The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids
 |
"We
are the curators of life on earth, standing at a crossroads in time." Helen Caldicott |
THE FATE OF THE WORLD
http://www.peaceoneday.org
The UN International Day of Peace 21 September.
The time of Alban Elfed, the autumn equinox, in the Northern hemisphere
and Alban Eilir, the spring equinox, in the southen hemisphere, as a
time for peace and reflection.
May Peace Prevail on
Earth.
Dear Friends,
The terrorist attack in New York on September 11th, the war in Afghanistan, and the conflict in the Middle East, challenge us all.
We need spiritual and emotional support to help us to find courage and calm, to help us overcome fear and anxiety about the future, and help us trust in life again. And we also need ideas and guidance in how we can rise to the challenge that confronts the world, to act - each in our own way, however small - as a force for good in the world.
Recent events have also provoked many of us into confronting problems which are, in essence, ethical and philosophical questions:
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How can human beings act so appallingly and inhumanly towards each other?
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What is the connection between violence and religious beliefs?
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What is the nature of evil and how do we counteract it?
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Are calls for peace appropriate in the light of such attacks?
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Is pacifism dangerous and foolish or in fact our only chance?
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What are the root causes of the problems the world now faces?
The challenge is for us now to face and consider such questions Æ which have always existed - but which now have become so prominent for so many of us. Below are listed some points to keep in mind while you are exploring these issues:
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Druids are philosophers Æ interested in the complexities and apparent contradictions of life.
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Druids are spiritual counsellors who offer support and guidance in times of suffering and difficulty.
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There is no ‘official view’ of Druidry or of the Order. The Order is made up of many individuals around the world with different views and opinions.
- In this special section we offer a selection of pages that provoke thought, and challenge us to think hard and deeply about life and about the situation we all find ourselves in.
May the wings of the Goddess protect and bless us,
May Peace prevail on Earth,
Philip Carr-Gomm /|\
Solstice Message of Peace from the Whiteoak Druids (Ord na Darach Gile);
In the name of the Ancestors, the Nature Spirits and the Gods and Goddesses;
By the inspiration of Fire, the Blessings of Water and the Mediating Power of the Sacred Tree;
We believe that peace is part of the living tapestry of life. We believe that each individual must find acceptance of their own being and that from such acceptance comes inner peace. At that point of spiritual maturity the individual is ready to offer their service to the world and add their peace to it.
We believe that helping others to accept themselves and grow to that point of maturity brings about peace in the world.
We understand that a peaceful society is one where the weakest are cared for and respected; the sick, the elderly, women, children, and those of minority beliefs and religions.
Our wish is that humanity will come to realize the interconnectedness of all living things. Our wish is that humanity will come to understand that peace is directly related to collective well being and that a commitment to peace requires a commitment to challenging injustice and exploitation of the people, the Earth, and Her creatures. We wish for strength, courage and inspiration for those who already understand this intimate relationship, may they serve as guides for others.
We hope that all people will strive to know their true nature. Knowing themselves may they find peace within, and making peace within may they spread it without, to others and to all the worlds.
A prophecy of peace proclaimed possibly 4,000
years ago, by the Morrigan after the Battle of Moytura* in Eire. It is
a universal vision of peace that all peoples in all times can relate to;
(*Battle of Mag Tuired between the Fomoire and the Tuatha de Danan)
The Morrigan's Prophecy
Peace to Heaven:
Heaven over Earth
Earth beneath heaven
Blessed be all.
To the brim full:
Fullness of honey
Honey-sweet blessings
Summer in Winter.
Spears backed by shields:
Shields backed by forts
Forts ever ready.
Sod-thick wool,
Woods teem with antlers,
Finally, forever, destruction departed.
Nuts on the trees,
Tree branches drooping,
A drooping rich yield.
Wealth for a son
Yes, a son! (very learned!)
A bull in yoke,
Like a bull famed in song.
Knots in the wood
Wood for a fire
A fire when you want it.
Bright new palisades!
Their victory? Salmon!
The Boyne their dwelling
A dwelling unending.
New growth after spring!
Autumn? Horses increase.
The land held secure:
A land poets honor.
Blessed be the eternal
Most excellent forests;
Peace reach to Heaven, be nine
times eternal.
Peace reach to Heaven, be nine times eternal.
Peace reach to Heaven, be nine times eternal.