10 minute read
Pete Blake
Interview
Druidry - Philosophy for Life
By Freya Savitri Sampson - Custodian Eartheart
“I see it as an umbrella term that encompasses various spiritual paths, religions and philosophies, often falling outside of the Abrahamic religions, which explore a relationship to the natural world. These paths look to embody and ground a sense of Spirit within the physical rather than transcend it. Seeing the Sacred and our experience of the Divine reflected within nature.”
I met Pete Blake at Tamara Lampard’s home, around six years ago. I instantly felt like I’d just bumped into an old friend. Over the years we’ve shared meditation, sound healing, a love of animals, photography, and healthy food. One thing that we hadn’t yet begun to explore is his experience in the nature of Druidry. This is a snippet of Pete’s journey. What is paganism to you?
What is your path within that umbrella?
“My spiritual path is largely my own. I draw from various threads, inspired by many wisdom teachings, woven together into an expression that reflects my Self. I need to be able to feel I can evolve beyond labels and definitions rather than be held back by them, but for the most part, Druidry forms the grounding to my spiritual practice. “I was initiated into a local Druid Order and Grove in the year 2000. Currently I’m a Druid of the British Druid Order, joining them in 2012 and completed their program of study. I’m also a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.”
What drew you to that path?
“I needed a spiritual framework that was ethical, was inclusive, and that treated me like an intelligent adult who can make my own decisions.
“I needed an earth centered practice that wasn’t appropriating from Indigenous cultures I had no lineage to.
“Druidry gave me the spiritual language I needed and a structure from which to expand from.
“Druidry flows from three main streams: the Bard, the Ovate, and the Druid. Within these I found most the elements of a spiritual practice that I needed.
“Druidry has no biblical text or spiritual leader telling me who to be. Nothing telling me what gender I can love and how my relationships should look. Druidry allows me to experience my identity within my own terms. While how we connect to a sense of Deity, if at all, is up to each of us to discover for ourselves.
“Druidry promotes peace, and teaches us to slow down and be present. Druidry offers an opportunity to build a relationship with life through a lens of the natural world, which can feel empowering. “This can also carry with it a sense of responsibility in how we interact with the environment, often shaping our day to day lifestyle habits. It may also mean taking on the role of activist in some way. For myself it also reflects within the ethics of my consumerism choices, which is important to me.”
What are the origins of your path?
“Druidry begins with the ancient Druids who were the learned class of people within the tribes of the ancient Celts. This era of Druidry as noted by the classical writers existed from around 400 BCE to 600 CE.
“During the 1700’s to 1800’s we see a resurgence of interest around the Druids. This period is often referred to as the Druid revival. Here we see Druidry more as a cultural expression and as fraternal Orders.
“During the mid1900s we see two key influential figures emerge from the Ancient Order of Druids, those being Ross Nichols and Gerald Gardener. Nichols goes on to establish the Order of Bard Ovates and Druids, while Gerald Gardener is one of the key figures in establishing Wicca. Together they create the concept of an eightfold cycle of natural observations which formed what we now commonly refer to as the wheel of the year. It’s at this point we see Druidry beginning to take on a more earth centric perspective.”
What makes practising ‘Druidry’ in Australia unique?
“The majority of books available on Druidry will reflect the northern hemisphere. Those of us who aren’t Indigenous to Australia don’t have years of an established spiritual tradition with ancestry connecting us deep into the roots of the Australian landscape.
“Unlike the British Isles where Druidry is often thought of as an Indigenous spirituality in some sense, here in Australia we are not the traditional custodians of
the land, this resides with our Aboriginal nations. We can look to our Aboriginal people for inspiration, but largely we are forging our own path, and that’s pretty exciting!
“Australia doesn’t generally reflect the same climatic patterns as the UK or Europe, so rather than follow a guide from a book we look to nature. While the underlying concept of aligning to the season, and to the movement of the sun and moon are the same, we localise it so it reflect where we live.
“For example: rather than the blossoming of Hawthorn and Snowbells marking seasonal changes, we see Wattles and Eucalyptus flowering. Rather than nature going barren in winter, we see the landscape come alive as the first rains encourage new growth and greenery. “While Druidry understands all life as sacred, there are places within the landscape more inherently sacred than others, offering a more tangible experience. For places like Britain these tend to be established places of reverence, often marked by standing stones, sacred springs or holy wells. These can be places of pilgrimage for whoever feels their call.
“Here in Australia we have to be mindful of cultural sensitivities when exploring sacred places. As non Indigenous folk, these places aren’t always available to us to use for spiritual practices. Our sacred places are something we have to establish for ourselves.”
What are the differences between new and old world?
“In the context of Druidry I should state that in general modern Druids are not trying to pretend to be ancient Druids. We aren’t role playing or re-enacting what was. We may look to the past to be inspired or to be informed, but we are living present to the now.
“Some people have criticised Druidry because of this, stating that without direct lineages and written teachings from the Druids of old, then it isn’t real Druidry. But who is to say that there’s not an unseen force inspiring Druidry back into consciousness. Relevancy is found in how a path helps cultivate connection and compassion, helps give your life some sense of meaning while building resilience, not that it’s old.”
What stigmas have you had to navigate in society due to your spiritual path?
“To be honest I’m not aware of any stigmas or discrimination in particular, none that I’ve been directly confronted with anyway.
“People would probably associate me more with my work as a meditation facilitator, which is more palatable within mainstream Australian culture, than my spiritual practice and Druidry.
“I hope I present as a compassionate and genuine person with a strong sense of integrity, and that’s how others see me and this reflects my spirituality.”
What comments would you like to share about ‘Druidry’ in the time of the goddess, the impact of the patriarchal age and its future in the dawning age we are entering now?
“I’m a bit reluctant to call this the time of the Goddess. Goddess mythos never left. She may have re-emerged in the new age movement, but many cultures have always honoured the sacredness of the feminine.
“With modern society moving away from ‘Guru Culture’, away from patriarchal Abrahamic religions, and with the rise of women’s empowerment, it’s a celebration that the female image is again seen as sacred here in western culture. But we have to remember that the new age movement is not the gate keeper, pagan paths have always revered the feminine and found empowerment in her symbolism.
“Druidry holds no hierarchy based on gender. Even the term Druid is not a gendered role. There is a definite female presence within Druidry today, evolving beyond the archetypical image of old bearded men in white robes. “As Druids we stand together in a circle, side by side, no gender or person seen to be of any greater or lesser value than the next. I see this diversity as one of Druidry’s strengths.
“To be honest I couldn’t say what the future of Druidry maybe, as long as Druidry continues being a voice for peace, a space for creative expression, as long as it keeps returning us to nature, centring us within the natural world, and continues evolving to embrace diversity then it’s going to be relevant, and that’s all I can hope for.”
What message would you like to give to anyone interested in exploring this pathway?
“Druidry is about relationship with Self and the natural world. It’s about the expression of inspiration, the Awen. The magic within Druidry is largely about finding the magic within you.
“If you feel Druidry is speaking to you, you could explore the following websites: British Druid Order, Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, and The Druid Network.
“Three books I tend to recommend are: The Path of Druidry, by Penny Billington. Living Druidry: Magical spirituality for the Wild Soul, by Emma Restall Orr. Contemplative Druidry: People, Practice and Potential, compiled by James Nichol.
“Social media can also be a source for information... some good, some questionable, so be objective. If you’re within Australia there’s the Druids Down Under Facebook group.
“You can reach out to me personally via: www.peteblake.com”
What a beautiful natural, living tradition. Here in Australia, there is so much to explore, evolve and become through this philosophy and practice, in this beautiful land of The Dreamtime.
Freya is available for Crystal Dreaming, The Liquid Crystals and a range of holistic services.
Image Credit: Freya Sampson
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