Druidry and the Ancestors: Finding Our Place in Our Own History

The author breaks the book down into a look at how we perceive history, the way that viewpoint shapes our ideas about ancestors, and a discussion of the ancestors themselves. She is refreshingly open about her own biases and viewpoints and uses anecdotes to illustrate her points to good effect creating a personal touch to the text. The author is also not afraid to tackle the more difficult or emotional issues of ancestry - including adoption, abuse, and invention - in a direct manner. After an initial chapter which defines who the ancestors were and are the second chapter delves into "history as story". I found this section to be profoundly thought provoking as it challenges the reader to look at what we know about history, how we know it, and how our view of it shapes our understanding at the most basic level. The book raises several points that I had never before considered but which will require some profound reflection long after I've put this book behind me. Next is a chapter on 'spotting the melons" which encourages critical thinking in reading and offers a list of basic guidelines to sort bad sources from good. The author feels, as do I, that paganism is plagued by bad source material and faulty or outdated facts and tries to educate readers about the pitfalls to be found. Although I felt that some of the examples used were a bit vague, overall the chapter was a great edition to the book. Particularly in Druidism sorting fact from fiction from fantasy is an endless process and discernment is essential. Moving on there is a chapter on the importance of ancestors and then several on individual types of ancestors, including ancestors of place and of tradition. I enjoyed the way that a variety of non-blood ancestors were included and that the author continues to challenge readers with new perspectives and ideas. The reality of ancestors whose stories we know well stand side by side with those who we have invented as part of our own narrative, and we are encouraged to value fact as well as myth in building practice. In this book knowing our ancestors is about knowing ourselves, and indeed one of the final chapters, "ancestors of the future", encourages us to look at ourselves as tomorrow's ancestors. This book is not a workbook or how-to of ancestor work; in its pages you won't find how to set up ancestor altars or what offerings to make to who. What you will find is an invaluable guide to connecting to your own past, healing broken connections, and how today's Druids are and will be the ancestors of tomorrows spiritual seekers. More than worth reading, more than once

Will review again after I have read. I got while it was free .

I've just completed a review for Druidry and the Ancestors which you might like to read as much of it is pertinent to what we believe. There are obvious differences, such as their 'ancestors of place' are our 'guardians of place' and not necessarily ancestral. But this is splitting hairs ... if any of you would like a copy I've got a PDF file for the book that I can download for you.REVIEW: DRUIDRY AND THE ANCESTORSAlthough ‘Druidry and the Ancestors’ is ostensibly about the beliefs of the Druid Path it is also invaluable reading for everyone who considers themselves traditional witches. The Ancestors play an integral part within traditional British Old Craft belief and practice – and we can never move very far into the realms of witchdom before we come up against their influence on our progression along the Path. I particularly liked the observation made by Nimue Brown that the: “wholesale borrowing of other people’s beliefs and ways of living is not always honourable though, nor is it reliably helpful. Relationship with the ancestors is not a concept that can ever exist in isolation. It belongs to place and time, to ways of life, to art, story and life experience. The ancestors are not separate from life as we live it, but intrinsic to it. We need to see them as part of our community, not a few extra lines in a ritual. A modern, western pagan with no ancestral tradition of reverencing the ancestors cannot simple take someone else’s approach and assume it will work out of context”.For the readers’ benefit, modern Druidry identifies three groups of ancestors: the ancestors of blood, the ancestors of place, and the ancestors of tradition. We may identify with slightly differing viewpoints on this, or argue semantics, but the fundamentals are basically the same in that: “This is a book about making peace with the ancestors, understanding their legacies and their ongoing presence in our lives, and exploring how ancestry impacts on community, and ideas of race, nation and culture.” In other words, Nimue Brown eloquently explains that which cannot be described - only experienced. It is certainly a book I will be recommending to my own group. 5-StarMelusine Draco, Principal Coven of the Scales.

This is an inspired book, written by an author whose passion and honesty shines through the pages. Too often in Druidry, we look to and call upon the ancestors, those of blood, of tradition and of place, without really knowing exactly what it is that we are doing, or why we are doing it. This book gives us an in depth and insightful look at our ancestors, all our ancestors, including our future ancestors. This is a concept which I think for pagans is perhaps the most important - we too will one day be ancestors. By delving into the past we can guide ourselves towards the future with an awareness of who we are as spiritual beings.Not too academic, not too flowery - simple, honest and forthright writing with a heartfelt love for Druidry is what makes this book stand out. I highly recommend it on every Druid's bookshelf or Kindle.

Speaking as a practicing Druid myself, this book tackles a concept that is central to most modern Druidic practice, the role of ancestors within a Druid framework. The author uses a combination of personal experience along with seasoned reviewing of materials presently in the public domain. I particularly liked her revealed methodology when assessing presented materials from a variety of sources, showing that modern Druids are engaging with both technology and the information it can bring in creating their terms of reference. For anyone serious about engaging within or through a Druid path, this should be required reading and as such, it doesn't disappoint with either style or content with astute, relevent and critical thinking on show. Highly recommended!

This is a very thought-provoking book that includes working out who, or what, to consider as our ancestors, the dangers of believing history and tradition as fact (which was particularly interesting), and how to incorporate ancestral work into our spiritual life (though focused on druidry it could apply to other spiritual approaches). Nimue writes with great depth, openness and assertiveness. I would have liked a little more practical guidance on ways to work with ancestors. However overall, well worth reading.

I gifted this to my partner for his birthday, he is friends with Nimue and was thrilled to receive it

I love Nimue's writing. This is a thoughtfully written book in an easy to read but intelligent style. It covers aspects of Druidry not considered in many other books on the topic.