The ritual play of power: pilgrimage and protest amongst contemporary English druids

Abstract

Once shrouded in myth and ritual secrecy, modern Druids have stepped into more public arenas and are more accessible than they have ever been. Introducing three of the largest Druid groups in England today, this ethnographic study will explore the various ways in which Druidry is constructed, and through the act of pilgrimage, ritually performed. Projecting folk-lore, myth and history upon places such as Stonehenge, Glastonbury and lona, this thesis will demonstrate how Druids compete with heritage bodies, archaeologists, and Christian pilgrims, creating a sense of culture through ritual acts that emerge from the space between idea and expression. With thanks to Simon, Peter and Marion.