Understanding Deities in Druidry
Why are Druids more tolerant of non-Celtic religions?
The complex tapestry of the world’s spiritual traditions presents a myriad of deities, each with their distinct narratives, roles, and attributes. Powerful and legendary figures from various religions have captivated the human imagination for millennia. These gods, though subject to the flux of religious practices, never truly disappeared. For instance, Thor, the Norse god of Thunder, Hades, the Greek god of the Underworld, and Sun Wukong, the immortal trickster deity from Chinese folklore, persist in modern culture. Yet, the Celtic gods have not received the same level of attention, perhaps due to their less distinguishable characteristics or certain names, legends, and “powers” not being as clearly defined in historical records, or even lost to time. This discrepancy raises an intriguing question: Why are Druids more tolerant of non-Celtic religions?
To understand this phenomenon, it’s essential to delve into history. The Druids of antiquity were far from a monolithic group; their diversity was as vast as the lands the Celts inhabited, which spanned from the chilly fjords of Iceland to the craggy highlands of Anatolia. The Celtic pantheon was likely not as fixed or clearly defined as the Greco-Roman pantheon that is familiar to many. Archaeological, historical, and literary evidence suggest that the ancient Celts worshipped a variety of local deities, many of whom remain shrouded in the mists of time.
Interestingly, debates often arise within Druidic traditions about the correct set of Celtic pagan gods to follow, a peculiarity likely stemming from preconceptions shaped by popular fiction’s reductionist understanding of ancient religions. Pagan groups and their pantheons are typically (though not always) grouped as follows:
British (Insular):
- Goidelic — Irish, Scottish, and Manx
- Brittonic — Welsh, Cornish, and Breton
European (Continental):
- Gaulish — French, Belgian, Western German, and Galatian (Anatolian)
- Celt-Iberian — Spanish, Portuguese
- Italic — Swiss, Transalpine, and (possibly) Etruscan
Although interesting overlaps exist between these distinct Celtic cultures, the differences are significant enough to warrant considering these as individual groups of deities. For example, the Goidelic Pantheon reveres the Tuatha Dé Danann (literally, the People of the Goddess Danu) which includes deities such as the Dagda, the Morrigan, Brigid, and Lugh. In contrast, the Brittonic Pantheon follows the House of Dôn, featuring Arianrhod, Manawydan, Ceridwen, and Lleu Llaw Gyffes.
With such a diverse divine tapestry, identifying the right framework for worship can seem daunting, sometimes driving those seeking spiritual fulfillment away from the faith and practice of the Druids. Over the years, I’ve often pondered this predicament. Druids, by our nature, want people to embrace the practice and welcome our ancient faith back into their homes, yet it can seem so complex that it drives away those who are curious about Druidry and Celtic paganism. After a moment of meditation within my grove, I stumbled upon a perspective that I believe the Druids may have shared.
Consider the stars in the sky. Every civilization throughout history has looked up at the same constellations, yet each has interpreted them differently. To some, the collection of stars we know as “Orion” represents a great hunter, while to others it could symbolize a soaring eagle, a running deer, or a dancing god. Each interpretation emerges from a unique cultural and historical context, yet they all refer to the same pattern of stars.
Remember, a core tenet of Druidry is the “interconnectedness of all things”. The idea that everything, from the tiniest ant to the mightiest oak, is a manifestation of the same cosmic energy. If we apply this principle to the many gods and goddesses across the world, we see them not as distinct entities confined to certain cultures but as universal forces. These energies, as old and unfathomable as the cosmos itself, have been given names and forms by various cultures, akin to a geologist discovering and naming a rock that existed long before the geologist’s comprehension.
This perspective finds resonance in many spiritual traditions. Hinduism, for instance, also proposes that all deities are aspects of a single divine force, Brahman. These deities are diverse interpretations of the ultimate divine force that permeates the universe. Thus, viewed through this lens, gods from disparate pantheons share a unified origin, appearing in varied forms across cultures and time.
Druidry’s spiritual fluidity accommodates personal experiences and interpretations of the divine, further cementing its place as a flexible and inclusive path. Druids are thus free to honor deities from a multitude of pantheons, or none at all, depending on their personal belief system. One might resonate with the Celtic Morrigan, the Hindu Shiva, or the Norse Odin — or perhaps, find divinity in the whispering winds, the roaring waves, or the silent gaze of the moon. The choice remains personal and subjective, underscoring the belief in the sacredness of individual spiritual journeys.
This perspective of the divine not only nurtures theological diversity within the Druidic community but also fosters practical cohesion. By recognizing all gods as different names of the same universal force, Druidry cultivates an atmosphere of acceptance and unity. This inclusivity extends to practitioners from varying faith backgrounds, each finding their unique divine resonance within the Druidic practice.
Druidry’s view of deities as universal energies — diverse manifestations of the same divine force — makes it an open, accepting path that honors the divine in all its forms and names. This perspective invites an introspective journey for practitioners, allowing them to weave their own narratives of the divine. By shedding the constraints of rigid pantheons, Druidry offers a spiritual haven where diversity doesn’t divide but unifies, and where different names merely mirror the many faces of the divine.
In every name, a shared divine spark,
Under different skies, the same sacred mark.
The Druid’s heart in rhythm with the cosmic tide,
Where countless faces of the divine reside.
See, through varied faiths, the unity we embark.
