Druidry/Alternative spiritual practice and why Christianity despises it

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum so if it is not mods please move it to correct one =)

So basically I've been looking into Druids and the Christian religion and why they despise them. I can't find any legitimate reason as to why. This all starts with a story though so I may as well lead with that ...

This past Wednesday at work I was asked by my boss to train a lady over at another one of our stores in scanning and dsda applications so I happily obliged. I know this lady, when I first got hired she trained me in accounting and cashiering and she is VERY religious. Anyone who knows me knows I am not in the least bit religious I am more spiritual and interested in finding my own path based off my own personal experiences but hey I don't hate on other religions to each his own. I think sometimes that may come across to people as me wanting to be guided into something but I assure you its not that case. Ill listen to people all day but still hold true to my values. So this lady we will call her Kay. Kay back in the day used to have some pretty severe drug issues along with other mental issues ( I guess she used to not be very nice) and when she met her husband she became a born again Christian and is ALL ABOUT IT. I mean every time I see Kay she talks about 'praise the lord' 'you're blessed' 'God is our savior and our light', etc. it doesn't really bother me until she starts to talk to me about how she went and found scriptures for me to read. I recently told her I was into these rad Celtic (I have Celtic origins) tarot cards, and how I love how I get the guidance I'm looking for when I pull the cards. She went into this rant about how it's 'witch craft' and the 'devil is on the other side' and I basically told her it's all about how you use it, if you use it to speak to some demon lord then yeah it's probably gonna happen. But I am ALWAYS super positive in seeking the light when I go in my spiritual practices. SO then next time I go to train her she tells me she got me some 'positive bible scriptures to read' I don't know if that was a stab or not? Kind of felt like it so now I'm not gonna be so open to her pushiness. I don't even own a bible and don't think I will for a very long time. So she legit went out and got this Christian magazine and these scriptures and I really am NOT into that AT ALL, I have NO INTEREST as of right now in reading that. So I told her oh cool good for you and when I went to leave she was like "oh are you going to take the magazine with you?" and I told her "No, I don't think so." Kay seemed REALLY bothered by this, I don't understand why but it bothered me more that she's trying to give me something I do NOT want.


A few days pass and it's still bothering me the fact that she's just being so damn pushy with her Christian stuff so I was talking to my dad about it and he was telling me about how when they get like that to him he tells them he's a "Druid" and they instantly back off and never called him again. Without really knowing what a druid was I laughingly told him "man, I'll just tell her I'm a second generation druid." and He replied that you really only want to use that when you have to, that once you tell them you're a druid they will pretty much become your enemy. I went online and looked up druidry after this because now I'm curious, and I actually really align myself with it's practices and its beliefs. it was so strange when I was reading about what it is to be a druid I felt very connected with it and as if I am already in practice with its values. Does this make me a druid at heart??? These three things they follow I have ALWAYS felt this and practiced it in my heart.

Here's a snippet from a druid website I found ( druidry.org) "The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids works with Druidry as a spiritual way and practice that speaks to three of our greatest yearnings: to To be fully creative in our lives, to commune deeply with the world of Nature, and to gain access to a source of profound wisdom. Each of these yearnings comes from a different aspect of ourselves that we can personify as the Singer, the Shaman and the Sage. In Druidry, Bardic teachings help to nurture the singer, the artist or storyteller within us: the creative self; Ovate teachings help to foster the shaman, the lover of Nature, the healer within us; while the Druid teachings help to develop our inner wisdom: the sage who dwells within each of us."


We are not evil, devil-worshipping, animal sacrificing, people. We value life on this earth in it's entirety, we value the land, the sea, the sky, the animals, the bugs, the life (even non-intelligent life), the stars, the moon, the universe. Everything down to its core we love whole-heartedly. I don't know about anyone else but this is how I feel; We were given the gift of intelligence and the time we have here is our blessing and what we do in our lifetime could make a huge difference. There's a lot of things that go on in this world today that make me sad and I only wish to change the world for the better for ALL of us. Not just the people included in my spiritual circle. Why is it that other religions hate on this? I want to clarify I know its not every single person in a particular religion that all feel the same way, maybe it's just a select few that feel this way but why??? Why waste all the love we have to give on hate for such stupid things that we don't understand. Just because you don't understand something it doesn't mean it's bad. We should take more time to learn to understand before we judge based off of what someone else interpreted. I ask you use YOUR OWN personal thoughts and feelings to determine whether something is evil or not. Why would I make an enemy of a religious person if I told them I was a druid?

Thanks for your thoughts and your time.

reply to post by Bayy007


Maybe the Christians around your area are odd or something or incorporate some strange teachings, but most likely it's that whole old testament witch of Endor story about not suffering a witch to live. A true Christian follows the new covenant of Jesus who said we should love our neighbors as ourselves. I'm pretty sure Druids are included in that!

I would have put a complaint in about her trying to convert you in your place of work.
I worked with a lady who is a carbon copy of "Kay" and she tried all that with me, every shift. I asked her to stop and she kept putting leaflets in my bag and coat so I complained and she got a final written warning (she had done it before) she then condemned me to Hell in front of other staff I laughed it off but my other workpals wanted me to complain again but I didn't want the deluded girl to get fired so I let it go.

I think they hate Pagans etc because they fear them and they fear that they may be wrong and you right.
I have met a few Pagans and one high druid and they were all super cool free spirited people who didn't want to push ideas on to me and was happy for me to go my own path.

But you can bet the usual foam mouthed Christians will come into this thread telling you that you are following the devil etc just ignore them...

reply to post by boymonkey74
I didn't really want to go as far as complaining about because I could tell she meant well, she just doesn't understand that maybe other people have different beliefs. That's fine that's just ignorance, nothing some careful and proper teaching can't take care of. If it ever does go that far where I feel she's moved on from being ignorant to that self -righteous then yeah I would definitely complain.

WOW! That's pretty extreme, thank goodness my experience is not that bad! Do you still work with this "Kay" and is she still pulling that crap? I think you're right they seem to fear anything they can't understand. I don't necessarily think it's a matter of who is right and who is wrong I think everyone has their own path for some people maybe it is right. We all have our own gods or divine for me haha and we all follow whatever feels right to our own individual person. I just have never encountered someone who is just so close minded. These people interpret things out of a book that's pretty old (I'll give it that) but we still have to judge based off our own experience, and she obviously has no experience to judge from. I don't know maybe she did séances or some weird sh** where she felt like she called upon the devil and now she thinks its all bad. LIFE is mixed up of good and bad. There can't be any good without the bad and vice versa these two will ALWAYS come hand in hand it just depends on which side your on is what it should really come down to. This is what we should judge off of you know? Thanks for the support I'd love to hear from some of those Christians and hear a logical answer as to why they personally hate it - and NOT because they interpreted it from someone else.

Mental illness turned into Christian zealotry. She needs it desperately to feel centered and can't understand why you don't need it just as desperately. Besides that, if you become a Christian, that validates her own take on things, and gives her a built-in friend, to boot. The magazines were a friendship offering and you said no.

The big takeaway here is that ALL religionistas are crazy and the more zealous they are, the crazier they are. If they were Muslims instead, they'd be all on about 72 virgins waiting for them in heaven and keeping women wrapped up in black cloth from head to toe.

This is what happens when lies are held out as truth to impressionable or unstable people from birth on, and truth is ridiculed and demonized. We live in a world where insanity is the norm.

reply to post by Bayy007


No I left but I heard she had to go into therapy, we worked in mental health and she started tewlling the mentally unwell that If they accepted Jesus they would be cured.
To me the real Christians will not mind anyone being a Druid/Pagan, it is such a pity 95% of people calling themselves Christians are anything but.

Luckily not all Christians (of which i am not one) are of the archetypal US fundie type, but of course your story is familiar enough. I used to invite the door-to-door Christian types in - in the UK they were typically Jehova's Winesses and nice folk, well versed enough in the bible that you could have an intelligent convo with them at first.

I'd listen to them and chat, make them a cuppa and then ask them about the origins of the Bible and Christian Mythology. When i then demonstrated how the Bible and Chritianity was a regurgitation of the previous mediterannean/near eastern religions and myths, they'd often become offended and decide that they no longer wanted my soul. Meh

Be aware though, that Druidry as it exists today is not old - it's a creation of the modern era and owes more to nineteenth century romanticism than the Iron Age people of Europe, usually referred to as the Celts though few of them would recognise the term and they only saw any trace of unity because the Romans were taking over.. Like most religious movements it (surely erroneously) claims an unbroken line of descent from ancient times - many religious folk just seem unable to resist claiming that. The Druidry of old would have been a dark and scary thing at times - people lives and beliefs of the world were very different to ours and while nature and so on would have been very important to them, so was blood and death - which is just a part of nature after all.... there were two worlds for the Druids remember (living and dead) and to move between them was quite normal if you had faith in it . Not a journey i'd like to take before my time at the behest of some priest or druid. In so many ways we dont think like the ancients, the Iron Age was a harsh place.

reply to post by littled16


Haha see I don't know maybe we do, or maybe it's just "Kay" because I have never encountered someone who was so against anything spiritual. Maybe it's her past experiences that made her afraid of it, I know she was in some deep stuff and most people are afraid of things they don't understand. I don't even know that story I'll have to look it up maybe it'll provide more insight, awesome thanks =) Well good I like people who accept everyone, I knew it couldn't be everyone just a select few strange ones. lol

Interesting read.

When I tell people I'm a Pagan, it simply means that I don't adhere to any of the three Abrahamic faiths, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Literally, Pagan means "heathen" in those faiths, "Infidel", or even "lost".

Simply put Pagans follow their own "Path", and I find it very interesting that you've resolved an affinity to Druidism.

As far as dealing with Christians in the work environment, you simply sometimes have to roll your eyes, be kind, and accept them as they are. It's fruitless to try to argue, as they are of the mind-set that they are right, and you are wrong.

Best of luck in discovery!

reply to post by littled16


A star for you and an excellent answer to the OP's question.

I am a new testament Christian but respect the religious beliefs of others.

In my opinion it is our right to worship how we desire.

Of course, as a Christian, I do share the message of Jesus when I have the opportunity.

Bayy007
Why would I make an enemy of a religious person if I told them I was a druid?

Thanks for your thoughts and your time.

I can tell you why.

First some background about me.

I had been into the left hand crooked path for many many years. I was a Tarot reader, practiced in the craft and owned a very well known metaphysical bookstore. I taught Tarot classes did reads professionally all across the state of Michigan. I was raised by an atheist father and a new age mother. I never went to church and felt the same way about Christians as you.

Two years ago I had a visit from Christ, now my lord and savior...being psychic a lot was revealed to me these past two years as a Christian.

It is not that you become their enemy...it is that they do not want to be near someone that tries to open portals and gates.

You will not believe me at this point in your life.

This is what happens that most Christians or new agers do not understand.

No matter what you do to protect yourself, the modern mind does not have the discipline to keep out the dark sides influence. Unless you were raised with the STRICTEST discipline to practice these arts you have motivations inside that are not disciplined enough to keep the deception out. This is just a fact of the universe. You would have to be raised without any influence of the outside world and have to practice strict discipline of the mind, body and soul to open these gates. Believe this: I have done it, I was very good at it, but alas I am but an American, raised with Americans in an American school system. This combination is some of the least disciplined practices in the history of mankind.

No matter how hard you try and protect yourself these beings will find a chink in your Armour.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky born as Helena von Hahn.

She is the queen of the new age movement. This is where almost all the new age teachings come from. No one really knows exactly what the druids did, they did not write anything down. Almost all of these ideas of new age wisdom are from her.

So how can you be a practicing druid?

I bring this up to show you that you need to learn a LOT more before throwing spiritual beliefs around.

Be careful what you buy into. Good luck.

reply to post by Bayy007


That's awesome that you are exploring your paths and found one that jives with you but... it's witchcraft. And according to the bible, practitioners of witchcraft burn in the Christian hell.

So, of course my advice would be to wear that label like a badge and protect yourself from toxic bigots like that lady. Saying "witchcraft" like it's an immoral thing that you have no right to practice is called religious discrimination. Unless you are telling her she's evil for believing in her Jesus, she has no ethical or even legal right do talk to you like that in the workplace. I just treat those people with extra kindness in order to give them the chance to recant their transgressions before I do anything else.

The sooner you gain that perspective, the easier it will be to eventually come out of the broom closet (or whatever you druid folk call it... a cudgel closet?)

reply to post by skalla


Hahaha at this same workplace I also work with a Jehovah's witness she's pretty cool but when I talk to her about "ghost-hunting" or "tarot cards" she gets a little weird about it too. It's interesting to me they believe in the afterlife but they believe basically anything that sticks around after they've died is not a person its a demon. But like I've said before good and bad goes hand in hand. Where there is evil also lies the light to expel it. So there can't really just be demons, but that's beside the point. That's wild that they're cool up until a certain point and then they don't want your soul LOL I guess that's one way to get them outta the house and not come back.

See I've always been fascinated by the iron age. I feel a very strong connection to certain time periods and when I think of that age I feel like I've lived it (maybe in a past life). The Myth, magic, sorcery, of the times was so much more open than it is now. I see what you're saying though, I'm sure there was a very dark side to it, but I'm also sure that there was a light side to counteract with the dark. Maybe it was more of an internal thing and it was never classified as a 'good druid' or a 'bad druid' but its just nature that there was two sides to the story. Thanks for the background on it though it only makes me want to dig into it even more. I think its a shame that such an ancient practice would have died off like that and not have there be some sort of a record of what they accomplished. I'm sure its out there somewhere- at least in the Akashic records. With what you say about the druids being a dark and scary thing, being the border between the living and the dead I feel that. Life and Death they are the TWO most major events in one's life. There is no denying that, I've always been very interested in this concept of life and death and what happens. I feel comfortable saying that I don't fear death (if it is my time then it is my time), I don't think it's a final death at all. I feel like we move on even loved ones when they pass I feel as if certain people are destined to be in each others lives, when my grandfather passed I was sad but I know one day I'll see his spirit again. I've actually had some intense dreams of this place -in between- life and death and it's not all scary. It can be the most beautiful thing you've ever experienced but again that depends on how you perceive it. Thankyou for your thoughts wise one!

If I remember the Druids during the Roman occupation of Britton were a thorn in the Roman's side. Rome was going to call all the loans, lands, and titles, (taxes) back from the Britts that had trusted Rome during the occupation and actually supported the Roman cause. That was a big mistake by Rome and the Druids even though almost exterminated caused another up-rising:

Prasatugas, King of the Iceni tribe who had signed a peace treaty with the Romans, died. His wife, Boudicca intended to honour the treaty, but after the local Roman authorities seized Prasatugas's property and raped his two daughters, Boudicca retaliated by signing a treaty with Trinovantes who were hostile to the Romans.

Boudicca is said to have been very tall with striking red hair that hung to her hips. Her army of Iceni tribesmen and women captured and burned Colchester, London, St Albans and caused the governor of Britain, Suetonius Paulinus, to raise the biggest force he could. Boudicca's army were eventually cornered and massacred. Boudicca poisoned herself to evade capture.

www.historyonthenet.com...

The Druids had sent messengers out to help ferment rebellion with religious fervor; it worked especially after property was ceased and Boudicca's daughters were horribly raped... Weapon stashes (Rome did not like the Britts having any weapons) so secret foundries had been already established for a few years and all it took was a spark which was provided by the tax collectors who went to Boudicca's residence...

Druids, except for the sacrifice rituals I have read about, seems to have many things in common with the Buddhist beliefs from what little I know.

reply to post by Cuervo


Well thank you, and unless I do a complete 180 and worship the devil I KNOW my soul will be okay. hahah Yeah I just don't get it, I don't believe in her religion, hell I don't even know if I believe in god but am I going to tell someone that its wrong just because I don't believe in it? Or just like you said telling Kay she's evil for believing in her Jesus?? Ha I don't know honestly it just makes me want to open up to her even more and even talk to her about what I believe every time she brings up her Christian bible. I am not in the business of telling people they're wrong but at the same time when they encroach on my spiritual path telling me its wrong, better believe ill defend my beliefs. From where I'm standing everything I follow is for a reason. It's because I've experienced it first hand even before I knew there was a name to it so there's really no arguing that its wrong. I'm not the one following something someone else has interpreted for me. I've always gone by "don't believe what someone else tells you just because they tell you its true, believe in it because you know it in your heart, down to your very core that its true.

reply to post by LoneGunMan


Interesting. What do you do for work now that you have converted? I assume you no longer run the metaphysical book store and I'm wondering if you now do work that is related to your new faith, or if you do something unrelated that just pays the bills.

reply to post by gwynnhwyfar


Just paying the bills. Not even that lately, between my current path and the other path I have lost everything, my 20 year marriage two business, two houses cars motorcycle and worst of all every living blood relation including cousins aunts and uncles. One year so many people died I was just reeling, that year I even lost 9 barn cats and my beloved dog to death.

Everything.

LoneGunMan
reply to post by gwynnhwyfar

 

Just paying the bills. Not even that lately, between my current path and the other path I have lost everything, my 20 year marriage two business, two houses cars motorcycle and worst of all every living blood relation including cousins aunts and uncles. One year so many people died I was just reeling, that year I even lost 9 barn cats and my beloved dog to death.

Everything.

edit on 27-10-2013 by LoneGunMan because: (no reason given)

Wow, that's a lot of crap to go through and I would like to acknowledge that.

But... you kind of made it sound like all of this happened after you converted. Did I read that wrong? If that's true, why do you think that is? Do you think it's punishment for abandoning your path or perhaps a test from your new god to see if you are going to stick with it? Or coincidence?

reply to post by Cuervo


It all happened before I converted. I was deep in the arts when the loss began.

Everything that attached me to our beautiful world.

reply to post by Druid42


Well Thank you, I'm glad I got so many great responses. I've always wondered what a pagan was and have always been interested in this side of things. That's exactly what I am "following my own path". Do you find that there are more people that are accepting of your faith versus people who are disapproving? I mean I really started to get into this stuff a few years ago and I've just been continuing onto this path, finding forks along the way that I fall in line with, I'm sure that's not all. I recently came into the Rosicrucian teachings as well ( courtesy of my father) and it's just so interesting to me that these things are so secret. I'm amazed that so many people are just stuck into their own lives never looking at things outside of the box or questioning why things are the way they are. I think a lot of why I follow the path I follow is my mom and dad raised us to be curious and to question and to not believe everything someone spoon feeds us. Its MIND BOGGLING to me that society is as closed off in its little box as it is.

I LOVE your avatar by the way. Wolves are the ultimate travelers, so beautiful in all their grace and everything they stand for. My dads spirit animal is a grey dire wolf that once visited me in my dreams-he totally had my dads characteristics. It was amazing. Well anywho thank you for your thoughts and support on my path. I'm sure there is so much more to learn about this amazing world we live in, collectively I don't think we've even scratched the surface. Knowledge I feel is the greatest gift of all, I feel my soul is drawn to druidism as well as many other things I have found along the way, tarot cards, lucid dreaming, astral travel, Rosicrucian teachings, etc. I am so open to whatever feels right for me- and it's never going to be just one belief it'll always be everything in my life I will have learned up until it is my time.