Druidry is enjoying a remarkable resurgence as a pagan, animistic, polytheistic, ancestor-honouring, green spirituality for the 21st century. In this age of imminent climate catastrophe, Druidry offers an inherently green spirituality. Ancient Druids honoured trees and plants as sacred. Following their lead, medieval Irish and Welsh law codes gave legal protection to many tree species. Druid revival groups have been running tree planting campaigns since the early 1900s. Druidry's ecological roots run deep.
In an increasingly fragmented world in which many feel isolated and alienated, Druidry offers a genuine sense of community, both in physical gatherings and online, and of a community dedicated to creating a better world for future generations. Druidry can and does change lives. Many equate their discovery of it with a sense of joyous homecoming.
This book guides readers from the present-day revival of Druidry, its core principles, ethics and practice, to its ancient roots as a spiritual tradition common across much of north-western Europe during the Iron Age, prevalent in the 'Celtic fringe' countries well into the medieval era, aspects of which survived in the bardic schools of Britain and Ireland until around 1800. Along the way, you will learn about the inspiration, creativity, lore and learning of bards; the divination, seership and healing techniques of ovates; the nature, philosophy and magic of Druids; rites of passage; seasonal celebrations; shape-shifting and walking between worlds. Practical exercises encourage you to directly experience the three inter-woven paths of bard, ovate and Druid.
The author has been a Druid since 1974, founding the British Druid Order to promote a vision of Druidry as the earliest spirituality native to the British Isles and much of Northern Europe for which we have a name. An initiated High Priest of Alexandrian Wicca, he is a writer, musician, artist and craftsman living in rural Wiltshire, about halfway between the great stone circles of Avebury and Stonehenge.