Within our Druid world view we see each plant, animal, person and spirit as part of the world order. Each bring something unique and balancing to that order. Nothing has more value. We do not see man as the pinnacle of creation but as a part of a great interwoven web of wonderful life.
This is almost the exact opposite of societies “modern” world view. In that paradigm we can use any of the natural world we choose as they are resources to be exploited. It is this we as MODERN Druids have to oppose with all our hearts.
I have to say modern Druids as we know that our ancestors were not this noble savage of Victorian fantasy. Our Celtic ancestors had basically deforested most of the UK and had wiped out nearly all the bears and wolves. Yet we still seem to like to paint them as these great tree huggers and walkers with beasts. First and foremost they were humans and trying to make sense of their place within this web of life. I am of the firm belief that they did come to see the error of their ways and did develop a more harmonious way of living.
This is also true of our Mayan Brothers. You often see on the History Channel – The Great Mystery- What Happened to the Maya. Well I can tell you – mystery solved – nothing happened they saw the error of their ways and moved from an unsustainable way of living to a very sustainable village life. I have Mayan neighbours, they are still here.
If we accept our place as part of this web of life, then we have to accept our responsibility for our part in maintaining the balance. We druids do not have moral laws - The “Thou Shalt Not's” - What we do have are a series of virtues which help guide our actions and decisions. These Virtues are understood to affect us as individuals and to also at the same time affect the cosmos as a whole. It is therefore vital that we keep these virtues in mind.
For example the Virtue of Hospitality tells us we need to be a good host and a good guest. Is our wholesale destruction of the earth the work of a good guest. Or on a more personal level when we take more than we can eat at a buffet are we living up to being a good guest. The answer would be no.
We have recently seen the massive destruction in Japan due to an Earthquake and Tsunami. We saw the devastating effects of Katrina on New Orleans. Even here in my home State of Tabasco we are now seeing yearly flooding on an before unknown scale. We look at all these massive events and wonder why?????
We often miss the small changes that are happening around the world – like the bee population is under serious threat...This will have a huge ecological impact if it is not halted...... The ongoing deforestation of the rain forests to grow cattle for Hamburgers....The daily sex conversion of whole tanks of fish because a farmer needs male fish...... Huge quantities of Hormones and pesticides in our waters......The list goes on and on and on....
If we are relevant and not just a group of quaint folk playing at dress up. Then live up to our virtues. Start using them. We don't have the handy distinction of “oh this is sacred and this is profane”. WE DON'T NEED IT.... ALL IS SACRED. Every mountain, river field, plant, fish, man and woman.
Make your choices keep spitting in the face of the sacred or become good guests. Sit back and let it happen or take responsibility. Look at the Mayan..... they gave up the unsustainable ,suffered the hardships which that brought but they are still here..... will we be able to say the same thing in a thousand years if we don't make that change.