Celtic Myth & Magick: Harness the Power of the Gods and Goddesses (Llewellyn's World Religion and Magic Series) Review

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Celtic Myth & Magick: Harness the Power of the Gods and Goddesses (Llewellyn's World Religion and Magic Series) ReviewWhen I first bought this book several years ago I was very excited. I had only been a practicing neo-pagan for a couple of years, and was very interested with expanding the Wicca 101 stuff with particular cultural interests - especially the elusive "Celtic" being that my Irish father raised me with such inclinations.
When I first read the book I thought it was accurate enough. It was pretty much the only source of its kind that I found, and it looked authentic and detailed enough. However, as the years I have passed I've found myself reconsidering this opinion greatly - especially as I've compared it to other source material.
I think the first glaring red flag went up when I re-read it and, in the opening pages, declared that 'Celtic culture' was really pantheistic and not polytheistic. It then proceeds to treat the gods and goddesses as synonomous and interchangeable - ignoring the cultural differences which make them unique, and being horribly disrespectful to the "contributing cultures" to boot.
Besides my opinions regarding pantheism used in such ways, it bothered me that the gods and goddesses were treated, as many neo-pagan books do, as spell components rather than viable entities. I know others don't share my opinion that this book is guilty of this - but then, this is just my opinion.
I was also bothered by the fact that it seemed more Wicca and New Age than Celtic - and this little fact even stood out in my first reading, when the only resource materials I really had were of the Wicca 101 variety.
Now while I'll say that it's not the worst resource material out there, it's far from the best... and those truly interested in a deep exploration and understanding of the Celtic cultures and their gods, they'd do better looking elsewhere (Peter Bellesford Ellis and 'Gods and Heroes of the Celts' by Marie-Louise Sjoestedt are good for a start).Celtic Myth & Magick: Harness the Power of the Gods and Goddesses (Llewellyn's World Religion and Magic Series) Overview

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Goddess Afoot: Practicing Magic with Celtic & Norse Goddesses Review

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Goddess Afoot: Practicing Magic with Celtic & Norse Goddesses ReviewMichelle Skye is the perfect example of what a pagan writer should be. She uses primary source material for her mythic information--can you imagine!?! And better than that, she is very clear in where her writing differs from the primary source, or has no basis in the source. To me this is an outstanding practice that should be adopted by all pagan authors of non-fiction.
I always tell people that there are two ways to know the goddesses--through study and through direct contact and both are totally necessary to get the whole picture. This is the approach that Skye uses in her books. The meditations, rituals and spells arise from and are complimentary to the factual information on each goddess. This being said, she is not a reconstructionist or purist in any sense, which may turn some people off to her work--for example she recommends the use of white sage in the rituals honoring European goddesses, and one ritual even uses runic yoga--but I see no harm in bringing the goddesses into our lives in ways that differ from our ancestors.
I am hard pressed to find fault with this book--but I do have two minor complaints. On page 16 Skye writes that guided meditation is also known as shamanic journeying--but the two practices share very little in common--I would have to say that statement is completely false. My other problem comes when in the chapter on Eriu, she writes about how the goddess's sons are known by the god they worship: "Mac Greine --Sethor, the sun his god" (p148) and doesn't mention that the sun "god" in Ireland is female--I find this misleading. She corrects this later in the book in the Sunna section when she writes "that the Celts and the Norse related the orb of the sun with the Goddess" (p.248), but if you are only interested in the Irish goddesses and only read their sections of the book, you will be sadly misinformed.
But those two complaints aside, I feel that this is an excellent book and I do hope that Llewellyn continues to publish books by Michele Skye and finds other authors of her caliber to publish.Goddess Afoot: Practicing Magic with Celtic & Norse Goddesses Overview

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Magic of the Celtic Otherworld: Irish History, Lore & Rituals (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom) Review

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Magic of the Celtic Otherworld: Irish History, Lore & Rituals (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom) ReviewPreviously published as "Glamoury", this book is a surprising publication since it comes from Llywelyn (who does not have a stellar reputation in regards to scholarship). As well as lore and history, Blamires presents some wonderful visualization exercise which are downright shamanic. There is a good overview of some of the beings you may meet in the Otherworld though I feel he is too cautious in recommending that you not work with some of them (I believe you can be prepared to face anything as long as you have acquainted yourself with your own Shadow Self) . The somewhat hermetic rituals are also group focused and will take a little time for deconstruction for the dedicated solitary. However, I believe this book is an important entry into Celtic magic and shamanistic practice.Magic of the Celtic Otherworld: Irish History, Lore & Rituals (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom) Overview

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By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom) Review

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By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom) ReviewI picked up this book a few years ago... having an interest in things Celtic and in shamanistic techniques. I found it lacking in both.
This is yet another book by Conway which is just Wicca disguised as something else. All of her books sound exactly alike and say exactly the same thing - which some 'cultural flavors' thrown in to try and deceive people into thinking it's actually something new. It's also an easy sell as many neo-pagans and New Age followers are attracted to all things Celtic and 'native'.
Now I'm not going to say there is no such thing as Celtic shamanism - as shamanistic techniques are thought to be able to cross borders, and I see no reason why you can't blend shamanistic techniques with authentic Celtic beliefs. This book, however, is disappointing on the 'authentic' level and marginally "fluff".
This book will not be a good guide for Celtic Paganism - and it definately won't make you a Shaman (tho, as has been said, no book really can - tho you can learn the techniques).
The only reason I gave it three rather than lower is because the questionable nature of this book lead me to search out better sources.
I suggest books by John and/or Caitlin Matthews on the subject of Celtic Shamanism, Michael Harner on general Shamanism, and Peter Bellesford Ellis on Celtic studies for those truly interested in the depths on such things. They're good to start.
However, for more neo-pagan (of which I am) pseudo-Celtic eclectic Wicca - this book fits the bill...
(A note on Conway in general - I question anyone who claims to be as dedicated a devotee to as many different paths as she writes about. And since every book does sound the same, excepting a few particulars thrown in mostly for flavor, this 'suspicion' only deepened the more I read of her books. The scholarship, as with most Llewellyn products, is always questionable.)By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom) Overview

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Celtic Traditions: Druids, Faeries, and Wiccan Rituals Review

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Celtic Traditions: Druids, Faeries, and Wiccan Rituals ReviewThis book is the best book I've read lately about the Celts, Faery, Druids, Celtic Gods, and Celtic Wicca. Sirona Knight covers all of these subjects in-depth and with intelligence. She obviously spent a great deal of time writing this book, and the information in it is both scholarly and experiential. She writes about the origins of the Celts, who the Druids and Faery are, and she also gives plenty of hands-on exercises. I have read many other books by this author, and each one of them is intelligent, articulate and very thought provoking. If you are interested in Celtic subjects and facts, read this book first!Celtic Traditions: Druids, Faeries, and Wiccan Rituals Overview

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The Druid Magic Handbook: Ritual Magic Rooted in the Living Earth Review

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The Druid Magic Handbook: Ritual Magic Rooted in the Living Earth ReviewOn my trip to Iowa, one of the cool things that happened is that I got JMG's "The Druid Magic Handbook"...for free!
While in Ames, a friend of mine and I were talking about art and art patronage. I am a struggling artist myself. Seeing as I am always hand-to-mouth, my friend mentioned wouldn't it be cool if you had a patron? They asked where I wanted to go. I said the local bookstore. We went there, and sure enough, "The Druid Magic Handbook" was on the shelves as I had hoped it would be. So I set it aside in a stack of books I wanted to look through. Then before we left the store, my friend said they would like to help me as a sort of patron, and offered to buy a book of my choice. So...duh, I selected JMG's book :-)
So I read it on my flight back to Montana. And there are some really really good things in there, such as:
-The idea of disenchantment and RE-enchantment of the natural world as a part of the Druid path...something that I had come to Druidry hoping that others sought! Back in the 80s I had done an art exhibit called "Earth Songs." And Ishi, played by Graham Greene, in the movie "Last of His Tribe" heard the song of the earth, asked Professor Kroeber (Jon Voight) if he could hear the earth singing, and Voight pretended he could (I think I can) and Ishi said, "What she say?" And was so upset when he learned the Professor could not hear it after all and was pretending. And then Ishi began to sing the song he heard the Earth singing. We Indians sang our prayers...songs are vital to this effort of working with the natural world. Hearing their songs, and singing back:
chanting (song) / en-chanting (put the song into) / dis-en-chanting (removing a song which was put into) / re-en-chanting (replacing a removed song)
- The idea of the Tree of Life relating to mapping space, while the Wheel of Life is a map of time...and one can use BOTH..brilliant!
- The comparison not only of the five hermetic elements and the druid elements...but the comparison of the five elements with the states of matter affirmed by science (fire=energy, water=fluid, earth=solid, air=gaseous, spirit=time/space continuum)..brilliant stuff!
- I also really like that JMG cautioned people from rushing out and messing with sacred places, that the neglected, ruined, and harmed placed are the places that need "re-enchantment"-- don't mess with places that retain their song! Leave the Medicine Wheel in peace, leave Mount Shasta in peace. See what you can do in that vacant lot, your backyard, that neglected patch of woods. Plus it is a longterm effort to do this work, from the acorn a mighty oak will grow, even though we may only live long enough to see a sprout
There was some GREAT new ways of thinking about magic in there, ways that JMG described it that made immediate intuitive sense as never before. And the way he described the three Druid elements of calas, nwyfre, and gwyar, well, I finally "got it"!
The contents include:
-The Foundations of Druid Magic
1. The Ways of the Life Force
2. The Alphabet of Magic
3. The Essentials of Practice
-The Practice of Druid Magic
4. The Gates of the Elements
5. The Grove of the Druids
6. The Art of Enchantment
7. The Secret of the Grail
-The Way of Druid Magic
8. The Reenchantment of the World
Great integration of the essentials and wonderful explanations and clear writing, for which John Michael Greer is justifiably famous! A must buy for those on the Druidic path and those interested in reenchanting the earthThe Druid Magic Handbook: Ritual Magic Rooted in the Living Earth Overview

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Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practice (For Beginners (Llewellyn's)) Review

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Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practice (For Beginners (Llewellyn's)) ReviewAs a teacher of Wicca for many years, I'm always looking for better materials to use for training. I am grateful to Ms. Sabin for providing what will undoubtedly be the introductory book I will recommend for the foreseeable future. She presents the basics without pushing any given path or tradition, often presenting varying interpretations and viewpoints in a non-judgemental manner. This is a solid foundation for seekers to use as a springboard to whatever flavor of Wicca they choose to explore.
I appreciate that she addresses ethics within Wicca, which many authors seem to avoid, or present in a highly simplistic manner.
The book is clearly meant for beginners, hence the title, and is possibly the best overall introduction I have yet seen.Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practice (For Beginners (Llewellyn's)) Overview

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Celtic Lore & Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess: Invoking the Morrigan Review

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Celtic Lore & Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess: Invoking the Morrigan ReviewNot only has the author of this book dedicated her life to The Morrigan that it shows vibrantly through conversing with her, but it also shows in all aspects of her life, this book included. I have studied about the Morrigan for over a year now, and I feel like I wasted time trying to put the pieces together. If you ever want to learn almost everything there is to learn about the Morrigan, I recommend this book! :)Celtic Lore & Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess: Invoking the Morrigan Overview

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Be A Goddess: A Guide to Magical Celtic Spells for Self-Healing, Prosperity and Great Sex Review

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Be A Goddess: A Guide to Magical Celtic Spells for Self-Healing, Prosperity and Great Sex ReviewFrancesca De Grandis `Be a Goddess' The Third Rd tradition is an immensely transforming experience for the wayfarer, journeymen or seeker on the way to finding their initial starting point or for those with an inherent deeply resonating connection in a Celtic Shamanic Magical Discipline. Francesca brings together a broad range of powerful practises for the aspiring spirit, which is truly reaching out to be connected and transformed in a down-to-earth, practical everyday application of knowledge. She is real, accessible, encouraging, has a great web site, and `there' for you. For prospective readers, I know there is a tendency when flicking through a book to be cautious and sceptical of current works that involve the terms - magic, shaman, guides, spirits, beings and fairies. To immediately disregard that which we do not understand, because of connotations & misrepresentation in a `Oh I know here we go off with the fairies again, when will these authors get a life!' `I am looking for a real discipline not delusion!' type of inner voice.
Well I understand this, as I have been the world's greatest sceptic. But now I am the world's greatest eclectic! So, if you truly have a `desire' to reach into your `Self' and find the inherent beauty and magic of the human state, and `desire' to abide in a clarified, empowered, sacred space within you daily - this course will lay down the essential approach and inner housekeeping required for a life time discipline of worship, humility, enchantment, passion and fantastic super sweaty sex.
I have researched over 50 books on magic, shamanism, witchcraft, ritual, healing, energy and pain management. All due to the need to find the essence of transpersonal medicine (Body, Mind, Emotion and Soul healing) from ancient healing arts. I have been so ill for 5 years plagued by chronic fatigue, body-wide pain, sleep deprivation, annihilated immune system, etc with no allopathic solutions available. A classic merry-go-round of symptoms with no hope or future. What I found in Francesca's book and further from daily practise over the last 12 months of the Third Rd, was the way to heal my Soul, which was so desperately devoid of spirit and required special nurturing and connected love. My mind, which was so effected by the layers of medication and the effect of being estranged from my `Self'. My body that was so physically exhausted beyond any possible energy healing, beyond all - I was lost to my `Self' completely. Believe me, this is a very dark hole and a long way to crawl back from and required enormous self-discipline, self-clarification and nurturing, not to mention some pure magic and the right teacher. The essence of `Be a Goddess! - the Third Rd' has reached deep into my (and all the other folk I have encouraged to participate) soul, psyche and connection to this life. Shifting blocks, distortions, and past hurts that live on until they are recognised, nurtured and forgiven. Techniques to assist us in becoming `whole'. There are advanced techniques when followed as directed, which have been the only true way I have been able to override my chronic fatigue and pain. I have tried and participated in many alternatives to no avail. But the most potent aspect of this training is the experience of the profound in everyday life, the connection with deity, the merging with the truly sacred, and feeling the enchantment in life. The Third Rd teaches enchantment, `magic' in everyday that we live in every moment, as a powerful extension of our existence, not an external ritualistic `hocus pocus' approach that can be more baffling than helpful. No one wants empty theatrics when searching for understanding. Once you are grounded with your understanding, you can have all the theatrics you desire!
Be a Goddess - The Third Rd integrates many aspects - energy, self-clarification, empowerment, passion, desire, love, and true worship. True worship maintains humility, which is paramount for any practitioner as we unfold on our journey. It connects us to the love of Self, then love of deity, our empowerment to enact our desires and passions and our right to profound nurturing. Self-clarification keeps clarity of purpose which helps to inhibit egoic self-righteous attitudes from arising. The shamanic training opens the consciousness to `states of change' and the inner realms of transformation, allowing one access to the archetypal teachers and to see the magnificence of creation unfolding from within. With all of these healing and empowering aspects of this course and tradition (which are quite invisible to the student at the time), individuals both male and female who have been affected by Christianity, Patriarchy, Dominator Social structures, drug addiction, self abuse, and chronic health conditions or carry scares from their past, will benefit - if they practise!
I recommend this book to interested people of many different traditions, backgrounds and views. Sceptics, The Way of the Goddess followers, neo-pagans & pagans, witches, traditional WICCA practitioners, Self Healers and Healers, Shamans, etc, but most of all to any `being' which is questing for its authentic Self. Rosey Coggins `99Be A Goddess: A Guide to Magical Celtic Spells for Self-Healing, Prosperity and Great Sex Overview

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