Druids 101: Who Were They?

The Druids were the priestly, intellectual, and legal class of the ancient Celtic world, primarily in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul (modern France). They were philosophers, judges, healers, poets, and astronomers, deeply connected to nature, the cosmos, and spiritual wisdom.

1. Origins & Society

• Druids were part of Celtic tribal societies and served as advisors to kings, religious leaders, and keepers of knowledge.
• They did not write down their teachings—everything was oral tradition.
• Their training lasted 20+ years, covering philosophy, law, history, and the natural world.

2. Beliefs & Practices

• Nature Worship – Sacred groves, oak trees, mistletoe, and the cycles of the moon played a huge role.
• Reincarnation – They believed in the immortality of the soul, passing through multiple lifetimes.
• Sacrifice & Rituals – There are Roman accounts (biased, but interesting) of human and animal sacrifices for divination and renewal.
• Astrology & Astronomy – They had a deep understanding of celestial movements, influencing their festivals.
• Law & Justice – Druids acted as judges and mediators, settling disputes and keeping oral records of laws.

3. Druidic Influence & Decline

• Julius Caesar wrote about them during his conquest of Gaul (but he also saw them as an enemy).
• The Romans suppressed Druidism, destroying sacred sites and outlawing their practices.
• Christianity absorbed and replaced many Druidic traditions, blending them into Celtic Christianity (e.g., St. Patrick’s story).

4. Modern Druidry

• Neo-Druidism emerged in the 18th-19th centuries as a revival movement, mixing ancient knowledge with modern spirituality.
• Groups like the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids (OBOD) still exist today, focusing on nature-based spirituality, philosophy, and Celtic heritage.

How Druids Relate to Masonry & Esotericism

• Their oral teachings, symbolic rituals, and deep connection to sacred wisdom have parallels in Freemasonry, Hermeticism, and esoteric traditions.
• Some claim a symbolic connection between Druids and Masonry, but historically, they are separate.