Joanna van der Hoeven, a practicing Druid, has written an excellent introduction for anyone interested in creating their own similar spiritual path.
The book has four parts: Theory, Practice, Study, and Skills and Technique
The first part, Theory, discusses various aspects of Druidry including the mysterious Awen, the role of gods and ancestors, the three realms, the world tree, the wheel of the year, the cycles of the moon and more.
“Druidry is the quest to find our place in the world and to work in the world in balance and harmony.” pg 2
I loved how the author presented this section, which could have been mammoth, very succinctly. She gives so many aspects of the practice because she’s encouraging readers to find the parts that work for them. You don’t have to embrace everything, only what speaks to you.
The second part, Practice, outlines various rites and rituals to incorporate one’s practice into daily life.
She talks about how the ancient practice of Druidry has been lost and how practitioners today are creating their own versions of what that might have looked like. I liked that she emphasizes that unbroken lineage doesn’t lend credence to the practice as much as personal exploration and empowerment. Again, she encourages readers to make these rituals their own.
“We don’t know what ancient Druids really did, nor do we wish to emulate them in every aspect. We seek to find out as much as we can and learn from it, thereby creating wisdom in our being.” pg 66
The third part, Study, looks into herblore, ogham (a type of alphabet that can be used like runes), and spellcraft. Practitioners are encouraged to study and learn these various topics in order to deepen their knowledge.
The final part, Skills and Technique, was the most interesting to me. In it, Joanna van der Hoeven discusses ethics, peace, voice, body and movement, as well as leadership roles.
I found the topics of ethics and peace to be timely.
“We cannot control how others behave. We only have control over how we behave in the world, how we act and react to others. We can lessen our reaction to others to a more intentional way of being through mindfulness of our thoughts, our bodies, and the world around us.” pg 296
Change ultimately starts at the individual level and goes from there. Thank you, Joanna, for the reminder.
Highly recommended for spiritual seekers who may be looking for an earth-based spiritual practice.
- The Book of Hedge Druidry: A Complete Guide for the Solitary Seeker by Joanna van der Hoeven
- Maestros by Steve Skroce (Writer/Illustrator), Dave Stewart (Colorist), Fonografiks (Letterer)
- Trance-Portation Learning to Navigate the Inner World by Diana L. Paxson
- Ecstasy Through Tantra by Jonn Mumford
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #1) by Sarah J. Maas
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