In the House of Memory: Ancient Celtic Wisdom for Everyday Life

by Steve Rabey

Combines ancient Celtic spirituality with Christian belief, describing how the traditions of both can be practiced in daily life

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Paganism

292 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Steve Rabey is an award-winning author who has written nearly twenty books for both the ABA and CBA markets as well as more than 2,000 articles about religion, spirituality, and popular culture for magazines, websites, and newspapers. His articles have been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The American Spectator, Christian Retailing, Charisma, and Publishers Weekly, among many others. He speaks on a regular basis to groups such as Christian Management Association, Evangelical Press Association, and Current Thoughts and trends. Rabey serves as a member of the adjunct faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Reviews

[Lilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book barely skims the top of the very deep well that is Celtic spirituality. It is definitely one of the better "fluffy" books out there, but could have been so much more. Skip this is you are serious about your Celtic studies.

[Sandra Jackson - Alawine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of the book were interesting other parts were really boring and most of it seems to be his opinion with no documentation to back it up. He did have several practical suggestions on how you could use the "Celtic Wisdom" in your everyday life.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I enjoyed this book! I had it on my bookshelf for months and had completely forgotten about it until a few days ago. The author does a great job telling the brief history of the Celtic people in Ireland and England, with a heavy emphasis on their spiritual practices, both pagan and Christian. Having visited Ireland years ago, I have wanted to return for a longer stay, and this book just seals it!

Being Irish is a large part of my identity. I have studied Irish literature, and celebrated Irish holidays for all of my life. My family is Irish Catholic. I love Irish music. Irish, Irish, Irish! And now, having read this book, I have a much clearer understanding of the role of both pre-Christian spirituality and Celtic Christianity in the lives of my ancestors. Lovely stuff; much to think about.

While this isn't related to In the House of Memory per se, here is my favorite quote about the Irish: "Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy." -W.B. Yeats

Love that. So true.

And here are the lyrics for my favorite Garth Brooks song, "Ireland":


They say mother earth is breathing
With each wave that finds the shore
Her soul rises in the evening
For to open twilight's door
Her eyes are the stars in heaven
Watching o'er us all the while
And her heart it is in Ireland
Deep within the Emerald Isle

We are forty against hundreds
In someone else's bloody war
We know not why were fighting
Or what we're dying for
They will storm us in the morning
When the sunlight turns to sky
Death is waiting for its dance now
Fate has sentenced us to die

Ireland I am coming home
I can see your rolling fields of green
And fences made of stone
I am reaching out won't you take my hand
I'm coming home Ireland

Oh the captain he lay bleeding
I can hear him calling me
These men are yours now for the leading
Show them to their destiny
As I look up all around me
I see the ragged tired and torn
I tell them to make ready
'Cause we're not waiting for the morn

Ireland I am coming home
I can see your rolling fields of green
And fences made of stone
I am reaching out won't you take my hand
I'm coming home Ireland

Now the fog is deep and heavy
As we forge the dark and fear
We can hear their horses breathing
As in silence we draw near
There are no words to be spoken
Just a look to say good-bye I draw a breath and night is broken
As I scream our battle cry

Ireland I am coming home
I can see your rolling fields of green
And fences made of stone
I am reaching out won't you take my hand
I'm coming home Ireland
Yes I am home Ireland

We were forty against hundreds

[Monica]

Everybody please stop with these fabulous books. I don't have time to have a cup of tea.