Customer Reviews (1)

Propbably the best source for Celtic Mythology ever written
I first picked this book up at a library about ten years ago and it piqued my interest in Celtic studies.

"Celtic Mythology" is a well researched and written book that keeps the reader's interest with intricately woven tales and photographs of Celtic artefacts.

My only lament is that this book is no longer in print. ... Read more

Product Description
100 full-color and 100 b&w illus. 9 x 12. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is a great beginners survey guide.My
At 141 pages, with a lot of full color pictures/illustrations, this is more a picture book of celtic mythology than anything else.While the major myths are touched on:The Irish Invasion Myths, the early Milesian Kings, Tales of the Ultonian Cycle, Tales of the Ossianic Cycle, The Voyage of Maeldun, Myths and Tales of the Cymry, and the Arthurian Saga this book gives little more than a flavor of each story.The illustrations, pictures of places or ancient artifacts are usually relevant to the story on the page the picture appears on.The authors have also made every effort to cite the book where each illustration is from or which museum each artifact was photographed from, but the stories themselves have no source citations.You are left wanting for more after reading this book.However, with no bibliography, one wonders where the stories were lifted from, and more importantly where to continue your new found interest after reading this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Celtic tradition is rich in tales of wondrous beings, including giants, demons, fairies, merfolk, monsters, halflings, wizards, and witches. In this compelling explanation and celebration of these strange and fascinating creatures and entities, a master storyteller and folklorist and a talented artist bring the archetypes to life in a vivid, authentic, and entertaining manner. The origins, significance, characteristics, and roles of each are explained in great detail. Modern retellings of classic tales and remarkable, vibrant illustrations created especially for this book provide a new perspective on the imaginative folklore and culture of the Celtic lands of Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and Cornwall.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

excellent book - sets the standard for folk history
Reviewer: A reader from Dublin & Londinium
An excellent book giving good historical contextual information and old folk tales from a
sampling of the Celtic nations. It sets the standard for this type of book combining rare
historical insight to the oral tradition.
It is suitable book/gift for any 7-16 year old.

Naoise O'H

Excellent book
I enjoyed immensely this book on the celtic mythological creatures (and I still believe in most of 'em!). The artwork was compelling, and the folk stories were excellent. My only complaint was that some of the information was historically inaccurate; however this didn't happen enough to take away from the value of this book.

WOW! What a refreshing Celtic Mythology Book!
This book was a very plesant suprise! I have read and own many folklore and Mythology books of the Celtic Peoples. This book covers a wide range, educates you and entertains you at the same time. Dr. Bob Curran tells us about GIANTS, DEMONS, FAIRIES, MERFOLK, MONSTERS, HALFLINGS, SOLITARY FAIRIESAND SPRITES, WITCHES, WIZARDS and WISE WOMEN, and ANCIENT HEROS, and yet it is not the same old, same old, stories redone again and again. This is not an Encyclopedic book as I had though when ordering, it has only 29 stories,taken fron lore and legend, and each creature is quite well explained in the story. There is also an introduction at the beginning of each chapter explaining the subject in General, translated into an english language that Americans understand. The Stories come from WALES, BRITIAN, CORNWALL, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, BRITTANY, and the ISLE OF MAN. This book is very readable, and if your children are not easily frightened, could be read as a story a night Book. In the Introduction to the Book Mr. Curran gives a very good overview of the Celts and how we came from oral tradition, to something written. In his own words "This book will, hopefully, give a taste of the varied tapestry of the Celtic Imagination and perspective." I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and the great illustrations are a great bonus also! It is an 8 x 11 coffee table style book, that is quite eye catching. ... Read more

Product Description
One of my friends tells me that you, little reader, will not like these old, old tales; another says they are too sad for you, and yet another asks what the stories are meant to teach.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Sad tales not fit for children
There are three tales in this short volume, none really fit for children, for all are sad stories, as the author himself recognizes. The number three occurs in each of the tales frequently. Each is filled with magic. Each has some resemblance to biblical tales. Each has a woman who is wise or very decisive, who precipitates the events. Each concerns a woman who focuses foolishly on who she loves. Each ends with the death of the tale's hero.

In the first legend, The Star-eyed Deirdre, a wise man predicts to the king that a female child will be born who would be more beautiful than any other girl, but she would bring ruin the his kingdom. The king is unafraid. When the child is born, he orders that she be raised in a hut far from other people, especially men, because, he says, he intends to marry the beauty. But Deirdre, for such is her name, hears about a very handsome man, desires him, and finds a way to marry him. The king is outraged and is determined to get Deirdre for himself.

The second tale The Four White Swans concerns a step-mother who feels that her husband is neglecting her because of his love for his four children. She transforms her husband's children into swans and curses them to live three cycles of three hundred years, the last two in terrible conditions. They will only be delivered when certain events occur at the end of the nine hundred years.

The third story Dermat and Grania is about a king's daughter who rejects all suitors. But one day messengers bring her a marriage proposal from another king. She accepts the messenger's suit without thinking, as if she spoke in her sleep. When the king comes to claim her, she realizes her mistake and falls in love with one of his heroes. The two race together from the palace, and the king is determined to get her back.

Good book
This book has three celtic tales, I wouldn't tell these tales to children if are easily upset. Every story ends in a happiness right before they die. Other then these wounderful stories.

not what it says
I just ordered this book on my kindle and it is NOT a book of celtic tales... It is a book of western campfire stories.Since this is not at all what i wanted to get I'm not thrilled.

too dry and badly edited to even get through
simply horrid. any kind of editing would have been a boost. it is badly written, badly typset, making reading a painful chore, and the dry writing is simply terrible. skip it.

Good Book
Good book, but I got it because it is free, and am not qualified to give a review. ... Read more

Product Description
Although solar-oriented astrology has dominated Western astrological thought, this work presents concepts based on the ancient Druidic lore and traditions of the lunar-based Celtic astrology. It explains the association of each lunar month with one of the 13 trees sacred to the Druid. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

In Quest of Reality
Mrs. Paterson has described an astrological system for a different solar system entirely, for she reveals that there are thirteen planets that govern fate, and that the ancient Celts knew about this, being able to see Neptune and Pluto without the aid of a telescope. Also, Earth has two moons, the other being Persephone, behind the Moon somewhere. There is, furthermore, a planet before Mercury, called Vulcan, whose existence was forgotten after Atlantis sunk (page 90), but was somehow refound by a guy in Arizona. If this does not kill brain cells yet, in my researches on Celtic astrology I found something quite shocking: she is lying through her teeth. The Vulcan Theory of Mercurial Orbit was discovered by Monsieur Le Verrier in 1859, which explained Mercury's strange orbit. Astonomers tried to find Vulcan without success, and in 1915 Albert Einstein solved the problem by describing how the Sun's mass was affecting Mercury. The Atlanteans could not have known that Vulcan existed, unless they were time travelers. Then Mrs. Paterson read a science fiction novel called "Arachne Rising" by Mr. Vogh, which was about a civilization with a thirteenth zodiac sign. In her books, she has marketed this novel as being a real, factual astrological treatise and has used it to make her fortune-telling system, coupled with 19th century astronomy and Atlantis, then stuck 'celtic' to the cover so that it could be published in the United States (she is a citizen of the United Kingdom).

Unfortunate
There is little value to this book, if any. As another reviewer mentioned, it is similar to Kisma Stepanich' Feary Wicca, which is also entirely without merit. The author knows little about the subject on which she writes, a common Lewellyn Publications issue. Yet another book that attempts to re-write history in favor of the authors' fantacy. Unfortunate.

A deeply spiritual book.
While this book does not offer a comprehensive system of astrology like most text books.It offers myriad clues as to unexplored possibilities within the given conceptual terrain.Instead of telling you how or why aparticular mythic device works in the Celtic, Lunar astrological contextset forth, it provides examples from the Druidic spiritual index offolklore and tradition to inspire polyvalent readings.A truedo-it-yourself book, admittedly not for everyone (especially those wantingto be force fed knowledge), this book instead offers a magnificent startingpoint for any celtic-zodiac vision quest!

A total Distortion of Astrological Concepts
One of the most disappointing reads of my life.This author's comprehension of astrology is totally lacking.She has cobbled together a mish-mash of Celtic gobbledegook and a bit of the Celtic Tree Calendar, andcreated - what?The most contorted excuse of a system imaginable.

For mymoney, this isn't worth buying, and I didn't buy it.Kisma Stepanich's"Faery Wicca" is either based on this purported "CelticAstrology" or is one of the influences that Paterson used to createthis abomination.In either case, the research is faulty, the theoryunworkable, and the whole concept in need of major revision.

Not well thought through
The problem with this "lunar zodiac" is that there's nothing lunar about it.Patterson divides up the solar year into 13 pieces rather than 12, but that doesn't make it lunar--in fact, there's closer to 12lunar months in a year than 13.It's a bit morecomplicated, but this simplified version doesn't really do anything for youthat solar astrology doesn't already do--except with a Celtic gloss. ... Read more

Product Description
Royalty, warriors, deities, giants, monsters, and wizards of Celtic myth and legend join forces. Travel to enchanted islands, battlefields, standing stones, bustling cities, and other intriguing sites. Hundreds of entries illuminate the culture. Each entry includes a detailed definition, its origin, alternate spellings, and extensive cross-referencing. Fascinating information is provided on both well-known characters, such as King Arthur, St. Patrick, and Jack the Giant-Killer, as well as lesser-known individuals.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Misleading
I agree with the reviewer who said that there were errors on every page. Dixon-Kennedy doesn't recognize Scotland as a Celtic country. What he frequentlly called 'Irish' should be called 'Gaelic' because the folklore of Gaelic Scotland and Gaelic Ireland is very similar as these countries once formed a single cultural entity.

Fionn MacCumhail was the equivalent of King Arthur and Robin Hood for the Gaels. One hundred different motifs of his legend were collected in Ireland and four hundred in Scotland. (Almqvist et al., The Heroic Process: Form Function and Fantasy in Folk Epic)

The book 'Leabhar na Fèinne' is a collection of all the literature of Fionn MacCumhail, as well as Cuchullain and Fraoch, that could be found in Scotland in the mid-nineteenth century. Every poem and song was composed in Scottish Gaelic (a Celtic language).

Peter Beresfore Ellis is a better reference for those new to Celtic myth and folklore, and MacKillop's Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology is the best, most detailed reference to date.

The Green Man is featured on the cover of this book.
I question the inclusion of the Green Man in a book of Celtic mythology; all the provenances of this entity are in countries where a Germanic language is spoken or was spoken in the 'Dark Ages'.

A good source book
As a writer, I am always looking for good reference material. What Celtic Myth & Legend lacks in depth and detail, it makes up for in the sheer number of references.

The book is an excellent jumping-off point for more detailed research elsewhere. I can scan the pages and easily find a tidbit of information that whets my appetite to learn more.

If you're looking for an in-depth study, this book probably isn't for you. But if you're like me and enjoy picking up clues that will eventually lead to a broader understanding of Celtic myth and legend, this is a good book.

Myths and Legends
Hello,
I thought that I would review this book to help people who are interested in it, since there is no description or any other reviews. Well this book is a great resource guide, but that is exactly what it is. A dictionary of people and places in Celtic Myths and Legends. Don't get me wrong though, it is well done. I was just expecting there to be a few stories and some resources as well. :) Okay Bye!

Great book!
I am 15 and I an really interested in celtic stuff and this book is a great guide to all things celtic.

Errors on Every Page
I read this book just after finishing Peter Berresford-Ellis' dictionary of Irish mythology, and I'm afraid this one does not hold up at all. The author apparently has no knowledge of any Celtic language, and it shows- there are embarassing errors on nearly every page as a result. For instance, he defines Alba as a "poetic name" for Scotland, whereas it is simply the ordinary Gaelic word for Scotland, still in everyday use by thousands and thousands of people. He makes bizarre claims, such as that Scotland was never really a Celtic country (in fact, Scotland was almost entirely Gaelic-speaking for centuries), and he defines the "Celtic period" as ending with the arrival of Christianity, which is nonsense especially because literally all of our sources for Celtic myth were written during the Christian era. He frequently indulges in unsupported speculation, using phrases such as "some have claimed" (in other words "I made this part up myself")and he seems to accept Barry Fell's claims of Ogham inscriptions in the new world, even though Fell's works are themselves wild flights of fancy based on ignorance of Celtic linguistics. He edits a number of stories to remove Christian elements, thus distorting the original version. Overall, this book is a classic example of the folly in trying to write about the Celts without knowledge of a Celtic language. As the author can only read secondary sources, he obviously didn't know when he was making a mistake. ... Read more

Product Description
This text offers a wide-ranging review of the significance of the female in Celtic myth and religion. Celtic goddesses presided over nature, animals, healing and fertility. Terrifying battle goddesses were invoked in times of war and a Mother Goddess was supplicated for the fertility of animals and crops. Goddesses were often linked with animals - birds, dogs, bears, pigs and snakes all had their divine protectresses. Divine and semi-divine females abound in Welsh and Irish myths, often associated with themes of virginity and sexuality, promiscuity and destruction. The concept of partnership is a prominent aspect of Celtic religion and myth, and it is possible to trace evidence of the divine marriage in both European iconography and Irish myth. The female is sometimes the dominant partner. In this account, the role of woman as religious leader, priestess (even druidess) and as seer, appeasing and controlling the supernatural powers, is examined. The final section of the book explores the transition from polytheistic paganism to monotheistic Christianity in the Celtic west. Here Celtic spirituality embraced women as of major importance as saints and mystics.One example is the Irish goddess Brigit, who became a Christian saint, but retained her pagan function as presider over the aleharvest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fascinating historical study<br>
Celts are big right now. Seems like everyone and their dog is claiming Scottish/Irish/whateverish ancestry, which neo-pagans and goths alike sport knotwork jewelry and call themselves things like Rhiannon and Cerridwen and so forth. And there are a lot of books out there, many of which are so sure in their assertions of things that happened millenia ago that you wonder where their bibliographies are.

Miranda Green has, in contrast, skillfully charted a path through myth, legend, history, and archeology to present us with a fairly brief, but overall comprehensive portrait of the divine feminine in the Celtic world. Drawing on sources as diverse as Welsh lore and ancient shrines buried beneath modern-day cathedrals, she illustrates the influence of goddesses in this ancient world, how their power was transmuted to that of saints with the dominance of Christianity, and how the pedestals on which they stood compare with the role of women in their society.

Green is also willing to leave certain questions open, to point out that current historical inquiry does have its limitations, and that there are many things about the Celtic world that we will likely never know. But from such well-known deities as Rhiannon, the Morrigan, and Blodduwedd, to lesser-known guardians of springs and hills, Greeen takes us on a guided tour of the Goddess as She was revered in this particular pre-Christian world ... Read more

Product Description
Drawn from the early Greeks and Romans, as well as by Irish myths and legends, these ready-to-color illustrations depict the major gods, goddesses, and heroes of Celtic lore. Fourteen full-page portraits appear alongside captions that briefly recount legends of love, war, passion, treachery, and revenge. The seer known as Cathbad the Druid appears here; Cuchulainn, the champion of Ireland; and Brigit, the beloved goddess who is still honored in Ireland today. A memorable introduction to the principal characters of Celtic myth, this volume also promises plenty of coloring fun.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Celtic Heritage
It does a good job on showing the similarities of Irish, Welsh and Indian mythology and social groups.

The Foremost Work in the Field
This work has become the classic work on the structure of Celtic mythology.The work consists of three parts, each of which is an important work in itself.

The first part is an overview of Irish and Welsh mythology, as well as a demonstration that some of the material which first appears in Irish Christianity is of pagan origin (this is demonstrated by showing a common origin of themes with the Vedic tradition, suggesting a common root going back to the early Indo-Europeans.

The second part is a look at various themes in the mythology, such as the dualism of darkness and light, the five divisions of the provinces, and the like.

The third is a look at the main elements of hero cycles in the Irish and Welsh traditions.

For comparative studies, this work provides a tremendous amount of information, which could be used to push the boundaries of our knowledge both regarding the Celts and also other Indo-European peoples.

The only fault I can find with the book is that the authors often assume that the reader understands the use of the comparative method between Indo-European traditions.However, the analysis does seem solid to me and I would highly recommend this book to anyone studying Celtic material.

An in-depth study of Celtic myths, religion, and culture. Dense but readable, with too much comparativestudy. Highly recommended
Celtic Heritage is an in-depth study of the myths of Ireland and Whales, interpreting the myths, identifying key themes, and determining the impact of pre-Christiain Celtic society on the myths. The Rees brothers provide an overview of the branches of Irish and Welsh mythology, explore themes such as darkness and light, creation stories, hierarchy, religious/cultural centers, and the use of numbers as they appear in the myth and therefore as the influenced Celtic society, and then analyze the aspects of the different kind of stories, including births, wooings, adventures, and deaths, that make up the Irish and Welsh myths. Their analysis closely follows the original texts and shows a great deal of research into Celtic history and ancient culture. Ultimately, by working backward from the myths and using archaeological and cultural research as a guide, they are able to draw conclusions about the pre-Christian Celtic society itself: structure, beliefs, and practices. It is a scholarly text and can be dense and difficult to read it at times; there are also too many comparisons made to Indian religion, and the Reeses are to willing to use these comparative studies to imply or infer parts of Celtic religion and mythical interpretation. However, on the whole this is a scholarly, in-depth, eye opening book with useful information and brilliant, logical analysis. I highly recommend it. If you're having trouble finding a copy, college libraries seem to stock this book fairly consistently.

No doubt about it, Celtic Heritage is a dense scholarly text. The myths they draw on are complex and contradictory, our cultural knowledge is limited and requires explanation, and the conclusions that that the authors draw come from significant research and analysis. As a result, this can be a challenging, time-consuming read. However, don't let the book's complexities prevent you from reading it: the Rees brothers are fairly talented writers and bring a lot of clarity to these complex subjects, and the more you read of it the more familiar you will become with the myths and Celtic culture and the easier the book will be to understand. Furthermore, the information within this book is more than valuable enough to spend the time and energy to follow the analysis and unpack the text. The book is not as difficult to read as it may seem. Give it the time and thought that it deserves, and you'll learn a lot from it.

More than its denseness, the real problem with this book is the frequent comparisons between Celtic and Indian myth and culture. Comparative religious studies is a double-edged sword: comparing similar religions may provide new depth and fill in gaps of our knowledge about both religions, but we run the risk of assuming that one similarity always indicates another. In the study of polytheistic religions, the differences are often as important, if not more important, than the similarities. Indian religion, myths, practices, and gods may share a number of similarities to Celtic religion, and some of the Indian references provided by the Rees brothers puts Celtic aspects in context or allows us to make assumptions where there is a gap in our knowledge, but they rely too heavily on using the Indian religion for this purpose. It is brought up multiple times a chapter, and the authors never remind the audience about the dangers of assuming that the Celtic and Indian religions are identical.

Nonetheless, this is a superb text. Rather than stating their conclusions as dry fact, the Rees brothers walk the reader through their evidence and analysis; the conclusions themselves are logical and incredibly useful for interpreting Celtic myth and understanding Celtic culture. The authors fully explore concepts such as the self-contradictory, inverted, asocietal nature of the otherworld, the conception of directions and cultural centers which place the here and now as a cardinal but hidden direction, and the use of culturally and religiously significant numbers which are often important multiples (4x2, 3x4, etc) plus one. For the dedicated Celtic scholar, this is an invaluable, interesting, useful text. I highly recommend it to those interested in Celtic myth and religion--not just the stories, but also the meaning found within them. This is a book worth reading careful, buying, and coming back to again.

Excellent primer
In this book, Alywn and Brinley explore the myths of the ancient Celts in order to undertsand their culture, values and beliefs through the stories they told. They offer an explanaation of the different cycles ie Ulster, Fenian and the symbls used in the myths.

I found it very useful in understanding the diffrent cycles, the one thing about Celtic mythology that alluded me up until now. This books gives you a very simple explanaton and then folows up with a pretty good exploration and run down of each cycle.

I also really liked the section on different tyes of stories and their meaning for the Celtic people, such as the tales about death and the love stories. There's now a lot of stories I want to find some actual prose version of as opposd to scholarly reiterations so I can memorise them and explore them for myelf.

The main thing I disliked about this book was its tendency to slip into a kind of "Then they did this, then they did that," kind of reiteration of the stories. It was frustrating and tedious, especially for one who is used to more clever story telling. I also found the chapters explaining numbers and directions to be tedious at times.

Overall, I found this book interesting and while occasionally a little dry, very readable. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the basic concepts of Celtic mythology.

An excellent overview of Celtic mythology
TThis mythic study is considered by many as a must-read on the subject of Celtic Mythology.Meticulously detailing Irish and Welsh myths in terms of cycles and themes, this book examines the key Celtic epics and tales which shape Celtic culture even today.A classic for over 40 years, this book is well worth serious study for the student of Celtic traditions.

The introduction begins by introducing us to the storyteller, secular incarnations of the bards of old, the role stories played in society, and the esteem held by the ancient bards and poets.And, in a somewhat wordy paragraph that is nevertheless worth quoting, the authors state the reasons why this study is important: "A religious tradition consists of a ritual and an art as well as a mythology, and each of the components is intelligible in terms of the others.Symbols whether they be myths or ceremonies or objects, reveal their full significance only within a particular tradition; one must be part and parcel of that tradition to experience fully the power and illumination of the myth.Such participation in the old Celtic tradition is no longer possible.For these reasons we do not consider it enough to re-tell the tales as they stand, without comment.In pondering upon these fragments of tradition, it is not enough for modern man to disabuse his mind of the preconceptions of the historian, the prejudices of the scientist, and the asceticism of those who read the Bible as `literature'.He needs all the clues he can find.Although the full meaning can never be fathomed, we believe that a comparative study of the stories, combined with some acquaintance with the myths, rituals and doctrines of other lands and other ages, may help us to obtain glimpses of the tradition of which the stories, even in their original form, were but one expression."

In Part Two, the authors then take us through an introduction to the bulk of the stories and their composition into the Irish four cycles of Mythological, Ulster, Fenian and Historical as well as the four Welsh Mabinogi.The chapter "Darkness and Light" introduces us to themes of dichotomy and separation like day and night, and seasonal divisions."Coming Into Existence" traces how, though without an original creation myth, tales of successive invasions tell of the creation of Ireland."A Hierarchy of Provinces" analyzes the four (and five provinces) of Ireland into categories of certain elements of society and demonstrates how they are an example of Georges Dumezil's system of functions.And, the chapter "Involutions" cautions the reader, however, that divisions are not rigid, but fluid, with functions, etc., bleeding from one to another.

There then follows a chapter called "The Centre" which delineates the spiritual importance of the center provinces in some of the previously discussed geographical and metaphorical divisions in various cosmological and ritual ways."Five Peaks" switches to the Welsh focus on the importance of hills and mounds in story and in ritual practice."Numbers" then proceeds to catalog the ritual and spiritual importance of certain numbers (such as 7, 9, etc.)and closes Part Two of the book.

Part Three begins with "The Storyteller's Repertoire", a short introductory chapter which shows how the ancient bards and storytellers grouped and learned their material thematically rather than in "historical" or cycle order.

Choosing a few of these themes to analyze, we proceed to the chapter called "Births" which traces the extraordinary circumstances of a hero's conception and/or birth, for instance via a worm in water, supernatural father, etc.Additionally, the birth of the hero is almost inevitably a product of destiny or fate.The hero is often unwanted or an embarrassment, resulting in abandonment or attempted murder.From there we turn to "Youthful Exploits", childhood stories which are, in fact, initiatory journeys into manhood.These typical initiation motifs include a new name, acquisition of arms, and victory over a wild beast.These rites also usually include sexual initiation with a significant woman.

In "Wooings" heroes are tasked with seemingly impossible quests which they nevertheless complete in order to win a bride.But even these adventures have deeper metaphorical meaning.As the authors state, "Wooings are thus a variant of the quest for `the treasure hard to obtain' which man needs for his wholeness and fulfillment, a treasure which must be wrested from the grasp of an indefatigable foe."In contrast to Wooings, we then read of "Elopements", as the authors write, "The Elopements and Wooings of Celtic tradition seem to constitute...a pair of contraries.In the Wooings man is the suitor, while the role of the maiden is largely passive, but in the Elopements it is the woman who chooses the man and compels him to do her will."The woman is usually trapped in a loveless or arranged marriage to a man (usually older) not of her own choosing."Just as the Wooings depict the mythological inversion of marriage from the male standpoint, so the Elopements may be described as the mythological inversion of marriage from the female standpoint."

Proceeding on to "Adventures", the hero encounters various members of the Otherworld and/or acquires certain magical objects.The authors say "Visits to a strange land and experiences among a strange race constitute a substantial part of Celtic mythology, and, as in modern fiction, a whole class of tales are known as `adventures.'But whereas the adventures of fiction are concerned with escapades among the natives of distant lands or planets in this world, the adventures of mythology are experienced among the mysterious denizens of the supernatural world."

In "Voyages": "The theme of the otherworld voyage is one of the most distinctive in Celtic tradition... Like other types of tales we have described, the immram has its own function.It is to teach the craft of dying and to pilot the departing spirit on a sea of perils and wonders."(One can't help but compare these with "The Odyssey".While Odysseus' voyage is not an immram on the surface, perhaps there are some of the same themes underneath?)The authors continue, "The metaphysical implication would appear to be that Whiteness, Blackness, Fire, Water, Joy, Sorrow, Femininity, Masculinity, Youth, Age, Life, Death and so on, exist as abstract principles over and above the objects or people in which they are manifested... In addition to the elements that constitute the corporeal world, human attitudes or behaviors also are depicted on the islands (of the Voyages)."

In the chapter "Deaths", even here the hero meets his fate in extraordinary circumstances via violation of multiple gessa, partaking a last sacred meal (this and the importance of twelve warriors and leader being themes incorporated in the Christ mythos) and strange or sexual encounters with women.The authors again, "The myths do not mitigate the impact of death with soothing words; they present it in its grimmest brutality.And yet...they elevated death to the plane of the tragic and heroic."

The epilogue finally closes out the book by saying, "In diverse ways myth and ritual loosen the grip of the temporal world upon the human spirit.Under the spell of the storyteller's art, the range of what is possible in this world is transcended: the world of magic becomes a present reality and the world of every-day is deprived of its uniqueness and universality.The storyteller...by convincingly actualizing the impossible, renders the actual world less real.When the spell is over, the hearer `comes back to earth' but the earth is now not quite so solid as it was before, the cadence of time is less oppressive and its laws have only relative validity."And yet I find that Celtic myth has a way of untangling imponderables while presenting new enigmas.It straddles both worlds, being itself "betwixt and between", leaving both worlds richer in mystery.

Overall, I found this book to be fantastic and anyone who considers themselves a part of the Celtic Hearth should read this.But, since this is a study of mythology, rather than a presentation of myths, I would caution the reader to be familiar with the stories comprising Celtic myth before starting this work.While sometimes the authors do paraphrase a myth before proceeding to analysis, oftentimes they do not, so it would be helpful to be familiar with the sometimes off hand references.I also disagree with authors detailing of "feats of memory" wherein they claim stories have been handed down for generations or even centuries without error.More recent studies of memory have shown that memory can be proven false even moments after an incident and Ronald Hutton, in "How Myths Are Made" in his book Witches, Druids, and King Arthur, shows how myths can be altered even within a generation.I also find fault with the often meandering Part Two, especially the chapters "The Centre" and "Numbers."Metaphorically tangled and challenging, the authors argument about their importance often feels stretched.

Otherwise, I think this is a very important book for the true Celtic Druid to read.It is not a stretch to say that these stories are important to know and understand in order that we may use our own mythos for power and growth in our own lives. ... Read more

Product Description
This study assesses the role of Celtic women during different eras and societies, comparing them with their Anglo-Saxon and Roman sisters, and examining their everyday lives. From the mass of Celtic research, the author investigates travellers' tales, archaeological evidence, folklore, myth and historical record. The coverage is from Celtic pre-history to modern Celtic performers and politicians. ... Read more

Product Description
14 b/w illustrations! Light a cozy fire, pour yourself a dram or a pint, and curl up with these charming tales of Christmas from Ireland's past. Here's a personal invitation to share an evening with a wealth of lively characters weaving fantastic, humorous, or sentimental, tales about love, drink, ghosts, and villainy. Rich with superstition and tradition, these aren't ordinary Christmas stories. They have the quintessential Irish spirit, and you can almost smell the succulent goose roasting and hear the glasses clinking. Start with "Galway Jack's Christmas," as three people ponder the past, and love lost and found. Read closely, and you'll see that "Ballymaconkey Christmas Club" plays a variation on Dickens' "Christmas Carol." Another tale drops you right into the middle of 1920s Dublin, where a whiskey-loving bachelor gets tricked into proposing marriage. You'll meet one-eyed, one-armed Barney Broderick, who undergoes a series of hysterical mishaps, and a miser who experiences a dark, gritty fate. Each of these 14 tales will entertain you throughout the holiday season! Trim size: 4 3/4 x 7 1/2. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An annual Irish treasure
A Celtic Christmas, edited by Mairtin O'Griofa, is a collection of short stories set in early 20th century Ireland.Some settings urban and others rural, the assorted characters are young, old, rich, poor, self-centered and benevolent.The stories run from humorous to thought provoking and even sentimental and tender.It has become part of my Christmas tradition and I have re-read it every December for the past ten years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Celtic Mythology
Walk down any where in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and even England and the shadow of a lost culture echoes all around. Bob Currans book opens the door to that lost world in so many ways. He's a great writer. This could have been one dodgy new age or academic slog but it wasn't. It's well written and has excellent images to fill out the pages. My only criticism is that this book ends rather abrubtly just at the point where I could have read a lot more. As an Artist this is the kind of book I love. So much to take in but it all digests so well. I highly recommend anyone with a desire to explore Mythology and the celtic shadow that lingers yet in the UK and the Island of Ireland to explore this book and have new eyes to see it all through by the end of it.

Wonderful book on Celtic history, culture, and mythology
This is truly an excellent book; meticulously researched and artistically laid-out.The author has obviously put a lot of time and effort into the production of this book, making it a wonderful resourse for information on Celtic culture.This is a scholarly book, containing information about the myths and society of early cultures that we now deem "Celtic": those of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Man, Brittany, etc.And yet, it is also very accessible and easy to read and has a "user-friendly" lay-out. This is definitly a book for those interested in a historically-accurate view of Celtic mythology; it contains no hazy, pop-culture constructions.

Sometimes it is hard to find reliable information regarding the Celts, ever since that very term became a buzz-word for all types of stuff.This is a down-to-earth collection, but still retains a very poetic and "story-telling" aspect to it.Great book to just sit back and read by a fire.... ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive and practical guide to the ancient oracle based on the alphabet of the Druids.*Describes the symbolism and mythology of the 20 "tree letters" and their magical correspondences.*Includes instructions on how to make your own Ogam divination sticks, cast the oracle, and perceive omens.*Provides historical background and bibliographic references to the Druidic mythology ruling this 1,500-year-old oracle.

The ancient Ogam alphabet is a magical and mysterious script, the Celtic equivalent of the runes that can teach us about our fate and future. Named after woodland trees, Ogam's 20 "tree letters" all have unique wisdom to impart that is linked to figures and themes from Celtic mythology.

The author addresses three major areas in this book: Ogamlore, the history of this 1500-year-old oracle of the Celtic Druids; Ogamfews, the meaning of the individual tree letters, their magic, characteristics, folklore, and related stories; and Ogamcasting, the practical art of Ogam divination, which includes spreads, castings, and how to create your own Ogam set. With these tools of ancient Celtic wisdom, readers will receive insights and guidance on how to maneuver through life's questions and challenges. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Detailed knowledge
Excellent book.You just have to concentrate and read it well.Very knowledgable.

The Gravesian Idol is still not given Up
Anti-latinism and anti-christianism appear to be standards for celtic divination, blaming these groups on page 31 for destroying the druid religion. His history of ogam is conflicted.He says on page 14 that ogam was invented around 300 c.e. by a man, but on page 11 says a god invented it. So which is it? He also associates ogam with the druids, which is a bit strained since he acknowledges that ogam is a post-christian invention, after the Latins and Christians finished destroying druidism. He also makes the error of fixating on tree ogam, even though he knows that the letter names are unrelated to trees, and dismisses all the other types of ogam (listed in the Auraicept na n-Eces) as encyclopediac lists (page 26), but the tree list is one of these. And last, Mr. Graves and his White Goddess book, which Mr. Mountfort is well aware that scholars reject, but pleads that it has 'profound insight'(page 200).

Ogam review
The book Ogam: The Celtic Oracle of the Trees: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Druidic Alphabet is excellent.It explains the symbols and tells you how to make your own casting sticks.

book sale
I like this book but I would never buy any books from amazon again they rip people off by charging more for shipping then it really cost to send the books.

TREES!!!
I am learning ogham and one of the most important things that ogham offers is a path to communing with the trees.This is a fantastic book and I encourage people to use it for the purposes of communing with the wisdom that the trees can teach us. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Excellent Book
This is an excellent book and a worthy addition to any collection of Celtic studies.It offers some unique insights that I haven't found anywhere else.Highly recommended.

It is a good start.......
One of the first pleasant surprises within this book is that it touches upon Deities and legends that go beyond the British Isles, which have up until recently held a bit of a monopoly on Celtic *anything*.There are myths and Deities from Germany, France, etc.My main complaint is that it is woefully incomplete.I would love to see more information about pretty much everything in the book.What I also found astounding was that Stewart could title a section "Mother Goddesses" (pg. 58) and only name ONE Goddess by name, and that one (of them all!) The Morrighan!Then delve more into Cernunnos as the Lord of All Animals and the Hunter God and Celtic Gods which I believe IS important on one hand - as the Goddess is balanced by the God; however that said, the God has his own section in this book, and when discussing the Mother Goddesses, I expected to read about Celtic Mother Goddesses, not about Cernunnos, "Mabon as The Divine Child of Light, the Celtic Apollo" as Stewart calls him, and quotes from The Mabinogion based on Lady Charlotte Guests's translation which is the most Victorian and repressed of the lot!Might give Patrick Ford's "The Mabinogi" a try if you're looking for something that will not edit the Welsh tales for Victorian sensibilities.I have a fair amount of respect for RJ Stewart and his work, however, what I found in this was a need for MORE balance and certainly MORE information - MORE research on the Goddesses in particular as he already has a solid base with the Celtic Gods.He knows his Gods, that's evident - but when it came to the Goddesses, there is where the balance faltered for me.Still, it's well worth a read, there is a LOT of great information in this book and it is a great start for anyone who is looking to get into actually studying the Celtic Pantheon in any way deeper than playing it lip service.I give it 3 out of 5 cauldrons.

Review
Beautifully illustrated; Reviews the most popular of the Celtic Pantheon; On a larger scale it would be a great book. As it is it's a good book for those just becoming familiar with Celtic Wicca.

Reads like a boring textbook
If in reference for gods and goddesses, this is not the most informative book. I would have given it 1 star, but there were some decent illustrations, which is the only reason it gets 2 stars. It really reads like a very boring textbook, and doesn't go into too many gods and goddesses. It gives a lot of history about the ideas in celtic dieties, but not too much into specific gods and goddesses. Read at your own risk.

Celtic Gods and, er, ah, other Gods and Heros
The art is pretty and the section on Celtic Gods is fairly good for those it covers.However Mr. Stewart seems unable to see Goddesses as deities in their own right.He relegates Celtic Goddesses to the role of appendage to various Gods and (male) heros including none Celtic ones.There are many good books, read this one only is you have time to waste in the dentist's office. ... Read more

Product Description
Ancient mythologies are brought to life in this third volume of mythology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

great!
This is a great book.It is great as a reference, great to read straight through, etc.I actually bought it because I have a 4 year old who really loves Greek Mythology, and this lets me look up a God or Goddess alphabetically if she has a question.I love this book.

must have for mythology buff
This book is a brief yet concise ovierview of the major characters in the Greek, Roman, Celtic and Norse mythological legends.Worthy purchase for someone wanting to get into the study of mythology or just add to your collection. ... Read more

Product Description
The Celts controlled much of Europe for many centuries and the myths of their world have inspired generations of painters and poets. This book contains all the Celtic heroes, creatures and magic central to this great culture. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: A. & W. Mackenzie in 1885 in 129 pages; Subjects: Mythology, Celtic; Celts; Druids and druidism; Fiction / Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology; History / Europe / Western; Body, Mind & Spirit / Spirituality / Celtic; Religion / General; Religion / Ethnic & Tribal; Social Science / Folklore & Mythology; ... Read more

Product Description
Includes examples of traditional folk-tales from the Celtic lands of Britanny, Cornwall, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Whales. A comprehensive appendix lists the original sources for these tales, and full pronunciation are given. The text is interspersed with fascinating information boxes featuring Celtic art, religion, storytellers and archaeology. Dozens of photographs and pictures - all in full color! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautifully illustrated introduction to Celtic Mythology
This book introduces you to the Celtic world, by presenting a few Celtic myths.By no means is this an extensive covering of the rich Celtic mythology, but it is a nice introduction.

The book is illustratedthroughout with illustrations from Celtic myths, artifacts, archaeologicalsites, Celtic manuscripts, etc.If you want a taste of the Celtic worldand their myths, look for this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good
i thought the book was very interesting. the title very well fits the content of the book.i borrowed this book from the library and was amazed at the information.i would definetely recomend this book to anyone who has free time or just is interested in myths.

good
i thought the book was very interesting. the title very well fits the content of the book.i borrowed this book from the library and was amazed at the information.i would definetely recomend this book to anyone who has free time or just is interested in myths. ... Read more