{"id":592,"date":"2021-04-23T04:12:07","date_gmt":"2021-04-23T04:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.terravara.com\/?p=592"},"modified":"2022-12-24T04:30:48","modified_gmt":"2022-12-24T04:30:48","slug":"wicca-vs-druidry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.terravara.com\/wicca-vs-druidry\/","title":{"rendered":"Wicca vs Druidism: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to nature-based spirituality, Wicca<\/a> and Druidry<\/a> are the two religions most people think of immediately. However, while they do both have a reverence for nature as the heart of their beliefs, they’re really very different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the differences between Wicca and Druidry, and how do their beliefs to each other?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main Differences Between Wicca & Druidry<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To begin, let’s start with their origins. The Wiccan religion was created from an amalgamation of pan-European folk magic practices and ancient beliefs, first written about and popularized by Gerald Gardner in 1950. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many aspects of Wicca can be traces back to the traditions of the British Isles, it also draws from Germanic Heathenry and other traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Druidry, or druidism, is a modern incarnation, imagining, or reconstruction of the beliefs of the druids. It’s largely based on the religious practices of the ancient Celts, though modern druids may also worship pantheons from other cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With these two origins in mind, it’s easy to see that there’d be a number of key differences between the two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the key differences between Wicca and Druidry include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Hierarchy.<\/strong> Wicca is organized into covens, Druidry is organized into groves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Initiation.<\/strong> Wicca is secretive and initiatory, though some practitioners are solitary. Druidry is more open and experiential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Worship.<\/strong> Wiccan rituals honor the Goddess and her consort, the God. Druid rituals honor nature spirits, ancestors, and whatever deities are relevant to the occasion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Magic.<\/strong> Both religions use magic, but Wiccan spells are typically geared toward creating change and manifesting the witch’s desires. Druid magic places a heavier emphasis on awen, the energy of creativity and inspiration. Some branches of Druidry include a prayer to receive eloquence from a deity of inspiration in every ritual.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Astronomy.<\/strong> Druidism is more oriented toward solar holidays and phenomena, while Wicca is moon-focused.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Emphasis on religious aspects.<\/strong> Some branches of Druidry, like the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, don’t consider themselves a religion at all — more like a philosophical and non-religious spiritual path. Wicca is a religion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Codes of Ethics.<\/strong> Wicca has The Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law as a moral guide. Different branches of Druidism have their own moral and ethical codes, such as the Nine Druidic Virtues or Three Goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n