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The Druids: Celtic Priests of Nature
A comprehensive and revealing look at the druids and their fundamental role in Celtic society that dispels many of the misconceptions about these important religious figures and their doctrine
• Written by the world's leading authority on Celtic culture
Druidism was one of the greatest and most exalting adventures of the human spirit, attempting to reconcile the unreconcilable, the individual and the collective, creator and created, good and evil, day and night, past and future, and life and death. Because of the oral nature of Celtic civilization our understanding of its spiritual truths and rituals is necessarily incomplete. Yet evidence exists that can provide the modern reader with a better understanding of the doctrine that took druidic apprentices 20 years to learn in the remote forests of the British Isles and Gaul.
Using the descriptions of the druids and their beliefs provided by the historians and chroniclers of classic antiquity--as well as those recorded by the insular Celts themselves when compelled, under Christianity's influence, to utilize writing to preserve their ancestral traditions--Jean Markale painstakingly pieces together all that is known for certain about them. The druids were more than simply the priests of the Celtic people; their influence extended to all aspects of Celtic life. The Druids covers everything concerning the Celtic religious domain, intellectual speculations, cultural or magical practices, various beliefs, and the so-called profane sciences that have come down from the Celtic priesthood.
• Written by the world's leading authority on Celtic culture
Druidism was one of the greatest and most exalting adventures of the human spirit, attempting to reconcile the unreconcilable, the individual and the collective, creator and created, good and evil, day and night, past and future, and life and death. Because of the oral nature of Celtic civilization our understanding of its spiritual truths and rituals is necessarily incomplete. Yet evidence exists that can provide the modern reader with a better understanding of the doctrine that took druidic apprentices 20 years to learn in the remote forests of the British Isles and Gaul.
Using the descriptions of the druids and their beliefs provided by the historians and chroniclers of classic antiquity--as well as those recorded by the insular Celts themselves when compelled, under Christianity's influence, to utilize writing to preserve their ancestral traditions--Jean Markale painstakingly pieces together all that is known for certain about them. The druids were more than simply the priests of the Celtic people; their influence extended to all aspects of Celtic life. The Druids covers everything concerning the Celtic religious domain, intellectual speculations, cultural or magical practices, various beliefs, and the so-called profane sciences that have come down from the Celtic priesthood.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
10 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
Jean Markale
186 books43 followersJean Markale is the pen name of Jean Bertrand, a French writer, poet, radio show host, lecturer, and retired Paris high school French teacher.
He has published numerous books about Celtic civilisation and the Arthurian cycle. His particular specialties are the place of women in the Celtic world and the Grail cycle.
His many works have dealt with subjects as varied as summations of various myths, the relationships of same with occult subjects like the Templars, Cathars, the Rennes le Château mystery, Atlantis, the megalith building civilisations, druidism and so on, up to and including a biography of Saint Columba.
While Markale presents himself as being very widely read on the subjects about which he writes, he is nonetheless surrounded by controversy regarding the value of his work. Critics allege that his 'creative' use of scholarship and his tendency to make great leaps in reasoning cause those following the more normative (and hence more conservative) mode of scholars to balk. As well as this, his interest in subjects that his critics consider questionable, including various branches of the occult, have gained him at least as many opponents as supporters. His already weakened reputation was further tarnished in 1989, when he became involved in a plagiarism case, when he published under his own name a serious and well-documented guide to the oddities and antiquities of Brittany, the text of which had already been published twenty years before by a different writer through the very same publisher.
Also a source of controversy is his repeated use of the concept of "collective unconscious" as an explanatory tool. This concept was introduced by Carl Jung, but in modern psychology it's rejected by the vast majority of psychologists.
He has published numerous books about Celtic civilisation and the Arthurian cycle. His particular specialties are the place of women in the Celtic world and the Grail cycle.
His many works have dealt with subjects as varied as summations of various myths, the relationships of same with occult subjects like the Templars, Cathars, the Rennes le Château mystery, Atlantis, the megalith building civilisations, druidism and so on, up to and including a biography of Saint Columba.
While Markale presents himself as being very widely read on the subjects about which he writes, he is nonetheless surrounded by controversy regarding the value of his work. Critics allege that his 'creative' use of scholarship and his tendency to make great leaps in reasoning cause those following the more normative (and hence more conservative) mode of scholars to balk. As well as this, his interest in subjects that his critics consider questionable, including various branches of the occult, have gained him at least as many opponents as supporters. His already weakened reputation was further tarnished in 1989, when he became involved in a plagiarism case, when he published under his own name a serious and well-documented guide to the oddities and antiquities of Brittany, the text of which had already been published twenty years before by a different writer through the very same publisher.
Also a source of controversy is his repeated use of the concept of "collective unconscious" as an explanatory tool. This concept was introduced by Carl Jung, but in modern psychology it's rejected by the vast majority of psychologists.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 15, 2011
Exactly what I was looking for! I came accross this book wanting to learn more about Druids and early Celtic culture but found myself sifting through assorted new age books or 'how-to manuals' for the modern druid. I had picked up bits and pieces of information about the druids over time through traveling and documentaries but had a lot of questions and gaps in my knowledge. I was looking for a historical account of who the druids were and how their belief system worked.
This was by no means an exciting read and at times made me feel like I was back in college but I did't feel like I needed a professor to interpret what the information meant. The information in this was wonderfully researched and when neccessary the author made appropriate contrasts/comparisons between Roman and early Christian societies. I found this helpful reference point to improve the way I understood this unique culture. I also appreciated that he highlighted how the Celtic culture spanned several modern countries and depending on the region there were differences with in the cultures. If you have an interest in history, early cultures and religions then you will find this an interesting read. If you are looking for material to apply to your modern life and spiritual practice then you should look else where.
This was by no means an exciting read and at times made me feel like I was back in college but I did't feel like I needed a professor to interpret what the information meant. The information in this was wonderfully researched and when neccessary the author made appropriate contrasts/comparisons between Roman and early Christian societies. I found this helpful reference point to improve the way I understood this unique culture. I also appreciated that he highlighted how the Celtic culture spanned several modern countries and depending on the region there were differences with in the cultures. If you have an interest in history, early cultures and religions then you will find this an interesting read. If you are looking for material to apply to your modern life and spiritual practice then you should look else where.
February 25, 2022
Meticulously researched with interesting speculation built on that. Markale puts the druids in their specific time, place and people, and maintains that they could only be part of that. Once their Celtic society was Romanized and Christianized there was no place for the druids, despite New Age fantasists and their white robed ceremonies at Stonehenge. The latter had no part of Celtic Druidic society, by the way, but dated from long before the Celts arrived in France, Britain and Ireland. Celtic-Druidic religion was forest-based, and their sanctuaries were in the center of forests, with no buildings or statues or stone circles. A fascinating look at a time and a people long gone, but some of whose ideas still have merit today.
March 11, 2017
A nice book about Druids which is well researched. This book includes a lot of historical trivia and provides a decent understanding of Druidry. However, the author does insert a bit of their own opinions and assumptions which makes some of the book unpalatable. Also, the author doesn't give credence to Neo Druid movements or how Druidry has gone through various evolutions. I found it interesting and it held my attention, but I read it over the course of about 6 months while I also read other books.
May 6, 2021
It’s not perfect, but dang, it’s good.
Some of the references seem to take on a cyclical pattern, many being to other works of his own, and there are a few passages that make me question his perspective because of the biases he displays. There are even a few passages that made me do a double-take because of the logical leaps he takes. But in spite of all that, he makes some extremely good points, debunks a lot of misinformation that has overtaken the field of Celtic research, and makes what I think are some very significant contributions to the understanding of the Celtic perspective as well as the predicaments of our own in modern times.
Also, I have to say that so many of the academically-geared works I read end in a very loose and unsatisfactory way. But this book sneaks up on you until the very last line and then hits you with the chills. Certainly worth reading just for the sense of clarity and empowerment it brings.
Some of the references seem to take on a cyclical pattern, many being to other works of his own, and there are a few passages that make me question his perspective because of the biases he displays. There are even a few passages that made me do a double-take because of the logical leaps he takes. But in spite of all that, he makes some extremely good points, debunks a lot of misinformation that has overtaken the field of Celtic research, and makes what I think are some very significant contributions to the understanding of the Celtic perspective as well as the predicaments of our own in modern times.
Also, I have to say that so many of the academically-geared works I read end in a very loose and unsatisfactory way. But this book sneaks up on you until the very last line and then hits you with the chills. Certainly worth reading just for the sense of clarity and empowerment it brings.
June 19, 2019
Jean Markale describes the druids from a Brettonian point of view. Not so much factfinding since there is little known about druids but mora an exploration with sidekicks to legends, sagas and myths. Overall a fun read.
July 22, 2012
Testo mistificante, che vuol dimostrare quanto il druidismo sia in perfetta e naturale connessione con il cristianesimo e come il cristianesimo sia una religione del tutto simile al druidismo. Peccato che per dimostrare questa assurdità, l'autore debba trasformare la realtà dottrinale e documentaria, e far finta di ignorare secoli di studi esegetici e storici sui documenti cristiani.
Want to read
March 14, 2012Markale looks fairly christian to me, I have this as low priority and look for more objective writters. Keep in mind I haven't read her yet.
July 17, 2012
Good book on what the druids were and were not.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews