Cutting the Mistletoe: An Introduction to Modern Religious Druidry

The nature of modern religious Druidry remains a subject of contestation for practitioners. Some conceive of it as the literal survival of the religion practised by the druids of Iron Age Western Europe; others see it as a revival; and some perceive it as a totally modern movement inspired by its ancient namesake. Many practitioners eschew the term ‘religion’ in favour of ‘spirituality’ or ‘philosophy’; others embrace the term ‘religion’ as a means of securing official recognition. This chapter examines the ways in which Druids use terminology and claims to historicity as part of their legitimation strategy, as well as the manner in which such claims pose problems when viewed from a scholarly outsider perspective. In addition, it outlines the place of Druidry within a wider array of milieux, including those of modern Paganism, esotericism, and Celticism. In doing so it explores how modern Druidry can bring together competing Christian and modern Pagan approaches to form a particularly eclectic new religious movement. The chapter culminates with a summary of the subsequent chapters that appear in the volume.