KoRT (Knights of the
 

Druids, Merlin, and Excalibur

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Druidry – The society.

A druid is a member of the priestly class parts of Celtic western Europe. Very little is currently known about the ancient druids as they left no written accounts about themselves.

The only evidence of Druids are a few descriptions left by Greek and Roman authors, and stories created by later Irish writers. While archaeological evidence has been uncovered pertaining to the religious practices of the Celtic people, not one single artifact or image has been unearthed that can undoubtedly be connected with the ancient Druids. Various recurring themes emerge in a number of the Greco-Roman accounts of the druids, including that they performed human sacrifice, believed in a form of reincarnation, and that they held a high position in society. Next to nothing is known about their cultic practice.

The earliest known reference to the druids dates to 200 BCE. Following the invasion of Celtic western Europe by the Roman Empire, druidism was thoroughly suppressed by banning their religious practices by the Roman government, and it disappeared from the written record by the 2nd century, although there were likely later survivals in various locations, where they are largely portrayed as sorcerers who opposed the coming of Christianity.

We can know virtually nothing of certainty about the ancient Druids, so that - although they certainly existed - they function more or less as legendary figures. - the sources provided about them by ancient and medieval writers, coupled with archaeological evidence, can give us an idea of what they might have performed as a part of their religious duties.

One of the few things that both the Greco-Roman and the vernacular Irish sources agree on about the druids was that they played an important part in pagan Celtic society. Julius Caesar claimed that they acted as judges, and that they were one of the two most important social groups, alongside the equites, or nobles, responsible for organizing worship and sacrifices, divination and judicial procedure. He also claimed that they were exempt from military service and from the payment of taxes, and that they had the power to excommunicate people from religious festivals, making them social outcasts. The druids were held in such respect that if they intervened between two armies they could stop the battle. 

It is said that the druids' instruction was secret, and was carried on in caves and forests. Druidic lore consisted of a large number of verses learned by heart, and it could take up to twenty years to complete the course of study. There is no evidence during the period when Druidism was flourishing to suggest that Druids were other than male. What was taught to Druid novices anywhere is conjecture: of the druids' oral literature, not one certifiably ancient verse is known to have survived, even in translation. All instruction was communicated orally, but for ordinary purposes, the Druids had a written language in which they used Greek characters. 

To note, it was fervently purported the idea that they had not been involved in human sacrifice, but such accusations were imperialist Roman propaganda... Human sacrifice was distortedly reported... in fact, it was honored warriors buried in the sanctuary rather than sacrifices. 

With regard to their actual course of studies, the main object of all education is to imbue their scholars with a firm belief in the indestructibility of the human soul, which, according to their belief, merely passes at death from one tenement to another; for by such doctrine alone, they say, which robs death of all its terrors, can the highest form of human courage be developed. Subsidiary to the teachings of this main principle, they hold various lectures and discussions on astronomy, on the extent and geographical distribution of the globe, on the different branches of natural philosophy, and on many problems connected with religion.

An important part in society, they recognized the authority of a single leader, who would rule till their death, when a successor would be chosen by vote or through conflict. Alos, noted, is they met annually at a sacred place in the region.

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The Shaman's Cosmos

The Celtic Shaman's cosmos, like that of other Shamanic universal views, consists of three 'worlds;' the Lower world, the Upper world, and the Middle world (where we live in ordinary reality.) 

What differentiates the Celtic Shaman's universal view from that of other Shamanic traditions, is that these worlds are all connected by the great tree of life. Rooted in the Lower realm, its trunk extends upwards, through the middle world, and into the Upper world, where its branches hold the stars, the sun and the moon. 

The Celtic Shaman traverses the realms by climbing the tree (also seen as a great ladder or pole) into the Upper world. This is the realm of stars, celestial beings, and is the dwelling place of many gods and spirits of the air, and of the great Mother Goddess herself. 

The lower world can be reached by descending the roots of the massive tree into the realm of the spirits of the earth and fire, where sits the stag-headed Lord of the Underworld, the horned one, protector of the animals. Here the Celtic Shaman can meet with helper power animals and spirit guides.

Thus all three worlds are linked by the great tree, and yet the tree itself and all of the universe are believed contained within the shell of a single hazelnut, lying next to the Well of Segais (the source of all wisdom.)
 

Druid and Shaman Influence

One of the richest and most significant sources of influence, constituting much of the original source material for the Arthurian legend, comes from the half-remembered tales of an enigmatic people called the Celts.

These Celtic Legends, themselves fragmentary and half-forgotten, tell us of the people who created them. These are stories filled with the exploits of great warriors and mighty kings.

The Celts had an aristocratic warrior-culture, and valued courage and skill at arms. They are rife with magic and the supernatural, being among the most fantastic of any society's mythology.

The Celts believed in an Otherworld, and felt that it was very close to our own mortal world, and sometimes beings from one world could even enter the other. Above all, these tales burgeon with energy and vitality.

But because these were all oral traditions, much has been lost through the ages. What little remains has been garbled in telling and retelling through the centuries, put to various uses and incorporated into new stories. And thus, as Roman culture spread through the Celtic lands and Christianity replaced the old beliefs, much of the venerated lore of the tribes was deposited within one central storehouse, a vehicle that has preserved these tales for over a thousand years: the Arthurian legend.
 

Merlin and Excalibur - Celtic Influence

Celtic society was an elaborate and clearly defined system, with several different branches and roles within it. The traditional roles of freeman farmer and warrior aristocracy existed, and a chieftain or king ruled the group.

However, everywhere within the Celtic world, the intellectual roles not only existed but were developed to a high degree, and were separated into three general professional branches: the Bards, singers of praises and feared satirists; the Vates, diviners and seers (or sometimes Filidh, poets and possibly prophets); and the Druids, the priests and wizards, judges and advisors, prophets and teachers of the Celtic world.

Selected mostly from aristocratic stock, and given extensive training (reports are usually around 20 years) which was shrouded in secrecy, the Druids wielded enormous power within the community, being the leaders of its mind and soul. There are even tales that the kings themselves could not speak until the Druids had done so. As one of the most central and important aspects of Celtic society, it is hardly surprising that survived in the myths and legends of the Irish and other Celtic groups. And again, this aspect of Celtic mythology became inextricably linked with the Arthurian mythos. 

The obvious link is, of course, the most fascinating and enigmatic figure in the cycle of Arthurian legend: Merlin, the wise and mighty wizard and prophet. 

Displaying all the powers appropriate for a great Druid, Merlin fits the Celtic archetype of king's advisor snugly. All this should be expected, of course, for Merlin originates deep in the Celts' mythic past. 

Sacrifice was common among the Celts, and often took the form of votive offerings (one or more objects deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for broadly religious purposes) presented to the gods in shrines, or surrendered to the forces of nature. There are many examples of weapons and other metal goods cast into pools, rivers, and lakes as offerings; these are especially connected with funerary rites.

Arthur's sword, Excalibur, symbol of his kingship, also seems to rise from the misty legends. The nature of the sword itself and its persuasive stories of mystic origins, generated by Merlin himself to inspire his people behind Arthur. The Woad felt that Excalibur was a sort of idol, born from the fires and earth of the land. Many would gratefully die for Excalibur.