"World Druidry:
A Globalizing Path of Nature Spirituality"
What does it mean to be a Druid, circa 2020 c.e.?
Until now, very little scholarly attention has been paid to the group of Druids, alive today, who actively engage in some form of Druidry (or Druidism) as their primary religious or spiritual path. There are many Druidic authors and groups, each promoting a slightly different variation of Druidry, but little research has been done, as yet, to determine the extent to which what is written in their Druidry books and curricula is actually put into practice. What do modern-day Druids believe? What are their religious and spiritual practices? How do their beliefs and practices vary? What if anything do the Druids of the world hold in common?
“World Druidry: A Globalizing Path of Nature Spirituality”, presents the findings of the World Druidry Survey — a global, multi-lingual survey exploring the religious beliefs and spiritual practices of contemporary world Druids. The survey comprised 189 items, organized into 42 sets of questions, including 18 open-ended/essay questions, probing into the details of: Druids’ physical, social, and cultural environments; their social and cultural identities; their theological beliefs, ritual practices, and celebrated holidays; and the factors which had influenced their development as Druids.
Completed surveys were returned by 725 practicing Druids, representing 147 Druidry groups from around the world, as well as 131 unaffiliated, solitary practitioners. Surveys were returned from 34 nations, scattered across 6 continents, and represented a group of modern Druids highly diverse along lines of age, gender, ethnic identity, and level of experience with Druidry. The survey responses included both vast quantities of numeric data and thousands of pages of rich, narrative data, allowing for the use of robust, mixed-methods analysis tools to paint a vivid picture of the modern religious tradition that is World Druidry.
Table of Contents
Pop Quiz
An Offering of Gratitude
Chapter 1: Concerning “Druids”
What does it mean to be a Druid, circa 2020 C.E.?
A Brief Review of Existing Literature
Chapter 2: The World Druidry Survey
Participant-Researcher Background & Motivations
Research Design
Questionnaire Development Process
Encouraging Global Participation
Protecting Participant Privacy and Data Security
The Unprecedented Response
Making Sense of the Stories
Chapter 3: A Geography of World Druidry
Modern Druids and their Natural Environments
Connections to Celtic Culture and the Lands of Ancient Druids
Modern Druids and their Local Communities
Privacy & Safety Concerns of Modern Druids
Modern Druids at Home
Druidry, with Children
Chapter 4: Crafting a Personal Path of Druidry
Factors Influencing Druids’ Spiritual Paths
The Impact of Druidry Groups & Curricula
Influential Authors, Books, and Media
The Role of Geography in the Evolution of Druidry
The Process of Becoming a Druid
Chapter 5: Themes & Variations in Druid Theology
Druid Perceptions of the Divine
The Role of Ancestors in Druidry Practice
Religions and Spiritual Traditions Practiced with Druidry
Spiritual Wildcrafting as a Form of Devotion
Cultivating Relationships with the Divine
Chapter 6: Druid Ritual & Devotional Practices
Common Ritual Practices Among Druids
Sacred Objects in Druid Ritual & Celebration
Places of Druid Ritual & Celebration
Social Contexts for Druid Ritual & Celebration
Sacred Activities in Everyday Life
Universal Themes in Druid Ritual & Devotional Practice
Chapter 7: Druid Festivals & Celebrations
The Traditional Druid “Wheel of the Year”
Seasonal Festivals in a Globalizing Tradition
Celebrating Cycles of Life, in Nature
Druidry’s Wildcrafted Wheels of the Year
Universal Themes in Druid Festivals & Celebrations
Chapter 8: Druidry’s Spiritual Common Core
Druidry Variations due to Druid Group Membership
Druidry Variations due to Geographical Location
How Druidry Traditions Have Evolved Over Time
Druidry's Spiritual Common Core, circa 2020 c.e.
Afterword
Appendix A: The Survey Instrument
Appendix B: Druid Population Estimates
Appendix C: Participating Druid Groups
Glossary
Bibliography
Index