Triads of the Druids of Albion
Triads are a series of sayings written in three consecutive lines. The phrases serve to depict people, events, and places from (particularly) Medieval Britain. The triads are both a source of pride for the British people and are a semi-reliable source of historical information on the British Isles. The three-line writing form is thought to have been a mnemonic device for Bards; the prevalent heraldic tradition required a better method for recall. Triads were used to inform and educate as well as to guide people in the best course of action. We have selected nine sayings (three times three) from ancient and modern triadic authors, to represent our Orders view of the world:
1)
Three strange things in the world-
-Loving war more than peace,
-Loving excess more than sufficiency,
-And loving falsehood more than truth
2)
New beliefs are like new seedlings because –
- They need care and cultivation to grow,
- They get stronger with age,
- And they eventually spread seeds of new knowledge.
3)
There are three things excellent among worldly affairs -
-Hating folly,
-Loving excellence,
-And endeavouring to constantly learn
4)
How one pays respect to the departed:
- With sorrow and respect,
- Admire their good deeds and achievements,
- Be happy and rejoice at having known them.
5)
Three things from which one should never be moved –
-One’s oaths,
-One’s gods,
-And the truth
6)
Where is the Power of Nature –
- In the cleansing forces of storms,
- In the sprout of a new seedling,
- And in the solar rays of the sun.
7)
Three people deserving of admiration -
-Those who love on the beauty of the Earth,
-On little children,
-On a great piece of art
8)
What are the true religions –
- The ones that provide good guidance in life,
- The ones which reveal the power of nature,
- And the ones which allow freedom of will.
9)
Three things, for which thanks are due, because that is as easy as a reward -
-An invitation,
-A gift,
-And a warning
We are indebted to Dave Corrin, the Druid 3 x 3, for his extensive research into Welsh and Irish Triads, and also for his creation of a number of modern triads. We have borrowed from both elements of his work. His treatise 'A Treasury of Druidic Triads' can be found on the Druid Network website.
We have selected as our fourth triad the paying of respect to the departed, and this is selected in honour of Chris Turner.
The earliest triads date from pre-Saxon invasion literature. (Arthur encyclopedia). It is supposed that the triadic form may reflect ancient Celtic beliefs of the mystique of the number 3. According to Celtic myth, the number connoted three goddesses; there were many different groups of three goddesses for varying situations represented differing deities.
Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams), the 18th century Welsh antiquarian, compiled a collection of triads, which he claimed to have taken from his own collection of manuscripts. Some of his triads are similar to those found in the medieval manuscripts, but some are unique to Morganwg, and are widely believed to have been of his own invention. Among his many contributions to Welsh culture, he also founded the Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain, "The Gorsedd of Bards of the Island of Britain".
Thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
1)
Three strange things in the world-
-Loving war more than peace,
-Loving excess more than sufficiency,
-And loving falsehood more than truth
2)
New beliefs are like new seedlings because –
- They need care and cultivation to grow,
- They get stronger with age,
- And they eventually spread seeds of new knowledge.
3)
There are three things excellent among worldly affairs -
-Hating folly,
-Loving excellence,
-And endeavouring to constantly learn
4)
How one pays respect to the departed:
- With sorrow and respect,
- Admire their good deeds and achievements,
- Be happy and rejoice at having known them.
5)
Three things from which one should never be moved –
-One’s oaths,
-One’s gods,
-And the truth
6)
Where is the Power of Nature –
- In the cleansing forces of storms,
- In the sprout of a new seedling,
- And in the solar rays of the sun.
7)
Three people deserving of admiration -
-Those who love on the beauty of the Earth,
-On little children,
-On a great piece of art
8)
What are the true religions –
- The ones that provide good guidance in life,
- The ones which reveal the power of nature,
- And the ones which allow freedom of will.
9)
Three things, for which thanks are due, because that is as easy as a reward -
-An invitation,
-A gift,
-And a warning
We are indebted to Dave Corrin, the Druid 3 x 3, for his extensive research into Welsh and Irish Triads, and also for his creation of a number of modern triads. We have borrowed from both elements of his work. His treatise 'A Treasury of Druidic Triads' can be found on the Druid Network website.
We have selected as our fourth triad the paying of respect to the departed, and this is selected in honour of Chris Turner.
The earliest triads date from pre-Saxon invasion literature. (Arthur encyclopedia). It is supposed that the triadic form may reflect ancient Celtic beliefs of the mystique of the number 3. According to Celtic myth, the number connoted three goddesses; there were many different groups of three goddesses for varying situations represented differing deities.
Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams), the 18th century Welsh antiquarian, compiled a collection of triads, which he claimed to have taken from his own collection of manuscripts. Some of his triads are similar to those found in the medieval manuscripts, but some are unique to Morganwg, and are widely believed to have been of his own invention. Among his many contributions to Welsh culture, he also founded the Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain, "The Gorsedd of Bards of the Island of Britain".
Thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page