“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.”
Virginia Woolf
Cover art is ‘The Harp of Erin’ by Thomas Buchanan Read
Many people still question (especially in social media spaces) if women were druids despite evidence that points to the contrary. I offer here a few quotes regarding women being druids from the classical period all the way through Medieval times. While these are mostly specific to the titles druid, druidess, priestess, prophetess or banfili it must be mentioned and known that countless more quotes were made in regards to magical women in general… witches, healers as well as philosophers and teachers. etc. Women were frequently employed in a mystical role, no matter the title.
As an example… before the Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh, it is stated, two female witches promised to enchant the Fomorii army and cast a spell so that “We will enchant the trees and the stones and the sods of the earth so that they will be a host under arms against them; and they will scatter in flight terrified and trembling.” (Source) While these were likely two banfili, I’m taking it as face value because druids were mentioned in other parts of the text so it’s interesting they made the distinction.
The various Celtic language groups were still patriarchal and I’m by no means trying to say that they weren’t but the fact is, women were druids and that still has immense meaning for women today. Meanwhile, women still aren’t allowed into most of the hierarchal frameworks of all major religions. Men are ultimately still born of and intrinsically linked to women, but often unfortunately through cultural norms unaware to women’s broader spiritual input and gifts. I say this amidst recent news that women’s mere voices, let alone spiritual advisement is being forbidden from public spaces in certain restrictive cultural spaces.
On a personal level… I prefer input from both sexes. Some of my greatest teachers, for better or worse, have been men and there’s growth in learning about our individual perspectives and reflections that are often shaped by the unique ways we experience the world.
Classical Quotes
Plutarch…(source) “There arose a very grievous and irreconcilable contention among the Celts, before they passed over the Alps to inhabit that tract of Italy which now they inhabit, which proceeded to a civil war. The women placing themselves between the armies, took up the controversies, argued them so accurately, and determined them so impartially, that an admirable friendly correspondence and general amity ensued, both civil and domestic. Hence the Celts made it their practice to take women into consultation about peace or war, and to use them as mediators in any controversies that arose between them and their allies. In the league therefore made with Hannibal, the writing runs thus: If the Celts take occasion of quarrelling with the Carthaginians, the governors and generals of the Carthaginians in Spain shall decide the controversy; but if the Carthaginians accuse the Celts, the Celtic women shall be judges.”
An inscription discovered along the Rue de Récollets in Metz, France…
“Silvano sacr(um) et Nymphis loci Arete Druis antistita somnio monita d”
“Sacred to Silvanus and to the Nymphs of the place of Arete the Druid, the high priestess who gave advice/warnings in a dream.”
Strabo…(source) “It is reported that the Cimbri had a peculiar custom. They were accompanied in their expeditions by their wives; these were followed by hoary-headed priestesses, clad in white, with cloaks of carbasus fastened on with clasps, girt with brazen girdles, and bare-footed. These individuals, bearing drawn swords, went to meet the captives throughout the camp, and, having crowned them, led them to a brazen vessel containing about 20 amphoræ, and placed on a raised platform, which one of the priestesses having ascended, and holding the prisoner above the vessel, cut his throat; then, from the manner in which the blood flowed into the vessel, some drew certain divinations; while others, having opened the corpse, and inspected the entrails, prophesied victory to their army. In battle too they beat skins stretched on the wicker sides of chariots, which produces a stunning noise.”
Vopiscus… (source) “This story my grandfather related to me, having heard it from Diocletian himself. “When Diocletian,” he said, “while still serving in a minor post, was stopping at a certain tavern in the land of the Tungri in Gaul, and was making up his daily reckoning with a woman, who was a Druidess, she said to him, ‘Diocletian, you are far too greedy and far too stingy,’ to which Diocletian replied, it is said, not in earnest, but only in jest, ‘I shall be generous enough when I become emperor.’ At this the Druidess said, so he related, ‘Do not jest, Diocletian, for you will become emperor when you have slain a Boar (Aper).’”
Tacitus, Annals XIV... (source) “On the beach stood the adverse array, a serried mass of arms and men, with women flitting between the ranks. In the style of Furies, in robes of deathly black and with dishevelled hair, they brandished their torches; while a circle of Druids, lifting their hands to heaven and showering imprecations, struck the troops with such an awe at the extraordinary spectacle that, as though their limbs were paralysed, they exposed their bodies to wounds without an attempt at movement. Then, reassured by their general, and inciting each other never to flinch before a band of females and fanatics, they charged behind the standards, cut down all who met them, and enveloped the enemy in his own flames.”
Lampridius, Historia Augusta: The Life of Severus Alexander… (source) “The omens portending his [Alexander’s] death were as follows: When he was praying for a blessing for his birthday the victim escaped, all covered with blood, and, as he was standing in the crowd dressed in the clothes of a consideration, it stained the white robe which he wore. In the Palace in a certain city from which he was setting out to the war, an ancient laurel-tree of huge size suddenly fell at full length. Also three fig-trees, which bear the kind of figs known as Alexandrian, fell suddenly before his tent-door, for they were close to the Emperor’s quarters. Furthermore, as he went to war a Druid prophetess cried out in the Gallic tongue, ‘Go, but do not hope for victory, and put no trust in your soldiers.‘ And when he mounted a tribunal in order to make a speech and say something of good omen, he began in this wise: ‘On the murder of the Emperor Elagabalus’. But it was regarded as a portent that when about to go to war he began an address to the troops with words of ill-omen.“
Aurelianus, Historia Augusta: Life of Aurelian… “[O]n a certain occasion Aurelian consulted the Druid priestesses in Gaul and inquired of them whether the imperial power would remain with his descendants, but they replied…that none would have a name more illustrious in the commonwealth than the descendants of Claudius. And, in fact, Constantius is now our emperor, a man of Claudius’ blood, whose descendants, I ween, will attain to that glory which the Druids foretold. And this I have put in the Life of Aurelian for the reason that this response was made to him when he inquired in person.”
Pomponius Mela… (source) “Sena in the British Sea, opposite the Osismian shores, is remarkable for its oracle of a Gallic divinity; the priestesses of which, inviolable from perpetual virginity, are said to be nine in number. They call them the Gallicanae, and believe them to be endowed with remarkable powers: to stir up the waves and the winds with their songs; to change themselves into whatever animals they wish; to cure diseases which among others are incurable; to know and to foretell future events; but not devoted to any except to those who have sailed there, setting out for this purpose only, that they may consult them.”
Irish Literature (Including women and goddesses who had prophetic or poetic abilities and were connected to magical powers in a similar way as their male druid counterparts in Irish myth)
Mention in the Dinnsenchas…
“…her sister stretches forth her hands… strongly she makes her druid spell.” (source)
“Gaine daughter of pure Gumor, nurse of mead-loving Mide, surpassed all women though she was silent ; she was learned and a seer and a chief druid.” (source)
“She was a wizard, she was a noble poetess, Rodub’s daughter, of starlike beauty, she was a prophetess to take count of every chieftain, till death by a single shot extinguished her.” (source)
Uallach ingen Muinecháin (source) Described as a banfhile Herend and woman-poet of Ireland in her obituary in the Annals of Innisfallen.
There are also mentions throughout the Irish Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals of Inisfallen that describe women as poets including… Líadan and Gormlaith ingen Flann mac Conaing. Other women poets are mentioned in later texts as writing keening or lamenting songs such as Caitilín Dubh.
Brigid (Lebor Gabála Érenn)… “Brigid the poetess (banfili), daughter of The Dagda, she it is who had Fea and Femen, the two oxen of Dil, from whom are named Mag Fea and Mag Femen. With them was Triath, king of the swine, from whom is Tretherne.”
Etan (Lebor Gabála Érenn)… “Etan the poetess was daughter of Dian Cecht, and Coirpre s. Etan was the poet, and Aimed the she-leech was the other daughter of Dian Cecht.”
Ala (Song of Omens: Nall, Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Ireland, It’s Scenery, Character and History, Vol. 2. How & Parson, 1842. p. 414)… A Druidess named Ala using ravens as a means of divination in the Irish Song of Omens. She mentions that she knew “…by the deep voice of the raven… by the flight of the dark raven out before you…” which was relayed after the death of her husband and her two sons.
Bodhmall (Dictionary of Celtic Mythology) was a druidess that nursed Fionn mac Cumhaill back to health along with her woman partner and warrior, Liath Luachra.
Birog (A Dictionary of Irish Mythology) was a druidess and a wise and prophetic woman in Irish mythology, often associated with Cú Chulainn’s birth and the fate of the Ulster Cycle heroes. She was a Druidess who used her magical abilities to guide Lugh into being born but also to save him and influence the outcome of significant events.
Dubh (A Dictionary of Irish Mythology) was a druidess, killed and after which, fell into a pool of water which became known as Dubh’s pool… Dubhlinn to which Dublin, the city, was named after.
Tlachtga (A Dictionary of Irish Mythology) was a druidess and arguably, goddess who was also the daughter of a famous druid, Mog Ruith. She was raped by the sons of Simon Magus, became pregnant and died in the process of childbirth which gave rise to the Hill of Tlachtga.
Fuamnach (A Dictionary of Irish Mythology) was mostly a druidess or at least taught magic by her father who was a druid. When she became jealous over her husband’s love for Etain, she transformed her into a pool of water, a fly and a worm.
Fedelm (The Táin) was a female prophet and banfili in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She appears in the great epic Táin Bó Cuailnge, in which she foretells what the armies of Medb and Ailill mac Máta will face against the Ulaid and their greatest champion, Cú Chulainn.
(The Táin) “Then Medb sent forth six together to attack Cú Chulainn, to wit, Traig and Dorn
and Dernu, Col and Accuis and Eraíse, three druids and three druidesses. Cú Chulainn attacked them and they fell by him.”
(The Siege of Knocklong) “I will give you a company of druids surpassing those of any of your predecessors and whom no stranger can resist. These are the three daughters of Maol Mhisceadach – Eirge, Eang and Eangain. And they will assume the form of three brown sheep with heads of bone and beaks of iron: they are equal in prowess to a hundred warriors. No one can escape from them alive for they have the speed of the swallow and the agility of the weasel, and if the swords and axes of the world were to be directed against them not a hair or joint of theirs would be severed.’“
(The Annals of Ireland) “Witches were also considered frequently to change themselves into hares, and thus run with great rapidity on their mischievous errands; and there prevailed a belief amongst the common people in Ireland, that they were invulnerable by leaden bullets, and could be shot only by a sixpence, or other piece of silver, or a silver ball. The wizards, or male conjurors, were also held in high esteem, particularly in Scotland. The doctrines of witchcraft, sorcery, and necromancy, were probably derived from Druidism, the witches being nearly the same as the Druidesses of more ancient days, and hence ban-draoi, or a Druidical woman, was also applied to a witch.”
(A Guide to Early Irish Law by Kelly Fergus) “The Annals of lnisfallen 934 record the death of Uallach daughter of Muinechan, who is described as banflli Brenn ‘the woman poet of Ireland”.
The Morrígan is sometimes considered a druidess due to her deep connection to the mystical and supernatural. She is closely linked to the realm of prophecy and knowledge, both of which are key functions of the druidic tradition.
Scáthach, while more commonly known as a martial arts instructor to the hero Cú Chulainn, is also sometimes associated with druidic wisdom and magic. Though primarily a warrior woman, her mystical and prophetic abilities tie her to spiritual and magical traditions as well.
The Cailleach is often associated with druidic power, especially in her role as a goddess of the land and creation. While not explicitly referred to as a druidess, she is described as a figure with control over life and death, the seasons, and magical knowledge, all of which have a druidic connection.
Isla Skye
Isla is an American Irish mother of 3, teacher, author and herbalist that splits her time between the states and Ireland. She has been studying folklore as well as the Druids and related practices for over 20 years. Her hobbies are family time, reading, camping, hiking, visiting sacred sites, spending time with her many animals as well as writing and research.