Druidry
Druidry is described by its followers as both an ancient and a modern spiritual path. Some Druids are Pagan, while others are Christian or eclectic.[1] Many prefer to call their religion the "Old Religion" or "Ancestral Religion" rather than "Neopaganism".[2]
Claims of continuity
Many Druids claim continuity with the Druids of the ancient world. In Ireland, for example, the Owl Grove follows what it calls an "Irish Hereditary Druid Tradition", which it believes stretches back to pre-Christian Druids.[3] Scholarly writing about how the ancient Druids actually practised is sparse and speculative.[4]
Practice
Groves, sacred trees and the old idea of the nemeton are important in Druid practice.[4] Some Druids in Britain have borrowed the sweat lodge from other traditions.[5] Like other modern pagans, Druids mark the turning of the seasons.[6]
Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca, was himself a member of the Ancient Druid Order in the 1940s.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Strmiska, Michael F., ed. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. pp. 88–91.
- ↑ Strmiska, Michael F., ed. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. p. 88.
- ↑ Strmiska, Michael F., ed. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. p. 90.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Strmiska, Michael F., ed. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. pp. 90–91.
- ↑ Strmiska, Michael F., ed. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. pp. 184–185.
- ↑ Strmiska, Michael F., ed. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO. pp. 40–41.
- ↑ Callow, John (2025). Gerald Gardner and the Creation of Wicca. Elements in Magic. Cambridge University Press. pp. 20–21.