Whenever someone mentions Druids, people think of
bearded old men in white robes with horns on their head. While there are some
bearded old men who happened to be Druids, it’s not a requirement.
1. Druids have no dietary restrictions.
They can eat anything. Some might choose to fast before a ceremony or even
reduce their intake of a particular item such as salt. This is a choice, not a
requirement.
2.
Holidays.
Druids
celebrate all the fire festivals including Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasad.
Who doesn’t love an excuse for a good bonfire? Many Druids celebrate the
equinoxes (when you have the same amount of day and night) and the solstices,
which acknowledge the longest day and night of the year.
3.
Sex. Druids can be male or female.
4.
Church.
While being a Druid is a recognized religion, they do not worship in buildings,
but prefer the outdoors. A group of Druids is called a grove.
5.
Deities.
As
a Druid, you can believe in one deity or many. Most pick a Patron God or Goddesses
such as Brighid, Lugh, The Daghda, The Morrigan, Anu, Danu,
Diancecht, Miach, Airmid, Goibniu, and many others. Druids believe every living
thing has an energetic essence. They reach out to departed ancestors and
spirits from the Otherworld.
6.
Modern
Druids never sacrifice animals (or people) in their worship.
They may use fruits, vegetables, flowers, poems, and songs as an offering to
their deity (deities.)
7.
Ritual Space. Rituals are conducted outside near water, trees,
and preferably a large rock. A cauldron
of water and a fire complete the ritual space.
8. Solitaries. Individuals
can be a Druid without being part of a group.
9. Garb.
On special occasions, a Druid might don a white robe, kilt, or other Celtic
garb.
10. Mistletoe. The plant most
associated with kissing is sacred to the Druids. It’s associated with
fertility, life, and peace. Kissing someone under the mistletoe meant you were
friends and bore each other no ill will. It also served as a primitive marriage
rite and was an entreaty for children. This might make you think twice before
you kiss someone under the mistletoe.
Want
to know about Druids?
Check out Bonewits’s Essential Guide to Druidism – Isaac Bonewits or Druid Mysteries – Philip Carr-Gomm
Faerie
Lights: Glimmer
Faerie
Lights
Book
One
Rayna
Noire
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Publisher: Sleeping Dragon Press
Date of Publication: August 31,
2016
ISBN: 978-1-944712-99-0
ASIN: B01IODFZAY
Number of pages: 278 (est)
Word Count: 84,059
Cover Artist: Dawne Dominique
Book Description:
Historical
fantasy set against the backdrop of WW1.
For seventeen years, the convent
walls kept Meara Cleary from the secret of her own parentage.The sisters regard
her with a cross of disdain and fear. Only among the trees by the gurgling
creek does she find acceptance. A bearded stranger claims she’s his niece and
promises to take her home. Before he can, a cataclysmic event thrusts her into
a war-torn world.
Meara vows to journey to Ireland
to find her uncle, unaware of how perilous a journey it will be. Her Druidic
father guides her through dreams, explaining her magical heritage. Her dead
parent can’t help her with the intricacies of village life, especially when she
catches the eye of the very engaged Braeden Douglas.
A whirlwind composed of equal
parts menace, romance, and revelation sweep Meara across the continent while
gathering allies and enemies with equal speed. Her intent to return to her
family turns into a fight to survive her own destiny.
Excerpt 4
Braeden Douglas weaved his way through the shifting crowds to their stall. He stopped in front. Taller up close, his eyes sparkled as he grinned in Eleanor’s direction.
“Good morning, Miss Eleanor.”
The woman narrowed her eyes but had the manners to return the greeting. “Good morning to you, Mr. Douglas. I do not think you have any need of my jellies or herbs.”
The normally friendly woman didn’t return his smile and at best seemed civil. She practically told Braeden she had nothing to sell him. Why couldn’t she see this vibrant man meant her no harm?
“I was wondering,” he flicked a look in Meara’s direction, “if you could introduce me to your charming helper?”
Instead of answering, she snorted. Braeden stood stock-still, waiting. When it looked like Eleanor would say nothing, she rushed to introduce herself.
“I’m Meara. Her cousin from Cumbria. I came down to help.” The few words exhausted her backstory and earned her a dark look from her companion.
“Hello, Meara from Cumbria. I’m Braeden from here.” He chuckled as if he’d made a big joke.
She found herself laughing along with him.
“Tell me, Meara. Did you leave a sweetheart or a husband behind to fend for himself?”
Before she could answer truthfully, Eleanor pointed in the distance. “Isn’t that your fiancée, Adelaide, looking for you?”
Excerpt 4
Braeden Douglas weaved his way through the shifting crowds to their stall. He stopped in front. Taller up close, his eyes sparkled as he grinned in Eleanor’s direction.
“Good morning, Miss Eleanor.”
The woman narrowed her eyes but had the manners to return the greeting. “Good morning to you, Mr. Douglas. I do not think you have any need of my jellies or herbs.”
The normally friendly woman didn’t return his smile and at best seemed civil. She practically told Braeden she had nothing to sell him. Why couldn’t she see this vibrant man meant her no harm?
“I was wondering,” he flicked a look in Meara’s direction, “if you could introduce me to your charming helper?”
Instead of answering, she snorted. Braeden stood stock-still, waiting. When it looked like Eleanor would say nothing, she rushed to introduce herself.
“I’m Meara. Her cousin from Cumbria. I came down to help.” The few words exhausted her backstory and earned her a dark look from her companion.
“Hello, Meara from Cumbria. I’m Braeden from here.” He chuckled as if he’d made a big joke.
She found herself laughing along with him.
“Tell me, Meara. Did you leave a sweetheart or a husband behind to fend for himself?”
Before she could answer truthfully, Eleanor pointed in the distance. “Isn’t that your fiancée, Adelaide, looking for you?”
About
the Author:
Rayna Noire is an author and a
historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches
led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form
up to 150 years ago. A world that believed the impossible could happen and
often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this
dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren’t that
different from most people. They do go on the occasional adventures and magick
happens.
Posts
2 comments:
Loved your post, Rayna. I learned a couple of new things about Druids too.
Thanks Dawne for commenting. Pretty cool cover too. ( The cover artist rocks.) Rayna
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