To the best of our knowledge, a druid was a member of a class in ancient Celtic society which included priests and other educated professions such as alchemist, magician, seer, philosopher, astronomer, physician, historian, judge, poet, and storyteller. We say "to the best of our knowledge" because the first ever mention of such a class of people within the Celtic society comes from a lost manuscript which most later Roman scholars quoted when referring to the Celts. According to Caesar's reports, these druids wrote none of their knowledge down, insisting it all be memorized which could take up to 20 years to accomplish. However, since not one certifiably ancient scrap of knowledge has come down to us from the druids, beyond the reports certifying that such a class of people existed, we know little to nothing about them.

In an Ár nDraíocht Féin (ADF) context, a druid is a modern neo-pagan who studies the current sciences to draw out what little we can know for certainty about the past. Archeology, anthropology and literature all play an important role in informing modern ADF druids. We use this knowledge to create a modern approach to worship of the old gods which is meaningful in today's world. ADF druids are polytheistic, addressing the gods and goddesses of old as distinct individuals rather than aspects of a singular whole. An ADF druid is not restricted based on gender or any other class of people; men, women, old, young, gay, straight, rich and poor are all welcomed alike.

ADF embraces the term 'druid' not because of some allegiance to a particular culture such as the Irish or Celts, but because ADF wishes its members to aspire to the depth of knowledge of the world around us to which the original people by that title are attributed to having achieved. Research and study of the gods and the people who worshiped them is an integral part of Our Own Druidry along with personal practice and community service.