By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism

by D.J. Conway

Many seekers are interested in shamanism because it is a spiritual path that can be followed in conjunction with any religion or other spiritual belief without conflict. But the Native American and African peoples were not the only cultures to traditionally practice shamanism. For centuries, shamanism was practiced by the Europeans, as well - including the Celts.

Genres: Paganism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Wicca, Witchcraft, Magic, Religion

246 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1994

About the author

A native of the Pacific Northwest, author D.J. Conway has studied the occult fields for over 35 years. Her quest for knowledge has covered every aspect of Paganism and Wicca to New Age and Eastern philosophies; plus history, the magical arts, philosophy, customs, mythologies and folklore. In 1998, she was voted Best Wiccan and New Age author by Silver Chalice, a Pagan magazine.

She lives a rather quiet life, with most of her time spent researching and writing.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a lot of things in this book that are just plain wrong! Some rather vital information, actually.
Also, I have a problem with authors who pretend to impart historical or culturaly based knowledge. "They used to do it this way, but we're not going to do it that way because it's hard," and, "This is the proper term for this, but I'm going to use something else, because it's easier," just doesn't fly with me.

It's got nice meditations and visualizations, and can be a totally legitimate life-path and practice. But this book in no way shape or form represents any true historical practice or cultural information. Subsidiary reading, of perhaps a more scholarly scope, is definitely in order.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

He just took his own cosmic world view and called it Celtic Shamanism. This is based on his own imaginary BS. Don't be misled, find a real book on shamanism like Singing the Soul Back Home and Ireland like Celtic Heritage. Then let it happen naturally. His detailed dogma hopefully does not fit anyone else's; the Otherworlds need to be creatively mined for our own gems.

[Karyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow… what a poorly written trip.
Why did I even skim this? The terrible cover illustration should have been the tip off.

[Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

My main problem with this book, and most books about Celtic spirituality in general, is that it's all on speculation. Very little is known about how the Celts practiced their religion, and it varied between regions and tribes. Modern people love to try and lump things into catagories, and so to them, all of the Celts had all the same gods and terminology - or so this and other books would have you believe. True, Irish gods and goddesses like Lugh and Morrighan did have their counterparts in France and Germany, but not all of them were universally worshiped. I feel that it's foolishness to even pretend that what you are reading is authentic, heavily researched Celtic shamanism. My argument is bolstered by the fact that this author also writes books about dragons, mystical creatures, and flying. Perhaps a career in fantasy writing would have been a better choice.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some really interesting information about what it means to practice shamanism in the modern world. The book, however, had a very angry and confrontational tone in places as if the author expects to be criticized and persecuted at every turn. I was turned off by this underlying frustration and annoyance.

[Maya · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give it negative stars, I would have. It is a load of hogwash peppered with just enough facts to make a beginner wonder. YUCK!

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would it have killed this author to use they/them pronouns throughout the book?

[Danni · Rating 1 out of 5]

By Oak, Ash, and Thorn by DJ Conway could have been a great book introducing readers to Celtic Shamanism. Instead, it is plagued by poor writing, judgement, and terrible advice. Perhaps, this work appeals to a few. I'm sure there are Pagans who find some information from its pages to be useful, but it certainly wasn't for me.

Each chapter has information geared towards those just starting a shamanic path. It discusses how the author uses the information in his own practice. There are examples of different practices and really awful attempts to root the practices in historical or cultural evidence. A guided meditation ends each chapter. These range from decent to meh.

Let's start with the writing. It's not the worst that I've read. It just lacks depth and quality. I feel like it was written by a very young writer. Maybe its style and tone comes from a desire to be easy for those new to Celtic Shamanism. It came across not as an easy read but a patronizing one.

Interestingly, there are a couple points where the author stresses that Shamanism is an individual path, one that you must forge your own way through. Most of the book contradicts this with statements that come across as being absolutes. Judgments about what makes for a good practice or a bad one are everywhere.

I can't recommend this book to anyone. I'm shocked that I've seen it on some recommended reading lists. It couldn't have been less my cup of tea!

[Edward Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see how many who read this would be upset about the stretches that the author is making with the ties to Celtic shamanism as it sometimes reads as a doctored up version of Gardner or Buckland Wicca with some deities of the Celts (and Picts) thrown in but you have to realize that many shamanistic practices (be they First Nations, Native American, Pow Wow etc.) are amalgamations of beliefs from all peoples. Conway does an admirable job of making a go at finding the roots of the Celtic practice and puts it into perspective for the "modern" times. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than I thought it would be given the reviews here? Yes.

If you want some different views of the book, check the Amazon reviews as well as the ones here and make an educated decision on what you can take away from it.

[GOODRATS · Rating 2 out of 5]

i liked the visualization exercises in this book, as well as the appendix that has lots of terminology and a quick guide on historical/mythological figures. it also gave me an avenue to explore as far as spirituality goes. however, as most of the reviews state, some of the things that are stated as “fact” in this book are simply not true, and this is more of a book discussing d.j conway’s personal, spiritual practice, rather than a true look into celtic shamanism, or celtic religion as a whole. it is a good jumping off point for meditation practices, and a good encyclopedia, but looking into more reliable resources is a must.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am really regretting the $1 I spent on this book. I picked it up and thought to myself, "What the hell is celtic shamanism? Let's find out." And while I did find out the basic ins and outs of this practice, what I also got was a lot of pompous, self righteous bullshit. The crack about how atheists, like me, would never read anything spritual was hurtful and alienating and the repeated tearing down of Christianity was a complete turn off. I'm not big on organized religion either, but why would you, on multiple occaisions, use a primer about your frequently misunderstood religion to rip into someone elses? Over and over, the author goes on and on about how opened they are and how open and accepting you need to be in order to "shamanize (seriously, that word is used multiple times)," except not so much when it comes to different kinds of spirituality. And doesn't that sound vaguely familar, D.J. Conway? Luckily, this was written at maybe a 6th grade level, so I was able to plow through it at a pretty good pace. I wanted to finish it in order to learn as much as possible about this little known type of worship, and I do feel a little more enlightened about those who choose to "shamanize," but I didn't want to give this author any more of my time than what was required. What a jerk.

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly couldn't get far enough in this book to give it a fair rating but this is what I've got so far as I read:
I honestly did not appreciate the author slamming other religions that she did not like. The author seems to have a personal vendetta against Orthodox religions and it definitely shows in her writing. And these were not just passing glances these were passages that really went for the throat. I just couldn't do it and it turned me off from the entire book.

[Sari · Rating 4 out of 5]

As many pointed out it may not be historically correct but its a great book to pull from for self awareness. I do like the meditations and planning on using the self empowerment exercise on the full moon. It's a good book to have when trying to work on becoming a better you.

[Gwyndyllyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction to this topic. Includes some visualizations and exercises.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book’s a useful guide for anyone who wants to learn about Celtic shamanism. The author explains what this form of shamanism is and how it can be applied in modern, solitary practice. There are clear, simple instructions on how to journey to Otherworlds (she also explains what they are) for different purposes. The book changed a lot of misconceptions I had about shamanism and offered an insightful history lesson of ancient Wales and Ireland.

Several illustrations are presented throughout the book. Since no descriptions were offered, it was sometimes challenging to see how they related to the text at times. What was helpful, however, were insights regarding her own experiences, the glossary, a list of supernatural beings and heroes/heroines mentioned in the book, a breakdown of genealogy connections of ancient figures for history buffs, and a list of Gaelic words for who are those interested in the linguistic component. All in all, this is an interesting read.

[Ulvhud · Rating 1 out of 5]

Una copertina e un titolo accattivanti.
Il testo, più che essere teorico, propone una serie di meditazioni interpretati sotto la chiave dell'esperienza personale dell'autrice. Per chi studia la religione celtica andando oltre la superficie dei testi pagani moderni, e ricercando quindi sotto un punto di vista anche storico, si renderà conto che il libro tratta di argomenti basati unicamente sull'esperienza personale. Non amo particolarmente l'approccio dell'autrice e mi sento di sconsigliarlo per il semplice motivo che esistono testi migliori in circolazione. Se invece state cercando libri che diano spunti per le meditazioni, potrebbe essere adatto.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and it brought back a reconnection to both shamanism and the Celtic culture of Britain and Ireland. It takes a look at myths and tales from both Irish and Welsh cultures and drives to gleam possible truths about the stories told and equate them to a shamanistic subculture in the spiritual life of the Celts. It also puts forward exercises to help you communicate with the spirit worlds with this framework and use it in your own healing work.

[Heidi Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re-read for me. It's a wonderful resource for anyone following an Earth-based spiritual path. Conway is an expert in Celtic shamanism and provides a comprehesive encyclopedia of all things Celtic. There are wonderful meditations and journey's the reader can experience for themselves and the glossery alone is worth the book for information about the deities, herbology and seasonal festivals.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.J. Conway delves in Celtic shamanistic beliefs, and provides rituals that are both ancient and relevant. The dictionary of Celtic phrases, deities and heroes, as well as the guides to the ogham as well as trees and herbs makes this a necessary addition to any magickal library.

[Andrea Szabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very instructive and detailed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much that I will read it over andover again because it resonates with me.

[Dante Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a new take on shamanism, and especially liked how it walks you through a linear path to more advanced subjects.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of this was really interesting.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Shamanism, not new to me. I practice Aziz shamanism. I think it is vital to read other ways in order to learn more. I now want to read more Celtic pagan magical books.

[Frank Talaber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great information on Celtic ceremonies, traditions, etc.

[Daniel Shorter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shaman Healer

Within this book a bridge is created between the modern and the Celtic spirit. A must read for an aspiring Shaman.

[Leah Markum · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried. I tried again. Then I realized sometimes it's best to let things go.

As many other reviewers have said, this book had potential. It had a good topic. I love reading pagan philosophy books for a holistic, semi-real world interest and semi-fictional world building interest. I don't even care if the statements are directly evidence based or more qualitative. I care, however, about the writer's approach to sharing information, and this approach completely overshadowed any Celtic shamanism that could have been gleaned from the book's pages.

The true thesis screamed at me maybe 15 pages in: "Modern humans have turned away from every level of being except the physical, expecting to find in science and the five physical senses a freedom and contentment that is illusory at best and deadening at worst...Orthodoxy and science have cut down the World Tree and blown up the tunnel to the Underworld, leaving us stranded in a sterile plane of existence that is slowly but surely killing us." Talk about being sensationalist.

Before, in between, and after this statement he addresses a connection with nature. What does he think science is? What does he think the physical world is? The revered natural world in its raw form is somehow sterile? Doesn't that contradict biological existence--I mean, sterile means devoid of life? Apparently we can't feel elated by our physical (much more than five by the way) senses. I haven't read something this confusing and blatant logic-defying in a long time. I'd almost give the author a chance to rewrite the paragraph and others like it just in case she chose bad words and failed to communicate what she was really thinking. I'm sincerely sorry that D.J. Conway finds this world deadening, or that using our best means to learn about the world is somewhere between illusory and deadening. Meanwhile, others--scientists and artists alike--are elated with fascination. I'm sorry that someone thinks learning about nature and appreciating all its aesthetic and mystery on a differently defined level than his nature-based spirituality is somehow a horrible thing. I also don't see how this attitude is healthy for a book that apparently is more a self-help, New Age healing book than a Celtic shamanism book.

The writer does not approach with an open perspective. Sometimes I can continue reading a book on its merits and tolerate occasional negative opinions that sprout from somewhere outside the content of the book. However, not this time. It's wiser to find a different writer sharing similar content but with a different approach. I'll find something with more information on Celtic shamanism that I can be free to interpret instead of relying on minimal context and maximal Conway.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people really dislike this book. I happen to like this book. Not many pagan authors discussed soul retrieval or dealing with a shattered or as Conway said a 'fragmented' soul. So I was quite pleased when this was discussed from his perspective. There's some good information in here, meditations etc. It may not be totally Celtic or totally shamanism, maybe we need to stop labeling everything and just go with flow and see how it works for us. If it resonates with our spirit, great. If not, no harm done in exploring :)

[Onyx · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know exactly what to think of this book. It's great in the area of personal development, which is totally important when you're practicing any spiritual, magical, or even philosophical path. So the first third of the book I really liked. On the on other hand, the rest of the book has this mix of research in the Way of the Shaman by Michael J. Harner, along with Celtic history, mythology, and language, plus Wicca and New Age creative visualization practices. I'm not sure if all that put together makes for a practicable shamanism, not even a practicable urban shamanism.
The further I got into the book, the more bored I got. But don't take my boredom for judging whether it's a lousy book or not. It might be for you. It does have good things in it.

[Nikki Garland · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was full of knowledge, but difficult to read. Read more like a classroom book than an entertainment one, but I guess that is good for those of you on a shamanic journey. I struggled and forced myself to finish. I think if you know you're interested in a shamanic path you would find it easier to read. I was only reading as it was part of our book club and I am not on this path in the least.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of the typical fluff, but some really good meditation exercises using the senses. Extreme overuse of the word "shaman" and words like "shamanism" and "shamanizing" (not kidding). The word will stop making sense if you read too much at once. Still, a few things I took notes on for further use.