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Druidry, or Druidism, is the religion of the Druids, a pagan Celtic priesthood that existed in France, Britain and Ireland before the coming of Christianity to those lands. Its international headquarters was on the island of Mona, now called Anglesey, off the north-west coast of [[Wales]], but was destroyed by the Romans in 61 AD during the revolt of [[Boudica]].

Druidry, or Druidism, is the religion of the Druids, a pagan Celtic priesthood that existed in France, Britain and Ireland before the coming of Christianity to those lands. Its international headquarters was on the island of Mona, now called Anglesey, off the north-west coast of [[Wales]], but was destroyed by the Romans in 61 AD during the revolt of [[Boudica]].

Druid beliefs, as recorded by [[Julius Caesar]], revolved around observations of the motions of the heavenly bodies and their influences on the earth, as in astrology, and they were also firm believers in reincarnation, so much that it was possible to defer the payment of debts until the next life. They also sacrificed criminals and enemy soldiers captured in battle in huge wicker men by burning them to death.

Druid beliefs, as recorded by [[Julius Caesar]], revolved around observations of the motions of the heavenly bodies and their influences on the earth, as in astrology, and they were also firm believers in reincarnation, so much that it was possible to defer the payment of debts until the next life.

Druidic training was very hard, and involved spendind 20 years learning by heart thousands of lines of poetry and song, which included being placed under a rock in a river in order to recite them. If the postulant survived this ordeal he or she became a 'bard', the lowest grade of Druid. The next grade was 'ovate' (meaning seer), and then came Druid proper. A female Druid is known as a Dryad.

Druidic training was very hard, and involved spendind 20 years learning by heart thousands of lines of poetry and song, which included being placed under a rock in a river in order to recite them. If the postulant survived this ordeal he or she became a 'bard', the lowest grade of Druid. The next grade was 'ovate' (meaning seer), and then came Druid proper. A female Druid is known as a Dryad.