This is such a beautiful essay Ellen (and thank you for the mention) that has so many links and connections that I need to print it out, and re-read, so this Druid in your circle is just flying by to say briefly, there is a link between Druidry and the five generations case taking…. 💕x
Definitely - I used to think of them as almost complete opposites but the older I get the more I think science is spiritual, or spirituality is scientific.
This is fascinating Jaimie! I had no idea there were so many different branches of modern day Druidism for one thing, but the overlapping connections in the same village as well is so interesting. I’m always interested by modern day revivals (or reimaginings?) of older ideas and groups.
You may want to make a cuppa before reading, it’s a bit of a longish reply 😄….A man called Thomas Lackenby Maughan was both the Chief of what was called in his time The Ancient Druid Order (and now The Druid Order), and a very experienced homeopath, credited for creating training in homeopathy for non-medical practitioners. Many of his homeopathy students were also his initiates within the Ancient Druid Order, and once qualified they went on to form a number of the colleges and the Society of Homeopaths.
I studied homeopathy between 1994 and 1998 and most of my tutors were trained by Thomas Maughan (alongside also being Transpersonal Psychotherapists). The idea of going back 5 generations to identify ancestral roots is very Druidic, but also has some grounding I think in Transpersonal Psychotherapy as it was taught then. I found it opened up the therapeutic process in ways, case taking methods I was taught in later training didn’t.
As a side note, when the election of a new Chosen Chief for the Ancient Druid Order took place in 1964, Thomas Maughan was one of three candidates. The other two were Gerald Gardner (credited with being the father of modern day Wicca, who had establish his Bricket Wood Coven in the village were I grew up), and Ross Nichols, the founder of the Order of the Bards Ovates and Druids, who also based himself in Bricket Wood, and was the mentor of Philip Carr Gomm who went on to create the current three grade OBOD training, that I signed up for a few years before choosing my homeopathy college, completely unaware of all these connections. Thomas Maughan continued to teach homeopathy and remain the Chosen Chief until 1976 when he died I believe.
Kristoffer Hughes , the Chief of the Anglesey Druid Order is also an OBOD student and apart from being a really lovely guy, has written a number of books, and has lots of video online too.
It was so fascinating to wake up and read your essay this morning where you mention the case taking, the wren and Druidry!
I find the evolution of meaning making really fascinating and the interweaving of western esotericism, eastern thought and psychotherapy is a rabbit hole I disappear down a lot, (especially as I unravel my own life narrative). Humans are so creative in interpreting the world and in the way they (we) express it through story telling, and apply it.
The intersection between science and esotericism/spirituality is so interesting.
This is such a beautiful essay Ellen (and thank you for the mention) that has so many links and connections that I need to print it out, and re-read, so this Druid in your circle is just flying by to say briefly, there is a link between Druidry and the five generations case taking…. 💕x
Definitely - I used to think of them as almost complete opposites but the older I get the more I think science is spiritual, or spirituality is scientific.
This is fascinating Jaimie! I had no idea there were so many different branches of modern day Druidism for one thing, but the overlapping connections in the same village as well is so interesting. I’m always interested by modern day revivals (or reimaginings?) of older ideas and groups.
Thanks Jaimie 🥰 I am intrigued by the connection between druids and looking back 5 generations - please tell me more!
You may want to make a cuppa before reading, it’s a bit of a longish reply 😄….A man called Thomas Lackenby Maughan was both the Chief of what was called in his time The Ancient Druid Order (and now The Druid Order), and a very experienced homeopath, credited for creating training in homeopathy for non-medical practitioners. Many of his homeopathy students were also his initiates within the Ancient Druid Order, and once qualified they went on to form a number of the colleges and the Society of Homeopaths.
I studied homeopathy between 1994 and 1998 and most of my tutors were trained by Thomas Maughan (alongside also being Transpersonal Psychotherapists). The idea of going back 5 generations to identify ancestral roots is very Druidic, but also has some grounding I think in Transpersonal Psychotherapy as it was taught then. I found it opened up the therapeutic process in ways, case taking methods I was taught in later training didn’t.
As a side note, when the election of a new Chosen Chief for the Ancient Druid Order took place in 1964, Thomas Maughan was one of three candidates. The other two were Gerald Gardner (credited with being the father of modern day Wicca, who had establish his Bricket Wood Coven in the village were I grew up), and Ross Nichols, the founder of the Order of the Bards Ovates and Druids, who also based himself in Bricket Wood, and was the mentor of Philip Carr Gomm who went on to create the current three grade OBOD training, that I signed up for a few years before choosing my homeopathy college, completely unaware of all these connections. Thomas Maughan continued to teach homeopathy and remain the Chosen Chief until 1976 when he died I believe.
Kristoffer Hughes , the Chief of the Anglesey Druid Order is also an OBOD student and apart from being a really lovely guy, has written a number of books, and has lots of video online too.
It was so fascinating to wake up and read your essay this morning where you mention the case taking, the wren and Druidry!
I find the evolution of meaning making really fascinating and the interweaving of western esotericism, eastern thought and psychotherapy is a rabbit hole I disappear down a lot, (especially as I unravel my own life narrative). Humans are so creative in interpreting the world and in the way they (we) express it through story telling, and apply it.
The intersection between science and esotericism/spirituality is so interesting.