Druid’s are known for their Tree Lore – their connection to the trees. They support tree-planting and reforestation. Ceremonies and rituals would be performed in Sacred Groves in the forest, as well as that these groves offer a space for meditation, prayer or to commune with nature. Trees are bridges between the lower, middle and upper worlds and we as humans are very much like them. We can turn to the trees to ask for wisdom, guidance and protection. They are great listeners too. Trees help too clean up the energies in an area. They are the witnesses of the transformations and events that happen in the land and therefor record keepers and guardians of the forest.
Every 11th of the month we will introduce you to a different tree from the Ogham Tree Alphabet. To learn from the trees and walk in their ways. Rooting ourselves deeply into fertile grounds and to connect high with clear skies above…
As we walk through the flowering fields of heather these days, rays of pink and purple radiate out in every direction. These bushes of the woods, are commonly found on rough lands which are grazed by sheep, sometimes deer.
This area, where the glaciers came to a stop, an started retreating, melting at the end of the last ice age, still shows the result of this massive force water has in its solid form. Being able to push up land mass, adding new layers of sediment to it, water will always find its way, shaping the landscape as it passes through.
As slow rolling waves of pink & purple cover the landscape, the hills roll out before our eyes, heather growing in full bloom, creating a feeling of abundance, awe and humility.
When taken the time, and able to listen, one can become aware of a concert of bees humming about. This is the time to collect the precious pollen and nectar, honey becoming….
For the Druid’s the bee is a sacred being and in more than a few ways the Druid and the bee have things in common. As said, “when the bees stop humming, the world will come to an end.”
As we face challenges in this modern world were the bees are threatened by the modern way of life, we have a chance to reconnect and observe the value of this beautiful being.
The Druid and bees are in that sense symbolised by the work they do, supporting and serving the continuation of life. As the druid serves the order, the community and life as a whole, so does the bee serving his queen, hive and colony.
So, as the druid is sometimes seen as a solitary being, she is far from it, as she also serves as a way shower: to teach, to heal, to create, connect to nature and philosophise about life.
As the bee is guided by the sun, so the druid is guided by the inner light of the heart.
Where the bees go around and about gathering pollen, nectar to make honey, so does the druid step into the world to learn from the life surrounding her. Receiving knowledge, experience and wisdom to be taken back to the tribe, to be shared for the wellbeing of the whole.
Heather is able to grow on soil where other plants cannot. However it is most likely to find purple heather, sometimes one may find white heather and this rare find is surrounded by myths to explain its appearance. Some suggest that white heather is found on the final resting place of fairies. Others suggest that white heather brings good fortune and that it symbolises unselfish love.
It is said that the word ‘heathen’ (‘heiden’ in Dutch) comes from ‘heath’ – the land where heather grows. Originally the word was used to refer to those who wandered the heath lands and followed the old ways – while later the word was used by Christians to point to an uncivilised, godless savage.
As a way of protection, a lot of the ancient knowledge has been taken underground – waiting for us to reconnect with our roots, so it can be rediscovered and lived again.
Sign up for our Druid’s letter