{"product":{"product_id":"0300170858","title":"Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain","price":"29.13","image_url":"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41lrqTb3jwL._SL500_.jpg","url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/0300170858"},"comments":[{"body":"It's not a burden on me.   If you refuse to consider anything without research . The burden to stay in the dark is on you. \r\n\r\nHere.  Read this book. I read it twice.  It's good at least on history if you're not going to read about Hollywood. \r\n\r\nhttps://www.amazon.com/Blood-Mistletoe-History-Druids-Britain/dp/0300170858\r\n\r\nI've read several books on ancient history it's one of my favorite subjects.  I don't pull all my facts out of Google. \r\n","subreddit_name":"youtube","author":"JuicySpark"},{"body":"[Blood and Mistletoe](https://www.amazon.ca/Blood-Mistletoe-History-Druids-Britain/dp/0300170858) was a great resource for me as someone willing to read when I ran a dark fantasy Dnd campaign.","subreddit_name":"worldbuilding","author":"samjp910"},{"body":"\u0026gt; Druids, I'm looking at you in particular. \r\n\r\n[*Blood and Mistletoe*](http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Mistletoe-History-Druids-Britain/dp/0300170858/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1432403636\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=blood+and+mistletoe) by Ronald Hutton (2009, Yale University Press, 492 p.). It's perhaps the only comprehensive piece of modern scholarship about Druidry and provides a thorough history about the origins and development of the movement in Britain.\r\n\r\n[*The Druidry Handbook*](http://www.amazon.com/Druidry-Handbook-Spiritual-Practice-Rooted/dp/1578633540/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1432403908\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=the+druidry+handbook) by John Michael Greer (2006, Weiser Books, 288 p.). This is a good primer and a much lighter read. It provides a brief, summarized history of Druidry, a good overview of some of the teachings and practices of modern Druidry, and then goes on to provide information about the Ancient Order of Druids in America's (AODA's) rituals and 1st degree program (the 1st degree program outlined in the book is out-of-date though, so anyone interested in that should rely on [the website's](http://aoda.org) information instead).\r\n\r\nYou should note, though, that this book is specifically from the perspective of AODA's Grand Archdruid. Its target audience is people who may be interested in practicing Druidry (and joining AODA in particular). It's not an objective piece of scholarship, nor is it universal to all the different Druid orders out there.\r\n\r\nThat's all I've got at the moment, as far as explicitly Druidic literature goes. /u/Eponia and /u/BranCerddorion may have more suggestions.\r\n\r\nI could suggest some primary texts such as Classical writings about the original druids, medieval Irish tales that mention them, or *The Barddas*. However, these are some real hot potatoes and I don't believe that anyone without a scholarly understanding of their context and background should even touch them. They're definitely not good resources for someone who wants to get introduced to Druidry, though they may be useful after one has read *Blood and Mistletoe*.\r\n\r\nMany Druids take an interest in [*The Mabinogion*](http://www.amazon.com/Mabinogion-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199218781/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1432405048\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=mabinogion) and [Arthurian Legend](http://www.amazon.com/Morte-Darthur-Winchester-Manuscript-Classics/dp/0199537348/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1432405105\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=Le+Morte+d%27Arthur), in terms of mythology/lore. So these could be good supplements, once the reader has been introduced to Druidry. However, Druidry is not what makes these works significant, nor are these required readings.\r\n\r\nMost Druids should also study ecology, organic gardening, foraging, wildcrafting, herbalism, Permaculture, etc., and many consider these topics inseparable from their practice. Some of these topics actually *are* required readings if you're planning to enter into AODA. However, not many books on these topics are written from a Druidic viewpoint and I'm not aware of any good ones that are at the moment. So again, they're more supplemental readings.\r\n\r\nThere are also books about Druidic magic and sacred geometry, but these are rather niche practices, even amongst Druids.","subreddit_name":"pagan","author":"Farwater"},{"body":"[Ronald Hutton's *Blood and Mistletoe*](http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Mistletoe-History-Druids-Britain/dp/0300170858/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663375\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=Blood+and+Mistletoe)\r\n\r\n[Really anything by Philip Carr-Gomm](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps\u0026amp;field-keywords=Philip%20Carr-Gomm)\r\n\r\nA often-overlooked author, John Matthews. He has *lots* of books on Celtic shamanism and Druidry. [*A Celtic Reader*](http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Reader-Selections-Legend-Scholarship/dp/0850309352/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663496\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=John+Matthews+Celtic+Reader\u0026amp;pebp=1422663498541\u0026amp;peasin=850309352), [*Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom*](http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Celtic-Wisdom-Caitlin-Matthews/dp/1852307862/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663504\u0026amp;sr=8-4\u0026amp;keywords=John+Matthews+Celtic+Reader), [*The Bardic Source Book*](http://www.amazon.com/Bardic-Source-Book-Inspirational-Teachings/dp/0713727853/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663614\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=John+Matthews+Bardic+Source+Book), [*The Druid Source Book*](http://www.amazon.com/Druid-Source-Book-John-Matthews/dp/0713727101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663658\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=John+Matthews+Druid+Source+Book), and [*The Song of Taliesin: Stories and Poems from the Book of Broceliande*](http://www.amazon.com/Song-Taliesin-Stories-Poems-Broceliande/dp/1855381141/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663720\u0026amp;sr=8-7\u0026amp;keywords=John+Matthews+Taliesin) just to name a few. \r\n\r\nAlso, if you haven't, you should read [*The Mabinogion*](http://www.amazon.com/Mabinogion-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140443223/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663804\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=The+Mabinogion\u0026amp;pebp=1422663808805\u0026amp;peasin=140443223) for it's worth of Welsh mythology. I like the Jeffrey Gantz translation, but it's missing what I consider a crucial story prevalent to modern Druidry, the story of Ceridwen and Taliesin. You can find it in [Lady Charlotte Guest's translation though](http://www.amazon.com/Mabinogion-Translated-Red-Book-Hergest/dp/1505220742/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663804\u0026amp;sr=8-9\u0026amp;keywords=The+Mabinogion), which is the original translation from Welsh to English. \r\n\r\nOh, and [Joanna van der Hoeven's *The Awen Alone*](http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portals-Alone-Walking-Solitary/dp/1782795472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422663982\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=The+Awen+Alone\u0026amp;pebp=1422663988699\u0026amp;peasin=1782795472). and I haven't read this one yet, but I read the author's other book, [*Zen Druidry*](http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Portal-Zen-Druidry-Natural-Awareness/dp/1780993900/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422664046\u0026amp;sr=8-1\u0026amp;keywords=Zen+Druidry). Both are short books packed with a *ton* of information, and the former is about practicing Druidry solitarily, something with which many of us here (and maybe especially you at the moment) can connect. ","subreddit_name":"druidism","author":"BranCerddorion"},{"body":"\u0026gt;no one has offered anything new since I asked\r\n\r\nYou seem to have missed the many explanations from various members here about archelogical and historical absence of proof of yogic practices within Druidry, you missed the book recommendations to help you understand more of Druid history, and in fact it seems you've only taken interest in the posts that cater well to your own responses rather than information.\r\n\r\nHere, let me help.\r\n\r\n[The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids](http://druidry.org) is one of the most populous Druid orders around. They're most famous for their 3-grade correspondence course. They hold international festivals and host a very entertaining, informative podcast, Druidcast. Their website will answer a lot of your questions on Druidry.\r\n\r\n[Ár nDraíocht Féin](http://adf.org) is another very popular Druid order. \r\n\r\n[Ancient Order of Druids in America](http://aoda.org) is another one. \r\n\r\n[*Blood and Mistletoe* by Ronald Hutton](http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Mistletoe-History-Druids-Britain/dp/0300170858) is an amazing book detailing the history of Druids. \r\n\r\n[*The Druidry Handbook* by John Michael Greer](http://www.amazon.com/Druidry-Handbook-Spiritual-Practice-Rooted/dp/1578633540/ref=sr_1_1?s=books\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422551211\u0026amp;sr=1-1\u0026amp;keywords=The+Druidry+Handbook) is highly praised.\r\n\r\n[*The Druid Ways* by Philip Carr-Gomm](http://www.amazon.com/Druid-Way-Journey-Through-Landscape/dp/1852303654/ref=sr_1_1?s=books\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1422551265\u0026amp;sr=1-1\u0026amp;keywords=The+Druid+Way+Philip+Carr-Gomm) is a great, short introduction to modern Druidry. \r\n\r\n[Celtic mythology](http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/index.htm) is prevalent in Druidic practices. \r\n\r\nThis *should* mostly be new information to you, since you came here asking to learn about Druidry. Please, browse through a couple of the sites and come back with any questions. I'll be happy to help you sort through some of the admittedly jumbled info and answer any honest question. ","subreddit_name":"druidism","author":"BranCerddorion"}]}