"Druid" is probably the Gaelic equivalent of the word "shaman." It means "oak wisdom" or "one whose knowledge is great." The first version of the book you are now holding was written as a foundational course for members of the Black Mountain Druid Order. It was our manual for training those new to the Druid Path in what it means to be a contemporary Celtic shaman.What is now the Black Mountain Druid Order was founded in 1997 by former members of Emerald Coast Druid Grove in Pensacola, Florida. When we moved to the Western North Carolina mountains in 2000, we often met in the town of Black Mountain, North Carolina, near Asheville.Our Mother Grove was then called the Black Mountain Druid Grove. The Grove became an Order in 2003 when it began training apprentices in the teachings of the Black Mountain Druid Grove. As we grew as an Order, we gradually found ourselves shifting to an emphasis on Celtic shamanism. This book is a new version of the old Black Mountain Druid Order Handbook, which was revised and greatly expanded to reflect the changes in the nature of our Order as we introduced more shamanic teachings. The result of that revision is this book.The primary mission of the Black Mountain Druid Order is to foster the growth and development of individual Druids and Druid Groves through the Black Mountain Druid Order's educational programs, while helping our members to develop in mind, body spirit, and emotion through the Way of the Druid.