Today our biggest problem is that we have separated ourselves from
Nature - so much that there is a risk we may not survive as a species.
We need philosophies, spiritualities, ideas, that can help us get back
in touch with Nature again - our spirituality must become ecological.
Prince Philip, in a speech to a Washington conference on religion and
ecology controversially pointed to the direction in which we should
look, when he said: "It is now apparent that the ecological pragmatism
of the so-called pagan religions...was a great deal more realistic in
terms of conservation ethics than the more intellectual monotheistic
philosophies of the revealed religions."

It now seems that the Old Ways, reinterpreted for our times, can offer
us the kind of spirituality that we need to heal the separation that has
occurred between ourselves and our environment. Druidry is one such Way,
and although at first sight it might appear to be just an old curiosity,
a quaint memory from the distant past, if we take the time to look at it
more closely, we will discover a treasure-chest just waiting to be
opened. And in this chest we can find at least seven gifts that Druidry
brings to our modern world:

The first gift is a Philosophy:which emphasizes the sacredness of all
life, and our part in the great web of creation. It cares passionately
about the preservation and protection of the environment, and offers a
worldview, which is ecological, geocentric, pragmatic, idealistic,
spiritual and romantic. It does not separate Spirit and Matter - it
offers a sensuous spirituality that celebrates physical life.

The second gift puts us back in touch with Nature: with a set of
practices that help us feel at one again with Nature, our ancestors, our
own bodies, and our sense of Spirit, by working with plants, trees,
animals, stones, and ancestral stories. Eight seasonal celebrations help
us attune to the natural cycle, and help us to structure our lives
through the year, and to develop a sense of community with all living
beings.

The third gift brings Healing: with practices that promote healing and
rejuvenation, using spiritual and physical methods in a holistic way to
promote health and longevity.

The fourth gift affirms our life as a Journey: with rites of passage:
for the blessing and naming of children, for marriage, for death, and
for other times of initiation, when it is helpful to ritually and
symbolically mark our passage from one state to another.

The fifth gift opens us to other Realities: with techniques for
exploring other states of consciousness, other realities, the
Otherworld. Some of these are also used by other spiritual traditions,
and include meditation, visualization, shamanic journeying, and the use
of ceremony, music, chanting and sweathouses, but they are all grounded
in specifically Celtic and Druidic imagery and tradition.

The sixth gift develops our Potential: Druidry as it is practiced today
offers a path of self-development that encourages our creative
potential, our psychic and intuitive abilities, and fosters our
intellectual and spiritual growth.

The seventh gift of Druidry is the gift of Magic: it teaches the art of
how we can open to the magic of being alive, the art of how we can bring
ideas into manifestation, and the art of journeying in quest of wisdom,
healing and inspiration.

I agree, our world is out of balance. This is an interesting approach.

I just love nature and I am a caretaker of 4 acres of land. I like the
naturalism of the country type lifestyle. I used to live in the asphalt
and concrete jungle but prefer getting back to nature. I have huge oak
trees in the back yard and acorn trees. The word druid comes describing
the oak tree.

One of the most striking characteristics of modern Druidry lies in its
tolerance of diversity. People are drawn to Druidry because they can
practise and study it on its own, or in combination with other spiritual
paths. Each spiritual way has gifts to offer, and some people find that
they can combine the Druid and Christian approaches. Others combine
their Druidry with Wicca or Buddhism, while others find in Druidry
itself all the spiritual nourishment they need.

I agree, nature makes me feel at peace and part of something great. I
use to live in the city and now live in the country. I don't want to go
back to the concrete jungle. Thats pretty cool to be a caretaker. Where
I live we have oak trees all around, they are really pretty.

I was just thinking it seems to be very similar to wicca. Do you come it
with something? or is it a enough by itself?

combine not come sorry

By itself. Just this last year I noticed the great crop of acorns in the
back yard and hoped there would be more squirrels because of it and they
are showing up. I have let the blackberry plants and grapes take over to
keep a rustic feeling. I have some yard but I like the wildness and
freedom that nature gives. It is really peaceful to watch the deer come
in the back yard and see the birds eat the grapes and blackberries. I
have some bird houses that my sister left here.

I have a bird book by the window so I can look up the different kinds of
birds that come. We have a lot of turkeys around our house. We also
have 20 acres so we've got woods, field and yard.

Is it by John Audobahn? I wish I could paint like that. I like the
National Arbor Foundation and love celebrating Earth day.

I have fruit trees in the backyard but have been trying to get some
yellow apple trees. The peach trees have lots of bag worms this year. I
want to develop the orchard more.

We have a couple of gardens this year. We don't have very good dirt
here it has to much clay in it, so I'm growing worms to help get good
dirt. My bird book is by Peterson. It's old it was my grandmas. There
are birds in it they don't even put in the new publications bcs on
migration changes, but occasionaly we stil get some here and its nice to
be able to identify them. We have apple and plum trees, not enough for
orchard.

I am a tree hugger, love the environment. What do u think about global
warming and the polar bear situation?

I wanted a garden but need to get a tiller. I have some Plum trees. My
mom and my older sister canned a lot. I have many jars in the pump
house. I sure like good cold well water. Arkansas sure is the natural
state especialy if you live way back in the sticks like I do. We have
had a lot of ticks this year. I have wanted a wood fireplace but heard
it can raise the insurance rates so I just keep the propane gas for
heating.

The global warming scares me but I haven't heard much about the Polar
bears.

I think the earth changes, always has. I think its sad that things come
and go but there are things happening, like the poles flipping, that
haven't happened in our history and we can't predict. Did you know that
farming puts the most chemicals in the air that deplete the ozone layer.
I'm talking mass farming.

I wasn't aware that mass farming did that.

I know Mother Earth needs all the help she can get. Sometimes I think
she rebels against man with volcanoes, tsunamis, and earth quakes.

Around here everyone has wood heat at least as a back up especially
after last winter and all that ice. We were without electricity for 7
days my cousins didn't have it for 14. You should get some chickens for
the ticks.