The Druid of Ys

I have had so much going on lately and so much new learnings and experiences, I haven't been able to find time to blog about one thing before the next thing takes hold.  In the past two weekends I have taken two different shamanism classes, and today I leave for Faerieworlds (An annual arts and music festival in Eugene, Oregon that centers around the Fae), so I felt I wanted to share at least one thing before I am "cyber-free" for 4 or 5 days.

This past weekend the class I took was called "Druid Wisdom Tales."  In the past couple of years a lot of my lessons and growth have been very Native American focused, and recently I have felt distinctly drawn to begin exploring the spirituality of my blood heritage, so it was great to delve into Celtic shamanism.  Over the weekend we were told a number of old tales and then journeyed into the tales to speak with the characters or our own guides to find the original meanings from a druidic point of view and how it applied to our lives.

The particular journey I want to share comes from a pair of stories concerning King Gradlon and the legendary city of Ys.  Actually it was long after the city was washed beneath the sea and Gradlon was approaching his death.  He had converted to Christianity, but still had a Druid at his death bed along with a holy man (St Gwenole). In the story the Druid spoke of being the last of a dead religion with gods that no one honored any longer.  Our assignment was to journey into the tale and talk to this Druid to see what he might have to say to us now.

In my journey I had Nathaniel, my reindeer guide, take me to the Druid.  We found him in front of a cave in an earthen mound, deep in the woods, sitting cross legged on the ground with a hood over his face and the pelt of a fisher tied loosely around his shoulders.  I asked if he had any wisdom for me and he replied instantly:

"Be not afraid. 

All creation arises within and through you. 

The old gods walk hand-in-hand with the children of the land. 

All that was dead lives again. 

Be not afraid"

It was a much more hopeful message than I'd expected, or perhaps just much more succinct.  It also seemed like a message for our world in general so I asked if he could tell me something about my personal path. He told me:

"You are on solid, sacred ground.

Even when the ground appears to fall away beneath your feet, the Earth will rise to meet them.

Do not worry about leaving your path, because your path is wherever you are --
It is under your feet"

I believe there were a couple more "Be not afraids" in there as well, and the Druid seemed almost giddy, and I swear I saw the hint of a smile beneath the shadow of his hood. 

So that is the thought and message I will carry with me as I enter the sacred realm of the Fair Folk.  That is my path for that is where I am.