The Paths of Druidry
 Cyfraith rhoddwr: Law Giver; Irish, Brehon
The Brehon is the lawgiver; the Justice Bringer. Very much similar to the bard in that capacity, although much more centralized and specialized. As with bards there is quite a lot of memorization (triads, etc.), and they focus heavily on ethics and the enforcement of said ethics. The Brehon were not recognized as a class entirely separate from Bards until the post-Christian era. Therefore, for the purposes of study within the Grove, the Brehon's course of study is very similar to that of the Filidh/Derwydd, with the exception that greater emphasis is placed upon ethics within Druidry, as well as the history of law among the Celts. A Brehon, within this Grove, therefore would be an ethical arbitrator as well as a historian of Celtic law. Within the historical record, examples of Brehons include, but may not necessarily be limited to, Cormac mac Airt and Amergin. The Brehon or lawgiver is primarily a distinctly Irish Path. For more information, you may wish to consult the following link: The Brehon Law Project
| Dychanwr: Satirist; Irish, Cainte
The satirist, in the ancient tradition, was a purveyor of curses. Using poetry--the satire form--it was believed that an effective satirist could cause boils to erupt on a target's face, instill madness, or even kill. To some degree, the realm of the satirist is, in fact, a form of incantatory magick. But, the satirist is also, in some ways, a bringer of justice. At least those who use satire for the right reasons. A satirist without Truth is a DANGEROUS thing.
With Truth, however, he/she can be a great instrument of justice. The training of the Satirist, therefore, is very similar to the training of the Bard (filidh/derwydd). Within the historical record, examples of satirists have included, though may not be limited to: Cairpre, Mogh Ruith, Taliesin, and perhaps Math in the Mabinogion. Although in the modern world satire is often mis-interpreted as being humorous, within poetic circles, the true purpose of the form is still widely understood. For a further exploration of how satire may be used (using largely modern examples), you may wish to visit the following link: The Purpose and Method of Satire
| Llysieuol iachawr: Herbalist (Healer and Magickian); Irish, Deagbaire, Fathlia
The Druidic herbalist, both from a medicinal and magickal standpoint. As an important note: it's important to understand that all things dealing with herbalism aren't STRICTLY healing and medicinal. There is also a magickal side of things....plus, of course, there are things like poisons to take into account...
If you can cure, also you can kill. And it is important that a study of herbalism also be tempered with a study of Truth and ethics.
Therefore, the education of the Herbalist will include not only basic "gardening", "harvesting", and "preparation" information, but also will include a heavy emphasis on Druidic cosmology and ethics. Herbalists in the historical record have included Diancecht, Airmid, Miach, Cerridwen, Math, and Gwydion. For more in-depth information on herbalism in Druidry, one may wish to visit our teaching thread at our virtual Grove (upon invitation), and A Druids Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year by Ellen Evert Hopman is suggested reading.
| Dewin: Magickian, Diviner, Augur; Irish, Faidh
The Faidh are those who do augury, divination, and magick in the
truest sense of the word (incantatory, sympathetic, etc.)
This is magick use as a specialization, with a definite emphasis particularly on divination and augury. Together with the faithi, the Dewin/Faidh makes up the truly "shamanic" Path of Druidry, as explored here on Ollamh Cerridwen's thread. From the historical record, we have examples of faidh practice in the tarb feis rite, as well as independent augury performed by such famous Druids as Cathbad. For more information on draoi (druidic magick) as a whole, you may wish to visit the following link: The Druidism Guide: The Nature of Druid Magick
| Derwydd/Awenydd: Vision Poet; Irish, Fili
In many ways, the bardic arts are the cornerstone of Historical Reconstructionist Druidry, for it is through the spirit of the bardic tradition that we are able to create effective rites for ourselves on our Druidic Path. Therefore, all members of this Grove receive an education in the foundation of the bardic tradition and will have a basic understanding of what bards do. For those wishing to delve further and actually become Filidh, the course of training relies heavily on an understanding of the Truth, as bards are purveyors and arbitrators of the Truth, as well as on ancient poetic forms (to maintain the historic tradition of the bard and keep it a living tradition), history, and myth. The Filidh/Derwydd will also learn how to use poetic forms in an incantatory and divinatory sense. It is of great importance that the Filidh/Derwydd have an understanding of both the Irish and Welsh bardic traditions, as one builds from the other. Within the historical record, bards have included, but in no way may be limited to: Amergin, Taliesin, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, and Oisin. For further information regarding the bardic tradition, one may wish to visit either of the two bardic threads at our virtual Grove (upon invitation), as well as the following link: The Excellence of Ancient Word
| Cerddorion: Magickal Harper; Irish, Cruitre (Cerddorion literally translates to "children of Cerridwen")
The "magickal harper". The training of the Cerddorion (literally: "children of Cerridwen"; modern Welsh: "musician") is very similar to that of the Bard, except that particular emphasis is placed upon music and songspell. The course of training would be basically the same, but with further "historical digging" into music as it fits into the druidic tradition in history. Perhaps the most famous Cruitre of historical record is Dagda. For more information regarding this path, you may wish to visit the following link: The Healing Harp
| Aberthwr: Sacrificer; Irish, Faithi
The sacrificer. In the pre-Christian/pre-Roman period, the Faithi were responsible for actual offeratory sacrifices (occasionally human). Today, the primary focus of the Faithi/Aberthwr is on the offeratory (not of animals or humans, but of other things!). There is another underlying theme to the faithi, an that is understanding how sacrifice works in daily life, and teaching this to others. There is also the darker side of the faithi, which is in understanding death, and how this relates us back to the Ancestors. Necromancy and channeling, in many ways, would fall under the heading of the faithi, as would some forms of augury, and, marginally, totem magicks. Together with the Dewin/Faidh, they make up the "shamanic paths" of Druidry, as explored on Ollamh Cerridwen's teaching thread at our virtual Grove (upon invitation). Examples of Faithi in the historical record might be considered to include Branwen and Deirdre, among others. For more information regarding sacrifice within the Druidic tradition, one may wish to visit the following link: The Druidism Guide: Sacrifice Among the Ancient Druids
| Hanesydd: Storyteller/Historian; Irish, Seanchas
Perhaps the single most important Path in Historical Reconstructionist Druidry. Within our Path, no Truths would be attainable without the Hanesydd/Seanchas. The Seanchas is the researcher and the teacher of our Celtic history. Without them, we would know nothing of our Ancestors, and therefore have no Path to follow. For more information regarding this path, one may wish to visit the following link: Word of Skill: The Celtic Storytellers
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A note on the term "historical record": Herein, these words denote not only what we have from archaeo/antropological records, but also what has come down to us through recorded myth, such as the Irish Cycles and the Mabinogion. Recorded myths, based on the oral culture of a much more ancient time preceding the period during which they were written down, are one of the most important sources for us today in understanding how our Druid forefathers/foremothers lived and practiced. |
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Compiled 2001/2002; Updated 2002
Taliesin Emrys
Nuada Silverhand
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