There are two main currents in the Druid world today. Druidism and Druidry.
As I’ve mentioned Druidism is the religion, Druidry is the philosophical path.
A person who is into Druidism is obviously involved in Druidry, but not necessarily vica versa. As I mentioned in the other thread, one can be into Druidry, and be a “Christian/Jewish/Islamic/Buddhist/Angnostic/Atheistitc/Wiccan/Snake handling Druid", while Druidism IS your religion.
Within the Druidism side there are two currents as well--Recosntructionist and Revivalist.
Reconstructuionist: Is the attempt to be as historically accurate within modern social norms (no head collecting) as possible, now yes that means you have some rather large holes to fill. This is where the idea of UPG (Unverified Personal Gnosis) and SPG (Shared Personal Gnosis) come from. The Reconstructionist Druids are basically all descended from the RDNA (Reformed Druids of North America) who grew out of a satirical/protest group at Carrol College. RDNA still exits, and from that has sprung ADF (Ár nDraíocht Féin), and from them the Henge of Keltria, and a number of other groups.
Revivalist: Takes the imagery one thinks of from the words, “Celt”, Druid etc and forms a religion from that. The largest group is one of
the largest (if not THE largest) Pagan group in the world: OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids). OBOD came from an old, almost dead Masonic style Druid Lodge (more on that in a second) that the current Chief, Ross Nichols tried to rebirth as more Pagan. Ross was great friends (they went to the same nudist colony) with Gerald Gardner, and together they created the 8 fold year from existing scholarship, and some whole cloth.
Other Groups include Druid Lodges. Druid Lodges are Deist Christian groups who formed in the late 17th , 18th and 19th centuries, and were part of the romantic Celtic Revival. Almost nothing they do or did is legitimately archaic Celtic, they are the types who lurk in Stone Circles on Astronomically important days, dressed in white robes, with egyptial style hats and staves, and gold sickles. They are a legitimate path, but are NOT pagan. Again they are Deist Christians for the most part, and have more in common with Masonic Lodges than Wicca or Druidrism has with the Cerimonial Magicians.
There are also Celtic Reconstructionists and Celtic Traditionalists. They are not Druids. They refuse to use the term. They are however great scholars, and very much pagan. Many are Wiccans who grew tired of eclectic practice, and not listening to what the ancetors tell them
Druids and Wiccans. I’m going to link people to this (http://www.adf.org/about/basics/druidism-wicca.html) as it says it much
better than I can in the space available, assuming we are not talking about Wiccans with Drudiry in their practice. Druids are not Wiccans, Wiccans are Not Druids.
ADF Ritual:
I will only speak of ADF Reconstructionist Druidism and ritual as that is what I have the experience in.
First thing to note, is ADF is not just strictly about Celtic spirituality, but rather Pan Indo-European. Most Groves are some form of Celtic Hearth (Culture) in their focus, but Isaac and the other founders made the choice to broaden the spirituality that could be picked on. So while the term “Druid” is used, one could also call them selves Magi, Flamen, etc if they are focusing on the appropriate culture.
Here is the basic layout of Ritual:
Core Order of ADF Ritual for High Days
1. Initiating the Rite - May include:
o Musical Signal
o Opening Prayer
o Processional
o Establishing the Group Mind
2. Purification - This must take place prior to Opening the Gates
3. Honoring the Earth Mother
4. Statement of Purpose
5. (Re)Creating the Cosmos
o Sacred Center must be established in a triadic Cosmos
o The Three Worlds or Realms must be acknowledged
o The Fire must be included
o Sacred Center is most commonly represented as Fire, Well and Tree
6. Opening the Gate(s) - Must include a Gatekeeper
7. Inviting the Three Kindreds
8. Key Offerings - This will commonly include:
o Invitation of Beings of the Occasion
o Seasonal customs as appropriate
o Praise Offerings
9. Prayer of Sacrifice
10. Omen
11. Calling (asking) for the Blessings
12. Hallowing the Blessing
13. Affirmation of the Blessing
14. Workings (if any)
15. Thanking the Beings
16. Closing the Gate(s)
17. Thanking the Earth Mother
18. Closing the Rite
Items that ADF Rituals Do Not Include
1. Elemental Cross Symbolism (the 4 Elements)
2. Casting Circles in public ritual
3. Calling Watchtowers or Elemental Guardians
4. Calling the dualtheistic Lord and Lady
5. Acknowledgement of one divine being with power over all
6. Blood Sacrifices
7. Non-Indo-European mythic and deity motifs
What is not emphasized by the above information is generally Druidic rituals are open to the public (ie you have to be a real douche to be excluded!).
That’s a start. Questions?
Gareth
As I’ve mentioned Druidism is the religion, Druidry is the philosophical path.
A person who is into Druidism is obviously involved in Druidry, but not necessarily vica versa. As I mentioned in the other thread, one can be into Druidry, and be a “Christian/Jewish/Islamic/Buddhist/Angnostic/Atheistitc/Wiccan/Snake handling Druid", while Druidism IS your religion.
Within the Druidism side there are two currents as well--Recosntructionist and Revivalist.
Reconstructuionist: Is the attempt to be as historically accurate within modern social norms (no head collecting) as possible, now yes that means you have some rather large holes to fill. This is where the idea of UPG (Unverified Personal Gnosis) and SPG (Shared Personal Gnosis) come from. The Reconstructionist Druids are basically all descended from the RDNA (Reformed Druids of North America) who grew out of a satirical/protest group at Carrol College. RDNA still exits, and from that has sprung ADF (Ár nDraíocht Féin), and from them the Henge of Keltria, and a number of other groups.
Revivalist: Takes the imagery one thinks of from the words, “Celt”, Druid etc and forms a religion from that. The largest group is one of
the largest (if not THE largest) Pagan group in the world: OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids). OBOD came from an old, almost dead Masonic style Druid Lodge (more on that in a second) that the current Chief, Ross Nichols tried to rebirth as more Pagan. Ross was great friends (they went to the same nudist colony) with Gerald Gardner, and together they created the 8 fold year from existing scholarship, and some whole cloth.
Other Groups include Druid Lodges. Druid Lodges are Deist Christian groups who formed in the late 17th , 18th and 19th centuries, and were part of the romantic Celtic Revival. Almost nothing they do or did is legitimately archaic Celtic, they are the types who lurk in Stone Circles on Astronomically important days, dressed in white robes, with egyptial style hats and staves, and gold sickles. They are a legitimate path, but are NOT pagan. Again they are Deist Christians for the most part, and have more in common with Masonic Lodges than Wicca or Druidrism has with the Cerimonial Magicians.
There are also Celtic Reconstructionists and Celtic Traditionalists. They are not Druids. They refuse to use the term. They are however great scholars, and very much pagan. Many are Wiccans who grew tired of eclectic practice, and not listening to what the ancetors tell them
Druids and Wiccans. I’m going to link people to this (http://www.adf.org/about/basics/druidism-wicca.html) as it says it much
better than I can in the space available, assuming we are not talking about Wiccans with Drudiry in their practice. Druids are not Wiccans, Wiccans are Not Druids.
ADF Ritual:
I will only speak of ADF Reconstructionist Druidism and ritual as that is what I have the experience in.
First thing to note, is ADF is not just strictly about Celtic spirituality, but rather Pan Indo-European. Most Groves are some form of Celtic Hearth (Culture) in their focus, but Isaac and the other founders made the choice to broaden the spirituality that could be picked on. So while the term “Druid” is used, one could also call them selves Magi, Flamen, etc if they are focusing on the appropriate culture.
Here is the basic layout of Ritual:
Core Order of ADF Ritual for High Days
1. Initiating the Rite - May include:
o Musical Signal
o Opening Prayer
o Processional
o Establishing the Group Mind
2. Purification - This must take place prior to Opening the Gates
3. Honoring the Earth Mother
4. Statement of Purpose
5. (Re)Creating the Cosmos
o Sacred Center must be established in a triadic Cosmos
o The Three Worlds or Realms must be acknowledged
o The Fire must be included
o Sacred Center is most commonly represented as Fire, Well and Tree
6. Opening the Gate(s) - Must include a Gatekeeper
7. Inviting the Three Kindreds
8. Key Offerings - This will commonly include:
o Invitation of Beings of the Occasion
o Seasonal customs as appropriate
o Praise Offerings
9. Prayer of Sacrifice
10. Omen
11. Calling (asking) for the Blessings
12. Hallowing the Blessing
13. Affirmation of the Blessing
14. Workings (if any)
15. Thanking the Beings
16. Closing the Gate(s)
17. Thanking the Earth Mother
18. Closing the Rite
Items that ADF Rituals Do Not Include
1. Elemental Cross Symbolism (the 4 Elements)
2. Casting Circles in public ritual
3. Calling Watchtowers or Elemental Guardians
4. Calling the dualtheistic Lord and Lady
5. Acknowledgement of one divine being with power over all
6. Blood Sacrifices
7. Non-Indo-European mythic and deity motifs
What is not emphasized by the above information is generally Druidic rituals are open to the public (ie you have to be a real douche to be excluded!).
That’s a start. Questions?
Gareth
Comment