What is the difference between Wicca and Neo Druidism?

Question

I'm a solitary young Wiccan, and I have much to learn. However, I've been looking into Neo-Druidism, but don't quite understand it. What is the difference between the two besides the titles?

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Answer 1

James B's contention that Wicca and Neo Druidism are "whatever you want them to be" only applies to the fluffy bunnies of either religion. Serious practitioners understand that there are rules for each, and those rules define the serious practice of the religion.

Both Wicca and Neo Druidism are modern religions; Neo Druidism is much closer to being a "reconstructionist" faith than Wicca is, in that it attempts to adhere to historical details about Druidic practice. Their concepts of how the universe is structured, how one approaches the Divine, and the nature of the Divine are quite different. Neo Druidism, at least in my experience, tends to be more rigorously scholarly than Wicca. I'll leave a more detailed description of their differences to some of the Druids on the board. :-)

Answer 2

Not sure about "neo druidism" but real druidism involved human sacrifice and ritual cannibalism. before I get flamed to death by people who claim the information is only Tacitus and unreliable, archeology recently in both France and England make it very clear that this DID happen during the roman invasion. In at least two locations it was en-mass. The cannibalism part is also clear in the cutting of the bones lengthwise to remove the marrow. Current historians see this as an extreme sacrifice when facing the extreme need presented by the Romans (they were actively seeking to destroy the druidic religion). Beyond that, digs at sacred groves show a bit more about the religion and some of the practices. I'm not an expert, but read the archeology evidence, and you get an idea. Wicca on the other hand seems... more recently created :D

On a side note, Tacitus and other roman historians sometimes got it wrong (like child sacrifice in Carthage) but, in this case, archeology proves it out... Carthage was a strange situation, as they did bury children in a ritual way, while they cremated adults.. so it is not necessarily just slander, it is more likely an honest misunderstanding...

Answer 3

Druidism is a reconstruction religion of the Celts that revere nature.

There are some basic differences and a distinct pantheon. Unfortunately, I'm not versed in Druidism. I'd suggest a Wikipedia and Google search specifically on Druidism.

Wicca can be a general religion that can incorporate deities from many pantheons, whereas the Druids work with Celtic deities, Celtic trees/plants, etc.

Hope that helps, at least to give you a start.

Added: Suki is way off base. People have been working at reconstructing Druidism for decades. Because the Celts had oral traditions passed on - it's difficult but fragments are being found and there are serious druids out there.

Answer 4

aside from the fact that wicca is a new religion and type of witchcraft founded by Gerald Gardner in 1945 and the fact that the Celts and Druids have been around a great deal longer, there are a great many differences. It takes aproximately 3 years as a Wiccan to reach HP/HPS status in almost all branches of wicca. Druids take at minimum 10 years study to become a full Druid and the subjects studied in training are quite different from that of Wicca. While most forms of Druidism only recognize the Celtic dieties, Wicca recognizes everything except perhaps Jesus and Satan. Wiccans can hold their meetings anywhere and don't have to do so out of doors. Druids hold their rites outside in nature, especially in henges of stone or wood.... I could go on and on but you see my point check out the various websites for Wicca and Druidism as a start Reverend Patricia Norwood, former AD ,MOCC RDW (Reformed Druidic Wicca(RDNA offshoot) founder and curent AD OOS RDW (RDNA offshoot)

Answer 5

Both religions are modern and both include a lot of variation within their definitions. Neo-Druidism generally draws very heavily from Celtic ideas, while Wicca draws from a very wide variety of cultures. Druidism often works in systems of three (sea sky and land) while Wiccan ceremony is heavily rooted in the Platonic system of four elements. Wicca generally focuses heavily on gender polarity. Wicca also often bears more influence from ceremonial magic.

Answer 6

Yeah, so, I'm a druid. And, Druidism and Wicca are polar opposites in my eyes. I hate when peopel ask me if I do witchcraft. Wicca is magic. Druidism is nature. Druidism is harmony with the world. Wicca is spelling and kind of scares me a little.

Answer 7

Prariecrow's answer is pretty good. I have only ben studying Neo-pagan religions for a short while, but there ARE some major differences between the two. I have found a few books that seem to be good, but cannot vouch for them as I have not read them yet. I will be picking up "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler soon. I'll post about it once I'm finished.

Answer 8

Look at it this way: The Roman Catholic church is whatever their popes and bishops says it is. Catholicism is highly structured and organized and documented. Wicca, on the other hand, doesn't have popes or bishops or a formal catechism. Anybody can call themself a Wicca priest(ess). Anybody can publish a book to define Wicca but such books are never generally accepted. Same goes for Druidism. These things don't have written constitutions, organized structures or a leadership hierarchies. It's really a make it up as you go free-for-all. Bottom line is that Wicca and Druidism is whatever you want it to be. Have fun with it -- as the previous answerer points out you'll outgrow it soon enough.

Answer 9

neo druidism is based on what we know of the practices of the priesthood of the ancient celts. wicca is a modern religion based on northern and western european paganism. there's an excellent book on druidry, i think it's called 'merlin's path' and it's usually on the shelf in the new age or earth religion section of the bookstore.

suki obviously knows nothing about either. tho tolkien probably influenced the early pagan revivalists, his work has nothing to do with druidry or wicca. wicca has been practiced since the 50's, and neo-druidism almost as long. few of the pagans i know actually play dungeons and dragons. ignore the closed-minded idiots and follow your instincts to your true calling.

Answer 10

druids differ from wiccans greatly as thier belief system adopts many other methods that wiccans do not explore email me if you like(Teacher of the wiccan religion)