Druids
The Druids were the priests, judges, teachers, and spiritual leaders of the Celtic peoples—especially in Gaul (present-day France), Britain, and Ireland. They played a central role in Celtic religion and society and were considered mediators between the human world and the gods or natural forces.
🌿 Who exactly were the Druids?
The Druids were not simply priests, but an intellectual elite with many functions:
Leading religious ceremonies (e.g., sacrifices, annual festivals, nature cults)
Administering justice and settling disputes
Using medicine and plant knowledge
Knowing astronomy and chronology
Oracles and prophecy
Preserved secret knowledge (words, runes, traditions—often only orally)
They stood above warriors and kings in society, at least in spiritual terms, and were often exempt from taxes and military service.
📚 What do we know about them?
Our knowledge comes primarily from Roman authors such as Julius Caesar, but also from later Christian monks who recorded Celtic myths. Some points:
They taught their students for 20 years, mostly orally, to keep their knowledge secret.
Their ceremonies often took place in the forest or at sacred springs – not temples.
Mistletoe and oak trees were considered particularly sacred to them.
They believed in the immortality of the soul and reincarnation.
🪄 Magic and Myth
In many later traditions – especially from Ireland – Druids also appear as:
Wizards or Mages
Prophets and Seers
Walkers between the worlds (nature, spirits, otherworld)
However, these depictions are often mixed with legends and spiritual archetypes, so they must be viewed with caution.
🛡️ What happened to the Druids?
With the Roman conquest of Gaul and Britain, the Druid class was suppressed—particularly because they were a symbol of resistance against Rome.
With Christianization, their spiritual duties were replaced or banned.
Nevertheless, many elements of their knowledge survived in folk beliefs, fairy tales, and Celtic mythology.
🌕 Druids today?
In modern spirituality, there are so-called neo-Druidic movements that attempt to reconstruct or reinterpret the ancient teachings. These modern Druids often practice:
Nature spirituality
Yearly cycle festivals such as Samhain, Beltane, and Imbolc
Meditation, rituals, and a deep connection to nature
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