Peacemaking in Druidry

Druids and the Druid philosophy have long been associated with the idea of Peace

Classical writers, such as Julius Caesar and Diodorus Siculus, spoke of the way in ancient times Druids were exempt from military service, and did not bear arms, and how they often pacified warring tribes, passing between the massed ranks of opposing forces urging peace:

For they [the Druids] generally settle all their disputes, both public and private… The Druids usually abstain from war, nor do they pay taxes together with the others; they have exemption from warfare.
Julius Caesar

Often when the combatants are ranged face to face, and swords are drawn and spears are bristling, these men come between the armies and stay the battle, just as wild beasts are sometimes held spellbound. Thus even among the most savage barbarians anger yields to wisdom, and Mars is shamed before the Muses.
Diodorus Siculus

Every Druid ceremony begins with a call to Peace towards each of the Four Directions. The Druid performing this function faces North, South, West then East calling out “May there be Peace in The N/S/W/E” As she does this s/he feels peace emanating from the Druid circle out into each direction of the world. Finally all participants say “May there be Peace throughout the whole world.”

Druids work in Sacred Groves, whether these are physical ones, or whether these have been created in the Inner World by a Druid or group of Druids. These groves are seen as places of peace and tranquility that radiate these qualities out to the world. In the Order’s Sacred Grove Planting Programme, the planting of Peace Groves is encouraged, and members have planted a grove of olive trees in Israel and a grove in Northern Ireland.

Druids often sign their letters or messages ‘Yours in the Peace of the Grove’.

Druids often say this Peace Prayer in their ceremonies:

Deep within the still centre of my being
May I find peace.
Silently within the quiet of the Grove
May I share peace.
Gently (or powerfully) within the greater circle of humankind
May I radiate peace.

The Order holds monthly Peace Meditations on the day of the Full Moon. To participate, use the Peace Prayer: after saying the first sentence, attune to the peaceful centre of your Being. Take plenty of time to do this, and make this a time for meditation and feeding your soul. Then, after the second sentence, feel the peace you have contacted radiating out to your immediate environment. Allow peace to flow effortlessly through you. With the third sentence, sense this flow of peace extending to the whole world, finishing with the Call to Peace, given above, to the Four Directions.  You can do this more than once a month if you wish – it can even become a daily practice.