As to when exactly this type of magic arose, disputes are ongoing to this day. Some believe that the origins of Druid witchcraft date back to the time of the Sumerians. Others argue that it first arose in the Persian kingdom, while others see the primary source of this type of witchcraft in the scientific research of the ancient Greek philosophers - Pythagoras and Plato. But whatever its origin, druidic magic is still considered one of the most powerful.
What is the basis of the witchcraft of the Celtic priests?
The magic of the druids was largely based on the use of the powers of plants. For example, there was a special rite of cutting mistletoe grown on it from the bark of an oak tree. Then a special elixir was made from it, which treated various diseases. Druids lived in the forests, where they studied the properties of plants and methods of gaining power over forest spirits. According to legends, they could turn trees into huge warriors with the help of spells, the crowds of which defeated enemy armies.
The magic of the druids allowed these priests to destroy mountains, cause rain, fog, storms. At their will, they could force new sources of water to rise from the ground. Druids could also drain various water bodies - rivers, lakes. Only beliefs have survived about all this, but you can’t prove the opposite either.
The priests of the Celts (in particular, the Gauls) were among the most skilled magicians at that time. Today the Gauls are unfairly considered a barbarian people. Usually they are shown in movies as constantly drinking savages in horned helmets. But it is not so. The Gauls were a highly developed people, and even Aristotle called them "skillful and wise." But their priests, the druids, were even more advanced.
Who are these mysterious druids?
Many are interested in the question of who the druids are and whether they exist now. This type of magic has existed since the 2nd century BC. BC e. according to the 1st century n. e. Over time, its traditions were forgotten, but even now many are trying to revive them.
Druids are called the mysterious class of priests of the Celtic tribes. They were called teachers, and philosophers, and shamans. There is very little information about the druids left. They transmitted their teaching without the use of writing, from memory. Therefore, to a large extent, druids are romanticized or, on the contrary, demonized.
The very word "druid", apparently, means "oak", "wisdom", "strong". One of the most complete sources of information about this caste of priests was Caesar's Notes on the Gallic War. They tell firsthand about the military operations with Gaul (today's France), which were conducted in 59-51. BC e. Historians note that in this source it is difficult to separatetrue data from Roman propaganda. Caesar himself mentions the Druids, assuring that they lived off the donations of the community and enjoyed other religious benefits.
Pliny's version
There are a large number of legends about the magic of the druids. It was said that they carried fair winds in their bags, with the help of which the speed of their movement was significantly increased; out of nowhere they pulled out terrible black blades that could hit the enemy. Another chronicle of the Druids belongs to Pliny. He despised any witchcraft, but considered it his duty to honestly present information about the superpowers of the Celtic priests. His writings will be of interest to anyone who asks the question: "Who are they - the druids?" Pliny wrote that the Druids worked their magic with the help of various elements. They used the help of water and fire (including "wandering lights" - small shining balls that could be found in the forest), air, earth, sun and stars.
Pliny in his works suggested that the history of the secret teachings of Druid magic originates in the Persian kingdom. There, witchcraft was inextricably linked with knowledge in the field of astronomy, medicine, and mathematics. In addition, Pliny himself drew an analogy between the druids and other historical figures - Moses, Pythagoras, Plato.
Starting a fire
The most important days for the practice of druid magic are called "holidays of fire". This is:
- April 30 - Beltane;
- June 21 - summer equinox, Lita;
- December 21 - Midwinter Day, Yule;
- October 31 - Halloween.
These days ritual fires are lit on the hilltops. The flame was produced by rubbing wooden objects, lightning fire, solar lenses. Nowadays, almost all followers of druidic magic use crystals or lenses to make fire.
Druids' exercises for getting into a trance
A special place in this branch of witchcraft is occupied by the inner, spiritual world. In a state of relaxation and inner harmony, the druids could see the past and the future. This practice begins with the help of special breathing. During the exercises, you need to listen to your own heartbeat with your eyes closed, relax. Students achieve a breathing rhythm in which three heartbeats occur per inhalation and the same number per exhalation. In such a state, the druid could take any material object in his hand and tell about everything that happened to him and will happen.
Breath of Death
Only a few of the druids mastered another technique - the "breath of death". In it, there is one breath for 5 heart beats and an exhalation for the same number of heart beats. The sages taught this technique to their students, bringing them to the cemetery. Lying down on the burial, the druids could "trace" the life of the deceased person. The Celtic priests also used the same method in cases where the necessary information could only be known to a deceased person.
Curse of the Druids
No accurate evidence of the secret teachings of the magic of the druids at presentno time. The only existing sources that are known today were written in our millennium, when the druids themselves were long gone. But people continue to believe in mysterious things and strive to master the ancient knowledge. Literary sources give only a general idea of what the magic of the druids was, the spells and rituals they used.
For example, one of the most effective spells was a curse. Its effect was completely unpredictable, and the sacrament itself required considerable preparation. It had to be thought out to the smallest detail; For the ceremony to take place, a lot of conditions had to be met. For example, the magician had to climb to the top of the hill, located on the border of the seven edges. At the same time, one of the sacred plants of the priests was supposed to grow nearby: hawthorn, hazel. In some cases, the wind was required to blow in a certain direction. The magician and the cursed person should have stood side by side. If the cursed was wrong, the earth absorbed him after casting the spell. If a druid, then he fell into the ground along with those who stood next to him. Perhaps all this is just literary hyperbole, or perhaps the magic and spells of the druids were able to set the earth in motion.
Spell for good luck
Words must be spoken aloud, gradually increasing intonation. If you need luck in love affairs, you should pronounce the words looking to the east. If Fortune's help is needed in money - to the west. In other matters, this spell will be most successful if you pronounce it facing north -for men and south for women). The words for this druidic luck spell are:
Agro - oji - hin - yus - ais - is - yuji - os.
This witchcraft is universal. If you say it in the morning hours for nine days in a row, then during this time any plan will be fulfilled.
Druid Magic: Increase Magic Power Spell
This spell is used to enhance the impact of other rites. The power of the druid after reading these words is amplified several times. These words are also used to enter a state of trance or a lucid dream to search for answers to questions of interest.
"A elvintodd dvir sinddin dio kerrig ir vverllurig noin; os syriaeht ekkh savvaer ti veor elhlin mor, nekrombor alin".
Achievement Spell
Pronounced three times in a row. Helps to achieve the necessary goal or restore the expended internal forces.
Ah elf-in todd deer sin-din deo, kare-ig oo-ir vair-loo-rig noon. Oh's sear-ee-eth ehl sah-fair too, fair ell-lehn sea, no-krom-bore loon.
Spell to summon the power of stone
Helps to call for help the magical energy contained in the stone. Can be pronounced on any stone. But this spell will be most powerful if the magician uses his own stone, which he wears for protection and energy replenishment.
A elfintodd dvir sinddin duv kerrig ir ffferllurignwin, os syriaet ek saffaer to fevreklin mor nekrombor llun.
Spell of Fear
Helps the druid confuse his ill-wisher, instill strong fear in him. Pronounced in a whisper or mentally. In this case, it is necessary to look into the eyes of the enemy:
Nid dim ond duv nid duv ond dim.
The Mistletoe Gathering Rite
Mistletoe (a parasitic shrub that grows on other trees) was the object of superstitious worship among the Celtic priests. Pliny wrote that she was worshiped by the Druids. After listing the different types of this plant, Pliny writes that mistletoe was worshiped throughout Gaul, and in the eyes of the Druids "there is nothing more sacred than mistletoe and the tree on which it grows." In addition, the sacred groves of the Druids were oak forests, and not a single magical act of these priests could do without oak leaves. Everything that grows on oak is considered a gift from heaven, since this tree was chosen by God himself.
Oak mistletoe is very rare and is harvested in elaborate ceremonies. The sacraments are performed on the sixth lunar day, since at this time the moon has not yet reached the middle of its path and is not at a loss.
At the end of the preparations for the sacrifices, the druids turned to the oak. They brought to him two white bulls, which had never been tied by the horns in their lives. A druid dressed in white must climb a tree and cut the mistletoe with a sickle made of gold. Then the mistletoe is placed on a white cloth, and sacrifices are made around it. During the ritual, magicians ask the Higher powers not to deprivethe mercy of those who are already gifted with blessings. Pliny also wrote about the Druid belief that a potion of mistletoe helped barren cattle bring forth offspring, and that mistletoe was an excellent remedy to neutralize the effects of any poison.
Oak mistletoe
Pliny also pointed out that the mistletoe that grew on oak had the highest value for healers. The superstitious Gauls believed that the effectiveness of this remedy increased if it was plucked from a tree on the first lunar day without the use of iron objects. The mistletoe must not touch the ground.
If obtained in this way, then the drug from it will become an effective medicine against epilepsy. Mistletoe also helped those women who want to get pregnant. The plant contributed to the healing of ulcers, and was also used as a talisman protecting against fires.
The rite of sacrifice
The magic of the druids, spells and rituals of this caste of priests can not always be called humane. For example, the ancient Greek historian Strabo described in his works the rite of human sacrifice. The doomed victim was stabbed in the back with a sword, and then, while she was dying, the future was foretold.
Most historians point out that the druids resorted to such brutal rites on rare occasions - only when the tribe was in serious danger.
This case was the invasion of the Roman army into the territory of the Celts. At that time, human sacrifices were not uncommon, which is confirmed by archaeological finds. For example, onone of the peat bogs in the north-western territories of England found the well-preserved remains of a young man. Archaeologists have found that he was first hit with an ax on the skull, and then his throat was cut. Mistletoe pollen was found on the body of the victim, and therefore scientists have linked this murder to the druids. Who they are, it became a little more clear to scientists - after such finds, the Celtic priests no longer arouse admiration and delight.
Prophecy of the Druids
The ancient language of the Druids, in which prophetic predictions were recorded, is extremely difficult to understand. For example, the monk Murkhu cites one of the texts of the prophecy:
The skinhead will come
Because of the crazy sea, His cloak with a hole for his head, His staff is bent at the top, His desk is in the west of his house;
All his people will say, "Amen, amen."
Supposedly, it refers to St. Patrick, who brought Christianity to the Celtic pagans.
Printed publications
There aren't many books about druidic magic. This is not surprising, because what little knowledge about the Celtic sages has always been kept in the strictest confidence. And if someone is looking for their spell, it is impossible to say for sure whether it was used by the druids. Here are some of the most popular works available to the Russian-speaking reader:
- Oh. Dukhov. Druid Magic. The secret teachings of the great Merlin.”
- F. Leroux, "Druids".
- D. Monroe, Merlin's 21 Lessons.
- N. Pennick, "Magic Alphabets" (chapters onCeltic oghams and bardic alphabets).
- Restrall Orr, "What is Druidism?".
- Myasoedov Vladimir, “Land of sword and magic. Druid.”
The last book belongs to the genre of fantasy and will be of interest to those who are interested in a fictional description of the life of the druids.
Modern Rites
Some festivals and rituals performed out of habit actually go back to the rituals of the druids. For example, such is the day of Samhain - when supernatural forces descend to earth. Samhain is considered the forerunner of today's Halloween.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe on Christmas Day actually has its roots in the Druid ritual of honoring the god Yul. Modern Easter symbols (rabbit, painted eggs) can be explained by the veneration of the goddess Ishtar. Her sacred animal, symbolizing fertility, was the rabbit. Eggs signified the beginning of a new life. Even the habit of knocking on wood in order not to jinx success may well be an echo of the ancient tradition of veneration of trees by druids.
Druids today
Druids - who are they now and do they exist? Surprisingly, there are several Druid societies in Europe at the present time. There is a similar organization in Ireland. There operates an Order of Druids, open to other participants, called Usneha. In Britain there is an Order of Bards, Ovats and Druids (it also has another abbreviated name - OBOD). According to one version, this community owes its origin to an older order, which was founded in 1717 by J. Toland.
The founders of this order believe that the traditional beliefs and rites of the druids must constantly change, taking into account the transformations that take place in society.
There are druids in America too. There, the organization of the order began with a joke. In 1963, the administration of one of the colleges in the state of Minnesota issued a requirement that students must attend church. In response, the students organized their own community, calling it the "Transformed Druids of North America". As time passed, the group organized by the students became more serious and became one of the societies of the neo-pagan religion. Currently, according to various sources, it includes about 5 million people. They perform their rituals on special altars made of stones that people have never touched.
There are organizations of druids on the territory of the post-Soviet space. True, most of them look more like sects. Therefore, anyone interested in witchcraft should be very careful when choosing the organization they want to join.
