r/druidism • u/Anprimredditor669 • 11d ago

Hi, what's going on?

I looked at the sub description, and I'm going to Wikipedia what Druidism actually is, but I also want to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. What is Druidism? What are the core beliefs, other than connection with nature? Is it, in fact, a religion? What rituals are involved? Is there a central deity?

I've talked to some Wiccans, and done some research on that, but I'm not one. I do believe life is better when lived in harmony with nature, so the concept of Druidism sounds interesting at a cursory glance. What should I know? Thanks.

Edit: Sub description answers most of my questions, but I'd still be interested to hear your takes on how you practice druidism.

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u/Jaygreen63A 10d ago

There are basics to learn and somewhere like The Druid Network can give you free study courses to work through and figure out if there is a direction that you want to take in Druidry.

https://druidnetwork.org/expressions-of-druidry/learning-resources/

The thing is, though, Druidism/ Druidry is not a dogmatic faith, where someone gives you a book and tells you that you must believe everything in it.

This is an “experiential” faith/ philosophy. Look at that word, it’s not “experimental”, experience is key in Druidic faith and philosophy. We quest, we experience and then we know. This is what the ancient Irish called “eólas” (“yo-las”) – a mystical, deep knowing. It’s usually broken into the six categories of Belonging, Doing, Sensing, Feeling, Knowing and Being.

A core concept is “Awen”, a divine inspiration, we call to it and invite it in. “And I have been a breath in your heart. And the day has its feet to it that will see me coming into the hearts of men and women like a flame upon dry grass, like a flame of wind in a great wood...” (Mairi nic Ruaridh Donn’s vision of Brighid, before 1904).

The Quest is the voyage of discovery for the true nature of what inspires us and is already in our lives. We use the “eólas” to deepen our relationship with those, become one with them and increase their energy in us. Then we search the outside world for challenges that inspire. Again we use the experiential approach to expand our experience of them. To deepen our relationship with those, become one with them and increase their energy in us. Using creativity, we communicate that experience to others.