The Complete Idiot's Guide to Celtic Wisdom
A comprehensive look at Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and continental Celtic traditions, both Pagan and Christian, this guide includes the Celtic approach to shamanism, fairies, Wicca, neopaganism, magic, and Druidism. It draws a map for today's Celtic quest, with the way of the pilgrim, honor of one's ancestors, and the language and culture. Exploring the Celtic universe-gods and goddesses, mythic heroes and warriors, wonderworkers, underworlds, and otherworlds-this manual also covers legends such...
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A comprehensive look at Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and continental Celtic traditions, both Pagan and Christian, this guide includes the Celtic approach to shamanism, fairies, Wicca, neopaganism, magic, and Druidism. It draws a map for today's Celtic quest, with the way of the pilgrim, honor of one's ancestors, and the language and culture. Exploring the Celtic universe-gods and goddesses, mythic heroes and warriors, wonderworkers, underworlds, and otherworlds-this manual also covers legends such as King Arthur, Merlin, and the Quest for the Holy Grail.
Part 1Welcome to Celtic Wisdom11Introducing the World of Celtic Wisdom3The Heart of a Warrior4What Makes a Celt Tick?6Entry-Points to the Celtic Tradition6Spirituality, Wisdom, Tradition: Understanding the Path13What's in It for Me: The Benefits of the Celtic Way142A History of a Proud People17Why History Matters18Before the Celts Were Celts19Celtic Archaeology: From Hallstatt to La Tene19The Coming of Christianity23The Six Nations: Today's Celtic World26The Lessons of History293The Concept of Celticity31Defining Celticity32Real Celts and Cardiac Celts36The Wisdom of Being a Marginal Culture37Wisdom, Language, and Celticity38Of Pipes, Whistles, and Fiddles: Celtic Music394The Seven Dimensions of Celtic Wisdom41A Few Basic Celtic Wisdom Principles42The Seven Branches of Celtic Wisdom45Finding Your Path53Activity: Keep a Journal545The Sovereignty of Nature55The Secret of Celtic Wisdom: Partnership with Nature56Nature: The Heart of Celtic Wisdom58The Sovereignty of the Land60Putting Spirituality in Its Place63More About Holy Wells65Walk Your Talk686The Otherworld: Nature's Dance Partner69What Is the Otherworld?70A Geography of the Otherworld73Gateways to the Otherworld74Denizens of the Otherworld76The Psychology of the Otherworld79Part 2The Three Paths817Singers, Seers, and Sages83"Song of Amergin"84What the Classical Writers Had to Say About the Druids85Celtic Quiz: Which Path Is Right for You?86The Bards: Keepers of the Past90The Ovates: Keepers of the Future91The Druids: Keepers of the Present918Songs and Stories: The Path of the Bard93The Quest for the Imbas: Fire in the Head93Taliesin: The Quintessential Bard95Other Elements of the Bardic Tradition97Samildanach: To Be Talented in Many Ways101Nine Steps Toward Becoming a Bard1049Psychic Development: The Path of the Seer109What Is an Ovate?110The Elements of the Seer's Craft112Examples of Famous Seers114The Lorica: A Key to Psychic Self-Defense115Nine Steps to Becoming a Seer11810Devotion to the Ways of Wisdom: The Path of the Druid123Just What Is a Druid?124The Three Ages of the Druids124More Than Just Priests: The Wisdom Aspect of Druidry127Druids as Counselors: The Anamchara128Other Pieces of the Druid Puzzle132Nine Steps to Becoming a Druid13411Rituals and Tools: Supplies for the Celtic Wisdomseeker141Your Personal Altar142The Virtue of Asking146What Is Ritual?147A Sample Ritual150Part 3Mythology and Lore15512Storytelling: The Waltz of Remembering157The Role of the Shanachie in Celtic Wisdom158The Monks and the Myths: Preserving the Stories161Overview of the Mythic Sources163Common Themes and Motifs in Celtic Myth and Legend166Making Your Own Connection with the Lore168Storytelling for the Future16913The Irish Tradition171The Four Cycles of Irish Myth172Key Themes in the Myths174Meet the Characters of Irish Myth175Where to Go for Further Study18314The Welsh Tradition185The Main Stories and Themes of Welsh Tradition186The Poetry and Triads of Wales188The Legacy of the Welsh Tradition: The Arthurian Cycle188Who's Who in Welsh Myth189Where to Go for Further Study19415Archaeology, Folklore, and the Living Tradition195Archaeology: Every Picture (and Artifact) Tells a Story196Folklore as a Source of Wisdom197The Power of Place198Modern Interpretations of Celtic Deity200A Who's Who of Other Celtic Deities203Comparative Mythology: The Ultimate Research Adventure204Where to Go for Further Study205Part 4Further Steps Along the Path20716Quest for a Disciplined Mind209Please Pass the Elbow Grease209The Disciplined Mind of the Druid210Elements of a Disciplined Mind212Unleashing Your Inner Druid21717Reaching Out to the Otherworld219The Path of the Celtic Shaman220What Is Shamanism?220Entering the Otherworld: The Quintessential Shamanic Activity222Contacting Otherworld Guides223What Is the Purpose of Shamanism?224Key Voices in Celtic Shamanism225Tree and Landscape Meditation22618Revering the Ancestors229Honor Your Father(s) and Mother(s)230The Concept of Worship231How to Honor the Ancestors233Celtic Reconstruction: One Way to Honor the Ancestors237The Ultimate Honor: Living an Honorable Life23819Befriending the Good People239Where Do Faeries Come From?240What's Unique About Celtic Faeries241The History of Faery Contact243Sites Associated with the Faeries245What's So Wise About the Faeries?250Faery Protocol25120Celtic Spirituality and Christianity: Cultivating the Heart of Holiness253The Story of the Coming of Christianity254How Celtic Wisdom + Christianity = Celtic Christianity257Brigid: Christian Saint, or Goddess Makeover?259Christianity and Hostility261Christopaganism: A Celtic Possibility263Key Voices in Celtic Christianity265Cultivating the Heart of Holiness as a Celtic Wisdomseeker26621Mastering the Magical Arts267The Controversial Concept of Magic267Celtic Magic 101269Celtic Witchcraft?!273Wicca and Celtic Magic275Magical Ethics: The Wiccan Rede and the Law of Three279Key Voices in Celtic Wicca28022The Quest for the Grail281The Grail Tradition282Key Themes of the Grail Quest288Embarking on Your Own Grail Quest291Key Voices in the Grail Quest292Part 5Applied Celtic Wisdom29323Divination: The Theory and Practice of Spiritual Guidance295The History of Celtic Divination296Celtic Divination Today297The Tree Ogham: A Modern Celtic Oracle300Commercially Available Celtic Divination Systems30624The Cycles of Time309The Real Reason Why Clocks Are Round!310The Wheel of the Year310Samhain: Roaming Spirits and the Chill of Death314Imbolc: Bridget's Milk and Pregnant Ewes315Beltain: Blossoming Hawthorn and Nighttime Revels316Lughnasa: Sporting Games and a Harvest of Grain317Solstices and Equinoxes318The Dark Comes First: The Symbolism of the Cycle319The Cycles of Time and the Nature of Human Existence32025Practical Celtic Wisdom: Living the Celtic Life Today321A Nine-Step Process to Living the Celtic Life322By Yourself or with Others: Living the Life of a Wisdomkeeper328Celtic Spirituality in a Group Setting329Honoring the Path of Wisdom: Celtic Ethics331The Virtues of Brigid as a Template for Honor332AppendixesABibliography335BOnline Resources345CTimeline of Celtic History351Index357
