Statements of Druid Thought

Following on from my series of blogs on what I consider part of my Druidry, I share here my personal “Statements of Druid Thought”. This is in contrast to statements of belief, since what I share here aren’t fixed beliefs but the customary thoughts I have about Life, Self and Universe. They are each associated with a religious or philosophical tradition that influence my approach to Druidry in the form of a definition, but this definition comes from what I have recieved from them and what each one means to me, rather than What They Strictly Are.

One thing to note is that since thinking is a process, all of these statements are subject to change and improvement.

Druidry the human spirit evolved and continues to evolve within Nature, which is a great source of spiritual inspiration and tradition

Unitarianism (or Unitarian Universalism) the basis of human religion is not unthinking belief but the free and rational reflection on the religious, spiritual and philosophical heritage of humanity expressed in the awe of living

Pragmatism ideas and explanations can be very interesting diversions, but their value is in the practical application of them in life, i.e. whether they work or not. If they work, they are “true”, at least until they stop working or something better comes along.

Naturalism only Nature exists, and everything that exists is Nature; the supernatural does not exist

Psychological Physicalism everything can be best explained by a physical view of the universe; the human mind, however, is not limited to this perception

Humanism human beings and being human are important and valuable

Transpersonal Ecopsychology/Eco-noetics the human mind cannot evolve and find ecological harmony by regressing to an instinctive, pre-technological state, nor by repressing it; the human mind must integrate it in harmony with the development of its intellectual, moral, spiritual and technological faculties.

Gaian Philosophy the Earth is a living system that may be called Gaia; everything we are and everything we do are a part of the life of Gaia; we represent Gaia becoming conscious of herself, but She does not need us

Ecofeminism there is a significant parallel between the relationships of human and planet Earth, men and women, masculinity and femininity, and also the mind and the body

Warrior Pacifism peace is maintaining oneself upright in body and attitude, and confronting the challenges of life without falling to the aggression presented before us and, above all, not falling to the aggression that arises within

Scientific Pantheism Nature is divine and worthy of great awe and respect as we discover its mysteries

Polytheism there are many forces, seen and unseen, in Nature and within the human mind that influence us and how we think, feel, perceive and behave; the gods of world myths represent one means of coming to know these forces

Poetic Atheism the attributes of personhood, personality, consciousness, intelligence and intention are not necessary to describe the creation and general functioning of the universe, though can be very useful as poetic metaphors

Christianity the life and teachings of Jesus Christ are important sources of inspiration and an integral part of Western cultural, religious and spiritual heritage; the love and compassion he felt for human beings in all their humble bearing is central to this

Buddhism satisfaction can be found in accepting that dissatisfaction is a natural condition of life; everything is impermanent, everything changes, we cannot change or control this and suffer when we try; in understanding our own suffering we open ourselves to compassion for other living beings

Taoism harmony is the natural state of all things, disharmony arises from when we interfere with the natural order of things and our own inner nature

Zen it’s not complicated, it’s here and now, so stop trying and start living

Paganism life is sacred and to be celebrated; the healthy expression of the non-rational and primitive aspects of the human spirit are part of this

Shamanism there are hidden and interconnected dimensions to life to which we may develop sensitivity and awareness

Animism the Universe and everything that comprises it are alive; each being and presence in nature are worthy of recognition and respect

Esotericism as we grow and learn our perception of things changes, and we can become more aware of meaning and significance within things which we may have missed before

Magic and Alchemy we can transform the world through the power of inner vision, yet also inner vision may be transformed through its interaction with the world

Mysticism All is One, and even when the All is Many it is still One