Thorsons Principles of Druidry

by Emma Restall Orr

Offers an explanation of the basic principles of Druidry, discussing its philosophy of honoring the spirits of nature, and covering such topics as rites of passage, herbcraft, and healing

Genres: Religion, Paganism, Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Occult

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 1998

About the author

[from Wikipedia] -- Emma Restall Orr is a British neo-druid, animist, priest, poet and author. She worked for the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids in the early 1990s, becoming an Ovate tutor. In 1993 she became joint chief of the British Druid Order (BDO) staying until 2002. Together with the Order founder Philip Shallcrass, she developed the BDO into one of the largest and most influential of its time. Feeling the system of Orders too limiting, in 2002 she created The Druid Network, which was officially launched at Imbolc 2003.

Since the late 1990s she has organized the largest annual gatherings of Druids and those interested in Druidry, first at The Awen Camp with Philip Shallcrass, then since 2001 The Druid Camp with Mark Graham. In 2004 she founded Honouring the Ancient Dead. Since 2004, she has been involved with PEBBLE (The Public Bodies Liaison Committee for British Paganisms) encouraging positive and productive interaction between modern British Pagan groups and British government departments, and other institutions.

Over the course of her life in Druidry she has been on numerous television and radio programmes in Britain and around the world, featured and quoted in the print media and on the internet.

She is daughter of Robin Restall, renowned ornithologist, writer and artist. Her brother is Matthew Restall, history professor and writer.

Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is out of print, the British Druid Order has a place you can download it, which I did. It is super interesting, in that the author has added later notes, and notes from readers who have sent them in that she wanted to include.

The first part, about the history of Druidry and it's roots was very good, but took up maybe too much of the book. It's an older book, and I think answers questions people don't have anymore, or that can be answered in thirty seconds on the internet.

It's not a system that is complete, like JMG or ADF tries to give you. I didn't leave it with any sense of what I would do when I put the book down. It wasn't terrible. It is the book, or was, the book someone needs.

She talks about doing a new edition, and I would be very interested in that, but this seems more of an artifact of its time, and not a particularly interesting one.

[Sharon J. Hayward · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Melissa Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to modern-day Druidry, with short passages about the history and rituals of these Pagans. This is an excellent resource for anyone who is interested in learning basic information, and the author includes a contact list of Druid organizations as well as a reading selection for those who would like to learn more.

[daryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are familiar with Paganism, then you will be familiar with a lot of this book. But the for the few things that are unique to Druidry (the awen, the tolerance to different Gods and the history), this is a useful guide.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 really. I'm not a big fan of her writing style though she has improved much in later books, and it was too...flowery? I don't know.

[Lugdag Severino · Rating 5 out of 5]

basic book for anyone who wants to know about modern Druidry

[Patricia Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, very comprehensive, telling the history of druidry to how it's practiced nowadays.