I wrote this some time ago in response to a message from a friend. I come a cross it recently and thought I edit and post it here.
BOXES & MORE BOXES
Druids & New Agers; The difference between the two.
To be told that because I identify myself as a Druid that I am placing myself in little boxes and placing the mysteries under a microscope kinda ticks me off. Um yah! The microscope I'm looking through was created by the gods and all I have to say is Wow! Theres a whole other awe inspiring world under that microscope. The more powerful the microscope the greater the mysteries become for me.
Heres my thing. New Agers tend to be spiritual anarchist or better yet unruly spiritual vagabonds. They have no roots and because of that hold no loyalty to a community. They tend to come into your home (boxes) uninvited (or sometime invited), help themselves to your fridge, use up all your clean towels in the bathroom, plop themselves in front of your tv or computer in your best house robe chowing down on your food spilling crumbs everywhere. When you come in to confront them about it and how if they want to stay they have to follow some basic house rules like cleaning up after themselves they get all offended talking about how you are oppressing them with your rules and pack their stuff and leave your house in a shambled mumbling about they won't give up their freedom.
I'm not only aware that there is a spiritual world outside of the box I'm in, I even travel through it quite often. As a Druid I'm expected to. In fact its that world outside of the box that is a Druid's true home. So why do we chose to place ourselves in the box if our home is outside of it? Because as Druids we are not only the seekers of knowledge outside of the box but are also the sharers of that knowledge to those who still live within the limits of that box. For one reason or another some need the comfort and security of their boxes and contrary to what the New Agers believe, ripping down the walls of their boxes or ripping the labels from out from under their feet is not going to suddenly enlighten them. In fact its probably going to cause more spiritual damage than anything. By taking on the label of Druid I am unselfishly stepping back into the box to help those who can not see beyond its walls which they have created.
I love this song by Rush. We obviously are the Oaks & New Agers are the Maples.
THE TREE
There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.
The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.
