Who were the Druids? | Celtic Spirituality, Nature, History, Magic, Herbalism, Ritual

PLEASE EXCUSE THE SOUND QUALITY FROM 1:35-3:55 🌱 'Who were the Druids?' this isn't an easy question to answer, let's talk about why…
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What were the spiritual roles of the Druids? For those of us with Celtic ancestry or are simply interested in this period, we look at the history of the Druids for guidance because they are some of the last indigenous nature-based spiritual leaders from the ancient world of Britain, Ireland and Celtic Europe. In this video, I explore the known history and what may have been, we also look at historical accounts from Pliny the Elder that speak of ancient Druid rituals and I briefly touch on the Bards, the sacred poets of the time.
What happened to the druids? What were the Druid rituals? What is Druidry? Was Druidry Shamanic? Were there Celtic Shamans?
🌀 This is about respecting nature once again as our ancestors did, and reviving the little that we do know for our own personal journeys.
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▸ Sacred Practice in Britain and Ireland (Pretani)
• Celtic Spirituality, P...
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-- Celtic Artifacts in Video
The Gundestrup Cauldron
Tan-Y-Llyn Plaque
Sheela Na Gig
-- Druid Art by - John Francesc Oliveras
-- Mentioned in the video
Snow Raven
OBOD, Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids
#spiritualawakening #paganism #history #mythology
Welcome to my channel! Here we explore the mystical realms of Celtic spirituality and northern European spiritual traditions, where we delve into that which is buried within the cultures of British, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, and ancient Britons history. Discover the wisdom traditions and shamanic heritage of indigenous Britain, from the Pretani ancestors to the psychedelic and spiritual awakenings within the modern world. Join us as we uncover the secrets of plant medicine and the sacred landscapes that have shaped the spiritual journey of this historic region through history, folklore, storytelling, song, and mythology with an ever-evolving online community. This space might be for you if you are fascinated by spiritual growth, the depth of history, and the healing powers of nature.

[@Endless.embrace]

“Horns of the Goddess” by Dolores Cannon is a fascinating read and gives us some insight into the time of the druids. I was told I was a druid in a past life which made sense and got me interested, very happy to have found your channel today!

[@KochikuShakuhachi]

Beautiful and informative video…thank you!

[@thorashebear7604]

Recently joined the OBOD and did the initiation ceremony as a Bard. So very excited to see where this takes me. It's unfortunate that there's so much of our ancient history that's been lost to time and/or destroyed by other faiths. Ever thankful for your channel and insta! Many thanks, - Thora from Indiana, USA

[@sarahwilsonuk]

Just wanted to say hi from fellow OBOD member :)

[@stellamariehere]

I'm looking into OBOD at the moment. I'd love to chat to you about it. Are you on Instagram?

[@pspreadbury9]

Hi from another OBOD member

[@TheSarahJane33]

I’m also in the OBOD 👋🏼

[@donnaiverson8879]

Can you recommend a good book or 2 about Bards? There is a family tradition practiced on both sides of my family. I have also been a song writer and feel quite connected to my Irish and Scottish ancestory. So the Bard culture is interesting to me. Congratulations on your initiation!

[@marrrhgo]

wow, i stumbled across you again tonight… and you have deeply awoken something deep inside of me. i have always had an interest in my ancestry and sorrow for the losses knowledge. thank you for your work, for you lived experience of curiosity that has led you here to share to widely i hold you deep in my heart with gratitude 🙏

[@Iamasido]

Awesome. Psilocybin is definitely one special way to connect to the land.

[@stellamariehere]

It sure is 🕯️

[@earthmamma85]

This was absolutely amazing. Thank you. 🙏. I have interested in Druids since I was a child. I’m now 39. I also have to tell you that your blue wall with the trees is stunning 😍

[@stellamariehere]

quite thank you so much 🌿🤍 I will tell my son that his wallpaper is wonderful! He's only a toddler so he doesn't quite appreciate it yet.

[@kirkbest3238]

Scottish grandfather I feel I have an ancestor who was a Druid deep down ❤😮

[@laprasdelivery8155]

Interesting thanks

[@donnaiverson8879]

In a novel by Kate Forsyth , PSYKHE, she tells of wise women who gather the Mistletoe and it is considered "All Heal" When Psykhe travels into Hades, she gifts Persephone with mistletoe.

[@donnaiverson8879]

This is so fascinating! Can you recommend books on Bards and those traditions please? I have Irish and Scottish ancestry and both sides of my family, there is a tratldion of writing poetry and shared at important family events. Inhad several Great Aunts and Uncles who wrote and read aloud their poems, which would tell of the stories of our relatives life, both funny and touching anecdotes. I am most interested in learning more about Bards, as i feel a connection with them. Thankyou!

[@stellamariehere]

I recommend Cerridwen by Kristoffer Hughes & Taliesin Origins by Gwilym Morus-Baird I also recommend my own workshops on the Bardic practice as this is my current specialty! I have a free class on this happening in October too. You can sign up here stellamariecontent.my.canva.site/mysteries-of-awen

[@shiningcartoonist]

While each region would undoubtedly have had its own practice and beliefs, I wonder how well a hybrid of these could be constructed using different information known about Iberian Celts, Celts of the British Isles, Celts in other regions of Europe. It would’ not be authentic to any particular group but it would at least connect with ancient traditions

[@Abigart69]

Really good video, glad i commented on Instagram. Thank you for making this

[@stellamariehere]

Aw thank you for watching! 🙏🏼🤍

[@wildflowerfarm144]

Great work ❤ hi from Ireland

[@stellamariehere]

Hello there!

[@lisafong9584]

This was fantastic and really interesting thank you 😊 ❤ would love some book recommendations 🙏

[@stellamariehere]

Ronald Hutton - Blood and Mistletoe & Anything else by Ronald Barry Cunliffe - Druids (on Audible) ✨✨

[@kirkbest3238]

I pray to St bride and I have a tattoo of her cross on my arm ❤😮

[@twophotons]

Enjoyed this thanks. I have no doubt that Yule goes all the way back to the massive Toba eruption. The Druids may have somewhat survived under The Old Gaelic Order and any records about them may offer insights. Also natural law is crystal clear about diversity. You protect you own which obviously includes procreation. This will be what attacks Paganism - already has.

[@spookypotatolady9097]

I swear I saw this days ago, and then it disappeared before I could watch it. Did you re-upload it? Regardless, I'm in the middle of reading what I have been told is some of the most concise history we have on the Druids (Peter Berresford Ellis) - if only we could go back in time and convince them to record their teachings. It was my understanding that they did possess a written language, but that by their tradition in was forbidden to write down Druidic knowledge. My initial interest was due to my confusion over the existence of modern-day Druidic orders, or those that call themselves such. "If we know next to nothing about the historical practice, then what are you practicing?" I came to understand that it was more about creating a framework for modern living inspired by the spirit of what we do know about the Druids. The fact that they do use the name Druid to refer to themselves still gives me pause, however. Digging so far back into my ancestors and what might have happened to them is endlessly fascinating, though. Even if it feels frustrating given how much was lost, but they couldn't have known how thoroughly their ways would be buried. But thank you for sharing your insights!

[@stellamariehere]

Heya! Yes I accidentally uploaded it without any title or description then went to a festival lol. Thank you for this recommendation, I'll check him out if I haven't already got him down somewhere. The name rings a bell. I also pause at the modern Druid orders because it wasn't obvious when exploring their websites and content that they were, as you said, simply inspired. I'm keen to explore them further though for sure, but I'm actually looking for more practical guidance whereas the orders I've seen look quite study based?

[@craigmoyle2924]

Look into the work of the forensic historians wilson and Blackett regarding who the cymru/ khumry really are and what ancient relics are buried and hidden in south and west wales

[@stellamariehere]

I know of them, RIP Wilson 🤍

[@joutavainen2920]

one more thing :) i think you need to separate the bardic gods (heroes, witches) from the druidic gods (creators, nature spirits) from the gods of the common people (ancestors). because here in the north we seem to have much more information about the latter.. for example we have hundreds of detailed descriptions about their home shrines (which is why we know exactly who they worshipped). it was mostly the closest kin, both backwards (grandparents) and forwards (children, because in re-incarnation it´s about transferring power to the children, that´s what the name is for too). and also local nature spirits (mainly the household spirits like fire, earth and water). only very rarely would some ancestral spirit become more widely known (usually they were forgotten after a certain time). it was a couple of wooden idols resting against a sacred tree, that´s the "gods" of the common folks. the strangers building "high temples", i believe that´s the patriarchy :) (they just like building shit, they´re like ants).

[@stellamariehere]

Hmm I'm confused about the Bardic God's, heroes and witches? I haven't mentioned any God's! 🙏🏼 I'm doing a workshop on the history of the Bardic craft and the Awen. It's a deep study of mine at the moment, coming from a performing poet and mc background.

[@stellamariehere]

Tell me more though about the shrines for the Bardic God's, that's fascinating.

[@merlod]

Hello Stella you might find this youtube video interesting: The Last Druid - Documentary on Ben McBrady of The Old Gaelic Order

[@stellamariehere]

I watched this a while ago, thanks! I need to watch it again

[@scottingram580]

Ive been using mushrooms for a few decades so reject this if you please, what ive learned is obviously everything has spirit, the stones were used to forecast events such as a salmon stone i met on mushrooms who gave me that when certain stars rose or set over the different stones at different events , when the salmon star set over the salmon stone the people knew that the salmon run was starting in their river, all the other stones had their stars and stories until the stars drifted eastwards over millennia making the stories untrue , the triskele represents our inner world of thoughts the outer physical world and the otherworlds in balance, i believe ive travelled (tripped)to otherworlds , but like i say i might just be a mad old mushrooms lover , but im sure plants and tree's can communicate with us and us with them

[@samshuijzen]

Wasn't that one of the stories that the old druids foresaw that they would lose the incoming invasion so they chose to bury themselves? Hiding " underground".

[@stellamariehere]

That sounds familiar, if you find the source let me know! 😍

[@samshuijzen]

@@stellamariehere Will do!

[@samshuijzen]

@@stellamariehere I just asked chatgpt and apparantly it refers to the milesian invasion and that it was the Tuatha De Dannan who did that. Perhaps these were to be known as the gentle folk, the fair folk.

[@geeblenhoff1]

The only thing I didn’t like about OBOD was that it felt more like an eastern philosophy than a western religion. They kept asking how am I feeling and we meditated a lot. I was looking more for a nature based religious practice/experience. Also they charged me money to become a bard which is fine but like churches are free I wish we had a pagan “church” to go to.

[@stellamariehere]

Ah one doesn't need to pay to become a bard, many are bards today but don't even know it (hip hop mcs for example lol) That's good to know though as I'm not looking for meditation or courses. There are pagan moots but I feel many people are trapped in the past.

[@scottingram580]

The obod are trying to create a western Hinduism because its their only idea of polytheism

[@jamieallan6450]

Ive just been reading about the welsh druids in the secret teaching of all ages!!!.

[@stellamariehere]

what's that? 😮

[@jamieallan6450]

( Secret teachings of all ages ) manly p hall he is one of the biggest occultists, top freemason, he traveled all over the world to the worlds most sacred places and made a bog magnus opus on it!!!. the man is an absolute legend in that world!!!. and literally the same day i watched your video!! minutes before that i was reading it!! its weird how that worked out!!lol but yeah ...the secret teachings of all ages by manly p hall!!.👍❤

[@jamieallan6450]

@@stellamariehere kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6TQf4yuZpuFg6Msi=s4f5gNDSwweJXXUv

[@jamieallan6450]

i just typed in manly p hall druids but ive not seen that one BUT in the book he talks about the welsh druids