What is a Druid?

The word Druid conjures up different images for different people. Some people envision wise ancient figures in trailing white robes gathered around a bonfire, while others think instantly of Stonehenge or wild Celtic shaman. Historically there has been a great deal of argument over who the ancient druids were, what they did and how they would have looked and dressed. While some of these things remain unknown, there are facts about ancient druids that are universally agreed upon. Druids were the doctors, lawyers , teachers and scholars of the ancient Celtic world. Their holidays were based on a solar cycle, rather than lunar cycle as many assume, and some artifacts from their days of glory do still exist to give us some insight into what their lives might have been like.

Due to the lack of an accurate record regarding ancient Druid practice, many in the pagan community are confused by the use of the term in defining a pagan ' tradition'. Some believe that it would be impossible to follow a tradition that could rightfully be called Druidry. Understanding who modern druids are and what they believe requires an understanding that there are many different types of people who consider themselves druids , and that there are many different practices that are rightfully termed Druid. From a pagan or neo pagan perspective the two groups of druids most interesting to the scholar interested in learning druidry as a spiritual art, would be Celtic Reconstructionist Druids and Neo Pagan Druids.

Some modern Druids identify themselves as Reconstructionist Druids. Reconstructionist Druids do not pretend to be their ancient counterparts , nor do they pretend to be descended from ancient Celtic Druids, though doubtlessly some of us are. Instead modern Celtic Reconstructionist druids have created a practice based in part on the knowledge of ancient ways. Planning traditional observances around a solar based calendar and traditional Celtic holidays , for instance. Modern Celtic Reconstructionist Druids dedicate a great deal of their spiritual practice to learning and discovering the ways of the ancient Celtic Druids, and attempting as accurate a reconstruction of those practices as possible.

Most pagans who consider themselves druids are the modern Neo pagan druids. Neo Pagan Druidry encompasses a much broader range of practices and includes various types of neo pagan earth religion. Many organizations and traditions have been founded on neo pagan druid practices. These Druid organizations and individual Druids often readily admit that they not only do not have a clear idea of what the ancient Celtic Druids did, but , also make no attempt to reconstruct those ways. Often , however they do incorporate traditional Celtic pantheons and observances, and sometimes Celtic Wicca or other Celtic traditions are welcomed within the tradition to the degree that the two are often blended to create an almost Celtic Shamanistic tradition.