by echoe » 18 Dec 2010, 07:17
I had a different understanding from my books (I swear I'm going to end up getting into my snowy garage to get the books I'm referencing.
At least in the French Celts, the druids were a separate class, yes, but they weren't necessarily the leaders. The Celts were a very democratic society, all voting for the leader with much discussion. The Druids were sought out for opinions, for perspectives, for specialized medical needs, and for spiritual guidance. It was similar, believe it or not, to what Aex Haley came across when he went to Africa in search of his "Roots." The priest mentally kept the records of all who had been in the tribes historically, which the druids were supposed to do, and also kept the information of medicines passed down, and in the case of druids, it's also supposed that they kept engineering and architectural knowledge that was verbally passed down, and sacred to the point of not being put in writing.
When Celts met, and they did often, with leaders, they each had opportunities to speak their minds towards a subject, druids often attended the meetings in order to understand the wants of the tribe and to help settle arguments. They were also judges in that sense. If there was an argument over property, it was settled by the druid of that tribe like Solomon of the bible. Only children who chose to become druids were accepted into apprenticeship, they had to learn to memorize the history of the ancestors and the engineering etc, and yes, some kids gave up after a few years.
Being a leader or chieftan of a tribe was not necessarily a familial passing on to the next inheritor, but sometimes it was, as people tend to be a lot like their parents. Sons and daughters were recognized to have the same measure of level-headedness or fierceness needed for battle, for protection and for leadership. But the leaders of each tribe also relied upon the advice of druids. It was a healthy balance as neither was completely in power, but each was supposed to offer a perspective to help balance the whole.
Druids could be women or men, but were not necessarily celibate, as monks or nuns. Some were in partnerships, some were not, but non-partnership did not denote celibacy either. Sexual activity was regarded as healthy, spiritual and part of nature. Men and women were both allowed to speak at tribal meetings. The druid meetings were however not usually tribal, but private and among druids only. When the druid meetings were for the whole clan, it was usually a festival such as seasonal, or for a preparation of battle or things of that nature. Druids were often seen (as generals) at the backs of battles, above the tribes at war, so that morale could be boosted and so that the druid could advise on better war moves. So in that sense, a druid was a soldier too, only more of a general, and not at the front lines.
I did read in the Caesar writings that there were human sacrifices made, but I'd have to wonder if that was Caesar trying to scare everyone, or if it was true. They also sacrificed pregnant mares, and other animals.
They did teach children and others about simple medicinal techniques, like which plant would ease a toothache (willow leaf) or things of that nature. They also taught about deities and each tribe tended to worship one or more particular deities more than the other.
