Philip Carr-Gomm – The Way of the Druid 2023

Druidry isn’t just a historical concept; it’s a thriving spiritual tradition and community that’s available to nourish your soul. In this course, you’ll embark on a journey to awaken your inner creativity (the “Singer”)… deepen your connection with nature and other planes of reality (the “Shaman”)… and tap into your innate wisdom (the “Inner Sage”) in an immersive psycho-spiritual experience.

We’ll begin with a brief overview of Druidry as a spiritual path. Then, you’ll be invited into an initiatory experience that allows you to experience Druidry, not as an observer but as a living participant in an age-old tradition. This journey will take you to the very root of humanity’s spiritual quest, within the depths of a dark cave. As you emerge from the cave at dawn, you’ll feel nourished by the darkness, ready to embrace the liberation that comes from letting go of the need to know and understand everything.

This module will allow you to explore the concepts of not knowing, endarkenment, and mindlessness. You’ll learn to recognize your dependence on both the unconscious and the conscious mind and let go of striving to understand — reveling in the rich experience of Mystery.

In this session, you’ll:

• Develop an understanding of the breadth and depth of the Druid Way and its relevance for today
• Experience an initiatory deep dive into the practice of Druidry
• Discover how Druidry can enhance your life as a creative being
• Explore different states of consciousness and how Druidry can guide you through them
• Learn to nurture your inner Sage, accessing wisdom that can transform your life

In Druidry, the magic of creativity and storytelling ignites a connection to something greater. This session welcomes you into the profound Druidic understanding that inspiration, and the creativity it fuels, comes from a source beyond ourselves — a Transpersonal or Divine realm. You’ll discover the liberating concept that you don’t need to strive to fulfill all of your potential because it’s unlimited and doesn’t solely belong to you.

In a guided journey, you’ll enter the forest to experience its power to transform you. You’ll also discover the significance of the Cauldron of the Goddess and the way it can nourish and support you throughout your life.

Following this, you’ll connect with others in small groups to share insights and reflections. Then, the full group will reassemble, realizing together that our inner lives are interconnected, not separate. Evolution is a group endeavor, and in listening and through dialogue, the journey becomes shared and enriching.

This module serves as a guiding light to harnessing creativity from a higher plane, affirming that you’re never alone in your quest for spiritual enlightenment.

In this session, you’ll:

• Learn how Druidry can help you access Divine inspiration
• Discover a new way to relate to your inner potential, allowing you to unlock more of it
• Explore the richness of Druid and Celtic plant lore and medicine
• Find a fresh perspective on understanding the evolution of your consciousness and inner life, recognizing the interconnectedness of all

Just beyond the warmth and safety of the hearth fire is a mysterious world teeming with beauty, yet filled with hidden dangers. This session invites you to nurture the courage to venture into this uncharted terrain, guided by your inner Shaman, or magician.

The previous lessons have connected you with your inner Sage — who seeks a sense of unity and oneness with the heart of life. Now, a more adventurous dynamic awakens within you, fuelled by curiosity and a desire to make a positive impact in the world. Your inner Shaman leads you from the comfort of the fireside into the wilderness of the forest.

Through a guided meditation, you’ll encounter animals, insects, and birds, each offering wisdom and insights. One or more of them may become your guide on this exciting journey. Following the meditation, you’ll share your experiences in small groups before reconvening for a larger group dialogue.

This session isn’t just about exploration… it’s also about empowerment and spiritual engagement. It’s about embracing the wilder parts of yourself and the world around you, and engaging with the energies of exploration, learning, and growth — a call to adventure for those who are ready to heed it.

In this session, you’ll:

• Learn how to awaken the Mystic, Magician, and Shaman within you
• Experience the profound influence of the forest on your soul
• Explore the vibrant world of Druid and Celtic animal lore
• Open to the guidance of allies and mentors from the Otherworld

Imagine standing at the edge of land and sea, poised between two worlds on the cusp of an adventure. In this session, you’ll embark on a metaphorical journey that will take you from the safety of the forest to the vast, uncharted waters of the ocean. It’s a voyage of exploration, discovery, and freedom from the constraints of perfectionism.

Through a guided meditation, the Bard recounts tales of the past, honoring traditions and drawing wisdom and inspiration from both the Collective and the Divine — finding inspiration in the past, learning from it, and being nourished by it. As you listen, the Ovate within you recognizes that time is not a straight line but a flowing river, with currents that run deep and sometimes in unexpected directions.

Driven by curiosity and the allure of the unknown, you’ll build a boat and set sail, exploring the sea of uncharted horizons. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to a liberating idea: “You’ll never finish your life, so you can let go of trying to perfect it, of trying to get the perfect ending.” In other words, it’s time to free yourself from the tyranny of perfectionism.

This session is not just an exploration of past and future — it’s an invitation to embrace the richness of the present without the need to control or perfect it.

In this session, you’ll:

• Explore the influence of the Ancestors on your life
• Uncover the connections and influences of both your milkline and bloodline
• Learn about the use of oracles and divination in the Druid tradition
• Discover how to release yourself from the need for perfection, opening the way to greater ease and the joy of creative expression

In our fast-paced modern lives, it’s all too easy to overlook the importance of taking time to get lost, allow new ideas to incubate, and let things develop at their natural pace. This rush can leave us feeling frustrated and disconnected from our creative selves. In this session, you’ll learn to embrace the wisdom of waiting and discover the value of fallow, or incubatory times in nourishing your soul and fostering creativity.

Through an exploration of the Druid Wheel of the Year and an appreciation for lunar and seasonal cycles, you’ll gain insights into how to deepen the wisdom of your inner Sage. These ancient practices remind us that creativity isn’t something to be forced or rushed but a process to be respected and nurtured.

You’ll then journey into a meditation, adrift on the open sea, guided by a Druid Nidra that will take you deep into an exploration of your body and soul. At the core of this inner pilgrimage, you’ll encounter a liberating realization: “There is nowhere to go. The quest was a necessary illusion for me to grow and learn, but there’s nowhere to go because I’ve already arrived.”

After emerging from this profound experience, the emphasis will be on not forcing conclusions or seeking “premature closure.” Instead of discussions, this session will provide space for journaling, drawing, and listening to poetry. You may also wish to share your favorite poems, embracing the community experience of Eisteddfod in Druidry.

This module will help you honor the natural rhythms of life and find joy and fulfillment in the process, not just the outcome. You’ll reconnect with ancient wisdom, nurture your creative spirit, and rediscover the art of being, growing, and creating, guided by the timeless wisdom of the Druid Way.

In this session, you’ll:

• Explore the subtleties and dynamics of the Druid Wheel of the Year
• Discover how the Druids work with the Moon to enrich spiritual and creative life
• Learn techniques of Bardic incubation to enhance the creative process
• Experience a Druid Nidra — a pilgrimage within the sacred landscape of your body and energy field

In this enlightening session, you’ll embark on a meditative journey that will lead you to the very source of wisdom and being. Through meditation, storytelling, and group sharing, you’ll discover the richness of tradition and the insights that lie waiting for those who seek them.

Inspired by the Druid tradition, you’ll follow a metaphorical river back to its origin, just as a salmon returns to its spawning ground. Your destination is a mystical pool, the river’s source, where the Oldest Animal — the Salmon of Wisdom — resides, waiting to share its ancient knowledge with you.

Coming out of this deep meditation, Philip will recount the legendary story of Fionn McCumhail, exploring further the tale of the Oldest Animals and the significance they hold within the Druid tradition. You’ll then have an opportunity to share your experiences in small groups before joining the larger group discussion.

In this session, you’ll:

• Explore the symbolic significance of the salmon in the Druid tradition
• Understand the vital role of the 5 senses in the cultivation of wisdom
• Engage with 2 ancient teaching stories that guide spiritual growth
• Experience a personal connection to the Source of Being, tapping into the wellspring of wisdom