Changes

Druid beliefs, as recorded by [[Julius Caesar]], revolved around observations of the motions of the heavenly bodies and their influences on the earth, as in [[astrology]], and they were also firm believers in [[reincarnation]], so much that it was possible to defer the payment of debts until the next life. They also sacrificed criminals and enemy soldiers captured in battle in huge wicker men by burning them to death.

Druid beliefs, as recorded by [[Julius Caesar]], revolved around observations of the motions of the heavenly bodies and their influences on the earth, as in [[astrology]], and they were also firm believers in [[reincarnation]], so much that it was possible to defer the payment of debts until the next life. They also sacrificed criminals and enemy soldiers captured in battle in huge wicker men by burning them to death.

Druidic training was very hard, and involved spendind 20 years learning by heart thousands of lines of poetry and song, which included being placed under a rock in a river in order to recite them. If the postulant survived this ordeal he or she became a 'bard', the lowest grade of Druid. The next grade was 'ovate' (meaning seer), and then came Druid proper. A female Druid is known as a Dryad.

Druidic training was very hard, and involved spending 20 years learning by heart thousands of lines of poetry and song, which included being placed under a rock in a river in order to recite them. If the postulant survived this ordeal he or she became a 'bard', the lowest grade of Druid. The next grade was 'ovate' (meaning seer), and then came Druid proper.  

The Romans attempted to suppress Druidism but it survived into Christian times when a certain amount of assimilation took place. Many Christian churches in the British Isles were built on the site of Druidic temples, especially those dedicated to the dragon-slaying saints Michael and George. It is also believed that the wizard [[Merlin]], companion to [[King Arthur]], was a Druid.

The Romans attempted to suppress Druidism but it survived into Christian times when a certain amount of assimilation took place. Many Christian churches in the British Isles were built on the site of Druidic temples, especially those dedicated to the dragon-slaying saints Michael and George. It is also believed that the wizard [[Merlin]], companion to [[King Arthur]], was a Druid.