Exploring my Celtic roots, the ancient wisdom of the land, my connection with druidry and how these traditions have shaped both my spiritual journey and Good Vibes Holistic Therapies.
There are some things in life that we don’t need to discover because, in many ways, they have always been a part of us. Sometimes, as we grow older and explore our spirituality, we begin to understand experiences from our childhood in a completely different light. Things that once felt like simple moments of imagination, wonder or connection begin to take on a deeper meaning.
When I look back over my life, I can see that my connection with Celtic shamanism, nature and the spiritual world was there from the very beginning. Long before I had the words to describe it, long before I began studying spiritual teachings, and long before Good Vibes Holistic Therapies came into being, this connection was already a part of who I was.
It began in childhood, in the natural world around me, in the memories I treasure of my Dad, and in the magical feeling of playing with the Faeries at the bottom of my garden. It has continued to weave its way through my life, my spiritual studies, my connection with druidry and the healing work I have shared with others for more than 20 years.
For me, Celtic shamanism isn’t something new. It is a thread that has always run through my life, becoming stronger and more recognisable as I have grown.
My Childhood Connection with Nature and the Faery Realms
Some of my most treasured childhood memories are of spending time in nature. I remember playing with the Faeries at the bottom of my garden, feeling that there was something magical about the natural world around me. As a child, I didn’t need to understand or explain these experiences. They were simply part of my world. Perhaps being an only child had much to do with it.
I also have very special memories of my Dad taking me out on nature rambles when I was little. He would teach me about the different trees, plants and creatures we encountered on our walks. I remember learning about the natural world through those moments spent together, discovering the beauty and wonder of the countryside.
There was something so special about those walks. They gave me an appreciation of nature that has stayed with me throughout my life, and I will always treasure the time I spent with my Dad exploring the world around us. Looking back, I can see how these experiences helped shape my spiritual connection.
The trees, plants, animals and landscapes were not simply things to observe. They became part of the way I experienced the world. The feeling of wonder I had as a child has never really left me. I still feel that connection when I walk through woodland, when I notice the changing seasons, or when I find myself drawn into the beauty of a natural landscape. And that childhood sense of magic, of there being more to the world than what we can physically see, has remained an important part of my spiritual life.
Celtic Shamanism: The Wisdom I Have Carried With Me
As I grew older, my interest in spirituality continued to develop. I began studying books on Celtic shamanism, exploring the teachings, symbolism and spiritual practices that resonated with me. I spent time in meditation and undertook spiritual exercises to deepen my understanding and develop my abilities. This wasn’t about trying to become someone different. It was about developing something that already felt familiar to me.
Through my studies and spiritual practice, I explored the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds, the role of nature within spiritual traditions, and the ways we can journey within ourselves to connect with deeper wisdom. I explored shamanic meditation and journeying, the symbolism of the natural world and the relationship between ourselves, our ancestors and the unseen realms. These experiences helped me understand my own spiritual connection more deeply.
Celtic shamanism has always felt particularly meaningful to me because it brings together so many things that have been part of my life from the beginning: my love of nature, my connection with the Faery realms, my spiritual experiences and my interest in the ancient wisdom of the Celtic lands. It has never felt like a separate part of my life. It has been woven into the person I am, the way I see the world and the way I approach my spiritual work.
What is meant by the term Celtic?
The best explanation I have found so far is by the author and Celtic shamanic practitioner, John Matthews in his book the Celtic Shaman – Earth Quest 1991.
“Celtic is here taken to refer to the traditions and ways of people native to the British Isles. In fact, the Celts are no more ‘British’ than the Saxons or Normans who came after them. They were themselves incomers from the Indo-European world, and incorporated their own practices with those of the indigenous people, thereby honouring the sacredness of the land they had come to dwell in. The Greek historian Herodotus mentions incidentally the Keltoi as living in and around the Danube about 550BC. The reference apparently needed no qualification or explanation, from which we may surmise that the Celts were well established by this time, and had already had some interchange with the Greeks. Certainly they had reached Britain and Ireland by this date and had subjugated the previous inhabitants, a shadowy folk sometimes identified as the Picts in the north of Britain, and as the Fomorians in Ireland. These peoples left little indication of either their culture or beliefs, though these may well have influenced the incoming tribes, and thus helped create our powerful Celtic traditions. The term ‘Celtic’ has thus come to stand for a path that is recognizably of the lands of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.”
So, whenever I write about the term Celtic spirituality, shamanism or magic, I’m speaking about those things with a direct connection to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
My Celtic Ancestry and the Call of My Ancestors
My connection with Celtic shamanism is also deeply rooted in my ancestry. My ancestral connections reach right across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and I feel a deep sense of connection with the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of these lands.
I am also drawn to my Norse Viking connection, which brings another fascinating dimension to my spiritual journey. The histories, mythology and traditions of these lands hold such a wealth of wisdom, symbolism and spiritual inspiration. I find myself drawn to the ancient landscapes, the standing stones, the sacred wells, the stories of the gods and goddesses, and the relationship our ancestors had with the natural world.
For me, exploring ancestry is about more than tracing family history. It is about recognising the ways our ancestors lived, the landscapes they knew and the traditions that have influenced the world we live in today. I feel a particular connection with honouring those who came before us. Our ancestors lived through their own challenges, changes and transformations. They experienced the cycles of nature, the changing seasons, birth, death and renewal. Their lives were connected to the land in ways that many of us have become more distant from today. I find something deeply grounding in remembering that connection.
My Celtic and Norse interests are not about trying to recreate the past. They are about finding meaning within these traditions and allowing their wisdom, symbolism and inspiration to become part of my own spiritual practice. It is a way of honouring my roots whilst continuing to grow into the person I am today.
Discovering Druidry in 2009
Although my connection with nature and Celtic shamanism had been developing since childhood, 2009 was an important milestone in my spiritual journey. This was the year I discovered and began studying druidry through the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD).
Druidry is a natural continuation of everything I had already experienced and explored. It brought together my love of nature, my Celtic ancestry, my interest in ancient wisdom and my spiritual connection with the land. Through my studies, I continue to develop a deeper appreciation of the changing seasons, the cycles of the Wheel of the Year, the importance of living in harmony with nature and the spiritual wisdom that can be found through observation, reflection and connection.
Druidry also encourages me to look at the way I live my life. For me, it isn’t simply about reading books, learning about ancient traditions or celebrating seasonal festivals. It is about bringing those teachings into everyday life. It is about how I treat others, how I care for the natural world, how I approach my healing work and how I continue to develop my own spiritual understanding. I believe that spirituality becomes most meaningful when we live it. That is what druidry has become for me: not simply something I study, but something I carry within me. It has become part of the way I walk my talk.
Celtic Shamanism and Druidry: Two Paths That Weave Together
Celtic shamanism and druidry are deeply connected through their reverence for nature, the wisdom of the ancestors and the understanding that the physical and spiritual worlds are intertwined. Although they are distinct spiritual paths, they share a profound appreciation for the sacredness of life and our place within the greater web of existence. Both invite us to look beyond the everyday, to listen to the wisdom of the natural world and to recognise the spiritual connection that exists between all things.
Druidry is a nature-centred spiritual path rooted in the relationship between humanity, the land and the cycles of life. It embraces the changing seasons, the elements, the wisdom of trees and plants, and the turning of the Wheel of the Year. Celtic shamanism explores the spiritual dimensions of this connection through journeying, meditation, ancestral communion and working with spiritual guides and the unseen realms. For me, these paths are not separate, but beautifully intertwined. Druidry grounds me in the wisdom of the land, whilst Celtic shamanism allows me to journey more deeply into the spiritual mysteries that have always been part of my life.
Together, they create a spiritual tapestry woven from the ancient Celtic celebrations, the Wheel of the Year, the Faery realms, ancestral wisdom and my connection with the natural world. My Norse Viking connection adds another thread, bringing its own mythology, symbolism and spiritual inspiration. I see these traditions not as separate paths to be divided, but as different expressions of the spiritual connection I have always carried within me. Each has helped shape my understanding, deepen my practice and strengthen the way I walk my talk.
Walking My Talk
One of the things that has become increasingly important to me over the years is the understanding that spirituality is not simply about what we believe. It is about how we live. We can read countless books, undertake spiritual studies, meditate and learn about ancient traditions. But ultimately, it is how we bring those teachings into our lives that matters.
For me, walking my talk means living in a way that reflects the values I hold dear. It means respecting nature, recognising the importance of our connection with the world around us, and continuing to learn and grow. It means acknowledging that I am still on my own journey, with plenty left to explore and understand. It also means recognising that healing and spiritual development are deeply personal experiences.
I don’t believe that there is one right way to connect with the spiritual world. Each of us has our own experiences, our own beliefs and our own relationship with the unseen. My role is to share the spiritual work that has become meaningful to me, whilst allowing others the freedom to explore their own paths.
Celtic shamanism, for me, is about recognising the magic that can be found in the world around us, whilst remaining grounded in the life we live today. It is about honouring the land, the ancestors, the natural world and the spiritual experiences that have shaped my life. And it is about continuing to walk a path that feels true to my heart.
I don’t feel that I have arrived at the end of this journey. I am still learning, still exploring and still discovering new ways to understand the spiritual world. But I know that this connection has always been there. From the little girl playing with the Faeries at the bottom of her garden, to the woman I am today, working with spiritual energies and sharing my healing work through Good Vibes Holistic Therapies, the thread has never been broken. It has simply continued to grow.
And as I move forward, I feel grateful to be able to honour these roots, share this connection and allow the ancient wisdom that has always been part of me to continue shaping the work I do. Sometimes, the most meaningful spiritual journeys are not about finding something new. They are about remembering what has always been within us.
With love and blessings from Raine at Good Vibes Holistic Therapies.