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Celtic Neo-Paganism,
Druidry and Shamanism
This page is dedicated to the Celtic and Shamanic paths. While they
may at first seem unrelated, my research for this website has taught me that there are
indeed many similarities. The article below is used with it's author's permission. The
author owns the Free_Druidry_Course yahoo group and retains ownership and copyright on this piece. The author
provides a complete bibliography after the article. Readers are invited to join the
Free_Druidry_Course if you're interested in learning more from Mr. Hopkinson. Links related to Druidry and Shamanism follow the article.
Look below the link section for news from Scotland.
Northwest European Shamanism
By Joel Hopkinson
Religion was less organized before Christianity. People could follow their
own spiritual path and make choices regarding their religious beliefs. Often a person
would recognize many divine energies, as all powers were viewed as potent within their own
sphere of influence.
Into this environment of religious freedom came the Roman Empire, using Christianity as a
political tool to unite its diverse citizens. Spiritual tolerance was destroyed, as the
religions of the Book aggressively believe in only one god - theirs. Or more correctly a
god imported from the Middle East. So began a great destruction, a religious and cultural
vandalism that would impoverish European thought for centuries.
In modern times we have once again something close to the religious freedom enjoyed by our
ancient ancestors. People are asking questions and seeking answers in places previously
concealed or destroyed by Christianity. The war-god Yahweh, the sun-god Christ and the
Christian reformation of Judaism have been put into context as one religion rather than
the religion. There is nothing wrong with following this religion as part of being free
and tolerant is allowing others to follow their own way. But many of us are looking
to our own history, culture and ancestors to guide us through this spiritual minefield. So
what was the religion of our North European ancestors? There are many theories. Sadly the
Christians have not left us much to go with. So enthusiastic were they to destroy any
trace of pre-Christian religion or philosophy, that myths have been lost, books destroyed,
sacred areas defiled and humans tortured to death. But clues exist. Clues that can help us
reconstruct the old ways. By researching these clues and meditating on them it is hoped
the individual will develop their own ideas about their religion. And this is perhaps as
close to the old ways as a person can get.
Around 3000 B.C.E. a language group called Proto-Indo-European evolved in the area of
modern Russia where the Volga River empties into the Caspian Sea. Archaeologists call this
group the Kurgan culture. Kurgan means `mound' in Russian, and they were named for the
burial mounds used to bury their high-ranking deceased. This culture
would later develop into all of the Indo-European language groups including: Germanic,
Celtic, Sanskrit, Hittite, Iranian and Hellenic. By 2400 B.C.E. the Kurgans had
domesticated horses, made bronze weapons and jewelry of gold, silver and turquoise. Then
they started moving South and West (1).
Around 1600 B.C.E. a group of people moved into the lower Danube River valley. They are
known as the Battle Ax people or the Corded Ware people, identifying them by their
equipment and pottery. The Battle Ax people moved west and north into modern Scandinavia,
Britain and Bohemia; by 1200 B.C.E. they were firmly established in
North West Europe (1). Here we see the beginnings of the ancient Teutonic
and Proto-Celtic peoples.
The ancient Teutonic peoples had a loosely organized religious structure before
Christianity. No forced belief system, no confessionals to pry into the private lives of
its followers and no set dogma to stifle free thought. There were the poets and
storytellers who drank the mead of inspiration and preserved the lore of the people. There
were chiefs and family heads that acted as spiritual leaders to the tribe, Runemael who
interpreted the runes, the Vitki or tribal elders, Spakona seers and Seiš workers.
Everyone had a skill that was valued by the tribe, and each was consulted in matters
concerning their specialization.
There is evidence that the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian peoples traveled and
exchanged information on a larger scale than we give them credit for. The Eurasian
continent was riddled with trade routes and waterways connecting Europe with the Far East.
The silk roads and trade routes of the ancient world are often seriously underestimated as
a means of cultural exchange. In fact these trade routes not only
carried goods and services but also ideas.
We know that the silk roads connected all China, India, the Middle East, Africa and
Southern Europe. We also know the Greeks and Romans traded with the Celts. Chinese silks
dating back to the 6th century BCE have been found as grave goods in Celtic Gaul (2).
We know that there were goods and services coming from the East but what about
travel in the other direction. Chinese nationalism often tells us that China is the oldest
Empire and they are naturally proud of their achievements but did western cultures have
any impact on ancient China?
The answer is yes. Recent research has uncovered the mummified remains of people with
Nordic features in the Tarim Basin, on the foothills of the Himalayas. Dating around 2,000
B.C.E. these blue-eyed, blonde-haired, tartan wearing bodies were well preserved in the
dry, salty climate. Some of these mummies have been displayed in the Chinese museum of
Urumchi the capital of the Chinese province, Xinjiang. These bodies obviously represent
ancient Caucasian people who may have been responsible for the introduction of the wheel,
horse riding and bronze into ancient China. (3).
Prior to the discovering of this amazing piece of evidence, archaeologists had other
evidence for western people in Asia. There are images of blonde, blue-eyed people in
Buddhist shrines, and written accounts from China, India, Rome and Greece. The mummified
remains of the Tarim basin offer a rare window into the kingdoms of ancient Central Asia.
The evidence suggests a mixture of peoples with European, Mesopotamian and Chinese
features (3).
Around 1000 B.C.E. the Proto-Celtic and Germanic Battle Ax culture came into contact with
the Scythians. The Scythians were horse warriors from the Russian steppes and although
there was definitely conflict, there was also cultural exchange. The Battle Ax peoples
learned better ways to ride and control horses, wearing moustaches, using lime in their
hair, stylized art forms, and taking the heads of enemies slain in combat (1).
There were Greek Buddhists long before there were Greek Christians. Alexander the Great's
influence stretched to India in 326 B.C.E. This opened up trade and communication between
India, Persia and the Hellenistic kingdoms. Hellenistic artistic traditions influenced
Indian art, especially Buddhism. India astronomy was definitely
influenced by the Greeks and contact with Greek deities possibly modified some Buddhist
teachings (4).
The Kushan (North Indian) king Kanishka was a Buddhist but he tolerated many other
religions including Hinduism, the Roman Heracles and Persian deities. Kushan Buddhist
images show strong Greco-Roman influences. Large numbers of Greco-Roman influenced
Buddhist sculptures have been found in Taxila, a center of international art and commerce.
This became a meeting place for people of many nationalities including the Scythians,
Iranians, North Asians, Bactrian Greeks, Turks and the Chinese. After Buddhism spread to
China and Japan, the art forms of Greece, Rome and Persian were also introduced to the Far
East. As for the exchanging of ideas from the East to the West, Menander a Hellenistic
king converted to Buddhism (4).
We know from other sources that the Celtic Druids of Gaul knew how to speak Greek and used
the Greek alphabet (2). The Druidic religion probably exchanged many
ideas with Greek philosophers and Roman priests so they might have heard something about
Buddhism. We also know that the Gauls had some dealings with the Germans across the
Rhine so maybe there was some exchange between the ancient Teutonic peoples and
pre-Christian Buddhists. It would be interesting to know if any Buddhist texts mention the
peoples of Northern Europe or the Far West.
A small statue of the Buddha made in Central Asia has been found in Scandinavia. It is
commonly assumed that such things were the spoils from raids but is it also a possibility
that a foreign ambassador or native traveler has brought a statue of their faith to
Scandinavia. The Vikings definitely had contact with Arabia and Northern Africa. A bronze
brazier from Baghdad, Iraq has been found in Sweden. Arabian silver coins have been found
in Norway, so it was not an isolated incident. Danish long ships or drakkar sailed into
the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar. They raided the cities of Cadiz and Seville
in 844 C.E. and reached the north coast of Africa. (5)
The Vikings encouraged trade and there is no reason not to believe that the ancient
Germanics also did this. In 862 C.E. Swedish Viking trading centres Novgorod and Kiev in
Russia, encouraged exchange with many cultures including Turks, Mongols, Khazaks and the
Chinese. Arabian swords were sought after for their quality and Viking merchants brought
silver bracelets from the Middle East to Denmark. Trade with the Russian Vikings traveled
through the Don, Dneiper and Volga rivers. In 922 C.E. the Arabian scholar Ibn Fadlan
described a Viking funeral in Russia. (5).
If anything the research shows that the Northern tradition has more in common with the
shamanism of the Eurasian steppes than Hebrew Qabalah. The World-Tree and the initiations
of Odin have themes common with the shaman of Central Asia (6). The
Scandinavians definitely had contact with the shamans of Lapland, a tradition with its
roots in the religious practices of Siberia.
It is worth noting that the language of Finland, which is right next to Sweden, belongs to
the same Altaic linguistic group as Japanese and Korean. In fact the aboriginal race of
Japan, the Ainu are categorized as Caucasoid having light coloured skin, reddish hair and
sometimes with blue or grey eyes. Caucasoid means Caucasian but anthropologists are
baffled as to how the Ainu came to be there so they have labeled them differently.
Taoism, although flowering in ancient China, developed among the Wu shaman of Central
Asia. Buddhism was a reformation of Hinduism the religion of Indo-Aryan Heathens, also
moved into Central Asia. Thus the subtle body techniques used by these religions may have
been partially known by the ancient Teutonic people especially their own shaman, vitki and
other religious people. It should then come as no surprise to discover that the mythology
of the Germanic Heathen can be deciphered to reveal tantric and other religious practices.
The mythology of the Norse implies a rich tradition of cultural themes that have parallels
in other cultures and religions. As an Indo-European culture the Germanics certainly share
some of their gods and customs with other European cultures. For example the Norse
Thor, god of thunder, has a parallel deity the Gallic Taranis. Taranis relates to the
Irish Torann `rumbler' recorded as Saint Torann in Christianised Irish lore. The Celts and
Germanics have many other similarities, but relationships with many other cultures can be
detected. By comparing the mythologies of these cultures we can reconstruct the religion
of the Proto-Indo-Europeans.
We can see that Europeans, Chinese, Indian, African and Mesopotamian peoples have been
communicating with each other for millennium. This interaction began in Central Asia and
continued sporadically through out history. One would expect that evidence of such
interaction could also be found in the culture of these same peoples that brings us to the
focus of this book. The mythology of the Norse people contains many heathen elements that
have parallels in other cultures. These parallels indicate a pre-Christian religion that
included elements from Celtic, Germanic, Siberian and Altaic cultures. Through the
pages of this book these influences will be examined and peeled away to reveal a rich
tradition of shamanism, spirituality and subtle body development.
Bibliography:
1. Roberts, T., The Celts in Myth and Legend, Friedman/ Fairfax
Publishing Group Inc., New York, 1995.
2. James, S., Exploring the World of the Celts, Thames and Hudson Ltd., London,
1993, pp.23, 28, 68.
3. a) "Renewal" Vol. 6, June 1999 & Vol. 8 June 2001, University of
Melbourne, Australia.
b) Barber, E., The Mummies of Urumchi, PanMacmillan.
c) Mair, V., & Mallory, J.P., The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of
the Earliest Peoples from the West, Thames & Hudson, 2000.
4. Upshur, J., [et al], World History: Vol: 1, 2nd ED, West Publishing Company,
Saint Paul, 1995, p.159, 170 & 171.
5. Pruneti, L.; Clark, P., (trans), Viking Explorers, Peter Bedrick Books, New
York, 1995.
6. Eliade, M., Shamanism, Princeton University Press, U.S.A., 1964
Druidism & Celtic/Irish paths
The Celtic, Irish, Gaelic or Druidic paths come mainly from Great Britain,
Ireland and the British Isles. These are also the beliefs that much of the Wiccan religion
and many other forms of witchcraft are based upon. But, there are also many differences
between witchcraft and Druidism, or Druidry.
A vast site that offers training in the Druidic order is called The Druid Grove. There are many categories of
information offered here, including a newsletter.
Here is another site with lots of information on Druidism.
If you're looking for information on Celtic deities and mythology, or Irish lore or the
Gaelic language, this site may have what you're looking for. It has lots of information on
these topics, plus Celtic clipart, lists of recommended reading and much more: Celtic & Irish
information
There is a Celtic
Shamanism site that describes Celtic Shamanism for the 21st century and
features an internet training course. The opening graphic at the top of the page takes
some time to load, but it isn't long before you can scroll past it and read the text
below.
These two sites are also recommended for those who are seeking knowledge of the traditions
of the Celts/Gaels. IMBAS
and Clannada na Gadelica.
If you've heard about lots of different Celtic Paganism groups and need some help in
sorting them out, check out the Database of Celtic and
Neo-Pagan Traditions.
Documents listed at this Druid Archive
may also provide needed answers.
Shamanism
Now, I present you with some links to information on Shamanism. Doing the
research for this section showed me that there is a relationship between Shamanism and the
ancient ways of the Celts.
I haven't had a lot of luck finding information about Native American Shamanism on the web
that didn't sound like it was advocating the use of hallucinogenic drugs. That is because
of the altered state of consciousness necessary for Shamanic visions, described
in this short essay. If you are interested in that particular part of
Shamanism, you'll have to do your own research. I work in a branch of law enforcement and
cannot, in good conscience, bring myself to link to sites which may advocate drug use. You
might search under "Lakota" for that type of site.
I did find a huge Shamanism site devoted to working with animal spirits,
though. They include a vast array of living animals as well as dinosaurs and mythical
beasts.
On the other hand, I found a pretty neat site on Shamanism from an Irish perspective.
There are a lot of parallels between ancient Celtic and Native American beliefs, which you
can find more about at this site.
The Foundation for Shamanic
Studies offers international courses on Shamanism and takes a scientific
approach.
Here is something that I plan to delve further into myself because it involves different
things that are important to me - spirituality, the environment and womanhood. There is a
relationship between Shamanism and the Ecofeminism
(Ecological Feminism) movement, which is explained at this site.
