The Druid Magic Handbook: Ritual Magic Rooted in the Living Earth

by John Michael Greer

The first and only Druidic book of spells, rituals, and practice. The Druid Magic Handbook is the first manual of magical practice in Druidry, one of the fastest growing branches of the Pagan movement. The book breaks new ground, teaching Druids how to practice ritual magic for practical and spiritual goals within their own tradition. What sets The Druid Magic Handbook apart is that it does not require the reader to use a particular pantheon or set of symbols. Although it presents one drawn from Welsh Druid tradition, it also shows the reader how to adapt rites and other practices to fit the deities and symbols most meaningful to them. This cutting edge system of ritual magic can be used by Druids, Pagans, Christians, and Thelemites alike! The first manual of Druidic magical practice ever, replete with spell work and rituals.
John Michael Greer is a highly respected authority on all aspects of Paganism.

Genres: Paganism, Occult, Nonfiction, Magic, Spirituality, Religion, Magick

Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

John Michael Greer is an author of over thirty books and the blogger behind The Archdruid Report. He served as Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. His work addresses a range of subjects, including climate change, peak oil, the future of industrial society, and the occult. He also writes science fiction and fantasy. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife.

Reviews

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Jews, Christians, and Muslims have their respective theologies, and Hindus, Buddhists, and Daoists have their own venerable traditions of logical and paralogical discourse, I'd never before this book seen an attempt at a pagan philosophy which approached the same level of relevance and scholarship.

John Michael Greer has an actual theory of magic. It's not one I'd treat too roughly, it hypothesizes unproven/unprovable phenomena to explain existing ones (much like graviton or flugiston or string theory), but taken by itself, it makes sense.

First, he defines magic as the science of making coincidences happen. This skirts the issue of confirmation, since magic cannot contravene natural causes, so that in tests, natural causes would always be identified as the sole source of the effect (his example is a shaman with 100% success rate: unless the shaman can make rain out of a clear sky, which is not what his ritual attempts to do, his practice is inevitably considered fraudulent). This, by the way, is better than any theological explanation I've heard of so-called 'minor miracles.'

Second, he identifies three 'currents' of magic, earthen, solar, and lunar. This bit is interesting, Greer has an actual explanation on how supernatural events in his religion get misinterpreted by Christianity, and yet I've never seen a Christian claim that magic could ever work, much less explain it (paradoxically, those same ignorants are afraid that the pretend magic in D&D can summon demons). Not the sturdiest, theory, once again, but the recurring failure of religion in the face of skepticism has been in part due to the fact that any one religion's miracles are doubted by every other, plus skeptics. This was Hume's counter-argument against the ubiquity of religious belief being a source of validation, and its not surprising that it takes a religion with no political stake to address it.

While that's what I found most interesting, the rest of book is simply instruction on doing magic, which may or may not interest you. However, the guiding light of Greer's superior organization means that, while somewhat dense, the book is more comprehensible than anything you'll find on the same shelf. Chances are, if you passed over this book while browsing, you should pick it up.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a set of ritual scripts and methods for the AODA (Ancient Order of Druids in America) as of time of publication (2011), compiled by a former Grand Archdruid who did a lot to revitalize the Order. It is essential reading for AODA Druids (it is part of the Apprentice grade curriculum), and likely of interest to Druids of at least some other Orders also. While some aspects of the rituals have changed and others are explicitly described as examples that the reader/practitioner is to adjust to include symbolism meaningful to them, this is an excellent reference and Greer's inclusion of chapters on the history of AODA ritual and its symbolism and structure is vital reading.

[Al Sevcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very clearly written, understandable, comprehensive manual on learning and practicing the druid system of magic. The author, John Michael Greer, is Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA). Therefore the specific methods described in this book are the ones used by the AODA. However, the methods of other druid societies are much the same and, as one learns from the book, the practice of magic is personal, there is no one exact way. While the description of the rituals is clear, they require extensive dedication in time and effort to master. In reading about druid magic one is also exposed to considerable history of the origins and development of modern druidism. My 5-star rating is for the clarity and readability of the text. How effective one becomes as a mage is up to the reader.

[Ltopo McFly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its an okay little textbook for beginner magick. I think the writer just transferred basic Kabbalah ideas to a more Celtic context. There was nothing especially "Druid" about the rituals shared. Not much to do with nature or Celtic deities or things specifically from Druid legend. Biblical and Jewish names in Kabbalah rituals are replaced with more Celtic ones. That might really be the flaw of real magical orders this writer is preserving. Many serious magicians will feel ripped off or anyone curious about Druids or neo-Druids. But novice magick "dabblers" might be inspired by the creativity shown by the author.

[P]

Can't rate what I have not read. The language is too difficult to even get into. If you did make it through one sentence, hurray, there goes all motivation in starting the next. You can make even the most uninteresting topics sound enticing with the right language but this? This was an interesting subject to begin with. And the author did his utmost best in making it as bland and uninteresting and utterly incomprehensible as possible. This review is pretty boring, right? With all unnecessary big words? Well, deal with it as it is but a metaphor of the book.

DNF at 18%

[Diane McGyver · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more from “The Druid Magic Handbook”. While there are interesting topics covered, I found the book too instructional and too repetitive. Where instinct should have led the way, Greer provides strict directions. True druids have passed on centuries ago, so much of what the author relies on is imagined history, which he admits within the pages. Saying that gives us reason to doubt everything, as I do. I don’t regret reading the book, but I won’t be following its method of Druidry.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite my style

This well written book does a good job of giving us an overview of the author's approach to Druidry. While there are some useful techniques in the book, it's too far off of my own practices for me to get a lot out of the practical section. Some good high level ideas, just not my style.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like me are on the Bardic Grade of OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids) this book is a good supplement to the teachings of that grade. I recommend anything by Mr. Greer, always an excellent author.

[CuriousDoc25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for learning to understand and work with the elements. Much of the magic presented here is somewhat ceremonial and so can get a little complex with lots of steps but sometimes a structured ritual is just what you need to get into the head space needed to practice magic.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information for those interested in learning about the ways of the Druids.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting principles. Would take a considerable amount of dedication.

[Dodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting ideas but was too ceremonial for myself

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

More about magick rituals then Shinto type rituals

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to revival Druidry through JMG, because he was a good writer and I liked a lot of his work. But it wasn't authentic? Was it? I wasn't really the target audience. But I've read through this book multiple times, and more importantly worked with it, with the rituals and exercises, for nearly a decade now. It has, over time, become my go-to book. The practice, the philosophy, the system reveals more all the time. It is complete and wide ranging in a way I am still discovering. YMMV, but it's worked for me.
Third re-read to expand my practice or at least see if there are additions to make. Still as impressed, if not more so, at the depth of this system.

[Lilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you think 'Druid' equates one with Western Esotericism and the fallacious book, The Barddas, then this is the book for you. But there's nothing Celtic about it.

[Brenda Jenkins Kleager · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Michael Greer has done it again! He continues to lead us along the Druid path.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite informative if you want to know how AODA do it or are wondering if their style of ritual is right for you. Some typos and misprints here and there unfortunately distract from the material.

[Janine Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little book for a long path. Best to start with the Druidry handbook for the basic daily practises of meditation and for the extended version of Ogham.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great how-to book on both theory and practice. JMG has a real talent for writing and decades of experience.

[Anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very very good book - excellent intro to a particular path and generally good advice for anyone seeking spiritual development.

[Lugdag Severino · Rating 3 out of 5]

some Celtic magic with magic of Golden, Good Book