Article Five
BBC Kent Faith Profile Web page
From an early age nature held my imagination and my childhood curiosity. As I grew and developed through my childhood, society gave me the freedom of thought I craved as I left school and went to college. Here I could explore the world religions, spiritualities and philosophies, unbiased, and find my own expression of spirituality. The natural world reflected for me the cycles of life, the inspiration to live a peaceful, respectful and truthful life. I came to know who I truly was, as the natural world provided pure moments of spirit to spirit connection, inspiring me, feeding me and indeed healing me. In my early teens I discovered Druidry; a pagan native British spiritual path. Here my inspiration and connections to Druidry was not of the white robed, bearded old men of Stonehenge at the summer solstice, but the shamans, the healers, seers, the priests of nature from our distant past.
As a Druid I constantly strive to be open to the teachings, wisdom and healing of the natural world around me. To allow the divine inspiration, the flow of spirit to flow freely through my being. I dare to drink from the cauldron of inspiration. By re-affirming my connection to the ebb and flow of the natural rhythms of the Earth and my life, of the setting and rising of the Moon and Sun, I give and I receive the blessings of life. I am aware of the Trees that surround my grove, the birds within their branches, the spirit that shine within them all. I am aware of the earth, the rocks and the stones and soil beneath by feet, the boundless wonder of the deep, dark cavern. I am aware of the infinite sky as I soar to freedom through the clouds and feel the wind beneath my wings. I, a part of this cycle, for nothing is ever separated from its source, only restored to it once more.
To tap into the wellspring of wisdom and teachings that our ancestors of our spiritual heritage and bloodline have stored for us, draws us in direct contact with our spiritual inheritance that is often forgotten or over looked in our modern day society. By placing, the soles of our feet upon the very landscape that our ancestors once trod, worked, and played upon, we enter into a sacred communion of words, visions, inspiration and knowing. My polytheistic view of deity encourages me to honour and hold sacred the spirit of tree, stone, spring, love, life here and now.
For me Druidry is a way of life. It infuses all that I do and all that I am. It allows me to cope with a society that seems to be fumbling its way through vast landscape of vagueness and lack of respect for the natural world, each other, each culture and each religion. It allows me to be the priest of nature that my deep, wild soul craves.
Rob Wilson