DRAOI, DERWYDD, The Door.

The Path of The Wise, The Sacred Journey.

The Journey.

The path of the Wise.

Understanding the depth of ones own ignorance is the beginning of wisdom. Discovering that everything one ever needed already lay within, is the first truly difficult lesson. To discover that the only journey that will ever be important is the journey within ones own self is reality twisting in and of itself.

The inner journey, the discovery of self is the recognition of identity. Any other basis of identity is baseless and false. Simply put, we are as we were born to be. Free individuals that must choose their individual identity. The opinion or ideas of others are not who and what we are. Society, family, culture, or religion do not define us. Those things are merely the language we use to describe ourselves and our place in the universe. We are who and what we were born to be. This is defined in the choices we make. Predisposed is not predestination. Fate is a false concept. We alone are the architects of our destiny.

We all choose who we are in each moment of our existence. We create and define our reality with each choice we make. Yes, we are born with an intact identity. An identity that is the product, a construct, of all of our ancestors that came before us. We are the product of thousands of Loves. We are the result of all of the love of our ancestors. A living breathing manifestation of life birthed in love.

Within each and every one of us are the genetic markers, and the results of the life experiences of all that came before us. Within our culture are those memories created by mythology. The ancestors created the threads from which we weave the fabric or our existence. Collectively the ancestors are the Gods that forge existence. Life is the anvil, our choices are the hammer blows that shape our lives.

Life is the journey of existence. The purpose of our existence is the journey of experience.

The purpose of life is the experience of life. The purpose of the journey, is the journey. We choose the meaning. The meaning we impart is within ourselves. To look for meaning anywhere else is to suffer eternal disappointment and disillusionment. It would be as if one misunderstood the rules of grammar for the experience of poetry or to misunderstand an equation for the reality of the experience of a sunrise or the mystery of moonlight.

The wise, wise is defined as an initiate, the adept of the mysteries. What are the mysteries? The mysteries are the inner meanings. The symbols and words we use to describe reality. The Adept knows that these symbols hold power. That these inner realities once shared gain power in the physical world and transform the outer world. This is the meaning of the adage, As within, so without. As above, so below.

The power of transformation only comes from the sharing of the idea. Sharing the idea means, to express the revealed mystery in a manner that transcends all aspects of existence. The emotional, the intellectual and the physical. The spirit, the mind and the body.

Once a transformative idea is expressed, the spell is cast. The Magick is released to begin the work of transforming reality. This is the role of the Magi, The Druid. To express the inner truth, to reveal the mystery and release the transformative power of the idea. As the idea is shared and experienced the idea transforms reality.

How does one become an adept? What is the mechanism of initiation? The answer lies within the path of initiation is the inner journey. The development and revelation of the true self.

The inner journey is the experience of the Gods. Meeting the ancestors , the Gods face to face where they live. One must journey into the inner world, the collective unconscious world. The World where symbols live, Where our ancestor-Gods dwell. The land of Magick and eternal youth. The other world of myth.

The other world is a place as real and manifest as the physical world. The otherworld is a place of transformation, rebirth and inspiration. It is populated by denizens both great and powerful. A place of both hope and fear. A realm where every word, gesture, action and choice has power and meaning.

How can I describe the otherworld? This realm is the glue that holds our perception of reality together. It is the forge from which all reality and perceptions are made. It is the womb of life and the tomb. The otherworld is the realm of the Gods.

Life is a journey through the other world. Whether one believes in the other world or not the otherworld creates the path we all take. The Gods, our ancestors have created this place, this realm of perceptions, memories and choices.

We see this creation manifest around us each and every day of our existence. This manifestation is present in the stories we tell. The symbols that elicit emotional responses. The choice of words and phrases we use to describe our experience, or our emotions. The Gods manifest themselves in the stories we tell, the names of the days of the week, the holidays we celebrate. The manner we celebrate our heroes. The symbolisms created and forged by our ancestors manifest themselves in every aspect of our daily lives.

This the manner in which the Gods manifest themselves. Ancestral memories become traditions, these traditions become culture. Culture becomes civilization. Civilization becomes the social reality we exist within. All of this is the construct built upon the basis created by our ancestors. The Gods are our ancestors, the myths are memories. Memories build experience. Experience becomes reality. The adept initiate has learned this and experienced the transformative power of collective memory-experience. The adept has chosen to make the conscious journey of experience in order to become the living conscience of the ancestor Gods.

The adept has chosen to become a prophet. Blessed and cursed with the gift of the honey tongue of inspiration. Cursed to speak the truth, blessed with clear vision. This is both a curse and a blessing. A blessing in that the adept may see clearly the machinations of power and history. A curse in that it sets the adept apart from the masses, to be in essence, isolated and other to the very society and culture the adept serves.

TANSTAAFL: There aint no such thing as a free lunch. Everything has a cost. The adept learns the ways of power. Power has a cost. Nothing is free. Everything in existence has a cost, a price that must be paid. The currency is always the same. How much of ones self, how much time, energy, effort , how much blood sweat and tears is one willing to invest in the acquisition of knowledge, experience, power.

The materialist is doomed to failure. A materialist can never become either a hero or an adept. A materialist can only experience power or control in a strictly temporal, temporary sense. This exercise of power and control becomes self- consuming and destructive. Destroying itself in its very manifestation because it is not built upon the very fabric of human existence. A fabric which is entirely based upon the shared inner world. The edifice is built without an inner framework and thus collapses from its own weight.

The Path

There are in fact three paths we may go by. The journey is to ascend the mountain of existence. The masses perceive only two choices, the left hand path or the right hand path. The majority of people perceive only two choices. Yet there is a third option, the middle way which is hidden, discreet, perceived or conceived only by the very few.

The path of the wise is in fact the third or middle path. The masses fail to even perceive or consider a third option. To the left hand, is a broad path filled with many. A wide path, open with no constraints or obstacles. To the right is a path narrow and constraining. Few choose the right hand path.

The left hand path is open, easy, a gentle broad path with many companions yet no provisions. The right hand path is narrow, with few travelers yet many provisions. The masses only stop long enough to note the width of the gateways with no thought to the journey or the their needs along the way. The right hand path is narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass at a time. The journey of transformation is a journey that must be taken alone. The vast majority choose the easy open path. A few look to the narrow way and take the time to look ahead, perceiving the provisions provided.

Those that choose the broad left handed path soon find themselves forced along the way by the pressing masses behind them. The way becomes narrower as they ascend; there are no provisions, no springs of water to assuage thirst, no food, no shelters or comfort save the well-worn open path. In time the thirst and hunger becomes overwhelming and the closed masses with no other provision begin to consume each other in need of simple survival. The strong prey upon the weak until only the strong remain. They then prey upon each other in rabid hunger and need. None complete the journey. The masses prey upon each other until the sole survivor perishes in hunger, thirst and need. Consuming their very self. The left had path is the way of expediency, the path of convenience. I call the failure to perceive the truth of the expedient way, the conspiracy of convenience.

Those few with wisdom enough to enter the narrow way journey in solitude, as the way becomes steep and confining they become withdrawn within themselves. Looking only inward they become blind to the provision provided. Failing to see the resources available and in their blindness they find no provision save themselves. This is a willful blindness born of self-righteous arrogance. They begin to consume themselves for base survival. Very few have the strength to complete the journey.

Then, there is the path of heroes. The way of heroes and Prophets. The middle, hidden secret way. The path is hidden. Filled with brambles and thorns. The way is steep, narrow, fraught with obvious dangers. Each step must be considered. Attention to detail is the primal necessity for amongst the brambles and thorns are berries to sustain them. There are hidden seeping springs for their thirst. The way is hard, filled with struggle and pain. There are pools of rest, filled with mountain trout and sweet water, Fruited trees heavy with sustenance requiring only the courage to risk the thorns. Courage to brave the icy cold of the water for the trout. Desire to choose the labor to harvest the bounty.

All the while, those on the heroes path may see and hear those on the broad or narrow ways. The hero sees and hears the desperation and destruction of those on the broad way. The hero can see them turn on each other devouring, the wails of desperation need desire and despair.

While on the right path, the struggle and solitude is revealed. The hero sees and hears the cries for mercy, the desperation, then watches as they consume themselves in blind failure.

The middle way is filled with the cries and desperation of the masses. It is a path of loneliness, assailed with the cries of desperation at every side. The middle way purges the soul with revelation. The exposure of freely chosen desperation. Yet the hero climbs on alone. Cut and pierced, bleeding and weary the hero struggles upward towards the goal.

The middle way brings clear vision. The middle way bring wisdom. Knowledge of all paths. Wisdom brings the understanding of responsibility, knowledge of the price all must pay. Experience, perception, skill, are all fruits of the middle path.

Once the prize is achieved. Standing upon the crest, there is revealed another choice. Which path to take? There is only one direction left to journey. Down again. Once the crest is achieved one must choose to either remain, or to return, to continue the journey. There are three paths to choose.

The initiate may choose to remain, or to descend back to the base, the beginning. To remain is become the ascended adept, and nothing more. To pass on beyond memory and fade into forgotten solitude.

To return, one chooses a role to play in the world. There is a choice, to become more, either the savior heroe. Become the sacred king and protector. Or, to choose to become the Merlin, The prophet, Guide and guardian of the way. The keeper of the door of mystery. The voice of the Gods.

The hero returns by the middle way, quickly, having learned the path. The prophet returns by the narrow way, acting as guide to those on the journey. Upon the return into the outer world, each has very specific roles, powers to take up. Both the Prophet and the Hero are adepts of the journey. This is why the Celtic Kings of old served as sacred king, wed to the land, to the ancestors, tradition, and identity of the people. The role of the hero, the sacred king, is to provide the living example of the people, to point the way and lead the people. To serve as defender, judge, provider in need. To be the living ideal of all that it means to be noble. The hero, sacred king, is the living blood sacrifice offered up to the Gods and posterity.

The Prophet, the Druid also serves also as a living sacrifice. The Druid serves as the teacher. The Druid becomes the guardian of the mysteries. The doorway and guardian of the histories, laws, traditions and knowledge of the people. The Druid lives apart, separate from tribal entanglement. The prophet is law unto themselves answering only to the Gods. The Druid exists to preserve the memory, and insure the integration of the inner and outer world, keepers of the door.

The journey of ascent prepares the initiate to choose, The journey of return Prepares the initiate for the active role the initiate has chosen. From the crest, the initiate can see clearly the world, both inner as well as outer. The initiate perceives the result of choice, the cost of existence. Becoming aware of the consequence of choice. Of the dangers, and rewards in existence.

Along the way the initiate meets, interacts with the inhabitants of the other world. Not all of these denizens are the Gods. Some, are fellow travelers, they pass along the way, some are adepts returning. Some are the fallen, that have failed in their journey. Fallen does not mean anything like the Fallen angels of Judeo-Christian theology. The fallen are merely those that have given up the struggle. Some have chosen to remain, Some have surrendered to despair or fear. Some are the ancestors, those that have passed entirely from the physical life, the dead. These are the common ancestors, Fathers, Mothers, Siblings, Grandparents. Some are resting, Some are preparing for rebirth. Not all return from the other world to be reborn in flesh. In fact, very few are reborn in flesh. The other world is the realm of the dead.

The other residents of the other world, are, The Gods. Who, most importantly exactly what, are The Gods?

That is a complicated answer.

In the Western tradition the Gods are simultaneously, Literally, our ancestors, memories, stories, myths, music, poems, traditions, cultural identity. The Gods live in our very flesh and blood and bones, in our DNA, in our language, culture, customs, traditions, myths, music, the very basis of our identity.

Jung referred to the “ collective unconscious”.

That is the realm of the other world.

The realm of the Gods, the realm of memories where our ancestors dwell.

The Gods are not supernatural beings, they are not demons, fallen angels, evil or even good spirits.

Nevertheless the Gods are real.

Spiritually, as in the pure spirit realm, there is Celu. THE HIDDEN ONE THE SECRET, The Creator.

The Word, Identity and Voice of Creation.

The I Am because I Am.

We and everything, all of existence is the sound, the echo, of His Name, the echo, the sound waves of His Word.