A Druid's Handbook to the Spiritual Power of Plants: Spagyrics in Magical and Sexual Rituals - Jon G. Hughes 2014

Initial Research
Alchemy: Its Relationship to the Druidic Tradition

The notion of using plants in some form or another as remedies and medicines has been with us for millennia. Almost every known ancient civilization had its own form of curative and preventive medicine based on the use of plant compounds and extracts.

Many of these medical traditions became extremely sophisticated, and a clear trail of development may be seen from some of these ancient traditions to today’s scientific approach to both mainstream and alternative or complementary medicines. We shall see as we progress that much of today’s wisdom has been derived from the knowledge, skills, and craftsmanship of these ancient herbalists and their use of the products given to them by nature.

The Druidic tradition, too, is rich in its knowledge and use of plants as remedies and medicines, but in this case it extends this knowledge to the use of plants in the preparation of potions, elixirs, and tinctures employed specifically in rituals and magic workings. Unlike many of the other ancient traditions, Druidic lore retains all of the old, arcane knowledge and focuses as much on the spiritual and mystical elements of the use of plants as it does on the chemical and medicinal aspects.

History suggests that in many traditions much of this spiritual aspect and the inseparable mystical practices associated with it have been abandoned in favor of the purely chemical or “scientific” benefits of selected medicinal plant species.

The fact that many of the drugs in current use are plant derivatives and that many more continue to be discovered as medical science progresses can only be applauded. But I find it a constant source of disappointment that Western medical science refuses to accept or even investigate the possibilities of the benefits the spiritual and mystical aspects of these ancient traditions may have to offer.

As we shall see, many other traditions have a far more open-minded viewpoint. Many of the Eastern practices in particular accept both the physical and spiritual benefits of the plant kingdom in a more holistic approach to curing and preventing illness. Only in relatively recent times has our Western society even begun to acknowledge that there are other ways to address our physical and mental ailments and needs, but even so, few of us are prepared to embrace what may be considered “unscientific” alternative practices.

Throughout its existence, one of the most durable and invaluable aspects of the Druidic tradition has been its ability to adapt to the needs of the people it serves. If we add to this its willingness to accept and assimilate new ideas without abandoning its essential traditions or its vast store of knowledge, we can begin to understand why this arcane tradition has survived unscathed for so many years.

It was with this in mind that I decided, before setting down what I consider to be the most important elements of the use of plants within the Druidic tradition, that I would explore as many other traditions as possible. My aim was to see which, if any, would validate the knowledge given me of the oral Druidic tradition. In doing this, I would also discover if I could expand or develop the tradition I knew and understood by incorporating complementary elements from other practices and customs. The result of this research has been extraordinary, and the journey has been as rewarding as the destination.

I began my research by looking at the various ways in which many of the world’s oldest cultures used the products of the plant kingdom within their societies. This initial research led me to many of the oldest civilizations known to us today. It involved accounts from most continents, from aboriginal Australia to the far north of Europe; from Africa to the Orient; from the oldest civilizations of the Americas to those of Greece, Egypt, and ancient Rome; and from the ancient traditions of the Jews.

My research took me from the dawn of history, through the rise and fall of some of the greatest civilizations known to humanity, right up to the present day. It ended in my workshop here in Ireland with months of detailed experimentation and a wealth of knowledge that has come together to form the core of this book.

As I explored these various traditions, one word more than any other kept jumping from the pages of the books and articles I read. This word eventually opened up a new understanding for me and placed my entire forty years’ experience of Druidic practice in a new light. It made me reconsider my original plans for this book and gave me a focus that I hope will be as illuminating to you as it has been for me.

And the word that made such an impact on my plans and inspired a whole new area of involvement for me? Alchemy!