The wisdom of druids and bards

ANNY Maus fougar gen hos © ae issituation keeps the consciousness sharp and alert, EN B A eeAfter all, we do not know where any EN nag ir The ancient Celtic peoples, led and taught by the druids, possessed a culture, society and _ Wasshould a hiiman being’s point of departure be, if he, on his way to gaining ! inner ansciousne 8, wants to achieve certain results? Should he switch off his critical 5 consciousness that was totally differentfrom ours. In her book The Flaming Door, Eleanor ieee and the salvation of his soul depend on hazarding to nisation ora faith, or some movement? C. Merry described in general terms the conditions on being able to approach their way of thinking: yey | apes prope ersstays with the seeker during his entire path? Isit a power into © pure ‘i‘intuition’ and ensuress that the human beingssays Derreenataggart . (Derrintaggart). ~ quest for the truth,they:go ntinto the certainties people believe they possess. They also speak:about the powers that control the human being and about the small margin between His strugglefor life and the longing of the soul. They point out the pitfalls of our (lower)tonsciousness, the many limitations imposed by nature, buc also Tr we neither possessed modern science, Rainbow above a logic, our arrogant opinions or'the bewilstone circle near derment about death, and had no other Castletownbere conscience than the powerful, visible results of our deeds; if sleeping were like on the Veara :, theliberating possibilities of the soul, because we are often seeking with our head, but find with our heart. This is the first of vwo issues of the Pentagram, in which your attention is drawn to some of these thinkers or philosophical systems. Many of them found the truth. In this process, the seeking element became a property of the heart, which unfailingly heen separates what is true from what is false and what is genuine from what is fake. Pentagram. an awakening; if our personal memory only came to us through the repeated and solemn expression of the handwriting of Irish name means the stars; if “history” were like reading in *(Place of the) oak the blood of our forebears that streams of the priest! © through our veins; if our head felt like a west Ireland, Tha model of the whole earth that we carry on our shoulders in the rhythmic balance of our movements; if our heart were an image of the sun and our lungs the wings of the moon that protect it... yes, then the whole universe would be a powerful gesture of the spirit; then we would move around in the dreams and visions of the gods, and the earth would be our table into which we would carve, in stone and wood, our everlasting deeds.” But this is only an approximation. The visions that the bards and druids expe-

rienced during their worship are not easily accessible to us. In this time, however, in which everything is documented, we are able to clearly place the universal principles of the wisdom of their mysteries before us. The wisdom of the ancient druidic mysteries partly symbolised achieving individual independence and becoming conscious of matter in the material, external field of life. This development was the central issue in the centuries before Christ, while in our time, dematerialisation and detaching from the links to the external world are emphasised. Confronted with each other, we recognise a development that makes the human being conscious of the material world in which he lives, and a development that tries to pull him out of it. The first one is considered to be the ancient, descending or incarnating development, guided by the druidic mysteries. The second one is the modern impulse to detach from this same matter again. It is one aspect of the universal principle of flowing out and returning, of exhaling what is eternal and returning to the source, which applies to all planes of life. According to sources that were not recorded until the beginning of the Christian era, but are considered reliable by most experts, the Druids experienced the cosmic Christ in a clairvoyant and visionary way. They referred to him as ‘the hearing and seeing were one, united in Top, left page: Celtic Lord of the Elements.’ All who have studied the history of the Celts and their one form and sound. And united with gods were often form and sound was life, and united with represented in spiritual teachers agree about one point: these three was the power which was God groups of three, the Roman sources of our knowledge of the Father. And because each of them was teachings were also the Celts were often prejudiced, because it was the history of the victors. Victors are always right — until authentic sources surface that qualify their story. They usually tell an entirely different story, certainly concerning the Celts. One of these sources is Bardass, a ma- 2-Tara : pani spa Fontes Kellsche united into one, Menw understood that any voice, any hearing and life and being, any vision and seeing was one with God, mouth of Welsh bards. Like all ancient even the tiniest creature is none other than God.” Two things strike us in this text: the unity that flows out into a number of qualities. This is encountered in many traditions of wisdom: it is also called the sources of wisdom, this was only passed emanation, the flowing out of all beings, on orally for centuries. Not until the first all forms and phenomena from one centuries AD, there were bards who, source. In the Welsh tradition, perception nuscript that was once recorded from the 1 Armagh triads, just as their passed on in triads. Because of the bread and the linen in their lap, this relief of the mother goddess in three figures symbolises the abundance of life. © Ulster Museum, Above, right and left: Dolmen and and hearing appeared simultaneously, megalithic complex in writing, The copies we nowadays followed by their use in letters and of Carrowmore, possess are adaptations of those first written versions, In some places, the content was Christianised, but this does symbols; then came the understanding of Siigo County, sound and speech, and the music of song _ treland. together with monks, put these traditions not detract from the ‘primordial wisdom’ that we can sense in it. Bardass relates the story of Menw or Manu as ‘the Son of the three cries’ He had a vision of the creative word, in which and poetry. In brief, it was an ever-continuing differentiation without loss of unity. No break occurs anywhere in The Burren, Clare creation, ‘even the tiniest creature is none County, Western other than God.” Ireland. This is a soThe second central issue is the image called portal tomb, - of the three pillars. Upon hearing the prispoke His name, the light and the life ori- mordial sound, Menw heard three tones . he heard the name of God: “When God ginated with the word, because before and he saw three letters. He also beheld there was no life except for God himself. His name was spoken, and by speaking it, the light and the power of life were created the symbols that belonged to it: ‘The symbol O was given to the first pillar, the symbol I to the second or middle pillar, as well as the human being and every other living thing. And Menw beheld the emanation, the form and appearance of and the symbol W belongs to the third pillar. This forms the word OIW This means: through this word, God reveals his creation: life, power, eternity, universality. It was at the same time the manifestathe light in the three pillars and its musical expression in the rays of the light, because Above, centre: Poulnabrone Dolmen at and the best-known dolmen of treland. According to the ancient Irish legend The running away of Diarmuid and Grainne (‘Grain goddess”), this dolmen was their sleeping-place during their flight from the mythical hero Finn Mac Cocl. © Pentagram.

light, art and knowledge, power and wisdom etcetera, love arises in the middle portedly had three stages: from the fixed constellations through the planetary and ignites everything in great harmony unto a great fusion of light. This can also spheres to the world of the elements. A be found in the Judeo-Christian tradition: Christ, as the manifestation of this power of love, does not come to abolish the (Jewish) law, but to fulfil it, as he explains. Wisdom and power are united in love. ‘The realisation of the inherent truth in this ancient story is the heart and the essence ‘Radiant One’, that he was thrice-born: of any study of Celtic mythology — or rather of all secrets of life. There is a triad everywhere. The human being, as the third one, can associate in any relationship to the other two.” The human task is to combine the arts, science and religion within himself. When he realises this unity, it will radiate in society and in culture. That it concerns more than just the reconciliation between true bard could say, just like Taliesin, the “Three times I was born.I know how to contemplate. It is sad that people do not seek all knowledge of the world that is gathered in my bosom. For1 know all that ever was and all that will be.’ Every night, while asleep, a druid — someone who had accomplished a threefold initiation — consciously travelled through the three spheres (elements, planets and stars) and before awakening, in reverse order. To him, sleeping was, therefore, an awakening and death did not frighten him. The druid or bard who was initiated in the mysteries and had become a seer, felt himself to be a miniature model of the universe. From great heights, he looked the two extremes of the arts and science, is shown by another source from Celtic mythology. This refers to the story of down at the great ‘cosmic instrument’ in its twelvefold and sevenfold order. From ‘Annwns’ Take? (also called ‘The Depth’). cular, the knowledge of all the realms lying below it. Thus he became acquainted This story is attributed to the bard Taliesin, whose name means ‘radiant brow’, symbolising an enlightened person. The poem deals with a journey in a ship through seven enclosed spaces, circles, or sanctuaries (called ‘Caers’ in the text), The ship’s crew consists of twelve people, with the thirteenth one in the middle: Arthur. This isn’t just the this also emerged, for the druids in partiwith the secrets of, for example, earthly magnetism, but also with the reflection of influences emanating from the constella- tions and planets in the human body and in the planetary world. On this basis, he developed a form of medicine. The bard Left: Gaul fighter on an armour belt from Slovenia; 4" century BC. heard the melodies and the harmonies of Above: We know the higher worlds. But it was not his lower many examples of image of the legendary Round Table, but personality that had this heavenly music also and above all a representation of the zodiac with the sun in its centre. In the poem, the seven planetary spheres are ‘visited’ by the twelve signs of the zodiac. The path of the bards and druids purat his disposal, but his self. The name of this self, which was united with divinity, was LAU, also called ‘the Younger’. This is also universal. We find a similar name in the Stanzas ofDzyan (that were richiy-worked shields, like chis bronze, openwork shield from the Chariot tomb at Cuperly, Marne, France.

To the druid or bard, the journey to Annwn's Take led into the depths. Before bers his heavenly destiny again. He turns to the inner spiritual being again. he finally descended into ‘Gwair’s jail’, Finally, Taliesin sings before Elphin’s his body, everything had to be ‘in good wife, his soul. He enters the hall where order’, that is, in accordance with the cosmic laws. The just person, we can find in the text that reads like the report he will sing, and all twenty-four bards are silenced by the genius that radiates through his recitation. In the number of an initiation, ‘bears the heavy, blue twenty-four, we recognise a universal chain’ He is subjected to the inevitable impurities and the heaviness of physical life (the blood). He also enters the world, referred to as Vediwid. He has to be well prepared for his descent. It is the experience of stepping outside himself for the first time in order ‘to become acquainted with the world, of uniting with the world by experiencing its spiritual reality and not the illusion of its physical nature. Otherwise, the ‘brightly burning sword’ symbol again. In the Christian and gnostic tradition, they are called the “Twenty-four Elders: They represent the two times twelve signs of the zodiac: the first time during the descent — the old lights — and the second time during the ascent, the ‘the way of the stars’ — the Fragments of a Celtic calendar from Coligny (Ain), 2 century BC. The Celts had a five-year cycle of 62 months, Ina complex system based on the rhythms of the sun and the moon, and show a refined understanding of the stars and their movements. will be lifted against him, and he will not be able to cross the threshold of spiritual consciousness. Parade helmet of bronze and iron, gold and coral from Agris (Charente), later translated for the West by H P Blaaround, We have now reached the nadir of vatsky): ‘Behold, oh Lanoo, the radiant child of the two, the unparalleled refulmaterialism and crystallisation, and the way back or upward leads via the four elements or building stones (interpreted gent glory, bright space, son of dark space, which emerges from the depths of the Saciëté Archéogreat dark waters! It is Oeachoo the logique et Histoyounger. He shines forth as the son. He is rique de la the blazing divine dragon of wisdom.” Charente, AngouIn our time, the perspective has turned lême, France. approx. 400 BC, Musée de la allegorically) through the planetary spheres to the world of the fixed stars, to the zodiac. If this path of initiation is walked, the ancient glory of the microcosmic human being is restored. Charged with the ‘take’ the treasure of experience, Taliesin finally returns to the higher worlds, but with another name: Elphin, the ‘Son of Man’ In him A Gaul god carries a wild boar on his chest and has an extra eye on the side of his trunk. The lives Taliesin, the immortal spirit, the wild boar was the microcosm. Elphin may be temporarily separated from Taliesin, but that is only appearances, He is ensnared and imprisoned in his earthly destiny. Taliesin resymbol of the leases him from it, and Elphin remem- RMN/Man. fighter/king, the eye refers to knowledge of the two worlds. ©

new lights on the inner firmament. At the end of our efforts And then the pre-Christian aspect the tongues will become extinct. miraculously merges with the Christian aspect in his song: Thefiery soul will travel through the clouds ‘John the Prophet with the children ofthe Seraphim. Your people will ascend towards Elphin’s redemption.’ I was called by Merddin (Merlin), ultimately every king will call me Taliesin. I was with my Lord in the highest spheres, when Lucifer fell into the depths ofhell. I carried the banner for Alexander; I know the names ofthe stars . The druids, an Introductior@&o | In the various Celtic communities, the druids played a decisive part. There is a world ofdifference between the romanticfantasy images and the documented reports that were written by historians and chroniclersfrom classical antiquity. Fiction tells about a majestic, grey-haired old man with a wavy beard and hair, who is surrounded by an otherworldly light in the oak woods, collecting mistletoe; ——whoutters prophecies and brings sacrifices, including human ones, on the stone altars called dolmen. Reality was quite different: possibly more sober but just asfascinating. from north to south, Iwas on the cross ofthe horse The word druid is not related to ofElijah and Enoch. I bung on the tall cross ofthe merciful son ofGod. the word oak. For centuries, this We can trace the Celts in England and Wales (Cymru) as Cymmerians, „was assumed groundlessly. This is because Pliny the Elder spoke in as Gauls. According to tradition, these people colonized ‘a virginal In Ireland as Gaels, in Scotland as Gaels and Picts and in France (Gaul) his Naturalis Historia XVI, 24 land’ in ancient times. Druidism was organised around 1800 BC under I was in Canaan about the bards’ devotion to misthe leadership of Hu Gadarn (Stonehenge). He was a contemporary of when Absalomfell; tletoe and where it grows. ‘They perform no sacred rites without oak leaves; so that the very name of Druids may be regarded as a Greek appellation.’ Thus it was concluded that the word derived from the Greek word drus (oak), Abraham and the patriarch of his people. The Celts did not commit 1 was in the hall ofDon before Gwydion was born (Mercury or Hermes). REFERENCES: I 1 was in heaven with Mary Magdalene. ‘Translated from the Dutch text of: Eleanor C. Merry: The Flaming Door. The Mission ofthe Celtic Folk-Soul. New Knowledge Books, anything to writing, not even religious matters, nor did they ever build altars in which metal or nails were used. They formed the biblical ‘stone kingdom! We may perceive an impression of their wanderings by following the pyramid-shaped stone heaps = the cairns ~ from the Middle East to Britain: from their original land beyond the river Euphrates (about 3000 years BC) to their new dwelling places on the island and in Gaul around the beginning of our era. waiting to liberate him. Then Elphin East Grinstead, UK, 1936. Reprinted in 1962, 1983 and 1984 (Harper Collins, London). Ibid. The W is equal to the U and is pronounced as U in Welsh, so OIU. 4 “Translated from the Dutch text of: Eleanor C. Merry: The Flaming Door. The Mission ofthe arises from the earthly personality and Celtic Folk-Soul. New Knowledge Books, be assumed that druid means becomes the son of God again, who he East Grinstead, UK, 1936. Reprinted in 1962, ‘man of the trees’ or ‘knowledge- Erecting à ‘stone heap of the witness’ became a religious tradition of always was but who was forgotten. He regains his initiation name: Taliesin. 1983 and 1984 (Harper Collins, London). able one’ derived from the Indothe Hebrews and the Cates. Ic testified to their unshakeable belief in Ibid. H P Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine. Stanza IH, verse 7. Theosophical University Press Online Edition. European word ‘wid’ which the covenant between them and the one invisible God. I received my inspiration from the Cauldron ofCeridwen.’ Every human being is a son of man, Elphin. In every human being, Taliesin is Elphin-Taliesin represents the whole of humanity. It is splendidly expressed in the lines of the poem ‘Royal Cadeir’: and this conclusion is still supported by some people to this day. But it is quite different. In . Nordic mythology, there is a According to tradition, the first stone heap was erected by Jacob as a connection between ‘tree’ and and they took stones, and made a heap; and they are there by the heap, ‘knowledge’. Pliny speaks about trees and not about oaks, It may Laban calted it Jegar-sahaducha; but Jacob called ir Gateed. Laban said: the name Galeed.’ (Gen.31:4548) means. wisdom. Bards worked in communities that: have been classified as Celtic, This token or a contract between Laban and himself ‘So Jacob took 2 stone. and set it up as a pillar. And Jacob said to his kinsmen: “Gather stones.» “This heap is a witness between you and me today.» Therefore it got

Page Ii: Sandstone Etruscan stele from Bologna. The bottom image shows the struggie between an Etruscan knight and a Gaul warrior. Right: Martin Linnartz. Mistletoe In an oak, Pencil drawing, 1981. group of peoples lived in areas stretching from Hungary to the British Isles, from the plain of the Po to the Rhine estuary and from far in Eastern Europe and Asia Minor to North Africa, Spain and France. In De Bello Gallico VI, 13/14, Caesar says of them:". the druids preserve the religion, perform sacrifices and explain che teachings. Many young men are educated by them, and they are revered as their judgment is decisive in almost any conflict. They administer justice and make laws, they solve disputes concerning inheritances or borders, and they determine penalties or rewards. If an individual or atribe does not obey, they exclude those involved from practicing religious duties. Obviously, this is the ultimate penalty for the Gauls... They do not usually partake in wars and do not have to bear weapons...” The term druid covered much, as there wi denmost diverging ‘specialised in philosophy’ The authors of antiquity always spoke Myles Dillon, a former professor In addition to the Roman chroniof Celtic at the university of cles, much is known about the admiringly about the druids and never considered them primitive wizards. Diviciacus says in his De Dublin, gives a whole series of remarkable similarities between the cultures of the Aryan Indians and the Irish druids. druids in ancient Britain, Ireland and Wales through traditions and documents from early Christianity. The origin of Christianity in divinatione, I, go ‘He (the druid) claimed to know the laws of nature, which the Greeks have called physiology, and he possessed the power to predict the future by observing and explaining the signs.’ Hippolytus says in his work Fylosophumena, 1, 25 that the druids have made a thorough study of the teachings of Pythagoras, and Clemens of Alexandria states in his Stromata I, XV, 71 that Pythagoras was not only a pupil of the Brahmans, but that he had also studied with the druids. The Brahmans and the druids may be EROMES er TS 9 aeoe Ze Diclordes icily’ co gelu wdesthat A nos ritualis performed oe hou the presence of a druid wie compared as their ‘professions’ of teaching and studying, poetry and legislature were similar. The starting point of Celtic law was identical to that of ancient India. In ancient Greece, one was England and the events of the first amazed that the druids possessed a significant philosophical system and that these barbarians (any centuries were quite different from what the church wanted usto believe. The earliest information non-Greek or non-Roman people) about Britain can only be obtained from Roman writers like Julius knew a philosophical and religious tradition of such a high intellectual and spiritual level. Caesar said about the Celts: ‘The druids teach that the souls do not disappear but proceed from one body to another.’ Next to the king stood the druid. Together they ruled the land, In a Celtic community, the state, the temporal, stood in the service of the wisdom of the druids, the eternal. With the Romans and later with the Roman-Christian church, the eternal stood in the service of the temporal. Caesar, Dio Cassius, Tacitus, Suetonius and Jater Roman authors. However, the available records show that Britain possessed a . highly developed civilisation and culture at the time and could certainly not be described as ‘barbaric’ ‘Civilised and courteous to strangers’ was how Diodorus Siculus (died 14 BC) characterised Britain’s inhabitants. “They are honest and have integrity; they are far removed from the tricks of certain people among us, they are