The Path of Druidry

Penny Billington has written a warm, accessible and wise book, based on her own extensive experience in Druidry and ritual magic. The emphasis here is on practical ways of being a Druid by doing what Druids do, and whenever necessary and appropriate, adapting the exercises she gives to one's own circumstances and capacities. Of course, no book can replace doing the work at hand, whether it's learning basic chords and fingerings as a guitarist, mastering the forms and patterns of a foreign language, or the art and science of breadmaking and brewing.But the author offers a great deal. As an active and longtime member of OBOD (the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids), and a student of the teaching of Dion Fortune (founder of Society for Inner Light, and one of the major figures in the authentic occult and magical tradition issuing from the U.K.), Billington draws on these streams, while shaping a coherent and profound entrance to Druidry. As she notes, you can walk the solitary path, or join a Druid organization. But making use of texts like this one can be a useful middle way. The book, as the author notes, is consciously in step with contemporary practice, annotated so that readers can check and verify sources for themselves, and brim-full of techniques and practices in keeping with the teachings of several modern Druid organizations. The emphasis is on finding one's own Druidry, not conforming to some arbitrary standard of ritual or someone else's "real" Druid ideal.Much has been made about how the specific practices and beliefs of ancient Druids are forever lost to us since they left no written records, and the references to Druids in the works of classical Greek and Roman authors are mostly based on secondhand accounts and sometimes markedly biased. But what such writers and speakers often forget is the surviving body of legend, myth, teaching and wisdom in Celtic literature. In each chapter, Billington includes an adaptation of a story from the Mabinogion, the Welsh collection of myth, legend and teaching which has wonderful relevance and serves as a storehouse of much Druid teaching. Sustained meditation on these stories will reveal much of use and value to the aspirant after a Druidry that is authentic simply because it is grounded in knowledge and practice.Billington also develops the idea of the three rays of knowledge, nature and devotion into a coherent and balanced teaching. I especially liked how, throughout the text, she raises at least as many questions as possible answers, and how in each chapter she points us toward finding our own answers, as a good teacher should. Finally, Billington's book is both orderly and spiraling, acknowledging that we return to the foundations, revisit the basics, at many different times in our journey, often to see them as new and fresh because it is we who have moved and changed and grown. Highly recommended.

And so many other words of praise. This book is absolutely fantastic all around. I am so glad I picked this one up. It gives a full run down on today's druidry and absolutely paints a clear picture of what it means to be a Druid. Add this one to your library.

Love it, one best out there.If you ever wanted know what the Order of Bard, Ovates and Druids course where like and didn't or couldn't spend the money. Penny did write it so you got a taste of it.(According to the Oct 21st O.B.O.D podcast) This great way to find out and now I know that courses aren't for me.It's lay out as a course, pack with with great stuff. However Penny use did the Mabinogion for the base of the course and I just couldn't make a connection to it. (But that was me) Plus, there was hardly any mention of the Celtic gods either. For some of us, Druidry is our religious practice. Even though I don't use the Celtic gods for my devotion, I still like read about them and somebody else could use the info too.I'll admit, I didn't agree with everything Penny wrote about or recommend, some of it I just found a little too far fetched. But I'm with the Reformed Druids of North America [...] and is a big fan of the "Less is More" mantra.But still - any Druid would find this one very helpful book.

I was drawn to the cover of this book. The tree was so beautiful and I connected to it in a real sense. Though the writing is informative and clear...I was not so drawn to the lives of druids of the past...where certain sacrifices went on. I was not aware of this and it tainted all the good I thought they were. Modern day druids are perhaps a better people all in all. I believe in the connection of trees, the ground and the universe as I have experienced some of this very real connection in nature myself. It does exist without any magic spells. When one is opened....one senses quite easily all that is around them. Nature comes alive....life jumps out at you....and soon the spell that civilization has cast on you melts away in the breeze....life opens itself up to you...and your soul sings out in joy as you connect with the you who was meant to be...

This is one of the best books to have for starting a Druid path.

This book played a major role in my path of Druid spirituality. Penny does an amazing job at storytelling, helping you to visualize, and the meditations really give you great ideas to work with so that you can eventually perform your own work that’s personal to you. I’ve had this book for quite a few months now and I am still reading it.

I absolutely love this book. Penny has a way of making it seem as if you were walking along with her. The exercises are fun and illuminating. I’m an experienced Druid and have been practicing for many years, and found this helpful in bringing me back to what I love about this path. A novice will absolutely benefit from the wisdom and guidance here. Highly recommend.

I actually just purchased this for character building and research for a druid part I am playing. I would say it's actually quite therapeutic as the exercises train you to meditate but on more interesting things like nature (birds singing, breeze blowing) instead of the breath only. I find myself opening up my windows much more often and paying attention to the different elements. I'm really happy with my find.