Customer Reviews

The Rebirth of Druidry: Ancient Earth Wisdom for Today

5 star:		(3)
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I didn't know exactly what to expect when I ordered this book following an impulse-buyer's urge to find something on modern Druidry... What I found was a refreshing collection of essays by various authors (among them: Isaac Bonewits, Cairistiona Worthington, Caitlin Matthews, Mara Freeman, Tom Cowan and, of course, Philip Carr-Gomm, the editor) offering insight into the wide range of the modern practices and philosophies of Celtic and Pagan earth-spiritualities.

Carr-Gomm's foreword says it all when he writes, "Druidry is the perfect lover. You fall in love with her so easily because she is so romantic. She whispers to you of the magic and mystery of the turning stars and seasons. She loves trees and Nature above all things, and you yearn for these too..." And yet, "Just when you are convinced you will marry her," she transforms into a mocking, hideous hag who disappears, leaving you only "some lines from classical authors, whose accounts are probably inaccurate anyway, a few inferences drawn from linguistic and archeological research, which could be wrong, with the rest from material written from the seventeenth century onwards, replete with speculation, forgery and fantasy."

This collection is not about Recontructionist Druidism, nor is it apologetic for not being so. It acknowledges the tough work of scholarly research and objective criticism, but is not bound by them; seeking instead to follow "awen," the inspiration and creative draw of the earth. Several essays are strictly academic, tracing the development of modern druidic movements or exploring what little evidence exists of ancient druid practice; other essays are closer to memoir or poetic prose, telling the personal stories of those who have sought and come to rest within the tradition of modern Druidry. Offering a broad perspective (without much of the in-fighting that, even as a newcomer to this topic, I can sense often bogs it down), this is a wonderful introduction to the movement. It helps if the reader is familiar with other Pagan and Wiccan practices and texts, but it is certainly not necessary. This book will be enjoyable for the merely curious and the serious seeker alike.

I'll end by giving Carr-Gomm the last word: "The articles in this collection show that She is as present as She ever has been--and perhaps more so at this time. The Goddess who seduces us with romantic images of magic and mystery at one moment, and then repels us with images of the tattered remnants of past ages at the next, is trying to lead us beyond the realm of illusion to something more substantial, more enduring and more creative."

I edited this book under its original title 'The Druid Renaissance' in 1996.
When the publisher decided to reissue it last year I asked them to retain the original title, but they insisted on a new title.
Some contributors made minor changes to their contributions and updated their Resources or Contacts sections.
Tom Cowan contributed an inspiring preface for the new edition.
I am very sorry that the title change has resulted in a previous reviewer buying virtually the same book twice. Only buy this book if you don't have a copy of 'The Druid Renaissance' already!
If - however - this book is new for you, I can strongly recommend it: the contributions are broad-ranging and inspiring and for this reason I have given it 5 stars.
A friend in England wrote the following review of it:

Book Review -

The Rebirth of Druidry ed by Philip Carr-Gomm pub Thorsons 2003

This is actually `The Druid Renaissance' published under a new name, with an arresting new cover and a new Preface by Tom Cowan, author of `Fire in the Head.' Actually it's the only book I know that has a Preface, a Forward and an Introduction, all by worthy authors in the field so it can't be bad. If you have TDR then don't buy it but if you don't then seriously consider this Reinaissance rebirth as there is a wealth of information and a diversity of approaches about modern day Druidry enclosed within its covers.
The authors are exclusively people who are working and teaching in the tradition today, some are familiar names on the spines of book covers, some are more familiar in the context of active druidry, many are both. The book is divided into several Sections `The Call of the Land' ; `The Call of the Druid' ; `The Re-Enchantment' ; `Druid Ceremony' and `Finding Our Roots - Finding our Future'. Contributors in order of their appearance in the book are Tom Cowan; Philip Carr-Gomm; Professor Ronald Hutton; Erynn Rowan Laurie; Philip Shallcrass; Isaac Bonewits; Steve Wilson; Dr Michel Raoult; Frank MacEowen; Cairistiona Worthington; Louise Larkins Bradford; Chris Turner; Robert Mills; Madeleine Johnson; Dr Graham Harvey; Caitlin Matthews; Dr Gordon Strachan; Dr Christina Oakley and Mara Freeman.
Their topics cover Druid Revival, Herbs, Stars, Bardism, Druid Ceremony, Sacred Calendars; Jesus in Glastonbury; Celtic Shamanism; the Mabon myth; Druids and Witches, Healing and Ecology. Such richness seems to me to answer the triad for a Modern Druid which the editor Philip Carr-Gomm suggested in his connecting link to section V

`The three tasks of a Druid
to live fully in the present;
to honour tradition and the ancestors;
to hear the voice of tomorrow.

This book is not just an introduction to the philosophy and practice of druidry, it is more a reference for living the tradition.

Maddy Johnson

Yes this book is an updated version of The Druid Renaissance. So yes IF you already own that book, you don't need this one. However IF like me you didn't own the original and wish to learn more about what it means to be a Druid, by all means buy this one. This book was recommended to me by a couple of my friends and I found it to be an excellent read. I did find at times the material to be a bit "over my head," but this I find is more to all the information covered in the book.

There were a few specific essays I enjoyed, such as The Irish Bardic Tradition (outlining the origin of bards and how they continued to exist long after the Druids supposedly were "converted" to Christianity), The Sacred Calendar and The Wheel of Change (essays discussing various Druid holidays), and the Oakley essay describing the "history" of Druids and witches. I find it interesting how people draw parallels between Druidry and Wicca, and yet they appear to be quite a bit different in the ways each group practices their religion.

Mr Carr-Gomm did a wonderful job in compiling the original work and with this new version.