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What is Druidism?
A Guide to Celtic Spirituality
Druidism, or Druidry as it is oftentimes called, is for some a religion, for others a spiritual path, and for others an enlightening cultural activity…
As a philosophy or a spiritual way, Modern Druidism began about 300 years ago during the era recognized as the ‘Druid Revival’. It was motivated by the accounts of the ancient Druids, and drew on the work of early literature, folklorists and historical researchers. In this way Druidry’s heritage stretches far back into the past.
Ancient Druidism consisted of their three spheres’ the Bards, the Ovates, and Druids. A general classification of the three diverse grades accord the arts to the bards, the skills of divination and prophecy to the Ovates and teaching, philosophy, judicial, and counseling tasks to the Druids.
The Re-emergence of Druidism
The Druid Tradition is an ancient one, and symbolizes one of the un-diminishing sources of inspiration and motivation of the Western Spiritual Tradition. But despite the fact that it is ancient, it is as important and alive in our day as it ever has been. All religions grow and change - and Druidism has changed as well - and at the moment it is experiencing resurgence. Every year new Druid groups form, new books are published and new websites spring up.
Druidism has become a dynamic and vital Nature-based religion that is prospering all over the world, and that brings together our love and devotion of the Earth with our love of creativeness. Moreover, moving freely through all the new and exhilarating developments in contemporary Druidism is the authority and power of the ancient tradition.
Who were the Druid’s?
A Druid's relationship with and or connection to nature is the sole source of all his or her powers, both in magic as well as in society. By understanding and accepting this bond, a Druid's essential being is coupled with nature, and as such he or she becomes awakened to all that is celebrated in nature, (which are all things.) A Druid then is a class of nature spiritualist or mystic. To truly familiarize one’s self with Druidism, turn off the television and the computer and go into the woods, and listen. The old Gods are not silent. Their voices can still be heard if we only open ourselves to them. Their words are seen in the waves of the great hammering sea and heard in the blowing of the wind.
Druidry and Wicca: Is there a Difference?
Wicca and Druidry are two diverse and separate spiritualistic paths. If you follow Wicca there is no need to study or be involved in Druidry, and vice versa. But there are a vast number of similarities/shared characteristics amid the two paths, and a number of practitioners combine Wiccan and Druidry practices and or Ideas, much in the same way others unite other religious ways with Druidry. This permutation is oftentimes refereed to as Druidcraft.
What Wicca and Druidry have in common?
* Respect and Love for Nature
* Both work within a circle. In Wicca the Circle's primary purpose is to preserve and focus the energy, so it fulfills the intent of the particular ceremony. The Wiccan Circle is also a protective circle, so that the energy has no outside interference or influence. The Circle is 'between the worlds’, beyond space and time. In Druidry the circle is rooted in the Earth.
* their ethics
* The 4 Elements and directions and their correspondences
* The 8 High Days, although with a different approach
* Reincarnation
* The karmic 'law' that all that you send out (energy-wise) will come back to you (never mind how often for now)
* Honoring the 'old gods'
* The equality of man and woman, of male and female principle, both in groups and in divinity
* honoring our ancestors (but in slightly different ways)
* The use of meditation, visualization and rituals as religious/spiritual practices
* Both are orthopraxis religions, not orthodox ones: which means that what one knows or believes is less important than what one does or experiences.
Differences
(Oftentimes these differences are only in the detail)
* What is specifically Wiccan? Wicca uses Magic in a different and in tendency more active way than Druidry
* Wicca has a stronger focus on the moon than Druidry and celebrates the full moons (and some also the dark moons) with a ritual, but gives the same amount of importance to the Sun as does Druidry.
* Wicca has a different historical background than Druidry
* Wicca uses Magic in a different and in tendency more active way than Druidry
* Wicca has a different focus on and understanding of standard elements of a ritual, like for example calling the quarters, steps and ritual tools
* Wicca is widely seen more like a mystery religion
What is specifically Druidism?
* The druid grove (outside, the real thing, with trees and such
* Tree lore and Ogham
* In Druidry the moons don't play such a big role
* Druidry can be seen as a religion, but also as a way of living / a philosophy, which results in there being Druids from many different faiths
* The focus on peace
* Druidry is widely seen more like a spiritual path
* Druidry focuses on the Celtic pantheon
* Druidry has a different historical background than Wicca.
The moon continues to dance for us now as she did then and so the wonder of Nature remains as awesome as in those lost days. The old Druids may be gone, but their magic is not. It is emerging from the earth again today, and will continue to do so if we continue to remember her and love her again.
This article is not meant to say that either practice is “wrong” or “invalid”, it just means that there are differences and that one should not make the mistake of assuming that Wicca is descended from Druidry (it’s not) or that Druidry and Wicca are the same thing. Each one is a spiritual path unto themselves with unique practices and histories.
I believe it is important that the differences are known so that both paths can be better understood by their followers and by the general public.
A Guide to Celtic Spirituality
Druidism, or Druidry as it is oftentimes called, is for some a religion, for others a spiritual path, and for others an enlightening cultural activity…
As a philosophy or a spiritual way, Modern Druidism began about 300 years ago during the era recognized as the ‘Druid Revival’. It was motivated by the accounts of the ancient Druids, and drew on the work of early literature, folklorists and historical researchers. In this way Druidry’s heritage stretches far back into the past.
Ancient Druidism consisted of their three spheres’ the Bards, the Ovates, and Druids. A general classification of the three diverse grades accord the arts to the bards, the skills of divination and prophecy to the Ovates and teaching, philosophy, judicial, and counseling tasks to the Druids.
The Re-emergence of Druidism
The Druid Tradition is an ancient one, and symbolizes one of the un-diminishing sources of inspiration and motivation of the Western Spiritual Tradition. But despite the fact that it is ancient, it is as important and alive in our day as it ever has been. All religions grow and change - and Druidism has changed as well - and at the moment it is experiencing resurgence. Every year new Druid groups form, new books are published and new websites spring up.
Druidism has become a dynamic and vital Nature-based religion that is prospering all over the world, and that brings together our love and devotion of the Earth with our love of creativeness. Moreover, moving freely through all the new and exhilarating developments in contemporary Druidism is the authority and power of the ancient tradition.
Who were the Druid’s?
A Druid's relationship with and or connection to nature is the sole source of all his or her powers, both in magic as well as in society. By understanding and accepting this bond, a Druid's essential being is coupled with nature, and as such he or she becomes awakened to all that is celebrated in nature, (which are all things.) A Druid then is a class of nature spiritualist or mystic. To truly familiarize one’s self with Druidism, turn off the television and the computer and go into the woods, and listen. The old Gods are not silent. Their voices can still be heard if we only open ourselves to them. Their words are seen in the waves of the great hammering sea and heard in the blowing of the wind.
Druidry and Wicca: Is there a Difference?
Wicca and Druidry are two diverse and separate spiritualistic paths. If you follow Wicca there is no need to study or be involved in Druidry, and vice versa. But there are a vast number of similarities/shared characteristics amid the two paths, and a number of practitioners combine Wiccan and Druidry practices and or Ideas, much in the same way others unite other religious ways with Druidry. This permutation is oftentimes refereed to as Druidcraft.
What Wicca and Druidry have in common?
* Respect and Love for Nature
* Both work within a circle. In Wicca the Circle's primary purpose is to preserve and focus the energy, so it fulfills the intent of the particular ceremony. The Wiccan Circle is also a protective circle, so that the energy has no outside interference or influence. The Circle is 'between the worlds’, beyond space and time. In Druidry the circle is rooted in the Earth.
* their ethics
* The 4 Elements and directions and their correspondences
* The 8 High Days, although with a different approach
* Reincarnation
* The karmic 'law' that all that you send out (energy-wise) will come back to you (never mind how often for now)
* Honoring the 'old gods'
* The equality of man and woman, of male and female principle, both in groups and in divinity
* honoring our ancestors (but in slightly different ways)
* The use of meditation, visualization and rituals as religious/spiritual practices
* Both are orthopraxis religions, not orthodox ones: which means that what one knows or believes is less important than what one does or experiences.
Differences
(Oftentimes these differences are only in the detail)
* What is specifically Wiccan? Wicca uses Magic in a different and in tendency more active way than Druidry
* Wicca has a stronger focus on the moon than Druidry and celebrates the full moons (and some also the dark moons) with a ritual, but gives the same amount of importance to the Sun as does Druidry.
* Wicca has a different historical background than Druidry
* Wicca uses Magic in a different and in tendency more active way than Druidry
* Wicca has a different focus on and understanding of standard elements of a ritual, like for example calling the quarters, steps and ritual tools
* Wicca is widely seen more like a mystery religion
What is specifically Druidism?
* The druid grove (outside, the real thing, with trees and such
* Tree lore and Ogham
* In Druidry the moons don't play such a big role
* Druidry can be seen as a religion, but also as a way of living / a philosophy, which results in there being Druids from many different faiths
* The focus on peace
* Druidry is widely seen more like a spiritual path
* Druidry focuses on the Celtic pantheon
* Druidry has a different historical background than Wicca.
The moon continues to dance for us now as she did then and so the wonder of Nature remains as awesome as in those lost days. The old Druids may be gone, but their magic is not. It is emerging from the earth again today, and will continue to do so if we continue to remember her and love her again.
This article is not meant to say that either practice is “wrong” or “invalid”, it just means that there are differences and that one should not make the mistake of assuming that Wicca is descended from Druidry (it’s not) or that Druidry and Wicca are the same thing. Each one is a spiritual path unto themselves with unique practices and histories.
I believe it is important that the differences are known so that both paths can be better understood by their followers and by the general public.
