THE Druids boasted a faith which appears to have been as imbued with life as that of any ancient or modern religious system. although little is known generally about it.Although their religion was polytheistic in character the Druids recognized a supremacy among the gods, this Supreme being represented by the sun. Next in point Of rank came the lesser divinities, who were symbolized by the moon and stars, and. in course of time. all the celestial bodies were venerated with divine honors. This characteristic was not more marked in Druidism than in other religions of a like nature where the elements were venerated. The sun as sun was not worshiped. The arch-god was Be'l, whose glory was manifested in the sun, and in singing hymns to the luminous orb they manifested their worship to the Supreme and not to the emblem. paying their adoration to what they regarded as the supreme power and eternal being.It was doubtless this veneration of the celestial bodies which laid the foundation of the knowledge possessed by the Druids of astronomical science. to which Czesar and other writers have borne testimony. They were certainly in possession of sufficient knowledge of the motion of heavenly bodies to enable them to fix definite times for their festivals and religious ceremonies, all of which were regulated by the sun and moon, and to calculate on a thirty-year cycle of lunar years in which the month began at the Sixth day. In common with the Gauls, Teutons, and Jews, they reckoned time from evening to morning

The Druid tradition lies at the heart of Western spirituality and today it is experiencing a renaissance unprecedented in its long history. The Druids, like the Native Americans and Aborigines, revere and respect the earth. They see Nature as their teacher and mother. Today, Druidry offers a spiritual way that includes an understanding of healing, creativity and the need to place our love for the land at the centre of our lives. Drawn together in this collection are contributions from Druid Chiefs from Britain, France and America together with writers and mystics, healers and psychologists, professors and historians, which express the excitement and breadth of the modern Druid renaissance. This book is a celebration of the flowering of a tradition that is ancient yet ever-new.

Druidism, the ancient shamanic religion of Britain is experiencing a major revival there and in America. This book is both a complete description of the Druid Way as well as a fascinating tour of the major Druid sites, ruins, and "power places". Includes specific suggestions for bringing this ancient wisdom tradition into our own lives and activities.

Britain's pagan past, with its mysterious monuments, atmospheric sites, enigmatic artifacts, bloodthirsty legends, and cryptic inscriptions, is both enthralling and perplexing to a resident of the twenty-first century. In this ambitious and thoroughly up-to-date book, Ronald Hutton reveals the long development, rapid suppression, and enduring cultural significance of paganism, from the Paleolithic Era to the coming of Christianity. He draws on an array of recently discovered evidence and shows how new findings have radically transformed understandings of belief and ritual in Britain before the arrival of organized religion. Setting forth a chronological narrative, Hutton along the way makes side visits to explore specific locations of ancient pagan activity. He includes the well-known sacred sites—Stonehenge, Avebury, Seahenge, Maiden Castle, Anglesey—as well as more obscure locations across the mainland and coastal islands. In tireless pursuit of the elusive “why” of pagan behavior, Hutton astonishes with the breadth of his understanding of Britain’s deep past and inspires with the originality of his insights.

The classic guide to living a spiritual life rooted in Celtic antiquity and revived to meet the challenges of contemporary life. Druidry offers people a path of harmony through reconnection with the green Earth. The Druidry Handbook is the first hands-on manual of traditional British druid practice that explores the Sun Path of seasonal celebration, the Moon Path of meditation, and the Earth Path of living in harmony with nature as tools for crafting an Earth-honoring life here and now. From ritual and meditation to nature awareness and ecological action, John Michael Greer opens the door to a spirituality rooted in the living Earth. Featuring a mix of philosophy, rituals, spiritual practice, and lifestyle issues, The Druidry Handbook is an essential guide for those seriously interested in practicing a traditional form of druidry. It offers equal value to eclectics and solitary practitioners eager to incorporate more Earth-based spirituality into their own belief system.

This is the first survey of religious beliefs in the British Isles from the Stone Age to the coming of Christianity. Hutton draws upon a wealth of new data to reveal some important rethinking about Christianization and the decline of paganism.