Recommended books for those new to Druidry

[samsal77]

I was wondering if someone could recommend a book for me to start with. I have been looking around this forum, and there are a lot of great threads about this, but which one should I start with? My knowledge of the subject is pretty limited to what I have read on this forum, and a little internet searching.
Thanks!
Samantha

[DJ Droood]

Are you looking for books on the historical druids or modern druidry?

[Art]

"The Druid Way" by Philip Carr-Gomm...hands down. This marvelous little book is simply a magical story of a walk through the countryside and a great introduction to contemporary Druidry. Easy to read and quite moving.

http://www.amazon.com/Druid-Way-Philip- ... 1852303654

[Corwen]

If you want a historical context, then I'd recommend The Druids: A History by Ronald Hutton. As an introduction to Paganism I'd recommend Listening People Speaking Earth, or maybe What Pagans Believe, both by Graham Harvey. For a good inspiring book on contemporary Druidry I'd go with Natural Druidry by Kristoffer Hughes.

[Zylah]

I just read 'Druid Mysteries' by Philip Carr-Gomm, and that was *excellent* as an introduction. It gives history, different theories and ideas, symbolism, plus meditations at the end of each chapter. REALLY enjoyed it and recommend it to other newbies.

[samsal77]

Great! Thanks so much for the recommendations! I am looking for reads on both historical and contemporary Druids, and all of you have give me a place to
start
Many thanks!
Samantha

[Corwen]

Ronalds book includes the Druid revival, and Neo-Druidry, so its a good grounding, though it is a book of history not a spiritual book.

[DJ Droood]

Great! Thanks so much for the recommendations! I am looking for reads on both historical and contemporary Druids, and all of you have give me a place to
start
Many thanks!
Samantha

For the historical stuff, my personal fav is The Druids: Celtic Priests of Nature by the late Jean Markale.

Read that and The Druids by Peter Berresford Ellis and you will be as druid-smart as anyone else on this board

For the neo-druid stuff, The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth by John Michael Greer is very good.

[skh]

Yes, Ronald Hutton writes more about the history of modern druids than about historical druids. Well worth the read though, there's already quite a tradition that piled up during the last 300 years

peace /|\
Sonja

[DJ Droood]

there's already quite a tradition that piled up during the last 300 years

I think it behooves us to remind ourselves that "modern" druidry is around the same age as Sikhism, and older than Bahá'í, Mormonism and probably many other religions. (an important dfference being that druidry is *not* shackled by any particular holy book)

[drakonaria]

For me the best book on modern druidry I've ever read is "The Path through the Forest" by Julie White and Graeme Talboys. It's really good for the beginning. Generally I'm a big fan of Graeme Talboys' aka Greywind's books.
And druid history books - I like for example Jean Markale's "the Druids". I find Ronald Hutton's book "The Druids" more "gossipy" than historical .

[DJ Droood]

For me the best book on modern druidry I've ever read is "The Path through the Forest" by Julie White and Graeme Talboys. It's really good for the beginning. Generally I'm a big fan of Graeme Talboys' aka Greywind's books.

Me too...I also enjoyed "The Voice within the Wind", although it might be a bit "heady" for an intro book.

[drakonaria]

Oh, I love this book. And I'm looking forward to read two next parts, as it was meant to be a trilogy (I found this information on website of Grey House in the Woods publishing house). I also like ritual handbook "Arianrhod's Dance" written by Talboys again in collaboration with Julie White. This book is also very inspiring in creating my own rituals .

[Ade Sundog]

The Path through the Forest" by Julie White and Graeme Talboys

Yeh , thats a really goodie.
Try 'the Groundwater Diaries' by Tim Bradford , which has nothing to do with Druids at all, or maybe it does, its a groovy book nevertheless.