Hello! I have recently launched my own website www.jacobtoddson.com that has a list of events that I am running/assisting over the next few months! I have also created a new line of merchandise called "Ancient Ways, Today" focused on historical designs from around the world. This channel and it's content is only possible through the support of you amazing viewers and supporters of my work 🙏 It's just me behind the camera, so any support is always appreciated, even if it is just a comment and a like. Thank you! And I hope to see you at a retreat in the future. www.jacobtoddson.com
I was born and reared in rural west Ireland in the early 1950s. Many of my old relatives and neighbours were born in the 1800s and they firmly believed in Two "Religions" - Catholicism and Druidic "Fairy" Religion. They were loyal to both belief systems but if anything, they believed more in "Fairy forts", Sacred festivals such as Oíche Shamhna, Bealaine, Lâ Féile Bríde (St Brigid's Day), Leprechauns who were Shoemakers to the "Fairies" et al. They saw Catholicism as a recent arrival and Druidism as the real deal. Thanks for your interesting treatment of the Drudic tradition in Alban/Scotland.
Way back when you Either joined the Church or you Died, literally, accussed of being a Witch. Many times Chathol8cs built their Churches ON ANCIENT Celtic Sacred Sites
Im a druid of the modern aspects of druidry. Something so old so long go, even without the absence of words you can still feel the ancient druids within the the forest. Im dreamt of them since i was a child and also felt a deep connection to their way of life and how much they revered our Tree friends and the folk that rule the sacred spaces within. Something so intense it makes you weep at the sight of a torn down tree or an overturned stone. I live near Sherwood forest Nottinghamshire, we have the druid stone not to far away its nice to see a video remembering the ancestors that once walked the earth. Norse and celtic paganism is very simular, ive always been drawn to the old ways more traditional. I agree we cant practice or do not know the ways of the old of the druids but if you can feel the magic of their presence in the silent groves and lush rivers or the standing stones that act as the gateway to the memories of what was you should definitely follow your heart. Its sad that many practices were wiped out overnight, it makes you think anyone that is willing to take gold and silver to convert to Christianity was not really a daughter or son of the gods. Im more of a Floki ❤️
Damn I don't know how you managed to fit so much history and info into one 20 min video! Safe travels friend and thanks for letting me live vicariously through you
I've been dipping my toes onto paganism in order to find my spirituality and your channel has been as necessary as water to me! You show so much information with so much respect and genuine interest on what you're talking and searching, it helped me a lot. Thank you!
As a druid, I'm very happy to see this video! I just sat down on my balcony with my tea surrounded by plants and saw that you posted this. This is the perfect way to start my morning. 🌲💚
@@VoodooViking That's wonderful to hear! Unfortunately at the moment I live in a crowded apartment in a noisy suburb (not my ideal location), but I'm very close to a lovely trail that's full of nature and forested areas, so I try to spend as much of my time there as possible. Can't wait until I can live on my own land again. 💚
Reason why the Druids did not write things down. (And I found this out by talking with Navajo shaman, cause they don’t either). You orally pass everything down cause the world and times are never the same; society and the great mother is always changing, and the exact verbology will never remain the same from generation to generation. The exact words are not what’s important. When you write it down it becomes dogma. And when you go that route, the true meaning(s) are lost. Cause now you’ve created dogma, instead of overall meaning and how it can be applied to the current times. I mean, rules of life and growing food is not the same today as it was in the ice age or Bronze Age or during times of war or catastrophes. Different mindsets that don’t apply to now.
Well said! People have asked about my "Pagan Path" and I have to ask them to begin their own path as we are not starting from the same "point" - and neither could we. I can share information - such as the Druids did - but I can not and WILL NOT try to influence someone to believe as I believe - not even my own Wife! 😀😀😀I know of other "religions" that have a system where you have to believe certain things and act in certain ways, but that seems too much like "cloning" to me and is something I outright object to.
The production value you bring to your videos is off the charts! I watch this and think to myself that this could very well be a PBS series on Paganism. Thank you for all the great work you do for the Pagan community, and I can't wait to see more!
I grew up near Anglesea, now living in Hertfordshire. I spend a lot of time in a small woodland, frequently taking small crystals to throw into the stream as an offering.
I live in the Laurel Highlands of SW Pennsylvania. This place in your video looks like places here. We have hundreds of places like this. Big rocks, water, caverns. Something deep in my bones feels a sense of reverence every time I visit these places. I can see why my Germanic and Scottish ancestors settled this land.
I don't know if you'll see this, but I'm from Maryland and used to visit Glen Rock PA for the Spoutwood Faerie festival until they had to close it down. I know what you mean by the land feeling very vibrant, primal, and alive there. It's really exhilarating!
I live in Humboldt County, on California’s North Coast, land of the Ancient Redwoods. Paganism is very popular here among the mists that have nurtured these magnificent trees over many millennia. There is also a strong Druidic presence here, or so I have been told by students of their schools. Thank you for covering the lands and spiritual practices of my Celtic ancestors. I’m wondering if we might gradually reconstruct the ways and teachings of the ancient Druids by the use of ancestral magick, connecting with ancient Druids on the astral plane. If I’m having this idea now, there may already be people working on this project, that’s the way collective consciousness works.
Ayyyy! Fellow humboldtian! I dig your perspective. Hope the redwoods are keeping you well. Something Ive been trying to do lately is Learn from the Yurok and Wyott about their practices before us and respectfully incorperate them into my own Irish heritage. Historically the Irish and native actually worked together during the 17-1800s, with each side helping the other. There was actually a huge push from the irish to give back native lands. Really cool stuff worth checking out. Shout out to you homie! Hope youre wel😊
I think you may be onto something. Astral projection and similar practices can open up all kinds of possibilities. I’ve been very interested in astral projection for awhile now. There is also what’s called the “Akashic records”. It’s a kind of library where the history of everything that has ever happened is stored. I’m not quite as knowledgeable on that but surely that might be a place to learn about the past! When I hear humboldt I think of cannabis haha :)
Love this. I felt an instant connection on watching. I must have been a Druid in past lives, as I adore, revere, nurture and protect trees. My spirit wants to travel back in time, to feel the pure, clean air, clear waters, magic stones, beautiful foliage, and the fabric of those ways in ancient days.
@@EmilyLavinder-bp7soYeh cities are hella ghey I like trees and air and water also I probably was a druid before. You use dead tree skin to clean your ass your not no true druid like me I don't wipe at all
that was a great video, I recommend "The Druid Path" for anyone wanting to walk a path that resembles that of the druids. While this is not a history book, but rather a modern guide to practice, it still provides an inspirational look into the modern practice of Druidry. farewell
Stopped claiming I was a druid ages ago. Thomas Sheridan sorted me out on this, he's put a few posts up about it. I see it as a liberty and dishonest as we know so little about them. They had to undergo about 20 years of training to become qualified. We don't know what that training was and I'd rather keep my sense of honesty. All very sad that the umbilical chord to our ancestors has been severely attacked and I'm all for weaving fragments back together as best we can but I refuse to be dishonest or self misleading and indeed to mislead others with false claims. Enjoyed the video though.
There's nothing dishonest about claiming to live like a druid just because we don't know a fraction. Being close to nature and the universe make you Druid minded
@@douglasrusinko1383 My thoughts were about my personal view, I find it a dishonest claim, personally. I don't care if you think you're batman, with respect. I also affiliate with the ideas and feelings but want to respect my ancestors that actually did the initiation. And my own words to be accurate as possible as part of that path.
@@FloatingLeaf1111 Well not really. Knowing little isn't the same as nothing can be know and that the gods never reveal themselves. The supernatural can be known.. I believe I've had experiences of the guardian spirit of Silbury hill and that spirit has saved my life with warnings of future events. Druid in application but humble that I may not have passed the grade, yet. Spirit lets us know of it's existence through auguries, synchronicity, intuition, voices, visions, direct experience and reincarnation.
Ancient druidry spanned many centuries (likely over a thousand years) across most of a continent, so we can be quite sure there was a large amount of variety between druids in different times and places. Given this, and given the powerful role of the druid as imagined and reimagined in the Irish mythological cycles, what is illegitimate about new traditions ("neo-druidry") for new times, drawing on the few but potent leads we have left on what the druids were? There will be many who call themselves druids without an "adequate" training in the eyes of others, but don't you think that always existed, especially in the twilight years of ancient druidry in early medieval Britain and Ireland? If druidry had survived unbroken into the present, I don't think it would have ever had a single orthodoxy, or unchanged 1st century BC sensibilities. It would be made up of 20th and 21st century men and women just as all present religions are. It surely would look like a richer form of what exists now in neo-druidry. The druids once were created, and all of their traditions were once brand new, while drawing from what came before.
Awesome video mate. The two words that come to mind in this video is Beauty and Sorrow. I do feel deep sorrow for all that christianity has erased from our ancient past. But such is life and we can do nothing but move foreword. Excited for the next one! Safe travels out there
The forced introduction of Christianity into Europe and its succeeding history was a great calamity. When the church was institutionalised the free people lost their liberties and became serfs, slaves. We still are not free.
@@Inquisitor_Vex especially when the video by someone that's done the research says we don't know much about it, just records by the Romans and Irish monks...
@@Inquisitor_Vex put your hands in the air and yell "I'm a druid, my name is Gandalf". No one knows for sure how people became a druid. Modern "druids" come from books written in the last couple of hundred years. Unfortunately for the "druids" they have been proven to be mostly 🐂💩.
Most of my ancestry is Celtic, with Germanic and Slavic next- so I'm very moved by any really good portrayal like this. Thank you! Slainte! Danke! Sposibye!
Thank you for giving us a glimpse of these sacred groves! Your presentation was fantastically informative, and I appreciate the effort you put into it.
What's so wild to me about your youtube channel is that I feel like i get to spend time with you. I hear the interest and passion in your voice. I look forward to making a trip with you one day! Remember my name, dear friend ❤
Druids were also "time keepers". It was a matter of life and death to till, sow, tend, harvest and store your crops. So planting and the rest be done at the right season. We have the Fire holidays, Beltaine etc, but holidays for tending land were different. Imbolc for example was for the lambing time. I became a Druid in 1971 after having university classes in comparative religion. We didn't study Druidism or even Pagan practices. We studied the major 3 or 4 faiths and I saw how corrupt, inhumane and soul strangling they were. So I have been a Druid for half a century. I live in the Pacific Northwest, Portland area, and led a grove of fellow Druids. We were the Glendover Grove and I served as Archdruid for 10 years. Blessed be!
thank you so much for this video! as a young, starting celtic/norse pagan, your videos have helped me so much on my path, especially this video. i’ve been finding it difficult to find good information about celtic paganism, so your videos have been a wonderful source, as well as a wonderful way to learn about sites that i’ve never known of. i’ve always been in love with (and felt very connected to) ireland and scotland for as long as i can remember. i’m working on planning a trip to both ireland and scotland for next year. thank you so much for sharing your travels and research!
You put together a wonderful presentation that brought tears to learn our ancestors were such a civilized society. We as a society have to understand where and whom we came from in history to understand where we are going
There is information from history that these civilized people came from the territory of present day Turkey (formerly the great Armenians) but they were Christians and brought a great culture.
@@lianaminasyan1783 how do you know it aint the other way around and celt culture went to modern day turkey through trade, anatolians in what was then part of europe was celt before being invaded and colonised by islam and Caucasian mountains being claimed as asia, never heard Armenians being celt though..
Celtic Society was truly egalitarian as adult women, mothers, were also warriors. You would not want to face a Celtic Mama on a battle field! Those too young and too old to fight held things down in the villages, took care of the very young and very old.
Thanks for your super background on this topics, the locations were really well chosen and it was really cool to get a glimpse of the infamous Isle of Anglesea where the Romans did their destructive work. Another great video, thanks!!!
You yourself are majical, the excitement you bring when offering this information is just wonderful. This was just great to watch, and learn. You keep going, and take care.
Anyone else notice the rock face that overlooks the water at timestamp 4:56 has an outline of a face. (separate from the face carved into the stone that's pointed out to us. ) This one is the whole of the rockface. I've often have looked at such as a guardian spirit keeping watch over such a sacred place. THIS .... VIDEO ... IS AWESOME! Well done.
Sidenote ... I consider myself a Norse-Gaelic Druid of Turtle Island. All that means is I've felt myself a druid for many years and influenced by the Norse pantheon and beliefs with Gaelic a round the edges and a huge foundation built from teachings from wisdom of various elders of various tribes among the first peoples of the Americas. The Stonehenge modern ceremonies. .... That got me thinking that we all evolve from the wisdom we gain. It's a part of what I've always felt Odin pushes us towards ... gaining wisdom whenever and wherever we can and using it to better ourselves and our life's journey. Modern druids have simply evolved and are using or tapping into sacred sites of old. We can't help but to do that here in the Americas. Just over a year ago, I felt led to perform a personal ceremony at an old shell ring on Hilton Head Island in SC. Did so with respect and offerings lifted for those original peoples who used that spot as part of the ceremony. Have done similar to other natural world places here in the Blue Ridge of Virginia that you can just feel has been sacred for generations .... before the coming of the settlers. Likely sacred to the first peoples of this land. Balancing act to be sure, but still. ..... That bit in the video made me look at how we experience, learn, adapt, grow and continue moving forward. Jacob, your showing the modern things people are doing was / is so important in speaking towards the journey of these sites as well as how things have evolved and changed .... but how they are still here. The locations and the people seeking those connections. Again ... Nicely done. (Typing as I work my way through it and to the point of the upside down stump )
Druid here. Am supposed to be a "green witch". This video resonated so much in ways I cannot even begin to explain. Certain locations that you showed can really feel the connection, even through the screen. Obsessively watching and reading everything that I can regarding the subject these days. Thank you for the wonderful video!
Thank you so much for this. You've led me on such a rewarding journey through your videos on Celtic paganism and especially through your lessons and musing on the Druids. With your inspiration, I've found my path ahead. I am so so thankful. Safe travels.
Beautiful Video! It seems that the Druids also did this: (in Austria at least, Georg Rohrecker would be an Author to read). They kept simple hostels on the wayside and on mountain passes, where you could stay the night, ask the way and get healing if needed. I think, this is a great idea to do , because you only need to talk to everybody who comes into the country just a little .... and you know quite a lot more about who comes into the country, what they want, and what goes on in other places.
What an amazing location, and ashamed to admit, I didn't know about it. I'm glad you chose to film in an historical druidic spot, rather than bring us footage of stonehenge on summer solstice or something. Yeah, that's the way to connect to the Druids. Beautiful film. Thank you for travelling all over the place to bring us the magical places of Britain.
this was so cool. I have a distant irish lineage and this helped me connect and respect the reality of these people and culture. amazing video. lobe your work. grateful. sending bessings. 😇💛👍🌞
Thank you for this very informative ad beautiful video. I have a fascination with Celtic lore and this makes me want to visit the U. K. more than ever.
If youre still in scotland and want to visit a place with incredible energy, and history, i super recommend the Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides. Thank you for exploring my home and country!
Thank you for this film. Interesting and informative with beautiful scenery. Whenever I visit areas that are associated with Druids The atmosphere has a special energy .
Sadly, yes. We folk of these islands worshipped a multitude of gods now lost to legend: Thunor, Frig, Woden, Tiw and others. All eradicated by the zealous followers of the Christian one god. Only a few place names and a handful of archaeological finds show the Old Gods held sway for hundreds of years.
Hi Jacob, so lovely to find you here today through my search for more information. So much delight to find that the video suggested is yours. What a wonderful life. We met at Dunino the day you filmed there. Love the video xx
Thank you for going out there and doing this documentary! My ancestors are from Feremauh (spelled wrong) County. Seeing where some of my ancestors might have been is amazing! Well done!
Definitely one of the best examinations of the Druids that I've seen, friend! Well done! You always manage to present your material as objectively as possible, without an entrenched bias but always personal and passionate. A rare achievement, Jacob. Keep doing what you're doing, we're inspired by your work.
Thank you so much for these videos, I really appreciate all of the research and work you put into them. I am really enjoying the places you are showing as well, I really hope to get the chance to visit a few of these locations someday!
I was on the Unity Asset Store trying to find things to create my game... and this video popped up once the video on a totally different site ended. I haven't watched anything on your channel in a while!! Weird that this would pop up. Glad to be back in these parts!
love your videos fan of your channel, i am a pagan beginner so i am still trying to find a pantheon for myself, i left Christianity for a very different reason so i was so happy to stumble upon your channel so i can see which pantheon i want to convert to, thank you for existing and giving pagan beginners like me and i will continue to watch your videos, enjoy your day
Thank you, Jacob! At 3:33 you suggest that you are at a place (Dunino Den) that was "more than likely used by the ancient Druids." How do we know that this was "more than likely" the case? Like many others, I'd like more info on the Druids than the accidents of History have left for us, and some more info about Dunino Den especially since I just recently visited the place. If you know of any peer-reviewed materials - archaeological, cultural, religious, historical-critical - that analyze the Den, please share them. In any event, the Den is a very interesting and peaceful place to see...like so many other places where one finds ancient ruins in Scotland. Pax!
I appreciate your desire for accuracy, rather than fancy. You may want to read the Sonnini manuscript, although not expressly about the Druids it makes some interesting mention about some of them circa about 70 AD, if indeed this manuscript is to be trusted. Also the connection with the Danube (and the Don, and the Dnieper, and the Dardanelles, and the Danoi, and the Tuatha de Danann, and even the Brahmin) may also be of interest to you. Down the rabbit hole indeed. You know of course that mistletoe stays green all year round when the oaks it lives upon do not.
I appreciate that! Sadly that would take many years to get into! My degree is in Art, so I would need to go back to school at least 4 years. Better audience on RU-vid ;)
Great video as always, thank you! Regarding upturned stumps, have a look into 'Seahenge' in Norfolk here in the UK, a huge upturned tree stump surrounded by a wall of timber posts dating from the bronze age, Seahenge II found nearby, constructed at the same time..very interesting! Looking forward to your next video.
From "I Sold Everything to Explore Religions of the Ancient World" to this most recent Film and off course before with all your content but most of all your spirit i have had nothing but respect and a deep interest on you journey so much Joy Happiness and Blessing to you and all that you do and THANK YOU
Great video dude thanks for creating this. My family is from Abernethy Perth and Kinross in Scotland and every single thing you said resonates in spirit with me. Sending love
This was great. I identify as a philosophical Druid but don't really align with the bigger Druid organizations like OBOD. This was a great video, and spot on. Where is the Druid's Den? I definitely want to put that on my bucket list!!!
He who wins the war writes the history books. The Romans certainly would have written the Celts as the bad guys. Given their love for life, I sincerely doubt the Druids performed human and animal sacrifices. If animals appear to have been sacrificed, perhaps it was an animal butchered to be eaten, a ritual that would give thanks for the meal. It's what desert religions do today when they say grace before eating. Thanks for the video. I'm always looking for more information to add to what I know about my ancient ancestors.
I’m part Scottish. I have damn near everything on the planet in my dna so I don’t feel connected to my ancestors as much as some. But I’m American and that’s my heritage. This is very beautiful because I know women were held in high regard in their own way.
English Heathen here following from Edmonton Canada,good job on these Vids Brother ;0] Here's some places for you to explore:0] Chanctonbury Ring The Longman of Wilmington The White Horse of Uffington The Temple of Mithras near Hadrians Wall
Jacob, are you familiar with the ancient Coastal and Giant Redwoods of coastal Northern California? Despite the horrors of clear-cutting of these noble giants in the 1990’s, there are still many of these venerable trees that are well over 1,500 years old, even a few in the area of 2,500 years old. These most magnificent trees are often large enough in diameter that it can take a group of 20 or more to form a complete "tree hug." As you might expect, these dense ancient forests have a very special magic that has made this area popular to Pagans of all stripes, including a thriving sect of Druids, for many years.
