Celtic Bards, Druids, Shamans, Seers

The relationship between Bards and the Celtic Druids
Celtic Bards are, or were, poets and musicians.  They were required to master their art complete with hundreds of verses and also develop new ones.  However, writing was not available to them and this meant they had to keep everything memorized.  Bards passed on this tradition from generation to generation, orally. Bards were afforded special treatment by the upper class Warrior Society of Lords and other aristocracy.

The word Bard is an English word used to depict a Celtic poet or musician.  The gift of the Bards was to influence the history of their people by means of song and poetry and it was they who were responsible for developing secular music.  In fact a Bard was simply a repository which housed and protected the history, legends, myths, songs and poetry of the Celtic peoples.  They travelled widely throughout the land and were afforded what amounted to diplomatic immunity.  They brought with them the latest news and stories and because of their advanced education were trusted to impart this information accurately.  In fact, for many the Bard was their only source of information and it was not uncommon for kings, princes and chiefs to bestow valuable gifts on them in return.

Celtic druids also possessed special powers aside from the powers of the Bard, but they were also required to learn poetry and songs as part of their training and it is here that they shared powers with the Bard.  But apart from these powers, Druids also possessed other gifts and their powers were said to be steeped in magic found in nature.  Some also acquired the gifts of divination and even insight. Many times it was difficult to distinguish between Bards and Druids because they shared the same powers, but the Celtic Druids had a dark side and were purported to have used human sacrifices in ritual killings.

The Druid belonged to the members of the priestly.  They were learned men shared their duties with those of judges, priests and scholars.  Roman invasion suppressed their practices to such an extent that they all but disappeared and because of this they feature highly in mythology because not a lot can be said about them with certainty.

The earliest record of the Celtic Druid is found in a work that dates back to the 2nd Century which was written by Doxographer Sotion who hailed from Alexandria, although much that is known of them today comes from Roman writings.
They served what is today known as polytheistic communities.  These communities revered all aspects of the natural world, especially sacred trees and groves, water and plants while they considered fire a divine method of cleansing. 

Shamans
The Shaman, on the other hand, still remains today a person who is able to interact between the normal world as we know it and the spiritual world.  Acting as an intermediary, Shamans are very common in tribal cultures, but also existed in Celtic clans.  They often heal people with their spiritual powers and can also predict the future and interpret and read omens.  A Shaman is able to cross over between worlds and in order to master this, has to undergo trials.
The powers of a Shaman are varied and depend to some extent on the particular culture they come from.  Shamans operate independently and learn their craft from an older Shaman or spirit guide.

Introducing the Seer
A Seer is today known as an ecclesiastical term which has its roots embedded firmly in Christianity.  It has been used in churches since the depiction of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles.

A Seer can also be confused with a Prophet, but there is a difference as a prophet is a teacher who spreads the gospel as revealed by the Lord.  A seer sees things with a spiritual eye.

 The Seer perceives what the meaning is of things that may seem obscure to others, and in this way acts as an interpreter who is capable of clarifying the eternal truth.  A Seer can foretell the future and he does this with divine intervention from the Lord who operates through him, essentially he becomes a vessel.