Religious Mysteries

I have been following several conversations in the Pagan and Druid communities regarding Religious Mysteries. Magickal Rites and the inclusion of Religious Mysteries in the Keltrian Druid initiation practice was one of the several key defining points in establishing Keltrian Druidism as a separate and unique path.

The Merriam-Webster On-line dictionary has as its first meaning, 

1. a :  a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand[1]

That meaning is close, but I think of it slightly differently. I see a Religious Mystery as “a religious truth that is known by revelation and cannot be logically explained.“

A religious Mystery, cannot be logically explained, but, rather it must be experienced.  Once embraced, the Mystery changes your entire being and the way you relate to the universe.  Once the Mystery is a part of your being you can do things you could never do before.

I like to explain how a religious Mystery works through an example of a secular Mystery – The square root of a negative one.  No real number multiplied times itself can give a negative number.  The idea that a number multiplied times itself and give a negative result doesn’t make sense.  But once you have embraced it, once it becomes a part of your being a whole new mathematical world opens up for you; you now have the world of imaginary numbers available to you.  For every real number there is an imaginary number. The mathematical world of numbers doubles with the addition of the square root of a negative one (called “I” in mathematics or “j” in electronics).

More than just the world opening up for you, you now have the tools to do mathematical problem solving you couldn’t solve before.  Your mind is open to new possibilities and capabilities because you have embraced the mystery. 

A religious Mystery operates in a similar manner. It is usually impossible to explain in a rational way.  But once it has been revealed to you in a manner in which you can absorb the concept you can have a new world open up for you.  You have the ability to do things you couldn’t do before. The Mystery provides a context for further actions and you get it, even those who haven’t embraced the Mystery don understand what you are doing.

I have long felt the revelation of a Mystery is one of the underpinnings of a religious initiation. Consequently, self initiation cannot have the ability to reveal a Mystery, something unknown.  Initiations into Mystery Traditions include a process for the candidate to learn and embrace something that does not make sense but opens their eyes to a new reality.

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[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mystery

BBC Radio - The Druids

I ran into an interesting podcast on BBC Radio 4: In Our Time, The Druids.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Druids, the priests of ancient Europe. His guests include:

• Barry Cunliffe - Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Oxford
• Miranda Aldhouse-Green- Professor of Archaeology at Cardiff University
• Justin Champion - Professor of the History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London

Of particular interest is the "For Further Reading" listing associated with the podcast. It includes several standards but also a number of books that I am not familiar with. Certainly some of them will be added to my wish list.

• Miranda Aldhouse-Green, ‘Caesar's Druids: Archaeology of an Ancient Priesthood’ (Yale University Press, 2010)
• Justin Champion, ‘Republican Learning: John Toland and the Crisis of Christian Culture’ (Manchester, 2009)
• Barry Cunliffe, ‘Druids: A Very Short Introduction’ (Oxford University Press, 2010)
• Miranda J. Green, ‘Exploring the World of the Druids’ (Thames and Hudson, 1997)
• Michael Hunter, ‘John Aubrey and the Realm of Learning’ (Duckworth, 1975)
• Ronald Hutton, ‘Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain’ (Yale University Press, 2009)
• Stuart Piggott, ‘Ancient Britons and the Antiquarian Imagination’ (Thames & Hudson, 1989)
• Sam Smiles, ‘The Image of Antiquity: Ancient Britain and the Romantic Imagination’ (Yale, 1994)

 Of course, I'd be interested in a review of any of the books, particularly those dated since 2009. If you would like to submit a review to either Henge Happenings or to Keltria Journal, please do so to submissions@keltria.org.

Tony's Recommended Reading

Every few years it is good to reconsider which books a person recommends. Certainly some books fall out of favor and other books become better sources for information.  Sometimes we go back to a book read long ago that really crystallized some concept. Finally, the ideas we think are important change somewhat as we, ourselves,  progress. 

My top three recommended books in each of the service areas are:

Druid’s Path:

* Pagans and the Law: Understand your Rights by Dana D. Eilers
* Neopagan Rites: A Guide to Creating Public Rituals that Work by Isaac Bonewits
The Henge of Keltria Book of Ritual by Pat Taylor & Tony Taylor

Bard's Path:

 * The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell 
The Making of a Druid: Hidden Teachings from The Colloquy of Two Sages by Christian J. Guyonvarc'h  [Review]
The Celtic Way of Seeing: Meditations on the Irish Spirit Wheel by Frank MacEowen [Review] 

Seer's Path:

* The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl

Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit by Tom Cowan

Celtic Wisdom Sticks:  Ancient Ogam Symbols Offer Guidance for Today by Caitlin Matthews

Survey of Religions

* Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism by Isaac Bonewits

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America by Margot Adler

Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches Today by E. Hopman and L. Bond

* indicates a book new to my list.

I endorsed the "Open Letter on Family Planning"

The Religious Institute is asking ordained clergy, professional religious educators, theologians, and staff of religious institutions. to endorse an open letter on Family Planning.  I agreed with everything they are stating so I've endorsed it too.  If you agree with their position on family planning and  are one of the above, I think your support will also be appreciated.
 
Religious Institute | Endorse the Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Family Planning

Endorse the Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Family Planning

We seek your endorsement of the Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Family Planning.

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You can read the full text of the letter by clicking here.
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To endorse the Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Family Planning, please complete the form below.

Please note: We are seeking endorsements from ordained clergy, professional religious educators, theologians, and staff of religious institutions. If you do not fit one of these categories, but would like to express your support for sexual justice, please join the Faithful Voices Network.

Thank you! We are deeply appreciative of your support of sexual justice.

Druid ritual closes Paralympics in London 2012

Great video showing BDO style Druid ceremony.  I'll bet the closing with dozens of fire handlers was totally awesome to see in person, the video was excellent!  See it on YouTube.

Paralympics 2012 Druid Ritual - YouTube

Former army medic, Rory MacKenzie, speaks words from a Druid ritual composed by Philip Shallcrass (Greywolf) and Emma Restall Orr (Bobcat) for celebrating the seasonal festivals of Paganism in open, public, multi-faith rituals that were pioneered by the British Druid Order in the 1990s at the Avebury henge in the UK and elsewhere, from Stonehenge to Seattle. Broadcast live to 750 million people worldwide during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics. Blessings to all.