Is Druidry all about Healing?

[wolf560]

In another thread the topic of "Healing" and "Druidry" came up.
Some suggested that it was an important part while it may have been suggested that it was an integral part, but nobody came out and said it was NOT a required part.

So my question is;
Do you have to be a 'Healer' (of anything, even 'World Peace' maybe) in order to be able to call yourself a 'Druid'.

I am an avid historian of just about any culture, I just love reading about those that were here before regardless of what part of the planet they once inhabited. this is my calling to Druidry, to learn about these Ancestors and to repeat it wherever possible so that their memory never truly disappears.

I feel that I can feel the gaze of these Ancestors upon me as I do this and that they feel just a little bit better knowing someone remembers them even in some small way.

[DJ Droood]

So my question is;
Do you have to be a 'Healer' (of anything, even 'World Peace' maybe) in order to be able to call yourself a 'Druid'.

yes...although I don't think you can be a fully realized human being until you become a healer...we should all strive to make that which is ill healthy, in whatever ways we can...offer comfort and caring....even if we don't all agree on methods or even what the illness is.

[wolf560]

So my question is;
Do you have to be a 'Healer' (of anything, even 'World Peace' maybe) in order to be able to call yourself a 'Druid'.

yes...although I don't think you can be a fully realized human being until you become a healer...

Just a point of clarity...
You said "Yes" but then went onto to say that the rest...
So are you saying that in addition to calling yourself a Druid you should also become a 'Healer' in order to be a 'fully realized Human Being' ...???

If so, that might be a lot for some people to accomplish IMHO

[DJ Droood]

So are you saying that in addition to calling yourself a Druid you should also become a 'Healer' in order to be a 'fully realized Human Being' ...???

If so, that might be a lot for some people to accomplish IMHO

I think calling oneself a druid is irrelevant but being a "healer" is an essential part of being human. I don't think it is too much to ask..I am not saying you have to become a doctor or veterinary tech or an herbalist (necessarily) to be called a healer...a healer is someone who reaches out to someone..another being...in crisis...it could be lots of things....it is an attitude of wanting to help....I can't actually image someone on the druid path who was not a healer..of the earth, of others, or maybe just themselves, at first. I mean, what are the alternatives? Harmer? Passivist? (as differentiated from pacifist, which is an attempt at healing.)

[wolf560]

Okay, fair enough.... no worries

I guess for me I see a lot of Pagans everyday in my walk of life.
I am extremely active here in Phoenix AZ and probably talk to several dozen every week.

I see healers, diviners, wood and metal workers, as well as educators (like me) all making our Pagan and Heathen Community a better place to be. My "place" in this community is to put people in contact with other people (they call me "The Conduit").

On a personal note I agree with you that everyone should be a productive part of the community (Pagan in this case). I am against those who would attempt to disrupt or destroy any group (out here they have called themselves "Chaos Workers" and exist solely to break groups apart).

[Heddwen]

Well we could have a good old fashioned poll vote on it

*remembers Imbolc* (or perhaps not on second thoughts)

Oddly, I need to get away from this place for a couple of days - I need healing myself

How nice to see you all here having such a fun time with us, erm professional peace loving druids. (I've got the weekend off)

What a shining example we all set of co operation, proactive collaboration and harmonious living to the outside world. No wonder the Daily Wail has a vendetta against Pagans (nuff said).

DJ you are quite right, these threads are a great place to debate and discuss and this is OK by me. It doesn't matter if we are going around in circles.

Wolf 560, Namaste. Its (nearly) time for my meditation .. .. I can hear the dawn chorus beckoning

[wolf560]

Cead Miles Failte Heddwen..!!!

Night night..!!

[Heddwen]

ooh you cheeky monkey Wolf 560 !!

[wolf560]

I do try

Seriously... meditation is important... enjoy your time away from everything

[Bart]

Okay, fair enough.... no worries

I guess for me I see a lot of Pagans everyday in my walk of life.
I am extremely active here in Phoenix AZ and probably talk to several dozen every week.

I see healers, diviners, wood and metal workers, as well as educators (like me) all making our Pagan and Heathen Community a better place to be. My "place" in this community is to put people in contact with other people (they call me "The Conduit").

On a personal note I agree with you that everyone should be a productive part of the community (Pagan in this case). I am against those who would attempt to disrupt or destroy any group (out here they have called themselves "Chaos Workers" and exist solely to break groups apart).

I am a bit isolated here, so I cannot discuss pagan groups. I meet a satanist each day at work, but he claims he is not active anymore.

I guess if you are open in a positive way to community you can be part of a positive development, call it healing. If you have the gift of healing ( Dr, vet, herbs light worker whatever,..) I think you should do so.

On the groups thing: sometimes a group gets stuck in group thinking (look it up, it is an official psychological term). This can be dangerous and disruption might be the cure. Disrupting for the pure pleasure of course is evil. But the members of the group can also learn from the experience.

[DJ Droood]

On the groups thing: sometimes a group gets stuck in group thinking (look it up, it is an official psychological term). This can be dangerous and disruption might be the cure. Disrupting for the pure pleasure of course is evil. But the members of the group can also learn from the experience.

that is a very good point..chaos can set the ground work for healing, I agree....like the way you sometimes have to slash and burn before you can replant.

[wolf560]

I agree with the 'slash & burn' in principle...

In my particular case however we had a small group of people that were bent on the destruction of the group and the community as a whole. They did such a good job that even now seven years later that community lies in ruins and still continues to blame those individuals for destroying something precious.

Our 350(+) person community never met again and I hear (as of Xmas last year) that when any one of those people are spotted by other Pagans they are still told to "Go Away"...

Even the group of people that temporarily formed in an effort to destroy the community itself shattered over the decision. The group itself from what I was told was seen arguing in a coffee shop weeks afterwards and shattered as well.

I learned a lot from that incident and I use that knowledge now as I talk to people as they come into our current gatherings. We rigidly control the boundaries and tell everyone why we do what we do. The central group leaders reserve the right to exclude anyone to our public gatherings.

This may sound too controlling, but if they really want to join a group they have to become part of the group and that is not a right but a privilege... they are free to meet on their own elsewhere and are free to form their own groups.

It took my wife these past seven years to "heal" after the devastation at seeing all of her friends set onto each other believing the lies that these seven people told. We watched helplessly as all of our one-time friends tore each other apart (and us as well) over each succeeding lie these seven people told. Because we had made the mistake of inviting them into our Inner Circle, they used that influence to spread some very vicious rumors.

I will say this however... if that had not happened... perhaps we would not now know what to look for or better yet know how to deal with problems like that.

[Merlyn]

Hi Wolf,
Interesting question on a few levels.
Having completed the OBOD course, I can say "yes and no".
Yes the instruction does direct us in way to heal the self.
No it does absolutely nothing in regard to directly healing others with the exception of wishing health and healing to all.
More specifically, there is no part of the OBOD course devoted to any healing practice of others directly like a Reiki healer, Shaman or doctor.

One might expect the OBOD course to have instruction on how to heal plants, how to use healing herbs, or something of that kind. There are some indications to promote such directions by way of slight introduction, but that is all.

In reflection of the original Drui, again "yes and no".
Many Druids were professionals who had nothing to do with healing at all. In fact we really have no direct account of druids being healers exclusively, just that it was one of the many things druids did.

So... in reality "no" it is not the be-all of being druid. It certainly can be a main direction, but it absolutely is only one of many.
There is http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=m ... ndex.shtml a grove devoted and supported by the OBOD to promote healing, however due to the risk and responsibility it is not directly part of the druid course.

In fact when I go to the main OBOD page (not the message board) and click on the "Druid tradition" there are a list of many things, and none of them are "healing".
I do however find this: http://www.druidhealingretreats.co.uk/
I see the healing way of druidry as encouraging a healthy life and a spiritual self healing path.

However, to be a "healer" of others isn't really what druidry is all about as far as the OBOD is concerned.
There are MANY other parts of druidry that are more direct.
I can see how it might be assumed, but now that you ask the question directly, in truth, nope...


Merlyn

[wolf560]

Thanks Merlyn,

I was wondering, especially considering that I have not completed even my Bardic level with the OBOD, if the criteria was there.

In my experience amongst other Pagans that requirement for 'Healing' has not been present either. It is something that some people are good at (Reiki, Chakra, Massage Therapy) and others are trained at (Paramedic, EMT, Physical Therapist). Some get into that area of expertise simply with the use of herbs and homeopathic remedies.

But in each of these cases this was something they did, not something they were...
They were Pagans, Heathens, Witches, Druids, Shamans....
...AND they could Heal....

[DJ Droood]

But in each of these cases this was something they did, not something they were...
They were Pagans, Heathens, Witches, Druids, Shamans....
...AND they could Heal....

What is the point of those labels if they aren't the signifier of a healer? I know lots of people will call themselves "witch" and "shaman" or "druid" because it helps bolster their need for some sort of identity, but if you aren't casting spells and journeying to the other world and...well, doing whatever the heck it is that druids do....in an effort to help someone (heal them, physically, psychologically/emotionally) what are you doing it for? I only see two options...you are outward looking and help others, or you are just all about yourself...if you are helping/healing others, what you call yourself doesn't really matter....if you are collecting books and magic wands as a hobby and to bolster your ego...it *really* doesn't matter what you call yourself.

[wolf560]

I can only speak for myself....

I do all of what I do because it is important to me to do so.
I do regularly meditate and I also regularly journey to the otherworld.
I read voraciously and cannot wait to get my hands on a new book.
I speak several times each month on topics of history and paganism
I am also a group facilitator to two small groups of learners

For me, I have not once taught a class on Healing.
Although I am certified to place I.V. needles, I would not dare teach that skill on my own.
I have had the occasion on several camping trips to utilize my first aid and triage skills but again this is not why I am a Druid it is a skill that I just happen to be good at.

To be a 'Witch' (or any other appellation you insert here) is not a declaration that that person is a 'Healer' in my view but one of that persons belief spiritually. Not all Shamans are concerned about the well-being of the person next to them.

Most people have one thing that they say is the most important thing about being Pagan.

Most of them tell me "to worship in the manner of my Ancestors"...
Some of them say "I got tired of Christianity"...
...and a few actually say "I like the idea of self-empowerment"

But very few tell me 'I like being Pagan because I like Healing others'....

Obviously you are one of those "rare people" that consider Healing to be the reason for Druidry or Paganry and that is your right to say so in your case.

But overall nobody has the right to determine why others call themselves something.

If someone wants to say they are the Grand High Arch Druid of Toon Town...
...they can I guess....
... and unless I live in Toon Town I probably wont care...

We have probably 100-150 Pagans that gather weekly out here for coffee and I asked a few of them the same question. Most of them responded with "I'm a Pagan because the lifestyle suits me". When I asked them about the need for being a Healer and that being the primary part of being Pagan only a very few agreed with that while the rest snorted into their coffee

[wolf560]

Also, something to take into consideration...

Some cultures believe that "sending healing energies" (especially when those energies were not requested in the first place) is a very big ethical "No-No".

Some Central and South American cultures it is believed that by sending any energies without asking first actually disrupts a persons natural energies and "Confuses things". their belief is that you must speak to your Totem first and your Totem will speak to the afflicted persons Totem and only THEN will any healing begin.

It is a leap of arrogance to assume that just because the other person is in pain that they automatically want you to send good/ healing energies their way.

[DJ Droood]

It is a leap of arrogance to assume that just because the other person is in pain that they automatically want you to send good/ healing energies their way.

I actually agree with you there...I've always thought that "praying" for someone was a fairly egocentric thing to do...as if god needs "you" to remind Him to help someone...cus the sick person doesn't have the same influence or something...but, hey, if Wolf is calling, it must be important!

[Corwen]

I actually agree with DJ on this one (how odd is that?). Yes being a healer is part of being a fully realised person, something I hope all those who say they are following the Druid path are aiming for. Healing can encompass healing groups or individuals, bringing them into a better way of being even just a little through positive influence and compassion.

Even if one simply comes into some degree of 'right relationship' with the world then this in itself will have a healing influence on some of those people and places you come into contact with.

[Bart]

to ad to the right relationships: some people have to come to peace with themselves first. Also healing. But essential for the next step, helping the rest of the world.