More about Druids and Witches
Searles

Tue Oct  6 14:56:34 1998
"What's the difference between Druids and Witches?"*p*This is a question that gets asked a lot nowadays and I have included the beginnings of an answer here.  The first major difference between Druids and Witches is a *social* difference.  One can be a part of the social structure and one is generally considered to be outside of it.  Even today, this distinction exhibits such tendencies in society.*p*On a more fundamental level, Drai/ocht appears to be one approach to complete spirituality among humans, that comes from the logical to the intuitive, bridging the gap through meditation and ritual.  Witchcraft appears to be the same process working from the other side of the gap.  Witches tend to bridge from the intuitive to the logical IMO.  It is also my belief that these basic tendencies tend to influence the male/female ratios within the two population groups.  At the deepest/highest levels of each discipline or way, the only differences that exist between the practitioners seems to be culturally specific and related to tradition. Neither group generally excludes members based upon sex, though both practices have their extreme groups that tend to do so.  The second major difference between Druids and Witches is in their respective orientation and approach to the integration of both the logical and intuitive aspects of the mind. *p*The third major observable difference between Druids and Witches is in their clothing and ritual implements.  Druids were identified with standard ways to dress within Celtic society, while witches were not.  The thing one might remember about a Druid would be how they were dressed.  This standardization is none too specific in today's world though most priesthood's still adopt a standard dress as evidenced by Christian, Muslin, Buddhist and Hindu priestly attire.  Witches tended to dress as everyday people and blend into society (if they lived within a community).  They are noted for not dressing at all within their rituals, which has the modern appellation of "Sky Clad" associated with it.  These differences perhaps reflect the approaches of the two systems, with Witchcraft bringing Nature to the community through its arts, while Drai/Oct tends to safeguard and relate the community into Nature through its arts.*p*I've presented three differences between Drai/ocht and Witchcraft as I see them.  Some of my views are based upon my personal, subjective experiences while other information is based on the historical roles of the two groups within a Celtic context.  When one goes outside of Celtic society to the more general human society, then these types of people become blended and obscured within a variety of names within the variety of societies (Druids only exist within Celtic society).  Witchcraft, being apart from society, is more universally acknowledged in the world as being a religion of Nature Herself, while Drai/ocht (and other priesthoods) are considered to be humankind's attempts to relate their societies to Nature.*p*In the final analysis, I'd say that the difference between Witches and Druids is to be found within their self images, their personal spiritual attitudes, and their functions within/without society.  When these factors blur together, then the distinctions between Witchcraft and Drai/ocht also blur.*p*-- *br*Searles O'Dubhain*br*