The beauty
of nature, whether it’s an awesome sunset, the color of the fall leaves or the
striking beauty of lightning is breathtaking, mysterious and has a power all
its own.

To the
druid, the sentry of the world, nature was the driving force and was dependent
on the precarious balance of air, earth, fire and water. Their beliefs were
strong and drawn from the spiritual unity of the natural forces. Druids were
not masters but rather servants of nature.  In addition, they were the philosophers,
judges, mathematicians, and scientists of the day. Druids did not codify their
story but rather believed in the oral history. Nothing was written down. The
only accounts that do survive are from the early Greeks and Romans who had
first-hand knowledge. Druids were the caretakers of the lore and also great
healers who were respected and considered the keepers of the ‘Old Faith.

Followers of
the ‘Old Faith’ didn’t worship a deity although they did have the concept of a
Mother Goddess which symbolized the earth and the fertility of nature.

When the
Romans came to Britain the druids, and the deep respect people had for them,
was a threat that needed to be eliminated. It began with character
assassination and ended with eradication. To justify the slaughter, the Romans
went on a smear campaign. But that’s another story.

Why are
fantasy writers drawn to druids? I can’t speak for other authors but I can tell
you why I was drawn to druids in my story. Their deep beliefs, devotion to the
land and people, are the underpinnings of my hero’s personality.

I’ve
recently started a contemporary time travel story and find that there is a
druid hero lurking in my very modern Jayson. 
I suppose you can expect to see a bit of druid magic in all my heroes,
no matter what era my stories take place!

What kind of hero do you like?