Druids in the New Age

In 1717, well after the darkness of the Inquisition had finally lifted, a few men and women resolved to bring the teachings and traditions of Druidism to Light once again, forming "The Most Ancient Order of Druids". The first Chief of this order was John Toland, who united five factions of Druids that had been practicing in secret throughout Britain. Other early leaders of this organization included the famous William Blake. Lewis Spence, Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton, Bulwar Lytton and Dr. John Dee were most likely Druids as well. In 1964 this group evolved into two separate factions. One became known as "The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids". The other offshoot that developed from this group was "The Ancient Druid Order" who greeted the Summer Solstice within the stone circle of Stonehenge until the recent ban on its use.

The Druidic tradition has found a resurgence in America with the dawning of the Aquarian Age of Knowledge. Groups here include The Henge of Keltria, The Druidic Craft of the Wise, The Reformed Druids of North America, Ar nDraiocht Fein: A Druidic and extension Grove of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Numerous traditions of the Old Wisdom Religion, or Wicca have also surfaced in America and Europe. The darkness of the Roman Inquisition has left a lingering shadow over this Natural Religion of the Celtic people. The term "witchcraft" evokes an image of evil and devil worship to most people. Other Roman derogatory terms that have left their mark in our language were references to the Highlanders of the Scottish heaths, or "Heathens". The mountain people of Italy who refused to accept Roman civilization were called the "Pagoni", which was later shortened to "pagans".

The Archdruid Agricola, who led the Druidic Council into the Christian tradition, had foretold that in the time of Aquarius, the Golden Age of Knowledge, a child of Druidism would arise to guide the people of the world onto the Pathway to Perfection in this New Age. All the ancient Wisdom would be recalled by the spirits of the Old Ones who would be reborn at that time.

This Age of Knowledge dawned over the center of the American continent at the Winter Solstice of 1970. At that time Jupiter, Mars and Venus moved into a conjunction in the sign of Scorpio, forming a brilliant star in the heavens during the early morning hours that Christmas Day. Three months later, astrologers watched in the dawning hours of the Equinox as the rising sun's rays touched the first stars of Aquarius.

Since that time, the world has begun a transformation of ideas and goals. The Christian Era, symbolized by the sign of the Piscean Fish, is its closing chapter. The mystery religion of the Pharaohs yielded to the Mosaic Laws in the Age of Aries, and this Judaic tradition was transcended by the Belief system in the Piscean Age. So must the era of Belief now give way to the time of Knowledge as we enter the New Age of Aquarius. In recent years, communications systems have given all of us the opportunity to share Knowledge and Understandings in ways never before possible. The Internet abounds with spiritual, mystical and magical sites that provide people with an opportunity to explore many new avenues of thought never before accessible to them. At the center of this new frontier can be found the ancient wisdom of the Druids, calling for us to renew the bonds of kinship that once guided our Celtic ancestors.



Information Sources


The Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright © 1913 by the Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
The Canons of the Council of Orange (529 AD) Posted by: Lon Mendelsohn
INDEX CHRISTIA File Archives (listserv@asuvm.inre.asu.edu)
Augustine and Pelagius , by R.C. Sproul
The History and Origins of Druidism, by Lewis Spence, Rider and Co., 1949
The Celts, by T.G.E Powell, Thames & Hudson, 1958
Celtic Myth and Legend, by Charles Squire, Gresham Publishing
The High Kings, by Joy Chant, Bantam Books, 1983
History of England, by W.E. Hunt, Harper & Brothers, 1945
Mediaeval History, by Carl Stephenson, Harper & Row, 1935
Gwers of the Bardic Grade, Gwers One, by The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
Oral traditions from Father Eli, Druidic Craft of the Wise