Neo-Druidism

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Neo-Druid Ceremony at Stonehenge

Neo-druidism or neo-druidry is a form of modern spirituality or religion that generally promotes harmony and worship of nature, along with respect for all beings, including the environment. It is considered by some adherents to be a Neopagan faith, along with such religions as Wicca and German neopaganism. By other modern druids, it is considered to be a philosophical movement which includes religious tolerance, allowing its followers to be adherents of other religions, even atheism.

Inspired by 17th, 18th, and 19th century romantic movements, modern Druidism was based upon theories about Iron Age Celtic druids which are no longer considered to be historically accurate. Modern Druidism has no visible historical link to the ancient Celts or their culture.

In the first half of the 20th century, modern druids developed fraternal organizations based on Freemasonry which employed the romantic figures of the British Druids and Bards as symbols of indigenous British spirituality. Some groups were purely fraternal and cultural, creating traditions from the national imagination of Britain; others merged with contemporary movements such as naturism and the physical culture movement.

Since the 1980s, some modern druid groups have adopted similar methodologies to those of Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism. This was done to create a more historically accurate practice. However, there is still controversy over how much resemblance modern druidism may or may not have to Iron Age or earlier druidism.

1 Beliefs and Practices
2 History
3 Today
- 3.1 Popular Neo-Druidic Organizations
4 External Links
5 Relevant discussion threads on AboveTopSecret.com

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Beliefs and Practices

Modern druidic beliefs vary widely; there is no set dogma or belief system by which all adherents follow. The central tenant of many druidic groups is that there should be no strict dogmas. There is no central authority over the entire movement, nor any central religious leader or text. In most cases, the ideas and inspiration of all Druids is respected.

There are, however, central themes and practices that all groups adhere to.

Nature Worship
- Main belief that the Earth and nature is sacred and worthy of worship

Ancestor Veneration
- Core belief of respect for the ancestors

Ceremonies
- Most modern Druids perform ceremonies within a circle
  - Circle is commonly made around an altar or central fire
- Neo-druids often meet and practice in groups caller variously "henges" or "groves"
- Sometimes meet at stone circles or other megaliths which were traditionally associated with the ancient druids
  - Summer solstice ritual held at Stonehenge
  - Other ceremonies and rituals held as Glastonbury in southern England
- Modern druids were ceremonial cloaks and robes when performing rituals
  - Robes or tabards of different colors are used to indicate the grade of the druid within the order
- Some modern druids also use ritual staffs

Meditation
- Some modern druids practice meditation and visualization as a method of transformation
- Engage the imagery of the four elements of classical philosophers and medieval alchemists
  - Earth, Air, Water, and Fire are considered symbolic of aspects of nature and sometimes linked symbolically to the four cardinal directions, the four seasons, and the four stages of human life (birth, maturation, old age, and death)
- Some groups prefer to only use a symbolic division of the cosmos into three realms: Sea (lower realm), Land (middle realm), and Sky (upper realm)

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History

The origins of the modern Druid Revival lie in speculation about the historical druids in Early Modern 17th century Britain. At that time, current theories of certain scholars speculated that the British druids were in fact a remnant of the antediluvian religion of Noah and Adam in the Biblical mythos. Some saw them as the martyred exponents of the true religion taught by God in the Garden of Eden, distinct from Christian religion as it later developed. The theory that ancient druids were the true inheritors of the ancient Patriarchal religion was a move intended to make "True Religion" something British rather than foreign.

During the Romantic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, a more positive view of the druids arose, portraying them as wise old men. The idea was that the bards preserved a purer and more universal religion that transcended sectarianism. The romantic, positive figure of the druid and bard became powerful images within the Welsh and Irish nationalist movements.

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Today

Ireland
- A small number of orders and groves exist with varying practices and beliefs
- Druidism in Ireland is still relatively young
- Druidism in Ireland is still in the process of establishing links between groves and orders
- Stable neo-druidic community does not yet exist

Europe
- Numerous groves and orders exist
- New Order of Druids: opened in Belgium in January 2003
  - On-line organization
  - Opened its first local grove, the Mother Grove, called Nervii Nemeton in September 2005 in Antwerp, Belgium
- Druidic Seat Glastoratin: founded in November 2003 (Belgium)
- Albidatla Druidion Arduina: founded in 1998 in Belgium (French druid organization)
- Le Cercle de l'Ambre (France)
- La Taverne du Sidh (Switzerland)
- The Kengerzhouriezh Drouizel an Dreist-Hanternoz (Compagnonnage Druidique d'Hyperborée) founded in 1982 (France)
- The Kredenn Geltiek Hollvedel (World-wide Celtic Creed)or Kevanvod Tud Donn (Assembly of the people of the Goddess Ana), founded in 1936 by Raffig Tullou (France)
- The Order of Clochsliaph - Nemeton Clochsliaph in Hamm, Germany, founded by Uwe Eckert in 2002.
- The Order of Belle Vue Neo-druidics (Builders of neo-druidic henges, comprised of an assortment of household items, arranged in accordance with the wishes of the moon)