An introduction to Druidry.
Druidry holds strong links with ancient Celtic traditions and is in essence a divine worship of nature. As with Paganism in general, Druidry is not fixed with rules and dogma, and there is no one sacred text (as with religions such as Judaism, Christianity or Islam). Instead Druidism offers believers a spiritual path and guidance. Druids may either be monotheistic (belief in one God/Goddess) or polytheistic (belief in many Gods/Goddesses).
There are some common beliefs amongst Druids that help to define their faith, and central to this is the belief that humans are spiritual beings. Druids worship nature and the spiritual nourishment that can be drawn from the natural world. However Druids also believe that an alternate world exists, the 'Otherworld', and people can visit the 'Otherworld' through alternate states of consciousness (dreams, meditation, etc) and also in death. Many Druids share the view that the Celts believed that to be born in this world, we have to die in the Otherworld, and that when we die here, we are born into the Otherworld. For this reason, Druid funerals try to focus on the idea that the soul is experiencing a time of birth.
Some Druids may also believe in reincarnation. Most Druids believe that the soul undergoes a process of successive reincarnations - either always in human form, or in a variety of forms that might include trees and rocks as well as animals.
According to the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, there are three goals in Druidry: wisdom, creativity and love. A common symbol in Druidry is the Awen, which comprises three lines /I\. These have many interpretations, which include: earth, sea and air; body, mind and spirit; or love, wisdom and truth.