Today, we are going to go over the belief system and practice of the Druids. The Pagan classification on this practice can be a hard one to pin down to specifics. Like witchcraft in some cases where the practice is and of itself a science, Druidry has some equal comparisons to that point. Druidry itself is really three things: a spiritual path, a religious faith and a cultural grouping. What we will focus on here is religious Druidry.
Before the 18th century what was originally an oral religious system within earlier Celtic cultures through and beyond Gaul shifted with the mass documentation of the Christian monks. What we know of Druidry today comes form a collection of what has been written down from a tradition built on the secrecy of an oral one. This shift in tradition, with the influences through various years in Druidry makes the modern practice part of the NeoPaganism classification.
There are three main types of practice inside Druidry and they are: Bards, Ovates and Druids. The Bards are centered around the arts and are the keepers and poets of the tradition. The Ovates are the healers of the group who have contact with the ancestors and are the workers of divination. The Druids overall are the ones who encompass all that the practice entails along with being the lead on counseling, justice, general mentoring and full training as a Druid.
The belief system for Druids is one that is quite open in terms of having no centralized deities. Those in the faith can choose their own deities which are usually in conjunction with the main tenet of belief that our natural world is spiritual. There is also a strong belief in metempsychosis and that between each life our souls rest in the Otherworld. The Otherworld is of course where the ancestors are to be found for counsel by the Ovates. The order also believes in what is called the three goals and they are as follows: Wisdom, Creativity and Love. Now, the Love that is a part of the Druidy goals is not the typical romantic type Love that is the goal for some who are not of the order; their goal of Love encompasses an open Love that includes that of Nature, community and their growth for all through magical and spiritual education.
There are many things that come together when looking at the practice of Druidy. Some study that must me made in order to incorporate practice are as follows: botany, herbalism, history, language, culture, spiritual reverence for the natural world, culture myths, folk lore and more. Another part of putting everything into practice are the high moral standards that a Druid must posses as well. Due to the importance of morality, Athelia Nihtscada created the following eleven principles out of Ireland’s Brehon laws that pre-date Christianity.
1. Every action has a consequence that must be observed and you must be prepared to compensate for your actions if required.
2. All life is sacred and all are responsible for seeing that this standard is upheld.
3. You do still live in society and are bound by its rules.
4. Work with high standards.
5. Make an honest living.
6. Be a good host as well as a good guest.
7. Take care of yourself.
8. Serve your community.
9. Maintain a healthy balance of the spiritual and mundane.
10. Uphold the Truth, starting with yourself.
11. Be sure in your convictions, particularly when judging or accusing someone, but also when debating. Ask yourself: are you really sure? Do you really know that this the case?
Druidy is like most Pagan religions in that to become a part of the practice and belief system you need to be prepared to do the work. As a faith, this path is not an easy one to make but with the combination of study, morality and a reverence for the natural world that we are living in today it also makes this faith a good representation of NeoPaganism.
If you would like to learn more about Druidry, whether it be for religious or cultural purposes please visit the following links.
The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids
Anciet Order of Druids in America
Ár nDraíocht Féin
Avalon Center for Druidic Studies