Some History in Druidism

The Order of Druids is ageless, having existence in the dim mists of antiquity. The Druidic Order is perhaps the oldest fraternal organization in the world. The first traces of Druidism dates 6000 years before the birth of Christ or the Christian Era and far beyond the scope of written history. There seems to be no time era when evidences of their ancient existence cannot be found.

Students of antiquity find in the ancient ruins evidence in stone of that which we today call Druidism. That which marks them as Druidic is the pattern in which these stones are laid which show that their builders used certain stars and the sun as points of reference. Such monuments are found in Europe, Asia, South America and the United States. Everyone connects the ancient Druids with the British Isles. However, history reveals that the British Isles were only the last great stronghold of the brotherhood, particularly in Ireland and Wales. They also were numerous in Brittany and Normandy in France, where their monuments are still to be seen covering acres of land in geometric formation.

The members of the Ancient Brotherhood of Druids were the most learned men of their time. They were the physicians, astronomers, mathematicians, musicians, poets, philosophers, legislators and judges of the people as well as their educators in the matter of religion and learning. They were held in such esteem that the Kings sent their sons to be educated by them. In the matters of learning and government their authority was absolute. Also there is reference to Female Druid Priestesses in Celt Lore.

Since Christian times, Druids have been identified as wizards and soothsayers. In pre- Christian Celtic Society, they were and intellectual class made up of philosophers, judges, educators, historians, doctors, seers, astronomers, and astrologers. The word 'Druid' is believed to be a combination of the Greek word 'drus', meaning "an oak" and the word 'Wid', meaning to know
or to see. In Celtic society, Druid was a title given to learned men and women possessing "oak knowledge"(or "oak wisdom").

While Wicca has had a rich and mystic history, it's also been one of the most persecuted religions on earth. When the Christian came to convert the pagans, the once great Druids were ostracized and even burned and tortured, for sorcery to the Christians was the work of the devil.

Druids were the judges and lawyers of the day, very respected and awe inspiring, and when they retreated from the people who turned on them, much, almost all of the ancient knowledge was lost.

Women also lost, much of their respect and the reverence the Celtic tribes had for women was not the same ideology that the Christians followed.

Paganism was different from every other religion in that it treated women with much more respect. There were Druidesses, female rulers, such as Boadicea who ruled the Iceni. Women were warriors, like Medb of Connacht, who commanded her army and personally slew the warrior Cethren in combat. They were ambassadors, some were involved in the treaty between Hannibal and the Celtic Volcae.

The position of women in the Brehon Law System was amazingly advanced compared with the rest of the world. They were lawyers and judges and queens, while women in other parts of the world were the chattels of men. Even in some religions today women are not given the power that men have.

Druidesses were considered very powerful and wise. In fact in the Tripartite Life of Patrick, in his canons Patrick warns kings not to accept the advice of Druids and Druidesses, but especially asks god to protect him from Druidesses.

The catholic saint, Brigit, was a Druidess who converted to Christianity. Many of her festivals and traits were grafted on to the Catholic saint.

Wicca is rich in cultural history and steeped in mysticism. There is no bible, no great works to adhere to. Many of the written works of the Druids, the rods of the Fili were burnt by the Christians, the only works surviving were set in stone and not the combustible wooden rods.
The Druids believed the human soul indestructible, immortal. Death is a changing of place, and life went on in another world, a world of the dead. The Summerland, Otherworld, whatever you want to call it. When people died in that world, they were reborn in this one, so a constant exchange of souls took place between the two worlds. The Celts celebrated a birth with mourning for a death in the Otherworld, a regarded death with joy of rebirth in the Otherworld. Some believe that this is why the Celtic Warriors were so fierce in battle. There was no fear for them, only the joy of rebirth. Wiccans believe the same. When there is a death of a Wiccan we wish good journey to the departed.

In the middle ages Pagans, Witches, were routed out and destroyed. Burned, drowned, tortured, hundreds of thousands of them. Mostly women, but men and children weren't ignored either. If they tried to defend their wives, mothers, daughters, they were suspect too. In two villages in Germany the witch finders went through, at the end of their inquisition there were two women left between the villages.
It isn't over. It exists even today; this fear and hatred of Wiccans.