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The Druid's Primer
Perhaps the first serious attempt to collate the vast body of druidic knowledge from verifiable ancient sources and Celtic survivals into one usable and practical volume as a handy reference for druids and a learning tool for the would be druid. Inspired by the medieval Irish 'Scholar's Primer' this work is the culmination of 15 years' research and practical exploration of what it means to be a druid in a modern context.
307 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2012
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121 people want to read
About the author
Luke Eastwood
15 books12 followersLuke Eastwood began writing poetry at the age of 15 and has had a varied career working as a musician, graphic designer, artist, photographer and horticulturist as well as becoming an author. He is also a Druid and member of several spiritual organisations. He writes primarily on spirituality but also contributes articles to many websites and magazines on environmental and social issues as well as on spirituality. He has lived in Ireland since 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 27, 2012
There are many books on the market that aim to introduce the seeker to the basics of Druidism, but The Druid's Primer by Luke Eastwood is perhaps the single best introduction book I have read. It's greatest strength is that it manages to present a great deal of modern Druidic material fairly and with clear references to the sources. The author has done a great deal of research into the historic material, which is also presented well and in an easily accessible manner.
The book begins with a chapter that summerizes the historic material. This was very well done, with the material being covered thoroughly but concisely. This section touches on everything from the early Celtic period and what we have from seocndary sources such as Pliny and Caesar up to the modern era revival. Although not gone into as deeply as in other books the single chapter effectively summerizes the highlights and is more than enough to get a beginner started or serve as a basic refresher for a more experienced person.
The next chapter tackles possibly the most complex subject in modern Druidism, defining what a Druid is. The book does an excellent job of presenting the different current theories fairly, including the possible etymologies of the word "druid" itself. The different historical sources are once again drawn upon including Irish mythology and the later Barddas, which the text acknowledges as a well known forgery but also influencial on the revivalist period. The author also discusses his own view of what a Druid does and who a Druid is, creating a fascinating and complex picture of the modern Druid.
From here the next 7 chapters discuss: Gods & Goddesses, Myth & Legend, Elemental Forces, Cosmology, Inspiration, Imramma, and Animism & Animal Worship. Each chapter is a blend of well-researched history and modern application that manages to offer a balanced view of modern Druidism without favoring any one particular path or focus. In most cases multiple views are offered for the reader to consider with sources given so that the reader may further pursue anything of interest.
This is followed by a section, Cycles of the Sun, Moon and Earth, that looks at the historic and modern way that Druids would honor the passing of time and holy days. The author discusses a system of lunar rituals based on Alexei Kondratiev's book the Apple Branch that could be used by modern Druids seeking to connect to the moon. This is followed by a discussion of the solar year and it's holidays, including all of the eight holidays of the modern pagan wheel of the year.
Next is a section on tools, which looks at the tools historically attributed to the Druids. It begins by discussing clothing, rather in depth, including the colors likely worn and the Irish legal texts refering to dress and color. Sickles, wands, staffs, the Druid egg, cauldron/chalice, magical branch, musical instruments, the crane bag, and sword are discussed. The four treasures of the Tuatha de Danann are also mentioned in a modern context as tools that Druids today may choose to use, although they have no historic basis in that context.
The final four chapters look at divination, the Ogham, medicine & healing, and justice & wisdom. Each of these was important in some way to the historic Druids and so each chapter looks at how the subject relates to historic Druidism and how these can relate to modern practice.
Overall this book is more than worth the money and certainly the best book to begin with if one is interested in learning about the path of Druidism. It is full of the history of Druidism and also shows the wide array of modern possibilities that are open to new seekers. For more experienced Druids this book will serve as a great refresher or reference
The book begins with a chapter that summerizes the historic material. This was very well done, with the material being covered thoroughly but concisely. This section touches on everything from the early Celtic period and what we have from seocndary sources such as Pliny and Caesar up to the modern era revival. Although not gone into as deeply as in other books the single chapter effectively summerizes the highlights and is more than enough to get a beginner started or serve as a basic refresher for a more experienced person.
The next chapter tackles possibly the most complex subject in modern Druidism, defining what a Druid is. The book does an excellent job of presenting the different current theories fairly, including the possible etymologies of the word "druid" itself. The different historical sources are once again drawn upon including Irish mythology and the later Barddas, which the text acknowledges as a well known forgery but also influencial on the revivalist period. The author also discusses his own view of what a Druid does and who a Druid is, creating a fascinating and complex picture of the modern Druid.
From here the next 7 chapters discuss: Gods & Goddesses, Myth & Legend, Elemental Forces, Cosmology, Inspiration, Imramma, and Animism & Animal Worship. Each chapter is a blend of well-researched history and modern application that manages to offer a balanced view of modern Druidism without favoring any one particular path or focus. In most cases multiple views are offered for the reader to consider with sources given so that the reader may further pursue anything of interest.
This is followed by a section, Cycles of the Sun, Moon and Earth, that looks at the historic and modern way that Druids would honor the passing of time and holy days. The author discusses a system of lunar rituals based on Alexei Kondratiev's book the Apple Branch that could be used by modern Druids seeking to connect to the moon. This is followed by a discussion of the solar year and it's holidays, including all of the eight holidays of the modern pagan wheel of the year.
Next is a section on tools, which looks at the tools historically attributed to the Druids. It begins by discussing clothing, rather in depth, including the colors likely worn and the Irish legal texts refering to dress and color. Sickles, wands, staffs, the Druid egg, cauldron/chalice, magical branch, musical instruments, the crane bag, and sword are discussed. The four treasures of the Tuatha de Danann are also mentioned in a modern context as tools that Druids today may choose to use, although they have no historic basis in that context.
The final four chapters look at divination, the Ogham, medicine & healing, and justice & wisdom. Each of these was important in some way to the historic Druids and so each chapter looks at how the subject relates to historic Druidism and how these can relate to modern practice.
Overall this book is more than worth the money and certainly the best book to begin with if one is interested in learning about the path of Druidism. It is full of the history of Druidism and also shows the wide array of modern possibilities that are open to new seekers. For more experienced Druids this book will serve as a great refresher or reference
July 21, 2013
Full disclosure up front, I am reviewing the eBook. I have no idea whether the problems noted below are solely related to the transfer of the text from a physical to a digital format or not.
The author took on an ambitious project and made a solid attempt. The information in this book was helpful, but the format was so distracting that it made it a chore to read and actually disseminate the information. There was not a single chapter that didn't suffer from significant spelling or grammatical errors. Incomplete sentences, run-on sentences, etc. made it difficult to determine the idea expressed without re-reading large sections and making educated guesses based on the intent implied. Outside of these simple errors, there were significant formatting issues. During the history section at the beginning the author jumped between Gaul, Britain, Ireland, and Scotland and between BCE and AD seemingly at random. It almost felt like the author sat down and tried to write the entire book in one pass through and sent it on because the flow seems to follow a logical path until a jarring connection is made between AD Ireland and BCE Gaul without any preparation. This book needs a serious editing in order to ensure flow, grammatical correctness, and informative value. My last issue was that the book purported to put forth a number of facts and sought to analyze a number of historical and anthropological texts in order to educate the reader, yet there were only about 25 footnotes across almost 250 pages. There is a bibliography that notes a wide range of texts and notes that the author relied on a number of unnamed primary sources and oral discussions, but there is no indication of how frequently each text is used. This makes it difficult at times to determine whether the author is citing facts from others or making personal arguments/deductions. All in all, this book had a laudable purpose and made a good effort, but it seriously needs a good editor in a hurry. I would absolutely recommend a heavily edited edition of this book that made it more scholarly and readable.
The author took on an ambitious project and made a solid attempt. The information in this book was helpful, but the format was so distracting that it made it a chore to read and actually disseminate the information. There was not a single chapter that didn't suffer from significant spelling or grammatical errors. Incomplete sentences, run-on sentences, etc. made it difficult to determine the idea expressed without re-reading large sections and making educated guesses based on the intent implied. Outside of these simple errors, there were significant formatting issues. During the history section at the beginning the author jumped between Gaul, Britain, Ireland, and Scotland and between BCE and AD seemingly at random. It almost felt like the author sat down and tried to write the entire book in one pass through and sent it on because the flow seems to follow a logical path until a jarring connection is made between AD Ireland and BCE Gaul without any preparation. This book needs a serious editing in order to ensure flow, grammatical correctness, and informative value. My last issue was that the book purported to put forth a number of facts and sought to analyze a number of historical and anthropological texts in order to educate the reader, yet there were only about 25 footnotes across almost 250 pages. There is a bibliography that notes a wide range of texts and notes that the author relied on a number of unnamed primary sources and oral discussions, but there is no indication of how frequently each text is used. This makes it difficult at times to determine whether the author is citing facts from others or making personal arguments/deductions. All in all, this book had a laudable purpose and made a good effort, but it seriously needs a good editor in a hurry. I would absolutely recommend a heavily edited edition of this book that made it more scholarly and readable.
August 14, 2014
REVIEW: The Druids Primer by Luke Eastwood
(Moon Books, 2011) ST£15.99(Paperback. Also available on kindle)
I recently found myself recommending this book to several people, and in the process I realized I never got around to reviewing it here. Better late than never I suppose.
I have to admit that I started out with quite a pissy attitude towards this book, as I have built a perception of an almost universal ‘druidry’ that is based on Welsh mythology and the literary forgeries of Iolo Morganwg. And before anyone comments, yes, I know I’m jaded and cynical. I expected more of the same ‘druidry’ as I had previously encountered, but found something quite different from my expectations.
This book is set in the context of the Irish druidic tradition, and although there are references to modern Welsh druidry, for example the description of the three circles of manifestation (Abred, Gwynfyd and Ceugant) as a comparative to Irish druidic cosmology and the three realms, the book stays central to its Irish bias.
For the most part the sources are Irish or classical, drawing from historical sources, or acknowledging when practices belong to a modern syncretic tradition. The preliminary history of druidry and the definition of the druid show an intelligent struggle to grasp the core content. A real attempt is made to differentiate Irish druidry, identifying differences between Irish, and Gaulish and Welsh druidry. Eastwood also acknowledges the fact that many contemporary druid orders have grown out of the Romantic Movement and the works of Morganwg. There is nothing wrong with this in itself, as these teachings form a core of belief and practice in modern druid orders, and have a modern affinity with the Druidic worldview. Still, there have been some very ill informed books, such as 21 Lessons of Merlyn, that do not place this historical context on such material, and which paint a poor picture of the intellectual rigour of contemporary druidry. This is not the case with Eastwood.
The Chapter on Gods and Goddesses deals with Irish deities, but also has several Welsh and Gaulish deities. As anyone who has dug into Irish mythology can tell you, it is inevitable that comparisons will be made between Fionn and Taliesin, Llew and Lugh, and a lot can be gained by seeing where both similarities and divergences lie.
In looking at the directions/ quarter correspondences he offers various models without offering a definitive opinion. Like for many of us, there are questions of syncretic and ever evolving traditions, and each individual must find a system of meaning that works. To have various possibilities presented and debated allows a process of developing meaning for work. Eastwood soon develops into the three realms (land, sea and sky) and evokes the image of the world tree. One can see the image of the three realms as roughly corresponding to the three Greek elements of earth, water and air. Many druidic and CR practitioners have worked to reconcile the role of fire as a Greek element with Irish cosmology, particularly as fire plays an important role in the life of the tribe and the celebration of the festivals. A suggestion is made that the fire is central through the cauldrons of poesy, a system many consider analogous with the vedic chakra system. I would have liked to see more on the provinces and the functions (Cath, blath, fis, seis, mide) and although touched upon, given that this is an Irish centred book, I would have liked more.
The theme of the three realms and the cauldrons is expanded in the chapter on cosmology. This chapter also delves into the relationship of the druids with time and cycles.
The chapter on inspiration takes a more practical bent with exercises to experience the imbas or awen (Welsh term) and the chapter on Imramma or wonder journeys gives a very tangible sense of the role of the Faidh or ovate.
The chapter on the cycles of the sun, moon and earth is really the gem of this book for me, with many very practical indications and folkloric resources for developing symbol filled ritual. It gives no real words or instructions, but leaves enough information for further research and personal expression. Before reading this book I always referred people seeking such resources to Alexi Kondratiev’s Celtic Rituals (also published as The Apple Branch). Eastwood has obviously drawn heavily from Kondratiev, yet also goes a step beyond, and is much more specific to Ireland. I will now be sending people looking for festival indications that are well based in the Irish culture to this book.
Beyond this point the book moves from belief to practice, with chapters on the tools of the druid, divination, medicine and healing, and justice.
There is also an interesting chapter on the ogham which has obviously been worked on over a period of time. Eastwood works mainly from the perspective of the tree ogham, which is the most common perspective in contemporary druidry. Even though working from the branch of ogham on which most published information is available, the text reflects a personal struggle to come to a personally meaningful system.
Overall, this book is significantly different from other sources on druidry in that it is uniquely Irish (the first Irish druidry book I know of), well sourced and substantiated, and a resource of starting points for developing personal practice. This is a book I recommend to people interested in something beyond ‘Celtic’ authors who make broad generalisations about ‘the Kelts’[sic]; to people who want perspectives on druidry not obviously rooted in Welsh romanticism; and lastly to Pagans in Ireland, or who identify their practice and worldview as Irish Pagan. This book is for you…
(Moon Books, 2011) ST£15.99(Paperback. Also available on kindle)
I recently found myself recommending this book to several people, and in the process I realized I never got around to reviewing it here. Better late than never I suppose.
I have to admit that I started out with quite a pissy attitude towards this book, as I have built a perception of an almost universal ‘druidry’ that is based on Welsh mythology and the literary forgeries of Iolo Morganwg. And before anyone comments, yes, I know I’m jaded and cynical. I expected more of the same ‘druidry’ as I had previously encountered, but found something quite different from my expectations.
This book is set in the context of the Irish druidic tradition, and although there are references to modern Welsh druidry, for example the description of the three circles of manifestation (Abred, Gwynfyd and Ceugant) as a comparative to Irish druidic cosmology and the three realms, the book stays central to its Irish bias.
For the most part the sources are Irish or classical, drawing from historical sources, or acknowledging when practices belong to a modern syncretic tradition. The preliminary history of druidry and the definition of the druid show an intelligent struggle to grasp the core content. A real attempt is made to differentiate Irish druidry, identifying differences between Irish, and Gaulish and Welsh druidry. Eastwood also acknowledges the fact that many contemporary druid orders have grown out of the Romantic Movement and the works of Morganwg. There is nothing wrong with this in itself, as these teachings form a core of belief and practice in modern druid orders, and have a modern affinity with the Druidic worldview. Still, there have been some very ill informed books, such as 21 Lessons of Merlyn, that do not place this historical context on such material, and which paint a poor picture of the intellectual rigour of contemporary druidry. This is not the case with Eastwood.
The Chapter on Gods and Goddesses deals with Irish deities, but also has several Welsh and Gaulish deities. As anyone who has dug into Irish mythology can tell you, it is inevitable that comparisons will be made between Fionn and Taliesin, Llew and Lugh, and a lot can be gained by seeing where both similarities and divergences lie.
In looking at the directions/ quarter correspondences he offers various models without offering a definitive opinion. Like for many of us, there are questions of syncretic and ever evolving traditions, and each individual must find a system of meaning that works. To have various possibilities presented and debated allows a process of developing meaning for work. Eastwood soon develops into the three realms (land, sea and sky) and evokes the image of the world tree. One can see the image of the three realms as roughly corresponding to the three Greek elements of earth, water and air. Many druidic and CR practitioners have worked to reconcile the role of fire as a Greek element with Irish cosmology, particularly as fire plays an important role in the life of the tribe and the celebration of the festivals. A suggestion is made that the fire is central through the cauldrons of poesy, a system many consider analogous with the vedic chakra system. I would have liked to see more on the provinces and the functions (Cath, blath, fis, seis, mide) and although touched upon, given that this is an Irish centred book, I would have liked more.
The theme of the three realms and the cauldrons is expanded in the chapter on cosmology. This chapter also delves into the relationship of the druids with time and cycles.
The chapter on inspiration takes a more practical bent with exercises to experience the imbas or awen (Welsh term) and the chapter on Imramma or wonder journeys gives a very tangible sense of the role of the Faidh or ovate.
The chapter on the cycles of the sun, moon and earth is really the gem of this book for me, with many very practical indications and folkloric resources for developing symbol filled ritual. It gives no real words or instructions, but leaves enough information for further research and personal expression. Before reading this book I always referred people seeking such resources to Alexi Kondratiev’s Celtic Rituals (also published as The Apple Branch). Eastwood has obviously drawn heavily from Kondratiev, yet also goes a step beyond, and is much more specific to Ireland. I will now be sending people looking for festival indications that are well based in the Irish culture to this book.
Beyond this point the book moves from belief to practice, with chapters on the tools of the druid, divination, medicine and healing, and justice.
There is also an interesting chapter on the ogham which has obviously been worked on over a period of time. Eastwood works mainly from the perspective of the tree ogham, which is the most common perspective in contemporary druidry. Even though working from the branch of ogham on which most published information is available, the text reflects a personal struggle to come to a personally meaningful system.
Overall, this book is significantly different from other sources on druidry in that it is uniquely Irish (the first Irish druidry book I know of), well sourced and substantiated, and a resource of starting points for developing personal practice. This is a book I recommend to people interested in something beyond ‘Celtic’ authors who make broad generalisations about ‘the Kelts’[sic]; to people who want perspectives on druidry not obviously rooted in Welsh romanticism; and lastly to Pagans in Ireland, or who identify their practice and worldview as Irish Pagan. This book is for you…
December 24, 2023
FINALLY! That is all I can say. So why give 4 stars, if it seems like a relief to be finished? Well, the book has some good information in it, but is just written in such a way that I could probably (if at all) keep half of it in my mind for a longer time. There were some good moments (Chapter X I liked very much), but it is written a bit academically, so not the easiest read for a non-native speaker of English (maybe it's different for native speakers). I am glad I read it, but I had some or most of the same information in the novel Priestess of the Forest by Ellen Evert Hopman (I remember a lot of information from that book, because it was presented better).
Still everyone interested in Druids on a more scholarly level should definitely read this one.
Still everyone interested in Druids on a more scholarly level should definitely read this one.
August 16, 2020
Excellent intro level text
April 20, 2015
This is a good place to start if you are interested in the spirituality of the ancient Celts. The author is clear and succinct, provides the information he gives with back-up from (more or less) recent developments in archeology and paleography, and does not hesitate to discuss arguments that previous authors on the subject have made but which have long since turned out to be unfounded. Eastwood uses historical evidence when he makes any point but is also clear about the fact that there are many things we cannot know about the Celts and druidry simply because very little recorded information on the topic has survived to this day.
No step-by-step introduction to being a druid in this day and age; however, the book inspires to read other works on the subject and provides a wide range of other titles to read (and which to avoid).
I have purchased the eBook version, and this is full of spelling mistakes and random punctuation - hence I've rated the book three stars instead of four, as this really interfered with a joyful reading experience. I would recommend buying the hard copy of this book instead of the digital version.
No step-by-step introduction to being a druid in this day and age; however, the book inspires to read other works on the subject and provides a wide range of other titles to read (and which to avoid).
I have purchased the eBook version, and this is full of spelling mistakes and random punctuation - hence I've rated the book three stars instead of four, as this really interfered with a joyful reading experience. I would recommend buying the hard copy of this book instead of the digital version.
October 29, 2014
A flood of information, with sources to back it all up, it took me several months to read. Its presented as, what I'd call, academic and discusses everything from lore to tree significance. Rather dry, but good nonetheless.
October 25, 2015
Educational
This book is a great introduction to both the theology and practice of the druids in context of their time. It has numerous spelling and grammatical errors and if you can forgive those then it is certain!y worth a read.
This book is a great introduction to both the theology and practice of the druids in context of their time. It has numerous spelling and grammatical errors and if you can forgive those then it is certain!y worth a read.
April 25, 2012
Please Check out my review at Celtic Scholar's Reviews and Opinions
April 28, 2015
See my full review at https://leithincluan.wordpress.com/20... .
June 8, 2013
good introduction to Druidism
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews