Druidry

Druidry is a modern spiritual and cultural movement that draws on the idea of the ancient Druids, a priestly class described in classical sources. It is diverse and decentralized, with no single creed or authority. Practitioners commonly emphasize reverence for nature, the seasonal cycle, and the memory of ancestors, and pursue personal growth through ceremony, poetry, and meditation.

Historically, the word druid appears in Iron Age Gaul and the British Isles in classical writings. Modern Druidry emerged in the 18th to 20th centuries during Celtic revival and Romantic nationalism, developing through circles and organizations. Groups such as the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) and the British Druid Order (BDO) have helped shape practice, but there is no proven direct continuity with ancient druids.

Beliefs and practices vary. Some Druids are polytheistic or pantheistic and honor Celtic deities; others adopt animist or nature-centric, non-theistic frameworks. Ritual activity often includes circle-based ceremonies, offerings, music, storytelling, drumming, and seasonal rites aligned with solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days. Training in many orders covers bardic arts and the paths of learning, leading to initiation and service.

Druidry is commonly described as a form of modern paganism or nature spirituality. It is not a single religion but a family of related traditions sharing an emphasis on nature, heritage, and community. It has contributed to contemporary neopaganism and environmental ethics.