What Is Druidry?

In many ways we are shaping this path according to the spiritual needs of our times while incorporating the lessons buried in the Celtic myths from centuries past. The following are what we've found and some of what we choose to expand on:

Leadership

Each initiated Druid is a leader. Each of us is wholly responsible to and for ourselves. As we mature and grow, as our learnings expand our spirits, we take on the responsibility for others as well. But always, we are leaders within a Druid order and responsible for ourselves.

Certainly there are those that rise to leadership in every religious community, but that is primarily as a result of the person's character, and not a direct result of following the teachings of their religion. Druids, on the other hand, have traditionally been trained to lead.

Today, many Druid orders have rings of learning, such as Birch, Yew, and Oak. We also have paths of learning, Ovate, Bard, and Clergy. But those rings and paths reflect the lessons we choose to integrate into our lives. Never is there a question of our leadership. Once a Druid, it simply becomes a question of where and how one leads.

Connectivity and Inclusiveness

Druids believe that all things are connected. Because everything is connected, there is not anything to gain from erecting walls or boundaries around celebrants. Our rituals reflect this by being inclusive, public, and community oriented. We don't prevent participation based on the spiritual beliefs a person holds. For that matter, political, economic, sexual and ethnic practices are a source of diversity and an opportunity for learning. Our gods and goddesses reflect the diversity and immensity of our belief in the connectedness of everything.

In terms of ritual, we celebrate outdoors as often as possible. We call upon the spirits of nature, of our ancestors, of our gods and goddesses. If there are others who wish to participate, they are welcomed as well. We come and go freely, taking care of our physical needs and those of our families.

We don't follow any hierarchical rules except as dictated by the ritual itself. For example, there aren't any deities left outside our space as marked by a circle. We let things flow freely, based on our belief that everything is connected. We believe that cutting off the flow of energy or spirit sets up blockages and power structures that damage the whole. Each person and entity and spirit is equally sacred. It is not the space that we consider sacred, but the participants and their actions.