r/druidism

Hi all. I joined the path of druidry fairly recently - 4 or 5 months ago - and I am currently studying the bardic grade with OBOD. Finding it was wonderful; druidry and animism actually explain how I have experienced and moved through my whole life and I am grateful to have found it so that I can begin to expand my understanding and spirituality.

On Saturday, unexpectedly, my beautiful and much loved guinea pig passed away. I am absolutely crippled. I have never been good at dealing with, processing or accepting death and I also always knew that when this boy in particular went, I would struggle enormously. I've dreaded his passing since he came to me. I'm hurting in the most incomprehensible way. He was loving, personable, and an utter delight every day I had him. A lot of my pain is to do with serious questions about what happens after death. I miss his physical presence such that it actually hurts, but if I could talk through people's experiences of loved animal companions passing and connections with the otherworld, this would help. I don't need you to convince me of things or anything, but I would appreciate hearing your sincere beliefs around where our animal companions go after their physical body is no longer needed. Thank you in advance.

I know this question has been asked quite a bit. I'm sorry to add to that.

I'm a relatively new hedge druid and so far all of my practicing has felt like I'm just winging it. I've read some books but nothing is sticking and going into practice very well. Because of that, I'm looking to join an organization to learn more (while still remaining solitary in my practice).

I've heard nothing but good things about both organizations. OBOD seems great but my understanding is that they really focus on British nature in their teachings. I am in the eastern US and I'm about to move to the desert so that has me hesitant.

Any advice/help would be great! Thank you all very much!

Hi everyone! Does anyone know of any active groves in NYC?

Alternatively, any resources for connecting with Druidism in urban settings?

Thank you!

I just wanted to let the community know that author Brendan Myers suddenly passed away yesterday after some heart troubles.

I will miss his posts on facebook, and I will cherish the books of his that I have purchased.

I'm certain that the Morrigan will have plenty to say to her warrior now that he's joined her on that side of the veil.

Hello everyone.

I'm looking for some pagan book recommendations about rituals involving the crafting of items that details the culture and belief systems it originated from.

For instance, I'd like to make my own Altar Besom, Door Bells, Dream Pillow, robe, etc.

But I would also like to learn more about where those practices came from. So, I'd like to avoid the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan books that hodgepodge together crafting rituals from multiple faiths into a single book without going into their origins, if possible.

If anyone knows of any books or source material like that then I would greatly appreciate your recommendations.

Thank you.

Does anybody know what happened to the calendar site? It was there a couple of months ago, now the site is gone and the FB group has been suspended.

I have a printed version of the calendar and was wanting to dig into it in more detail. When I went to the website to get started, nothing. It was a repository of some good information too.

So, I’ve been pagan for a while but still trying to find the right path for me. and I was wondering if Druids worship a specific deity/set of deities or if nature itself is what’s being worshipped. Thanks!

I'm quite new to my path in druidism, so I've been studying Penny Billington's The Path of Druidry. At this point, I'm just working on picking up habits to make me more aware of my surroundings and help me begin to really connect with nature. One of the things the book sets out for you is to take the time to make circle, set intent, and do inner work at least a few times a week.

I was at a friend's house today, and they have a beautiful native garden. I decided I'd sit in the sunflowers and set an intent that I wanted to know the garden better. I felt very in tune with the bees... There were two big bumble bees that I was very aware of for some reason that almost seemed like they were "guardians."

And then, later today, after what I felt was a really bonding moment, I got stung by a bee in an unrelated incident for the first time since I was a child.

I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but I found it funny; couldn't help but laugh.

TLDR: I consider myself a spiritual person and Zen Buddhism has been my anchor but heard a little about Druidism and would love to learn more!

I (38m) have always considered myself a spiritual person and open to various traditions. I grew up in Judaism, but didn’t continue to practice it after my bar mitzvah as a kid. As I got older I became interested in Buddhism and meditation and ultimately found a home in Zen Buddhism with a sangha - attending silent retreats a few times per year, some deeper learning classes, Jukai (taking the precepts), and meditate on my own daily. It’s had a positive impact on my life. I’m a big fan of history and enjoy having lots of teachings to dig into as zen (and many traditions) does, but I really appreciate its practical emphasis on being present.

As mentioned I am open to other forms of spirituality and philosophies and enjoy learning about various traditions and how that can positively impact my life. I stumbled onto a short YouTube documentary about paganism and I really gravitated to Druidism when it was mentioned and the practices that involve a deeper connection with the earth, which is a huge part of my ethos in general and trying to remember to have gratitude daily (I’m also vegan but that is a personal choice).

I’ve started going down some rabbit holes but I thought I’d ask where might be a good place to start learning about the tradition and if any others out there practice another tradition in tandem like zen or something else? I’m in (and from) the U.S. on the east coast in case that impacts any suggestions.

Tomorrow there will be a near total solar eclipse in my corner of the world. I'm still very new to Druidism and don't know anything about anything as of yet, so hoping to get a nudge in the right direction by more experienced folk!

I really like a lot of what ADF has going on. The virtues, the three realms, the tree, well and flame, all of it resonates very strongly with me.

In this regard, I feel a lot closer to what ADF does than many other orders.

However, there’s a sticking point in that I’m more of a pantheistic animist than a polytheist. I don’t work with specific deities in my practice, at least not in any named sense, but I do feel more comfortable working with more natural, cosmic, or metaphysical concepts that the gods and goddesses are often embodiments of or have authority over.

I understand that ADF is known as the big hard polytheist Druid order, but I also understand that they’re not picky about personal theology as long as you’re willing to work with the rituals in their way, especially in public rituals.

I’m just wondering if anyone else has experience with something similar. Any ADF members want to share or expound upon your non-orthodox (for ADF) theology?

Please, take this soapbox!