The document discusses the mythology and symbolism around mistletoe in relation to the Druids. It notes that while mistletoe was identified by Pliny the Elder as a plant important to the Druids, its actual medicinal uses are unclear. The document aims to construct a contemporary understanding of mistletoe's medicinal potential based on its mythical associations with the Druids and evidence-based research.

1. Mistletoe and Myth in the
Druidic Canon

2. “A thousand Dreams within
me softly burn:
From time to time my heart
is like some oak
Whose blood runs golden where a
branch is torn...”
From “Evening Prayer,” Arthur Rimbaud: Complete Works.
Translated from the French by Paul Schmidt. Harper
Colophon, 1976.

3. The Druids are central to the cultivation of esoteric mythology. Because little
empirical evidence documents the holistic lifestyle and culture of the Druids,
traces of history are pieced together through archaeological records, excavations,
and written histories from the Roman era accounts and poetic verse. Early
scholarly attempts to quantify ritual and pagan religious practice are often
theatrical observations of the Druids, accounting for much of the identity and
relationships to the natural, biological world. Even as Pliny the Elder, in
Naturalis Historia, (77-79 A.D.) conveniently observed and identified “mistletoe”
as a singular plant championed by the Druids, the medicinal properties and
subsidy to the culture is largely speculated. Known in Gaelic as uil’-ice, Mistletoe
(lat: Viscum album) has transgressed from ancient culture as a mythical and
magical all-heal plant to a formidable icon in post-pagan Christian society. Yet,
the medicinal value is undermined and certainly suspect of use to early Celtic
society. Identified in genus as a parasitic shrub, the species is favored to grow
virally on many deciduous trees, including the Oak. The true power of mistletoe
does reside with the dual symbiotic essence of the plant, and especially
symbolizes the histrionic story the Druids exemplified. Looking at both an
anecdotal world and evidence-based literature, this talk attempts to construct a
contemporary space for medicinal uses and practices with mistletoe built on the
mythical and misunderstood canon of the Druids.

4. “The true power of mistletoe does reside with
the dual symbiotic essence of the plant, and
especially symbolizes the histrionic story the
Druids exemplified. Looking at both an
anecdotal world and evidence-based literature,
this talk attempts to construct a
contemporary space for medicinal uses and
practices with mistletoe built on the mythical
and misunderstood canon of the Druids.”

7. 4000 BC
Approximate date of first documented Proto- Indo European culture, which is
believed Druidic, near the Black Sea.
900 – 500 BC
Hallstat Period. (Rise of the Celts)
500 – 450 BC
Druids, the intellectual class of the Celts (their own word for themselves, meaning
"the hidden people"), begin a thousand year floruit. The foundation of Druidic
wisdom colleges in Gaul (France) and the British Isles.
[Irish: Druí; Welsh: Derwydd]
70 BC
Druids arrive in Britain and gain control of the ruling classes.
15 BC
End of La Tene period. Begin of Roman control in Celtic nations.
14 - 37 CE
Druids are wiped out in Gaul by Tiberius.

8. 54 CE
Claudius prohibited the existence of Druids.
59 CE
Suetonius Paulinus begins to clear Britain from the Druids.
61 CE
Roman forces, led by Suetonius Paulinus, attack and massacre a Celtic settlement on
Mona (Anglesey), destroying sacred sites and artifacts. Druids participate in the
battle.
432 CE
St. Patrick arrives in Ireland and spreads Christianity. Foundation of the Celtic
Church. Several Druids may have converted to Christianity by now.
…..
1710 CE
First known attempts to unify various Druid societies/groups in England. Druids
slowly re-emerge from underground.

29. Alkhouse-Green. “Caesar’s Druids: Story of an Ancient Priesthood,” 2010.
Berresford Ellis, Peter. “The Druids,” 1994.
Bitel, Lisa M. “Isle of the Saints: Monastic Settlement and Christian Community in Early Ireland,” 1990.
Davies, Edward. “Celtic Researches on the Origin, Traditions & Language of Ancient Britons,…” 1804 (2012).
Freeman, Philip. “The Philosopher and the Druids: A Journey Among the Ancient Celts, “ 2006.
Hutton, Ronald. “Blood & Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain,” 2011.
Kendrick, T.D. “The Druids,” 1996.
Markale, Jean. “The Celts: Uncovering the Mythic and Historic Origins of Western Culture,” 1976.
Maxwell, Sir Herbert. “Trees: A Woodland Notebook: Containing Observations on Certain British and Exotic Trees,” 2014.
Matthews, John. “Secrets of the Druids,” 2002.
Piggott, Stuart. “The Druids,” 1975.
Reade, W. Winwood. “Mysteries of the Druids,” 1861.
Rees, Alwyn and Brinley. “Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales,” 1978.
Spence, Lewis. “The History and Origins of Druidism,” 1971.
Spence, Lewis. “Magic Arts in Celtic Britain,” 1970.
Watkins, Charles. “Trees, Woods and Forests: A Social and Cultural History,” 2014.
Wright, Dudley. “Druidism: The Ancient Faith of Britain,” 1974.

30. Online Sources
http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/treelore.htm#oghambooklore
http://www.druidcircle.org/library/index.php?title=Druidic_Timeline
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
Hajto ́, Tibor, et al. “Difficulties and Perspectives of Immunomodulatory Therapy with
Mistletoe Lectins and Standardized Mistletoe Extracts in Evidence-Based Medicine,”
2009. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep191