21 Lessons of Merlin: A Study in Druid Magic

For those of you who love Druid Magic and Celtic Lore, I have a must-read to recommend! 

In fact, the bestselling books of Douglas Monroe are some of my favorite resources for Rogan Dair, the star character in Book #1 of my upcoming Wizards of the Wild West series.  

Monroe writes about the magic of Merlin the Magician from real-life experience. That’s right: Douglas Monroe is a practicing, modern-day Druid.

My hands-down favorite work of Monroe’s is his bestselling book, The 21 Lessons of Merlyn: A Study in Druid Magic and Lore.  I love this  book because it’s not the typical, dry research tome on Druid magic.

Instead, Monroe supplies fictional accounts of the life of King Arthur as Arthur studies Druid magic at the knee of Merlin (the Anglecized spelling).  The fictional chapters are followed by chapters with details related to real, time-honored rituals that are practiced by contemporary Druids.

The 21 Lessons of Merlyn: A Study in Druid Magic and Lore opens with 8-year-old Arthur’s first encounter with Merlin.  The book depicts the 21 rites of passage that Arthur experiences during his apprenticeship to Merlin, until Arthur is eventually initiated by Arch Druids as “Priest-King of Great Britain” at Stonehenge – an event that occurs shortly before he is betrothed to Lady Guinevere (or “Gwynyfar,” as Monroe spells it, following Welsh tradition.)

After each of Arthur’s adventures, Monroe elaborates upon the lessons that Merlin was trying to teach. Monroe shares the ritual details that Druids have practiced and studied for centuries, including herbology, runes,  songspell, how to access otherworldly portals, and more.  

If you’re looking for a magical perspective about King Arthur’s life – and you’re curious about Druidism and its connection to the “Druidesses” of Avalon – check out The 21 Lessons of Merlyn.