Data:
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Author: Philip Carr-Gomm
Title: The Elements of the Druid Tradition
Publisher: Element Books Ltd,
           Longmead, Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK.
Illustrations: Cover illustration by Courtney Davis.
               Some unattributed diagrams and drawings of various styles.
Copyright: 1991
ISBN: 1-85230-202-X
Price: 4.99 GBP or 8.95 USD for paperback.

Short characterization:
=======================
A presentation of the UK based Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids'
teachings and origins.

Contents:
=========
Who Were the Druids?
The Recent Past -- Druidry Reborn
Who are the Druids now?
Bards, Ovates and Druids
The Eightfold Year -- the Druid Ceremonies and their Meanings
Spirits of the Circle
Circles and Stones -- Trackways and Stars
Druid Treelore

The author:
===========
"Philip Carr-Gomm is Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids,
 having studied with his teacher, the Chief Druid Philip Ross Nichols,
 from the age of fifteen. He has trained in Psychosynthesis,
 psychotherapy for adults and play therapy and Montessori education
 for children." Text on the inside of the front cover.

The illustrations:
==================
There are some illustrations in the text. Some are diagrams that
illustrate abstract ideas conveyed in the text. Others are drawings of
people or landscape features. For most of the illustrations no credit
is given.

The chapters:
=============
In the foreword Carr-Gomm talks about the origin of the word 'druid'
and what it means today.

The introduction centers around different view of historical and
archaeological druidism, and what druidism has to contribute today.

In the first chapter Carr-Gomm examines the roots of druidism both
from an esoteric and exoteric point of view. At the end of this
chapter is the first exercise. Exercises, in the form of pathworkings,
end each subsequent chapter. Some of them are very simple, others very
complicated.

The second chapter talks about the eighteenth century revival of
druidism and how it has affected today's druidism.

In the third chapter Carr-Gomm paints a sympathetic portrait of his
teacher, Philip Ross Nichols. He goes on to give brief
characterizations of druidic organizations in the UK and the USA.

In the fourth chapter he delineates the tasks for bards, ovates and
druids respectively. 

The fifth chapter is devoted to eight solar festivals.

The sixth chapter is about: 
"The Richness of Place
 The Richness of Time
 The Richness of the Tribe
 The Richness of the Ancestors
 The Joy of the Journey"

In chapter seven Carr-Gomm briefly addresses standing stones and other
features of the landscape.

The eighth chapter is about trees, and includes a table of the Ogham
and lore about a few trees.

At the end of the book there are notes that give valuable
bibliographical data. There's also a list of recommended resources and
a select bibliography. The book is concluded by an index.

Personal view:
==============
I found this book to be well written. One problem with it is that the
subject is vast, so many issues get covered very superficially. A
definite plus point is that Carr-Gomm seems to be very open-minded
about other people's spiritual practices. If you're allergic to
references of Atlantis, this isn't a book for you.

Conclusion
==========
A book I can recommend to anyone who is interested in druidism and
doesn't already know a lot about it. It's not aimed at people who
are already familiar with the basics of druidism.

--Ceci (94-08-22)