Druidry as a Culture
Anthropologist Jonathan Woolley
This year’s Mt Haemus paper has been published. It’s a fantastic, erudite yet accessible, discussion of Druidry as a culture. What! You thought it was a religion or spiritual path? Think again by reading Jonathan Woolley’s argument here.
Anthropologist Woolley writes: “The purpose of this paper is to characterise the central features of Druidry as a culture. Contemporary Druidry is defined varyingly as a religion, a spirituality, or a philosophy – but the broad category of “culture” allows us to consider Druidry as something that is as much practiced as it is thought, as much felt as it is imagined, and something that looks out onto broad philosophical horizons. Through examining both Druidry-as-practiced, and recent discussions of Druidic themes in previous Mount Haemus Lectures, it becomes clear that the fundamental orientation of Druidry today is towards one philosophical horizon in particular – that of aesthetics.
This elemental aesthetic reveals a cosmology that is orderly, yet full of feeling; holistic, yet diverse – that in turn renders sensible a culture where body and soul, nature and humankind, emotion and reason cannot be kept apart, where all aspects of existence are valuable. In appreciating these pivotal aspects of Druidic thinking, I suggest, it becomes clear to see the unique contribution of Druidic philosophy to central moral and political concerns of the present day.”
6 Responses to “Druidry as a Culture”
Yes!I humbly totally agree. In this way it is far more grounded “in the flesh” and gives us druids much more ‘air’ to breathe.I like this holistic culture approach. Thank you mr. Wooley , refreshing and yet innate very ancient too. Merci Beaucoup. Love Mimsy
This makes so much sense! A main aim of Druidic Practice as I understand it, is the “Re-enchantment of the World” through being part of Nature and not separate from it.
I read the paper and I must say it was one of the best I have see on Druidry, what it is and what it should become.Like him, when asked what Druidry is, I stumble for words to explain it.
Now it will be so much easier!
I was a bible scholar, do I dare to believe I can become a Druid scholar in the same way? No, but as a culture it will be identifiable through clearer avenues of archeology,sociology and history, it’s not dogma but it will do.
A wonderful piece of work! Informative, enlightening, and uplifting. Well done Jonathan Woolley.
Wonderful paper! Thank you, Philip, for posting!
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