Druids and Meditation

It's pretty obvious that the ancient Druids used several forms of meditation. That the Druids were able to still and control their minds is unquestioned, but the techniques they used have apparently been lost to the ravages of time and the lack of written records.

As with much of the re-creation of the Druid paths, we find ourselves turning to other cultures and methodologies to fill in the gaps. Before the cries of "Untraditional" become too loud I think I should point out that meditation and mind control/self awareness are universal to the human being. Everyone who's ever lived on this planet has had the ability to access their inner energies and power to varying degrees. Today we find ourselves without the social framework of the ancient Druids. Rather than a single unified entity we find that our Tribe is scattered to the winds without a common language or concept of what it means to be a Druid. It's a period of creation and re-creation and thanks to the easy availability of printed sources and the internet we find that once again we can begin to study and put together systems for training Druids.

Meditation and energy work are areas where many of the modern Druid Circles seem to be lacking. Anyone who's ever been to any sort of ritual can attest to the feel of the energy that rises during the ritual. As I dabbled in and then studied energy work I discovered that it was much easier to feel when the ritual energy actually formed and then began to rise. One of the problems that I've found when attending various Pagan and Wiccan rituals is the lack of focus on what to actually DO with that energy. I recently attended a very nice Wiccan Solstice ritual. The energy rose very nicely into a crescendo towards the end of the ritual and hung there expectantly. Then the ritual ended with the energy still active. After the 'end' of the ritual everyone in the circle kept standing there for a few moments, intuitively feeling the energy and reluctant to leave it.

Many Pagans seem to view meditation as interesting and cool, but not really a part of their path. I couldn't disagree more. Rituals and spells are all about creating a focused energy and then sending that energy to DO something. The ability to clear ones mind and sense and feel energy at an advanced level can not only enhance the energy that you create, but it can improve your ability to focus it and use it.

In my upcoming articles on Druidry I'll include several exercises for feeling the energy of the natural world around us and even drawing that energy into ourselves and using it. Before you get to that point, however, it's important to be able to feel your own energy and use it. Rather than re-invent the wheel my purpose with this article is to point out the necessity of using meditation and focused energy. The next few articles in this series will show you exactly how to do that.

---

Robert Morgen is a Reiki Master who currently holds a Black Belt in Hoshin Roshi Ryu. He's the founder of the Kundalini Awakening Discussion Group, the Druids Circle Discussion Group and the (offline) Druids Circle in Lakewood, CO. You can find more info on all these at; www.druidscircle.info

He's also the founder and Executive Director of the Windhaven Foundation for Sustainable Living.

He writes a regular column on subtle energy for Fight Times Magazine and a twice monthly column on Kundalini Awakening at Alumbo.com.

In addition to teaching about energy work and Kundalini Awakening he donates time to teach about Renewable Energy, Alternative Building and Creating Sustainable Lifestyles in various Public Schools.

He travels and teaches as much as possible and you can find out how to attend one of his Kundalini Awakening seminars at his website at; www.windhavenco.org

His new book "Personal Mastery: Develop Your True Inner Power By Awakening Your Kundalini" is now available at http://www.lulu.com/RobertMorgen.

The Associated Press
Hurdy Gurdy Man
New York Times, United States - 7 hours ago
Mantras, maharishi, meditation and, yes, Donovan, the man-child Scottish musician who parlayed a gentle manner, a seriously tousled head of hair and a knack ...
Donovan still a Sunshine Superman at 62 The Associated Press
all 101 news articles

Minister enhances faith through meditation
Calgary Herald,  Canada - 3 hours ago
A leading voice in the Canadian Christian meditation community, an ancient spiritual practice finding renewed popularity in a chaotic, noisy world, ...
Faith calendar Calgary Herald
all 2 news articles

Meditation goes mainstream as many Christians discover practice
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, CA - 10 hours ago
She rounds out her church- and prayer-filled life with another spiritual practice that's not quite as familiar: meditation. "I'll see a difference in my day ...

Recharge yourself with meditation
Times of India, India - 20 hours ago
Meditation is one way to counter stress as it is a process by which we could experience higher, spiritual realms. The meditation process aids us at two ...

Guided Meditation Groove
Beliefnet.com, NY - 6 hours ago
In our fast-paced society, where there is so much pressure to perform and succeed, spending time each day meditating or relaxing can be extremely important. ...

Meditation: Take In Healing Breath
Beliefnet.com, NY - 6 hours ago
A reflective exercise to help your breath be a source of healing, even if you suffer from allergies or asthma. For some individuals, asthma is characterized ...

Compassion meditation can act as a great stress buster
Newspost Online, India - 21 hours ago
Washington, Oct 8 (ANI): Individuals who engage in compassion meditation may benefit by reductions in inflammatory and behavioral responses to psychological ...

Being at one with your garden
Baltimore Sun, United States - 4 hours ago
Now nearly 60, Johnson teaches Zen meditation and organic gardening and helps gardeners like me understand how irrevocably the garden and the soul of the ...

The spare room ... a place of fantasy and meditation. Not for ...
Herald.ie, Ireland - Oct 10, 2008
Last night I joined a meditation group for women. Ten of us touching toes in a spare room. I don't mind doing that with my own sex, but a strange ...

Natural News.com
Meditation Practice Can Boost Compassion for Living Beings
Natural News.com, AZ - Oct 9, 2008
(NaturalNews) People who practice meditating on feelings of compassion increase the activity of sections of the brain associated with empathy, according to ...

Whats The Point of Meditating?

What are you likely to gain from meditating?Simple:? It improves the power of your concentration.?... Read More

Body Talk

ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzHow many times have you zoned out in front of the television, only to discover... Read More

Lighthearted Meditation: Playing With Mindfulness

I often meet people who say things like, "I've been working on mindfulness for over... Read More

Fitness Workout - Exercising the Present Moment!

The following exercise program has been designed to get the mind firmly in the present,... Read More

Basic Meditation Exercises

(Authors Note: Before reading this you should see my other articles on Breathing and Full... Read More

Meditate with Mindful Breathing

Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment,... Read More

Understanding Meditation

It is impossible to overstate the importance of daily meditation. The benefits are enormous. They... Read More

Practicing Staying Present to the Now

Transformational Counseling is about assisting others to transform their life. Transformational Counseling is a process... Read More

Relaxation Magic - Hypnosis, Meditation, Visualization

Hypnosis, meditation and visualization are three similar processes for accessing a creative area of the... Read More

Meditate to Unlock Your Hidden Potential ? Part 2

You can be the creator of your own manifest destiny. Through daily meditation practice and... Read More