Druids were the members of the priestly class in ancient Celtic paganism and its many modern traditions and are revered as high priests of the Celtic gods.
Their sacred groves and ritual sites are found worldwide, including Stonehenge in England, Carnac in France, Newgrange in Ireland, Tlachtli in Mexico, and many more across Europe and Asia.
The oldest Druid site currently known in the United States is the Cahokia Mounds near Collinsville, Illinois.
An Introduction to The Ancient Celtic Religion
Druidism is an ancient Celtic religion. Druids are people who practice Druidism and are students or teachers of Druidry.
Druidry today includes diverse traditions, each with its approach to knowledge, spirituality, and relationship with Nature. The roots of modern Druidry can be traced back to 17th century England, where a group inspired by Carmarthenshire’s antiquarian Iolo Morganwg.
In addition to being concerned with philosophical questions about Druidry, it is clear that some members were also involved in attempts to form new social orders modeled upon perceived prehistoric cultural practices.
How To Become a Druid?
Becoming a Druid requires not only devotion to a deity or deities but an understanding and acceptance of their teachings. To become a Druid, you must also learn about ancient Celtic culture, including their celebrations and rituals.
As one might expect from such a spiritual tradition, there is no single path to becoming a Druid. Personal experience is paramount in Druidism, meaning that each person’s path is unique and deeply personal.
What do Druids Believe?
The central concept in Druidism is all things are connected and that nothing exists on its own. Druids believe that all living things (humans, animals, plants) possess a unique spirit or soul. When someone dies, their soul separates from their body and continues to exist in some form.
It’s up to you to live a good life so that your spirit will be eternally happy. In addition to honoring ancestors and natural forces like fire, air, and water with ritual sacrifice, Druids often hold sacred stones. Each stone has a different purpose depending on which part of Ireland you’re in.
For example, many mountains have ogham stones buried near them; they contain an inscription identifying who left them there and why they placed them there.
How To Dress Like a Druid?
Today, anyone who practices Druidry may wear whatever they like when performing rituals or ceremonies. However, most Druids today dress in clothing inspired by the traditional garb of ancient Celts.
The key features include:
- A cowl
- Loose-fitting tunics
- Dresses (usually light and earthy in color)
- Robes made from animal skins.
Customarily, Druids also carry birch or willow staves as tools for ritual ceremonies.
There are three different types of staves used by Druids: staffs, wands, and batons. Staffs are carried vertically with one hand grasping it near the top. At the same time, wands and batons are held horizontally in both hands at chest level.
Depending on their purpose, these staves can be topped with elaborate carving designs depicting spirals, waves, or oak leaves.
Druids have since disappeared from history books but are still alive today. However, calling them Druids is no longer politically correct because some occultists are very sensitive about that term. Instead, we should call them Neo-Celts or something like that.
