The Rebirth of Druidry

Ancient Earth Wisdom for Today

Just who were the Druids? The original wise men and women amoung the tribes of pagan Europe, the ancient druids used their understanding of nature to heal the sick, to dispense wisdom and perform magic. Today, their legacy is not just the wizards of fantasy found in books like 'The Lord of the Rings' but a whole spiritual path that is now enjoying an unprecedented popularity.

The Rebirth of Druidry is the definitive guide to the modern Druid movement, with contributions from chief Druids from America, Britian and France, as well as writers and mystics, healers and psychologists, professors and historians. Together, they delve into the past and examine the history and sacred rites of the Druids, as well as examining the state of Druidry today.

'Gives an amazingly wide overview of Druidry in ancient times, recent centuries, and today.' Pagan Dawn magazine.

'This book was recommended to me by a couple of my friends and I found it to be an excellent read. I did find at times the material to be a bit 'over my head,' but this I find is more to all the information covered in the book. There were a few specific essays I enjoyed, such as The Irish Bardic Tradition (outlining the origin of bards and how they continued to exist long after the Druids supposedly were "converted" to Christianity) , The Sacred Calendar and The Wheel of Change (essays discussing various Druid holidays) , and the Oakley essay describing the "history" of Druids and witches. I find it interesting how people draw parallels between Druidry and Wicca, and yet they appear to be quite a bit different in the ways each group practices their religion'. From an Amazon review by Todd Hawley

Philip says: I edited this book under its original title The Druid Renaissance in 1996. When the publisher decided to reissue it in 2003 I asked them to retain the original title, but they insisted on a new title. Some contributors made minor changes to their contributions and updated their Resources or Contacts sections. Tom Cowan contributed an inspiring preface for the new edition. Only buy this book if you don't have a copy of The Druid Renaissance already! If - however - this book is new for you, I can strongly recommend it: the contributions are broad-ranging and inspiring. A friend in England wrote the following review of it:

Book Review -
This is actually The Druid Renaissance published under a new name, with an arresting new cover and a new Preface by Tom Cowan, author of Fire in the Head. Actually it's the only book I know that has a Preface, a Forward and an Introduction, all by worthy authors in the field so it can't be bad. If you have TDR then don't buy it but if you don't then seriously consider this Reinaissance rebirth as there is a wealth of information and a diversity of approaches about modern day Druidry enclosed within its covers.
The authors are exclusively people who are working and teaching in the tradition today, some are familiar names on the spines of book covers, some are more familiar in the context of active druidry, many are both. The book is divided into several Sections `The Call of the Land' ; `The Call of the Druid' ; `The Re-Enchantment' ; `Druid Ceremony' and `Finding Our Roots - Finding our Future'. Contributors in order of their appearance in the book are Tom Cowan; Philip Carr-Gomm; Professor Ronald Hutton; Erynn Rowan Laurie; Philip Shallcrass; Isaac Bonewits; Steve Wilson; Dr Michel Raoult; Frank MacEowen; Cairistiona Worthington; Louise Larkins Bradford; Chris Turner; Robert Mills; Madeleine Johnson; Dr Graham Harvey; Caitlin Matthews; Dr Gordon Strachan; Dr Christina Oakley and Mara Freeman.
Their topics cover Druid Revival, Herbs, Stars, Bardism, Druid Ceremony, Sacred Calendars; Jesus in Glastonbury; Celtic Shamanism; the Mabon myth; Druids and Witches, Healing and Ecology. Such richness seems to me to answer the triad for a Modern Druid which the editor Philip Carr-Gomm suggested in his connecting link to section V:
`The three tasks of a Druid
to live fully in the present;
to honour tradition and the ancestors;
to hear the voice of tomorrow.
This book is not just an introduction to the philosophy and practice of druidry, it is more a reference for living the tradition.
Maddy Johnson