There are perhaps nearly as many Druidries as there are Druids. And for many of us it’s the freedom for self expression within our earthy nature focused spirituality that attracts us to the path. Yes, there needs to be some coherence for there to be a path, but we are not people who seek pavements. Or sometimes maybe we are…?
I was initially perplexed and later amused to read a thread about robing for ritual. The enquiring mind asked for advice as to what colour cloak and robe would be “traditional” for a solitary bard, and answers came there many! I want to pick some of them up, and some of them apart, to explain why I feel there is no correct answer.
One clearly OBOD inspired arch druid asserted with confidence that the bards wore white robes with blue tabards, the ovates green and the druids wore just white. Cloaks had to blend into the scenery as traditionally druids were private people. A druid of the BDO stated that they used white, red and black robes for the three distinct stereotypes and cited references from antiquity before admitting his outfit was wholly different again.
If we look into recent history we will find druids who wore nothing at all, dressed in all white with optional false beards, dressed in rainbow coloured costume with fox headdress, or all in black (because if you dressed in white robes you’d never get the blood washed out…) All highly colourful, personal and perhaps bewildering. For me it’s all about the weather conditions, and my outfit will begin with stout walking boots and work up from there – or indeed not, on a hot day ;-).
But it’s so dreadfully confusing for someone who feels they might be drawn to the druid path, knows only a little of the way ahead, and feels less confident than you or I as they make their awkward way into public ritual. That they ask the question shows the lack of clarity that exists – and how easily some step forward with the rule book!
So I ask, next time someone asks such a question, pause and consider how you can incorporate into your response the words “well, it’s your choice to make, but I / some of us / my Order choose to do it this way” rather than “this is the traditional way”. If someone comes to ritual in honour and with respect for the process being undertaken, what matters their dress?
Unless it’s all theatre – in which case dress for the stage, my dears, and get into the limelight!
