The Making of a Druid: Hidden Teachings from The Colloquy of Two Sages

by Christian J. Guyonvarc'h

Reveals the actual teaching methods of the druids.

• Provides new insights into the vast store of knowledge every druid was expected to know--knowledge that took fifteen to twenty years of rigorous study to acquire.

• Translation of the classic Celtic text, Imcallam in da Thuarad , generally translated as The Colloquy of Two Sages .

• By eminent Celtic scholar Christian J. Guyonvarc'h, author of Magic, medecine et divination chez les Celtes (Magic, Medicine, and Divination among the Celts) .

Because ancient druidic knowledge was transmitted orally, most of what has been represented as the teachings of the druids has been conjecture or fantasy. Now eminent Celtic scholar Christian J. Guyonvarc'h tears away the obscurity surrounding what the druids taught and how they taught it with his magisterial examination of the little-known Celtic text, Imcallam in da Thuarad , generally translated as The Colloquy of Two Sages .

Up to now, this text has been regarded as merely an elaborate battle of wits between two bards, a dispute centered on a younger bard's attempt to unseat an older bard's position in the court of Conchobar. Thanks to the present translation and its accompanying commentary, we now can see that this text depicts the examination by a teacher of a druidic candidate. Consequently, the reader gains valuable insight into the actual nature of druidic science and the vast store of knowledge--acquired over an arduous fifteen- to twenty-year period--necessary to become a druid. Both modern druids and Celtic aficionados alike will find The Making of a Druid a fascinating storehouse of forgotten wisdom.

Genres: Spirituality

144 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2001

Reviews

[Ferenc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting analysis of The Colloquy of Two Sages, which is claimed to be one of the most important medieval texts referring to Celtic traditions. It is a story that mostly consists of a dialogue between two file, a.k.a. two Irish elite poets. From what I know, the consent is that there's no proof that there's a direct connection between the druids and the file, even though there are lots of similarities between their hierarchical system, the teachings and mythical aspects. Guyonvarc'h strongly believes that there's a connection and many research claims that the text might have kept many pre-Christian elements from the Celtic world.

The writing is very academic, so it wasn't an easy read. I'm glad that I read more about the file hierarchy before (that is shortly included in the book's appendix too) so I could place the writing more in context. And The Colloquy of Two Sages itself is super interesting. It is said that it serves as a test or an exam from the "chief" poet (ollamh) to the younger one but to me it felt even more like a duel in poetry. Guyonvarc'h adds notes and explanation to almost each an every line of the text - but that doesn't make it less enigmatic at all. It feels like they're speaking in a different language only they can understand.

Overall I'm really grateful for this book. But I'd recommend to gain some background knowledge first both on the file and the druids before starting it.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the actual Colloquy of Two Sages portion of the book. This portion was in the center of the book, translated, of course.
The first portion of the book contained a lengthy introduction that went to great lengths to interpret the text and its source. Perhaps I should have read the book out of order!
I also read the Notes on the Text following the Colloquy. I found it both interesting and overwhelming at times. I still have a great deal to learn about the ancient druids, but I will be exploring neo-druid beliefs for a while before taking up the unraveling of the ancient religion.
The ancient druids left no written records themselves, so the very few texts available were written by the conquerors of the Celtic lands - both Roman and Greek (I'm not a historian!). The two books I have read to date on the Druids are scholarly works on the regional evolution of language and on translations of texts recorded by the Greeks and Romans.
I will revisit this book once I have a better understanding of neo-Druidic.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great text that gives insight into what is expected of a druid, and how he is expected to gain his place...

[Tiffany Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful translation and notes. The Introduction was meh.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Powerful ideas.