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Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs
This book provides a comprehensive overview of Celtic mythology and religion, encompassing numerous aspects of ritual and belief. Topics include the presence of the Celtic Otherworld and its inhabitants, cosmology and sacred cycles, wisdom texts, mythological symbolism, folklore and legends, and an appreciation of the natural world. Evidence is drawn from the archaeology of sacred sites, ethnographic accounts of the ancient Celts and their beliefs, medieval manuscripts, poetic and visionary literature, and early modern accounts of folk healers and seers. New translations of poems, prayers, inscriptions and songs from the early period (Gaulish, Old Irish and Middle Welsh) as well as the folklore tradition (Modern Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, Breton and Manx) complement the text. Information of this kind has never before been collected as a compendium of the indigenous wisdom of the Celtic-speaking peoples, whose traditions have endured in various forms for almost three thousand years.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 31, 2018
Informative and generally interesting. This book provides an introductory overview, which is all it sets out to do. There did seem to be some missed opportunities though. The chapters involve a lot of repetition. Information from earlier chapters is often repeated at length in later chapters, rather than merely referenced. Information from earlier in a chapter is also frequently repeated later in the same chapter. This wouldn't have bothered me as much if so much information hadn't been glossed over cursory explanations. More in-depth descriptions of some of the identified practices would have been helpful, as would more discussion of some of the ideas or individuals mentioned. I also noted a number of typos that were annoying, though they didn't prevent understanding. I think this book would be useful to new entrants into this area, but it could benefit from editing by an outside editor to correct some of the typos and condense some of the information, hopefully allowing for fuller explanations of some listed examples.
April 30, 2021
This book is a devoted and clear foundation in Celtic religious studies.
I do a lot of Celtic study online and with books, while I enjoyed Caitlin Matthews the way of Celtic tradition and read it five times, this particular book was exactly what I was looking for. It had a lot of translated poetic verse and information I hadn't read about anywhere else. For instance "Early maps from the first century BCE show indigenous names for some of these Celtic regions, Ireland was known as Iweriju, meaning Fat or Fertile".
She names many goddesses I had never heard of despite searches online, like Coventina and Berva,as well as many goddesses gleaned from archaeology, with a seperate chapter on deities from medieval myth. She uses local lore to uncover obscure and hidden deities.
She covers everything carefully and very clearly with devotion and respect for ancestral traditions.
Chapter overviews are well chosen and it is very well organised.
I greatly enjoyed the chapters on Celtic shamanism,but every single chapter was fascinating and there is nice little chapter at the end on women in Celtic society.It was intelligent and informing without ever being dry or dull in any way. You could feel her spirited devotion to the subject and not just mere intellectual curiosity, that devotion shows in her vast bibliography.
I felt it was a very solid foundation for learning about Celtic religion,belief and their practices.
I should also note that while it's possibly my favourite, and it's a breath of fresh air that it respects and honours ancestral tradition. I don't mind more creative books that intuit their own things and add or interpret knowledge about the celts. That sometimes true,sometimes false intuitive knowledge sort of interacts with what's known in the Irish tradition of fios which is intuitive knowledge.Making it a living/breathing knowledge that grows, it's not all bad,it can be dynamic.
Still I recommend you begin with this book before any other in order to have that solid foundation.
I do a lot of Celtic study online and with books, while I enjoyed Caitlin Matthews the way of Celtic tradition and read it five times, this particular book was exactly what I was looking for. It had a lot of translated poetic verse and information I hadn't read about anywhere else. For instance "Early maps from the first century BCE show indigenous names for some of these Celtic regions, Ireland was known as Iweriju, meaning Fat or Fertile".
She names many goddesses I had never heard of despite searches online, like Coventina and Berva,as well as many goddesses gleaned from archaeology, with a seperate chapter on deities from medieval myth. She uses local lore to uncover obscure and hidden deities.
She covers everything carefully and very clearly with devotion and respect for ancestral traditions.
Chapter overviews are well chosen and it is very well organised.
I greatly enjoyed the chapters on Celtic shamanism,but every single chapter was fascinating and there is nice little chapter at the end on women in Celtic society.It was intelligent and informing without ever being dry or dull in any way. You could feel her spirited devotion to the subject and not just mere intellectual curiosity, that devotion shows in her vast bibliography.
I felt it was a very solid foundation for learning about Celtic religion,belief and their practices.
I should also note that while it's possibly my favourite, and it's a breath of fresh air that it respects and honours ancestral tradition. I don't mind more creative books that intuit their own things and add or interpret knowledge about the celts. That sometimes true,sometimes false intuitive knowledge sort of interacts with what's known in the Irish tradition of fios which is intuitive knowledge.Making it a living/breathing knowledge that grows, it's not all bad,it can be dynamic.
Still I recommend you begin with this book before any other in order to have that solid foundation.
November 11, 2022
I am not a student nor Irish, so my desire to read this book came from an avid reader's curiosity. This book is a journey into the wisdom of the Celts but also brings a deep sense of spirituality. Beautifully written and stimulating! Highly recommended for those who want to expand their view of the natural world, the sacredness of all life, symbolism, folklore, and our ancestors.
April 28, 2013
Not only does this book cover Celtic mythology, it explains Celtic religion and folklore in depth and details. Celtic gods and goddesses are compared to those of Britain and Gaul. Folklore traditions and customs are explained. Mythology is given a wide scope, from shamans, to druids, to the stars, to nature, and to animals. Translated Celtic texts are used as references and give a new view on Celtic life. With a writing style that is easy to read and very informative, the author provides a book that is great for anyone interested in Celtic traditions.
March 28, 2018
A great starting point
This was a great read. It was a good introduction to so much and a good starting point for someone wanting to learn more of Celtic myths and religion; the author even states there is so much more and even gives a good list of other books to continue any studies one might wish to pursue further.
This was a great read. It was a good introduction to so much and a good starting point for someone wanting to learn more of Celtic myths and religion; the author even states there is so much more and even gives a good list of other books to continue any studies one might wish to pursue further.
July 8, 2019
This book is both deep and wide. It covers areas of Celtic spirituality often overlooked by other writers like shamanic practices and it makes links between Welsh, Irish and continental practices. It has a very scholarly feel and makes for a great reference book. There was a lot to take in at one sitting.
November 9, 2020
This book was INCREDIBLY THOROUGH. The author went to incredible lengths to detail Celtic mythology, religion, and life. The Bibliography alone is like reading a whole other book. This book is not only an excellent description on Celtic mythology, religion, and life but a great gateway to an endless amount of other resources for experienced readers and beginners alike. A FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE!
April 7, 2021
A fantastic book. Doesn't cater to neopagan recreation, doesn't make things up. Focuses on the extant historical record, contemporary practice of modern Celtic nations (without expunged Christianity out of malice or superiority), ancient religious beliefs, writing, and literature with a small side of archeology. Very well researched and crafted.
December 7, 2020
Wonderful and Informative
I recently discovered I am mainly Irish by DNA. I embarked on a journey to discover more about my heritage. This book was a treasure trove of information.
I recently discovered I am mainly Irish by DNA. I embarked on a journey to discover more about my heritage. This book was a treasure trove of information.
January 15, 2021
Simply the best volume of contemporary archaeological and anthropological knowledge of Celtic myth and religion. I can't tell you how many times a month I go back and reference this book. A must-have for anyone with more than casual interest in the topic, and a fine volume for academic study.
February 4, 2022
Great book on Celtic mythology and religion
This is a great book for beginners
and experts alike. It goes into depth to give a better meaning to the subject, gods, goddesses, places, and other worlds and planes. Highly recommended
This is a great book for beginners
and experts alike. It goes into depth to give a better meaning to the subject, gods, goddesses, places, and other worlds and planes. Highly recommended
July 1, 2017
Sharon does a great job with this book, very informative
June 4, 2012
A delightful read and an excellent resource! The author has gone to great pains to collect, interpret and clearly present innumerable aspects of Celtic religion, belief, myth and folklore - reflected in the copious bibliography - and presented with clarity and ease. Very useful for undergraduate survey courses, folklore and mythology departments, and comparative religion contexts. Recommended to both academic and lay enthusiasts with an interest in the topic. Interesting sections on seasonal symbolism and gender roles, shamanic elements throughout the tradition, druids (male and female), Celtic priestesses, ancestral beliefs, and lesser known Irish deities. Delightfully augmented with new (and much needed) translations of Old Irish, Middle Welsh and Scottish Gaelic poems, prayers and texts all by the author.
To the 'reviewers' below who did not comprehend the unique nature of this work, I would point out that their points of contention were both inaccurate and reactionary (an insult to other readers and a disservice to Good Reads). The Classical reports that were cited were all taken from well accepted translations by specialists, the correlation between Danu and the Morrigan taken from the author's research published by Harvard University Press (and clearly cited in the footnote), and the chapter on genealogy and ancestral traditions was both interesting and well founded (genealogies were extremely important in many Celtic cultures and were orally recited). As a graduate student in Celtic Studies, I found the book accurate and refreshing.
To the 'reviewers' below who did not comprehend the unique nature of this work, I would point out that their points of contention were both inaccurate and reactionary (an insult to other readers and a disservice to Good Reads). The Classical reports that were cited were all taken from well accepted translations by specialists, the correlation between Danu and the Morrigan taken from the author's research published by Harvard University Press (and clearly cited in the footnote), and the chapter on genealogy and ancestral traditions was both interesting and well founded (genealogies were extremely important in many Celtic cultures and were orally recited). As a graduate student in Celtic Studies, I found the book accurate and refreshing.
June 4, 2012
This one lovely volume contains a surprising amount of information, smoothly and clearly presented, from a
remarkable volume of resources. To the non-specialist Celtic reader one might almost be tempted to think of
it as a 'slim volume' consisting of an excellent overview of Celtic myth, folklore and religious symbolism
(which it is). But it contains a professional synthesis of an enormous amount of information culled from the best
in (recent and authoritative) Celtic studies publications. Well documented and easy to read, the author provides
a glimpse into numerous aspects of Celtic belief and religious thought, from yearly cycles and deities in Britain, Ireland
and the Continent, folk healers and seers, medieval wisdom texts, and women's legal rights in early medieval Ireland.
Thought provoking sections on druids and priestesses, gender roles in seasonal cycles, ancestral beliefs and the importance
of familial lineages, and the never-before fully examined existence of shamanism throughout the sources. Throughout the work
are new (and in many cases very beautiful and resonant) translations of early texts, poems, and folk prayers and charms. A handy resource
one would refer back to time and time again - highly recommended.
remarkable volume of resources. To the non-specialist Celtic reader one might almost be tempted to think of
it as a 'slim volume' consisting of an excellent overview of Celtic myth, folklore and religious symbolism
(which it is). But it contains a professional synthesis of an enormous amount of information culled from the best
in (recent and authoritative) Celtic studies publications. Well documented and easy to read, the author provides
a glimpse into numerous aspects of Celtic belief and religious thought, from yearly cycles and deities in Britain, Ireland
and the Continent, folk healers and seers, medieval wisdom texts, and women's legal rights in early medieval Ireland.
Thought provoking sections on druids and priestesses, gender roles in seasonal cycles, ancestral beliefs and the importance
of familial lineages, and the never-before fully examined existence of shamanism throughout the sources. Throughout the work
are new (and in many cases very beautiful and resonant) translations of early texts, poems, and folk prayers and charms. A handy resource
one would refer back to time and time again - highly recommended.
May 24, 2013
Sharon MacLeod claims that most of what is currently available about Celtic myths and religious belief and practice is based on false tradition and misinformation. She indicates that her book is intended to be the book people turn to for correct information and that it will replace the misleading books now on students' shelves. MacLeod failed to deliver. Her book is filled with "perhaps," "it may be," "it is believed that," and "one interpretation could be." There are very few definitive statements in her work. As I read, I found myself thinking over and over, "But what did the Celts actually believe regarding their origins?" "Did they worship various gods in the sense that Christians worship Jesus or Jews worship Yaweh?" Only in her chapter on Arthur does she give what could be accepted as information rather than speculation and conjecture. Her first appendix, covering women's rights in Celtic society, again, relates actual practices regarding women's legal rights, but little in the way of information relating them to religion and myth. All in all, the book was a disappointment. I will have to look elsewhere to learn about Celtic belief systems, myths and religious practice.
November 5, 2012
Many contemporary books on Celtic spirituality are guilty of wishful thinking. While well intentioned, they do little to enliven our understanding of the seminal peoples of ancient Europe and their complex beliefs and practices.
Here, at last, is a book as accessible to the curious as it is thought provoking to the scholar. It deftly explores nearly three thousand years of archeology, primary sources, poetry, prose, folklore and ethnographic evidence in an engaging and highly readable style.
There have been dense scholarly works that explore aspects of the Celts and their belief systems, but this book is the first overview of its kind. The exhaustive bibliography and footnoting also provide ample material for deeper research, something often missing in non-academic writings about the Celts.
I would especially recommend this work for its exploration of shamanism within Celtic contexts and for its new translations of prayers and poetry. The book is also nuanced and moving as it reveals the profound wisdom of the Celts, both ancient and modern.
This is a work for anyone who longs to discern fact from fancy and for all who are drawn to indigenous inspiration.
Here, at last, is a book as accessible to the curious as it is thought provoking to the scholar. It deftly explores nearly three thousand years of archeology, primary sources, poetry, prose, folklore and ethnographic evidence in an engaging and highly readable style.
There have been dense scholarly works that explore aspects of the Celts and their belief systems, but this book is the first overview of its kind. The exhaustive bibliography and footnoting also provide ample material for deeper research, something often missing in non-academic writings about the Celts.
I would especially recommend this work for its exploration of shamanism within Celtic contexts and for its new translations of prayers and poetry. The book is also nuanced and moving as it reveals the profound wisdom of the Celts, both ancient and modern.
This is a work for anyone who longs to discern fact from fancy and for all who are drawn to indigenous inspiration.
February 4, 2013
Borrowed this book from the library to write my paper on Ancient Celtic religion and then had to purchase it for my own library. Strikingly more complete than most other books - or sections of books - that purport to be on the same subject. I did find that it circled around on some information - festivals and holidays were in two or three different sections of the book, and not always listed in the same manner. Read only as much as I "needed" to write my paper, but I plan to go back and give it a more thorough reading at some other point.
November 7, 2013
Love this book! It is a very thorough and detailed reference book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews