents that don't want their practices to be further taken from them /lh

tepid mirage
#

its important to respect what those within the practice say if something is closed or not

thick grove
#

your free to feel how you do but it's a bit strange to insist that something's open if the people who have created these religions are "nothing like what they used to be" when you have no proof of that.

I'm gonna step back as it seems you have your stance on this topic made and as I said earlier I'm not feeling well.

Best of luck getting your answer I'm going to continue to respect those stating it's closed as it's not a practice I'm initiated into and it's not my place to say otherwise

analog quartz
#

even though cultures can change over time, it doesn't take away from the fact that modern beliefs are still rooted in ancient ones, this doesn't make it open /lh

tepid mirage
#

are you interested in opening your mind to the fact that druidry is a closed practice that requires initiation?

analog quartz
#

and no matter what religion you're trying to study it's always important to remember the roots of that religion because often "modern" or newer religions tend to be appropriated versions

flint umbra
#

I haven’t found anything supporting that it is a closed religion, only that you need to be initiated to join the orders and groups.

analog quartz
#

something being initiation based means it is closed unless you are initiated

#

also is there a reason why you're so interested in druidry? because I'm sure there are similiar practices in other cultures that aren't closed /lh

flint umbra
#

Can you be Christian if you don’t go to church? It seems like it’s more about joining certain official groups.

analog quartz
#

like there are alternatives that might resonate with you

flint umbra
#

(Does /lh mean light hearted as a tone indicator?)

analog quartz
analog quartz
tepid mirage
#

you can go to a christian church, but you are not a christian until you are intitated /gen

#

under the church

analog quartz
#

ah that's not my experience with christianity growing up /lh

tepid mirage
#

(initiated as in baptized)

flint umbra
analog quartz
#

for us it was a personal choice that doesn't necessarily need to be made through church or baptism, but baptism is good because it's like a public acknowledgement that you are a part of the religion / church

tepid mirage
#

kinda like how you cant get married in the catholic church if you are not baptized

analog quartz
#

oo did not know that

tepid mirage
thick grove
#

it very much depends on the sect of Catholicism because I was the only baptized child in my family but my sister who is also Catholic recently got married in a Catholic Church without being baptized

tepid mirage
#

real ^

#

but nonetheless, its important to recognize when a practice is clised

analog quartz
#

I was baptist but our church had more modern beliefs, like we talked about the pros and cons of baptism and how you don't necesarily need to be baptized but it's good to do it

tepid mirage
#

closed*

flint umbra
thick grove
#

it would be closed by initiation as I have mentioned before

#

meaning you have to be initiated in order to practice it

flint umbra
#

I keep finding things saying that the initiation is only to join the orders and organizations, and that the practice itself is not closed. You just get a more complete experience and community if you join.

thick grove
#

at this point it seems like you don't necessarily care for listening to what it is that we are saying.

which is entirely fine if you again have made up your decision about how you feel about this being a close practice but we're not going to continue the conversation because it feels like we are just continuing to tell you the same thing and you are just trying to find ways to push past what it is that we're speaking on /gen

flint umbra
#

I could be misunderstanding things though, I’m open to being wrong here. There seems to be not a lot of information on it either way.

#

Sorry if I was talking past you all here. I agree with you for the most part, and I think most of my confusion stems from the difference between joining a religion and joining a church. I didn’t grow up with religion though so I could be just misunderstanding the terminology. I’ll keep doing my own digging, and appreciate you all for defending closed practices! I didn’t want to come off as an ass!

thick grove
#

you don't, don't worry /gen

we understand the confusion as this is a practice that doesn't really have a regulated religious structure like what's common

flint umbra
#

https://thedruidsgarden.com/2023/12/10/a-beginners-guide-to-druidry-and-becoming-a-druid/ Here's a resource I found that supports it being open and practicing without joining an order, but recommends it for community and resources.

The Druids Garden
A Beginner’s Guide to Druidry and Becoming a Druid - The Druids Gar...

Seemingly more now than ever before, people are seeking ways to reconnect with the living earth, with their creative gifts, and with their ancient ancestors. They are looking to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Through these practices, they hope to develop a more holistic and integrated life. People are witnessing

thick grove
#

even within that website alone it also says that you need to be sure that if you are going to do this solitarily then you should probably connect with the people and groups that are also druids within your local community so there needs to be a connection to a druid group of some kind in order for you to properly be a druid.

this is what we were talking about it's not necessarily saying that it's an open practice it's saying that you need to at least know what you're doing in order to properly call yourself a druid (this is the initiation based part of the practice)

like I said this feels kind of like you've already made up your decision about how you feel on this subject alone so it feels like we keep going in circles trying to explain this to you but you don't seem to want to listen to what we have to say on why imitation based practices are closed/nm

#

as I said in an earlier message it seems like we're going in circles so I'm going to go ahead and leave the conversation here and ask that you do as well /nm/gen

flint umbra
#

It's ok, I just wanted to add information and resources, you don't need to converse. You seemed to be saying that people need to join the orders and be formerly initiated and gain access to the specific materials and resources guarded by those groups to participate, but it seems that's not (or no longer) the case.

thick grove
#

if a specific order decides that they want their information and knowledgement to be open for the public that's one thing but to say as a whole that druidism is open because of a few organizations allowing their information to be open to the public is very misleading.

I will also note that the link that you posted also mentions that thing I mentioned earlier about shamanism and druidism being similar things in which they are not and that itself is a form of appropriation of the shaman title so I'm not going to be taking that as a valid source due to that point.

the information there may be what that specific organization is okay with which is entire right but it's important to understand that they cannot and shouldn't speak for the whole.

You are continuing to argue the point that it's open despite us asking you to no longer keep on with the conversation a few times at this point.

flint umbra
#

The author is a grand archdruid of the AODA, so I trust it as a source, but it's possible that she's also participating in the appropriation of the shaman title.

thick grove
#

yeah some people that are leaders are capable of being problematic and giving out misinformation again if this is how her organization decides to share their information that's fine but that doesn't make it true for every organization that is involved in druidism.

her her organization may be open for anyone to use but that doesn't make it the same for any others and that's what we're talking about.

#

as this is something that we've explained a few times in this chat, I'm going to ask again that we end the conversation here as we simply just keep going in circles around this issue

flint umbra
#

It seemed like you were saying druidry as a whole, rather than specific organizations.

#

I'm just trying to share information for refference.

#

Thanks for vetting sources tho, I'm not mad about that!

dreamy oar
#

Are there any beginner resources I can find on druidry?

thick grove
#

druid teachings tend to be closed because you have to be taught how to do them (and most times in person)

it's not like regular celticism where you can just pick it up and run with it

#

we have a channel here with links to books and orders that are available!

dreamy oar
thick grove
#

its okay! you could look into the sects and the books we have available and see if its something worth moving forward with! its not closed in the sense that only x people can do it but more like: you have to be taught how to

dreamy oar
thick grove
#

valid!

dreamy oar
#

Although it was tempting at first to try and connect more with my British heritage twt

thick grove
#

we do have some celtic resources which cover old british aspects if thats something your interested in?

dreamy oar
thick grove
#

as someone that worships and works within multiple pantheons: its possible! very much would be about your own comfort! i work with a bunch of irish goddesses and hellenic ones

dreamy oar
#

Ahhh I see

dreamy oar
#

@thick grove Question, if I were to get into celtic paganism, how would I refer to myself?

thick grove
#

you could be a polytheistic pagan or simply a pagan

dreamy oar
strong snow
#

Jsyk worshipping deities from different pantheons isnt a new thing! The Ancient Greeks and Ancient Egyptians shared deities catblush (idk ab other pantheons tho but I dont see why not I do it to 🤷‍♂️)

glossy sparrow
#

Does anyone have any experience or info on the Ancient Druid Order (ADO) based in the UK who were allegedly founded at the Apple Tree Tavern in 1717? This is the group that for many years conducted their rituals at Stonehenge until all the trouble there in the 80s/90s? They used to be the same Order as OBOD until OBOD split from them in 1964. They are very secretive and their members are called “companions”. They always struck me as the most professional and genuine of the old British groups. Wondered if anyone knew or had come across them?