Kindling the Celtic Spirit: Ancient Traditions to Illumine Your Life Through the Seasons – Celtic Myths, Rituals, and Blessings for Every Season

by Mara Freeman

In this beautiful treasury of sacred wisdom, Mara Freeman shares the rich legacy of the Celts -- the festivals, gods and goddesses, saints, faeries, music, poetry, and storytelling that anchor this magical tradition. Discover myths, rituals, recipes, and crafts for every month of theyear. Honor Saint Brigit with a prayer in February, or ensure a merry start to May with a bowl of frothy syllabub. Come together with friends and neighbors to celebrate community in the high days of August, then learn to weave a solstice wreath in snowy December. Traditional blessings, ancient lore, and guided meditations inspire you to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world, and view the sacred as an integral part of every day. Rediscover the wisdom and healing power of nature, and cultivate and honor your soul as you would the earth. Let the spirit of the ancient Celts enchant you in every season, year after year.

Genres: Spirituality, Paganism, Nonfiction, Religion, Ireland, Mythology, Reference

416 pages, Hardcover

First published December 26, 2000

About the author

Mara Freeman, M.A., is a British author and teacher of Western esoteric wisdom and spirituality, which she has taught internationally for over thirty years. She is an initiate in the Western Mystery Tradition, an Archdruidess of the Irish Druid Clan of Dana, and Honored Bard with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Her book, Kindling the Celtic Spirit has been hailed as the best modern introduction to Celtic spirituality and sacred traditions.


While living in California for 28 years, Mara taught at many universities and learning centers, including Omega Institute, NY, Naropa University, CO, and the University of California in Santa Cruz. She now lives in West Wales and leads retreats and pilgrimages in the Celtic countries. In 2005, Mara founded the Avalon Mystery School, a three-year home study program in the Arts of Sacred Magic. A qualified psychologist and astrologer, Mara also offers personal consultations in the Celtic tradition of Anamcara, or soul-guidance work.


Mara's other websites:
www.celticspiritjourneys.com
www.avalonmysteryschool.net

Reviews

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book a few years back and it became one of the most important books in my life. I cannot say enough about this book other than if you do not own it,you should. This book is wonderfull for the Pagan and non Pagan Alike. It has been my spritual guide for as many years as I have owned it,and I will contintue to buy copies for friends and my son when he comes of age. A lifetime book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cycle of the year book, and since I've been reading it for a year now, I guess it's time to call it "read". But I'll probably keep reading it, a month at a time, for a while...

[Aricia Gavriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected Christmas gift some years ago, and an enormous pleasure. A journey around the wheel of the year from the perspective of folk who lived closer to the land than we, or our parents, have been able to ... though I do remember my grandparents singing now-forgotten songs, and keeping traditions that have passed into history. Books like this help to keep the past alive, which is vital -- before we lose the lot, throw up our hands and surrender utterly to the game consoles, mobile phones and computer-controlled everything! I loved this.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce livre ce lit comme un almanach. Mois par mois, l'auteur nous présente la vie à la façon celte : mythes, recettes, fêtes, art et symboles par exemple. On peut y puiser aussi réflexions et méditations sur la vie, apprendre sur des traditions anciennes et les adapter à notre rythme de vie.

Bref, si vous aimez la culture celtique, je vous le recommande.

[Moony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book, filled with stories, recipes, meditations, traditions...
I took a whole year to really take it in. The book has 12 chapters to present the life and traditions of Celts throughout the year. I think reading it all at once would have been too much information for me and I liked more to be able to use it as a way to see how each month, each season, was honored by Celts then.
I think I'll get back to this book often, probably leafing through it each month to remember a few things and try out some recipes I haven't done the first time.

[Rivera Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I read each chapter on the first of the month ... this is my second read. It is re-weaving something that was lost long ago (in my family), although surprising pieces remain. It is connecting me to the rhythm of the Earth's cycles and the old legends of my ancestors.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book breathes air into my soul. It has great stories and beautiful ritual

[Mirabella. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how I adored this book, I could not stop reading it especially at evening. I’m so glad it was recommended to me. I have many many Celtic books, academic ones like Celtic myth and religion by Sharon Paice McLeod and scholarly and creative ones like Wild magic by Danu Forest etc and Caitlin Matthews books like ‘The way of Celtic tradition’ too. This one by Mara Freeman is definitely my favourite of all my Celtic books, her writing embraces the right amount of informed knowledge, but with emotional, intuitive, spiritual and poetic understanding too, and creative fire as she would say in the book. I guess this because of her deep respect for the feminine. I find the academic books too dry, cold and too logical. Removed from feeling, passion and spirit in their pursuit of the objective. This book is none of those things, it’s a poetic tour through all the Celtic traditions like waulking songs, Celtic poetry, the twelve days of Christmas, different Celtic deities and faerie stories, it’s just an absolute treasure. I live in Australia so there was no point me reading it chronologically according to the seasons, June is winter here. So just dipping into it at random like I love and prefer to do with books was just wonderful. On every page was something that engaged and moved me, always prefaced by a poem or story to get us in touch with our dreaming power. This is just such a magical book, it emanates with life, illumination and spirit, I really felt that from the book. I’m going to see if she has anymore and I mostly highly recommend this one.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at ancient Celtic traditions (focusing on Ireland, Scotland, and Isle of Man) throughout the year. Includes myths and legends, goddesses and gods, folktales, poems and songs, recipes, crafts, information on customs and traditions, and meditations.
Better as a resource to pull off the bookshelf at each month rather than reading in one go.

[Melanie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent the last year reading each chapter of the book as the month approached. I love the stories and lore of each chapter, and the crafts and meditations are a wonderful reason to keep coming back to the book. A pleasant way to feel into the rhythms of the year via ancient traditions applied in a modern context.

[Fabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and wonderful trove of Celtic lore, traditions, recipes, poems and stories to enjoy all year round. It is separated by months instead of chapters. A must have for any celtic traditions student.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written book that contains myths, recipes, songs, and all you need to live out a great Celtic lifestyle.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book. Effective writing skills. Just love it

[Hannah Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, love it, 100%, good stuff. Mara is a genius.

[Bettina Gies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good long-time companion. Indeed.

[Shirl Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

love love love

[Jewels · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for those interested in dancing to the rhythm of the seasonal festivals. A book to be treasured and read year round.

[lou hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant if you feel any calling to live more with the ebb and flow of nature

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the book is sectioned by month with lots of interesting facts and stories throughout. I especially liked the recipes and meditations. A fun year spent learning about my Celtic roots.

[Casey Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found most of this book really interesting. I loved reading about the history of the Celtic people and the celebrations throughout the year. I was less interested in the sections that she called "The Inner Cauldron", wherein she talked about ways you can meditate on the gods of the ancient celts and use the magical powers for yourself. That part is a bit hocus-pocus for my tastes, but I did enjoy learning about the symbolism of different trees, herbs, and animals, and I love that she included recipes for some different traditional goodies. It has definitely inspired me to be more intentional about creating celebratory rituals throughout the year to bond with friends and family reflect on the cycle of the year.

I especially liked the Autumn festivities and Samhain and the winter solstice/Christmas stuff, and the Beltaine stuff was pretty exciting too. All around I thought this was an interesting and informative read.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book!

This was the first book I read in 2008 when I started to do some research on fairies and some other things for a story idea I was pursuing. I found out so many interesting things! I enjoyed the tone of it.

I enjoyed all the little details of what fairies were/are really like in the stories from Great Britain. I also found it to be a fascinating study of the things people do who practice an independent lifestyle, like Wicca or Neo Paganism.

I want to buy it, so I can read it again and refer to it often.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched and detailed reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about Celtic spirituality. The book is divided into the pagan Wheel of the Year, with background on each of the festivals, with information about sacred places, animals, trees, and much more. An excellent resource for spiritual seekers.

[Diana]

just having a break , its a great book, but as its a wheel of the year book and I'm up to August in the book, Only at March in real time, so want to read rest of book later in the year to appreciate it more.

[Narkitsa Orada · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what to say about this book. There's nothing specific I disliked about it, and it's a beautiful concept. In the event, though, I found it somewhat flat. If you can borrow it, it's a relatively nice read, but I wish I hadn't paid for it.

[Anne Kelleher · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorites...

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful insight to the world of the Ancient Celts.

[Alyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

So Far it is fascinating and is helping me a lot with class on Celebrant and ceremony.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the stories and history given in the book.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was nice to be i a romance that was more adveture, then Allways getting tangled in long love triangles

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another year long book completed!