Keeping the Hearth Fire

As Earth-dwellers, we are a part of an ever-changing and evolving world. Just as the first ocean organisms evolved into more complex, adaptable creatures we as human beings also adapt and change, as do any cultural or societal aspects of life on Earth. Logically then, the less physical aspects such as ideas, motivations, consciousness, and spirituality that make up culture also change and evolve because they are a part of us as creatures of the Earth. Druidism has changed from ancient times for exactly this reason; as a spirituality and a way of life to the ancient Druids, it stands to reason that it would have to change in order to adapt to our ever-evolving world.

To understand why Druidism is relevant today, we must first understand that an “archetype” as a basic definition, is an original model of a person, idea, or prototype that can serve as an example to be modeled after. Therefore, a Druidism archetype would simply mean that we have modeled our view of Druidism today after the ancient Druids, and we have adopted their basic belief system as closely as we can. As in many things, we do not seek to completely replicate an object or an idea, as often this is not practical or even desired. I prefer to think of it as more of a mentor system, being that we observe and use what we can from ancient druidism more as a guide than an exact copy. From this perspective, the argument that Druidism is extinct and cannot be revived is, if not entirely false then at least it can be argued that the idea is unsubstantiated.

Intellectually, we can look at Druidism as many layers that make up the basic formation of our unconscious in the accumulation of belief systems or ideals. As children of the Earth, we inherit more than basic features from past ancestors. We also receive basic information, ideas, cultural aspects, and a sense of self and individuality which allow us to process all of the layers either by itself or as a whole entity, depending on need or purpose. Although some describe the collective unconscious as having only two layers, I believe that the individual parts of both the human unconscious and the ecological unconsciousness can also be seen as separate entities or layers which can then be simplified into the two layers and then simplified yet again into broadly, “Earth”, which encompasses everything we are.

Going by the “Druidism equals Earth”, philosophy, it is easy to see why Druidism is very relevant today, as we are children of the earth and we believe in its preservation. As a society of human beings we have had to adapt our world to fit our current needs. While many see progress, innovation, and technology as negative aspects and perhaps the beginnings of the destruction of our natural world, this progress can also be seen as a natural element of the human condition. The reason for this is because it is instinctual for us that, in order to survive as a species we also must learn to grow, adapt, and strive to be better not only as an individual but as a group. Whether that striving is seen as negative or positive is irrelevant, it is simply the way we survive, as stagnancy equals the death of a species. As such, I think that Druidism is even more important and more relevant in this day and age than it was in the past, because we have created so much destruction from our modern world with inventions, pollution, and chemicals, that the Earth needs someone who will speak up for it, fight for it, and preserve it. The world needs Druidism.