Variant spellings for the name Druid include 'Draoi’ (pronounced Dree). The term 'Ban Draoi' refers to the female Druids and Priestess of Ancient Ireland.My unique pathway encompasses my Gaelic lineage. A daughter within a long line of magical women, I have been raised with intuitive awareness and understanding of our connection to the subtle energy realms. The mystics of Ireland, have long held the knowledge of the sacred healing modalities and this pathway remains open to those that hear the call. The legacy of the Ban Draoi scales through time embodying the Druidic Priestess, the Seer, Wise Woman, and the Witch. This is a nature path, built upon a rhythm of magick, healing, and wisdom. A lineage passed down through the Gaelic bloodlines and preserved within the sacred trees and master plants of the land.
'Undoubtedly, the terms draoi and ban-draoi are umbrella terms.
- Frank MacEowen, M.A., The Mist-Filled Path
I have been blessed with the mentorship of renowned Medicine Woman Shonagh Home, author of Love and Spirit Medicine, Honeybee Wisdom: A Modern Melissa Speaks, plus many other publications. Shonagh has been instrumental in my initiation into the mysteries of the Medicine Woman Traditions. This incredible teacher embodies the practices of the Draoi and continues to guide and support my blossoming pathway within the traditions.
'On my path as a visionary medicine woman, I have come into connection with extraordinary women who walk to the beat of their own drum, indifferent to the pressures of societal conditioning......The path we walk is a very old one, and women have been drawn to it for millennia.'
-Shonagh Home, Medicine Woman, Rebirth of an Ancient Calling
A core mission of DRAOI is the exploration of Western European ways of crafting with plant allies, while harnessing the energies of the divine feminine. Here witchcraft is an essential element in understanding the deeper layers of Europe's shamanic lineages. The role of the feminine as an intermediary between the divine and the natural world is a central force that is honoured within many ancient ritualistic traditions. This is an art that is returning to the landscape as we seek out ways of healing our relationship with the earth. Witch, Volva, Seiðr, Draoi, Oracle, Wu, Wise Woman, the many faces of the divine feminine.
'To walk the mother road is to seek the magick, medicine and mysteries of the Mother Goddess. Although she comes in many different faces, she is a guide along our journey down her twisting pathway.'
- Cyndi Brannen, PhD., Entering Hekates Garden