Mutt Druidry by Joanna Van Der Hoeven
Many Druids today
are not the priestly caste in Celtic society that is so often
referred to in the Romantic literature and era. For a lot of Druids,
they are simply those who are following the Druid path, wherever it
may take them; some are bards, diviners, lawyers, healers – the
list goes on. Druidry today has evolved, and it is a spirituality
that continues to evolve. To me, that is the wonder and magic of
Druidry that keeps it alive, wild and free today.
Druidry is a nature religion. As
such, is grows, adapts to its environment, changes and flows with the
seasons. Like a plant, it seeks out the light, yet also knows that
deep underground, in the darkness of the earth, lie seeds that
contain the inspiration to awaken. Nature is diverse, and so too is
Druidry. It is a language, a song that all can sing to create a
beautiful harmony. It hears the songs around it and flows, adding
its notes to the melody of constant creation. Druidry has many
voices, all stemming from different people with different cultures,
backgrounds and environments. Yet under the shade of Druidry all can
gather together in harmony to discuss their paths, with honour and
respect.
There are Christian Druids, Buddhist
Druids, Heathen Druids, Wiccan Druids, Jewish Druids, Agnostic Druids
– as a philosophy as well as a spirituality, Druidry can combine
with almost any spiritual element. Yet Druidry is linked to Britain
and the Celtic peoples, through history. The tales and songs of
these ancient lands are reflected in the mythic tales and stories, in
the Gods and Goddesses of these Emerald Isles. Honouring these
spiritual, and for some, blood and bone relatives, we can all bring
our Druidry into the cauldron of inspiration.
I’ve recently coined my Druidry as
Mutt Druidry. I have so many spiritual ideas, backgrounds and
traditions under my belt that sometimes I felt a bit lost. I never
felt quite happy with the mantle of Wiccan, and Pagan was far too
general. Now, after living on these shores for a decade, I have
begun to hear and really listen to the songs of the land, and the
language or song that sings of this land is Druidry. With that in
mind, I connect with this land, and research the history and
mythology which so symbolises what makes it special. Then I bring
some other elements into the mix, flavours which I cannot leave
behind, which are so much a part of who I am. These I throw into the
cauldron, heated by the flames of inspiration, to create a
spirituality that is alive and free.
Having grown up in Quebec, Canada, I
have learned much about Native American traditions and way of life.
Living near Haudonesaunee (Iroquois) reservations inspired me to
learn more about the people that seemed to connect so much better to
the land than the dominant cultures. I read books and visited
reservations and reconstructions of Eastern Woodland tribes, learned
the mythology and history. Elements of this I have taken across the
Atlantic to incorporate into my Druidry, for they are such a big part
of my life. It was from these traditions that I first learned of
honouring the land, of the land being the Great Mother or
Grandmother, of the importance of the Sky Father.
At eighteen I began studying Wicca,
and learned of the Goddess and God, and of Wiccan ritual and
traditions. I still have old and much cherished books which started
me on this pagan path. I applied also to OBOD, and received the
information pack. However, it did not strike a note true enough in
my soulsong, and so I left Druidry for a while. From there, I turned
to my ancestors, and began studying Heathenry. Years later, I
discovered a wilder Druidry that existed, and that appealed to me
greatly. I could combine all that I was, all that I had learned,
into this Druidry, and craft an honourable relationship with both the
land and the spiritual. This was Mutt Druidry.
And it works. So many books, both
Wiccan and Druid, have stated that if you incorporate other elements
from other traditions, that you are making your own tradition, and
that it ain’t Wiccan or Druid. Yet so many traditions have
borrowed from other religions over the past decades, centuries, and
millennia, that this argument just seems to fail in the light of
truth. Truth is wholly and completely subjective, as is religion and
spirituality. We as humans have the ability to be subjective as well
as objective (to a certain and perhaps lesser degree). If it works
for us, if it leads to living honourably, then there can be no
argument against it that is valid under the umbrella of subjectivity.
Perhaps it is this incorporation and respect for the personal that
has led Druidry to become so popular – much like how mutts and
moggies are so much more suited or adaptable and live longer than say
purebreds! This ability to change, a natural ability, one that is
abundant in the world around us, is a strong part of what Druidry is.
Based on an old faith, we have the foundations which we can turn to,
however, we build on top of these which the best materials that we
have to hand.
Explore your ancestry. Explore the
land upon which you live. Research both the past and the present.
You may find many strands from differing sources weaving together to
create the tapestry that is your life. Celebrate that diversity, as
nature celebrates hers. For those mutts out there like me, take
pride in the mix – no two snowflakes are alike. The songs that
flow through humanity are many and varied, yet still a harmony can be
found to integrate all that you are into your spirituality, and your
Druidry.
Druidry tells the
story of place, and as such Druids can be found all over the world,
and not just Britain and Brittany any more. It has evolved beyond
these shores, and has become a global religion. It adapts and
evolves to suit its environment, as so Druid groups and numbers are
growing all over the world, from Australia to America. It is the
inspiration of the land that gives us a spirituality that reflects
the awe, wonderment and wild natures of our own souls.
