Oak and Lotus: Celtic Christian Spirituality in the Light of Eastern Wisdom

by Kenneth McIntosh

Imagine the Celtic saint Brigid and the great bodhisattva Guanyin sitting down together for a cup of tea. I certainly would want to listen in to their conversation! Oak and Lotus takes us to a similar place. It’s a beautiful, expansive book about the joyful integration of Eastern and Western wisdom, a resource I expect to return to again and again.
— Carl McColman, author of The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism and Eternal Heart

Oak and Lotus is a joy to read. Bringing Celtic Christianity into conversation with three major Eastern faith traditions—Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism—this book delights the heart again and again with parallels both uncanny and enlightening. Reader-friendly, it draws you in and won’t let you go.
— Rev. John R. Mabry, PhD, author of God as Nature Sees A Christian Reading of the Tao Te Ching and A Christian Walks in the Footsteps of the Buddha

Kenneth McIntosh’s book, Oak and Lotus, is a masterpiece of scholarship, insight, and wisdom itself, focusing on the mystic heart of Celtic Christian and three major spiritual traditions of Asia. I highly recommend this book for individuals as well as groups who want to deepen their spirituality.
— Edward Sellner, professor emeritus of theology, spirituality, and animal theology, author of numerous books on Celtic spirituality, including Celtic Saints and Animal A Spiritual Kinship

Critics may say, “This book is dangerous.” My reply “Being born is dangerous. Live dangerously and find the Divine at the heart of the universe.”
— Ray Simpson, author of many books on Celtic Christianity, including The Celtic Book of Day, Brendan’s Return A New American Dream—Indigenous, Post-Colonial and Celtic Theology, and Celtic Christianity and Climate Crisis

Kenneth McIntosh’s Oak and Lotus takes you on a holy adventure in which you set sail on your coracle in companionship with Celtic pilgrims, Buddhist monks, Hindu sages, and Taoist wanderers. On your journey, you may catch a glimpse and receive guidance from Brigid of Kildare, St. Brendan, Gautama Buddha, and Lao Tzu. McIntosh describes a spiritual path, and more than that, he provides tools and practices for spiritual transformation. When you read this book, you take a voyage of discovery and venture toward far horizons. This is one of the most inspirational books you will read on interspirituality and the universal wisdom of the Celtic sages.
— Bruce Epperly, author of Jesus – 343 Mystic, Healer, and Pilgrim and The Elephant is Process and Open and Relational Theology and Religious Pluralism

Genres: Christian

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2023

About the author

Kenneth McIntosh is a writer, educator and spiritual mentor. As a child he became fascinated with the Celtic legends of his heritage. Degrees in English and theology combined with travels in the Middle East and the Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland and Wales inspire his writing.

He is best known for his book Water from an Ancient Well: Celtic Spirituality for Modern Life. In addition, he has written dozens of other books--mostly non-fiction. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona with his wife and pets. In addition to writing he teaches Comparative Religions at a community college and serves as pastor for a progressive Christian church. His hobbies include hiking, investigating rock art and archaeological sites, labyrinth building and fixing vintage Volkswagens.

Kenneth is also a noted public speaker and is available for seminars, retreats and other speaking engagements.

Reviews

[Graeme Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oak and Lotus: Celtic Christian Spirituality in the Light of Eastern Wisdom by Kenneth McIntosh is a beautifully crafted exploration of interspirituality, offering a dialogue between Celtic Christianity and Eastern traditions like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism. McIntosh skillfully blends scholarship with practical guidance, making complex spiritual insights accessible and deeply relevant for contemporary readers.

The book shines in its approachability and breadth. Each chapter offers reflections, contemplative practices, and thoughtful parallels that reveal universal truths across cultures. McIntosh’s writing is warm and inviting, creating the sense of a personal guide on a spiritual journey, rather than a distant academic treatise. Readers will find themselves returning to the text for its inspiration, guidance, and transformative ideas.

Oak and Lotus is especially recommended for those interested in interfaith dialogue, Celtic Christian wisdom, or the integration of spiritual practices across traditions. Its gentle but profound insights make it a rich resource for individual reflection or group study.

[Jean Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is what would happen if St. Brigid, Buddah and Lao Tzu would walk into a bar and have a chat! The author makes a convincing argument that Celtic & Eastern spirituality can liberate the Christian imagination. Here's how:

🌀 God in Nature is a shared theme among Celtic Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
☘️ Celtic Spirituality can ignite both faith & imagination
🍃 Being in nature, Centering Prayer, pilgrimages are all valid spiritual practices.
🕈 Many gifts come from study of comparative religious study

[Sarah]

I adored McIntosh's writing style: pithy and elegant. I finished as soon as I could, rushing to copy the exercises so I could pass this on to a friend for their move.

Perfect to read when stuck on a train or bus, as the seed of intersectionality starts to branch from within.