Another assignment. This is week Five.
A profile of Modern Druidism in the Great
Britain
For the majority of people in Great Britain, the term druid conjures up images of flowing cloaks, secret rituals, and megalithic monuments such as Stonehenge, in Wiltshire. The first record of the druids comes from Greek texts dating from 300 BC and after the Roman invasion of the British Isles, there was a systematic, pernicious attempt to eradicate all druids. The role of druids faded into legend until the early nineteen century when, the name Druid began to appear in Romantic fiction, such as Chateaubriand's novel Les Martyrs (1809) which narrated the doomed love of a druid priestess and a Roman soldier.
With regard to the modern day Druids, the British Museum is blunt "Modern Druids have no direct connection to the Druids of the Iron Age." Despite this, Druid Orders are flourishing and in 2010, The Druid Network achieved official recognition as a religion in the UK when the Charity Commission granted them charitable status. The Druid Network includes a multitude of Druidic Orders across the British Isles. Some are secretive, but most perform rituals in their own areas, which are not specifically private, but are not advertised, though many work with the local community for events such as May Day. These Druid Orders consider their role to be primarily Spiritual, with an additional focus on education for those who wish to learn more about the Earth-Based religion of Gods and Goddesses where the female is as important, if not more so, than the male and the year is made up of a circle of eight festivals.
A few Druid Orders are not part of the mainstream Druid Network. These tend to be very visible and one, The Loyal Arthurian Warband (LAW), is actively anti-establishment. It is as the name suggests an Order of Druids led by and for Arthur Pendragon (ex-biker John Rothwell), a long time campaigner and tree sitter at such unsuccessful protests as the Newbury Bypass. LAW was previously affiliated to the Council of British Druid Orders, until Arthur resigned.
Arthur campaigned for the open access of Stonehenge and was one of a group of people who did force English Heritage to grand "free and open access" to Stonehenge four times a year for the main quarters of the Pagan Calendar. Currently LAW is campaigning for the "bones of the ancestors" to be returned to the ground, which was started by the group Honouring the Ancient Dead, but like other causes LAW made it their own. The members of LAW campaign to raise money to support Arthur's various pickets, 20-a-day habit, and penchant for cider.
Arthur is the Druid equivalent to Marmite. Members of LAW, and those who still wish to return to the 1970 free festivals love him, but he is viewed with varying levels of distain by many, from a variety of walks of life including other Druids and Pagans, English Heritage (EH), the Local Council and residents close to Stonehenge. Arthur's call to arms for a protest outside the new visitor centre at Stonehenge in December 2013 for the return of "the bones of the ancestors" the met with very limited success. Of the expected 50 to 60 protestors, less than 18 showed their support. Originally, the campaign was for the return of cremated bone fragments first excavated almost 100 years ago, which are on loan to a university for research until 2015, after which their location will be reviewed, irrespective of Arthur's campaign. The campaign has now expanded to include the 'Amesbury Archer' who had been displayed in museums for a number of years without problem, but became included in the LAW campaign when it was agreed by EH to display the skeleton in the new visitor centre at Stonehenge.
Arthur spoke after the protest of his disappointment. It is a typical example of his attitude, which wins him little support by the general public or other Spiritual Druid Orders and Pagans in general.
"They are too lazy or can’t be bothered to stand and be counted, in the case of our planned protest for 18th at Stonehenge they find some excuse not to attend, and boy have I heard some hum-dingers this month. They tell me, you see, you’ve been so dam rude that we don’t feel able to stand with you, and of course the usual ‘Druid’ argument, we don’t want to rock the boat, we support you but can’t possibly be seen to stand with you, wouldn’t do our reputation any good. You’re not standing with me you’re standing up for the Ancestors or in most cases not bothering."
From
This issue, like many others has resulted in a range of opinions and Arthur does not deal with those with a differing opinion well. Almost 300 archaeologists and other academics signed a petition in support of retention of the cremated bone fragments and the whole skeleton where the condition can be maintained until new methods allow for further research. Either many Pagans are in favour, or not against the bones being kept safely, agreeing that reburial is not necessarily the best option. Arthur's disdain for the opinions of others is shown when he said
"As for those actively opposing me and the campaign claiming that I am dividing the Pagan community over this issue, I’ve got news for you they have never been anything but divided over any issue you wish to name. Organising Pagans is like Herding Cats. If I really thought that my fronting the campaign was causing difficulties I would willingly step aside, but the truth is, most of them just aren’t interested and resort to using the Anti-Arthur rhetoric as an excuse for their own shortcomings. When we win, for I am certain in the fullness of time we shall be victorious, it will be chronicled who stood with and who against the Ancestors."
It will be interesting to see if he is successful and can chronicle those who stood with him, although Arthur has previously declared victories where there was none. An example is his recent campaign regarding the access to the droves adjacent to Stonehenge. The other parties involved, including the local council and residents saw his appearance at the hearings to be negative to his cause, and although he declared to his followers that he had won the day, the legal documents proved he hadn't.
Merlin was LAW's Arch druid, second only to Arthur, although many were not surprised when a difference of opinion, resulted in Arthur sacked him. Do not expect democracy in LAW, after all, it is run by and for a King.
By contrast, to Arthur, Merlin of England is a man of science, particularly physics and astrology. He has spent years studying the alignment of the stones at Stonehenge, working with an RAF pilot using advanced radar to produce factual proposals for the purposes of Stonehenge and other Neolithic circular sites in the British Isles. Modestly he said, "I am just putting science back into Stonehenge. Astrology is not a science as no Astrologer has ever submitted a paper for peer review. So it is a belief system. You can believe anything you like but that doesn't mean that it is true." Merlin is always willing to listen to dissenting opinions and he is happy to use new theories as the basis to continue to refine his own ideas.
The contrast between these two Druids, both so often included in the media is that while Arthur seeks the limelight whether on his 'Stonehenge Picket' or as he conducts ceremonies at Stonehenge where he knights new recruits to LAW. His life is devoted to 'causes' which he often takes on when the outcome is either almost certain to fail, or almost certain to succeed. Arthur protested for the fences to come down around Stonehenge, and declared
"I will not enter the stones until the fences have gone".
When it was announced that as part of the new Visitor Centre and closure of the road running along the side of the stones, Arthur claimed "We have won" and returned to within the stones, even though the fences still stand!
Meanwhile, Merlin stands a Druid alone, looking tranquil as photographers swoop in like seagulls attracted to a shoal of stranded fish. Merlin remains approachable and always willing to hold an intelligent discussion, but tries to shun the limelight. Merlin gives interviews, when asked, but they do not find their way onto the various media outlets who are usually looking for the 'mad ranting druid' angle and Merlin may wear the Druid Cloak and like Arthur carry a sword, but Merlin's thoughts are too sensible, normal and scientific to be of any use to the Hyena which plague the popular media exemplified by the Daily Mail. Many other Druid orders, like Merlin prefer to shy away from the media and sadly that also means they prefer to visit Stonehenge on the public open access days for fear they become tarred with the 'King Arthurian brush'.
FURTHER READING
Coming soon.
