Changes

Druidic training was very hard, and involved being placed under a heavy rock in a river for 20 years whilst learning by heart thousands of lines of poetry and song. 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 being placed under a heavy rock in a river for 20 years whilst learning by heart thousands of lines of poetry and song. 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.

The Romans attempted to suppress Druidism but it survived into Christian times when a certain amount of assimilation took place. One of the Druidic gods was named Esus and the Druids believed that this was the same person as Jesus. 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. One of the Druidic gods was named Esus and the Druids believed that this was the same person as Jesus. 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.

Druidism survived in remote areas of Wales until the 18th century, when it was revived in a new popular form by John Toland and others, who founded the first of the modern Druid orders in 1717. Modern Druids have dispensed with many of their ancient beliefs and practices and in many ways resemble [[Freemasonry]]. They congregate at [[Stonehenge]] on the summer solstice to enact their ceremonies.

Druidism survived in remote areas of Wales until the 18th century, when it was revived in a new popular form by John Toland and others, who founded the first of the modern Druid orders in 1717. Modern Druids have dispensed with many of their ancient beliefs and practices and in many ways resemble [[Freemasonry]]. They congregate at [[Stonehenge]] on the summer solstice to enact their ceremonies.