Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit – A Cross-Cultural Exploration of the Visionary Experience

by Tom Cowan

Fire in the Head is Tom Cowan's engrossing, intelligent, and shamanically well-informed work that is an important gift to all those Westerners seeking a knowledge of Celtic shamanism. In The Song of Wandering Aengus , William Butler Yeats refers to the '"fire in the head" that characterizes the visionary experience. Tom Cowan has pursued this theme in Fire in the Head , a lyrical cross-cultural exploration of shamanism and the Celtic imagination that examines the myths and tales of the ancient Celtic poets and storytellers, and outlines techniques used to access the shaman's world.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Mythology, Religion, Paganism, History, Folklore

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 1993

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Few people see high school as a time when you ~find yourself~ -- that's for university; your twenties. High school is for being screwed up and hormonal, holding on for dear life as life explodes around/in you, and consuming, consuming, consuming formative shit.

I consumed a lot of formative shit in high school -- and two of those things relate to this book:
1) my interest in mythology/paganism/Wicca
2) my first (and still) favourite band, the Tea Party

The Tea Party is a Canadian east-meets-west rock three-piece. They are fucking incredible and you should go listen to them right now if you don't know them. They happen to be currently touring, on its 20th anniversary, their iconic album Edges of Twilight. That album happens to be heavily based on/inspired by this book. I happened...so coincidentally...to read it as they were touring.

So I have to give two separate reviews.


ONE: BOOK, AS RELATES TO THE TEA PARTY
How. Fucking. Cool. To read the exact words that evidently sparked brilliance in artists you respect; that helped them create music that kept you going through your adolescence (and now). There are no words for that. Treasures hunts to pick out what mattered, what struck -- work for the fangirl, to be sure, but rewarding, heartbeat-y work.


TWO: BOOK, PROPER
Like okay. I am 100% sure I came across this book in a new age shop when I was 15 or so. It's luck of the draw that it didn't end up beside "A Dictionary of Wiccan Symbols" and "A Book of Pagan Rituals" on my high school bookshelf.

But suffice to say: those books didn't quite make it to my adult bookshelf.
Why?
Not because I don't appreciate them, the culture, natural magic; not because I don't still find myself, sometimes, identifying with pagan ideals and beliefs.

But because they're almost unequivocally poorly written.

Cowan doesn't cite credible sources. Doesn't follow a clear train of thought. Uses the fact that "ancient people believed in honour" to prove anecdotal/mythological evidence (well they wouldn't LIE, would they?!?! dude. dude.). Draws random comparisons and fails to explain them, but spends every chapter reminding us that shamans need injury and that the journey to the Otherworld is important.

I guess I can see how, tripping balls on shrooms, you would respond strongly to this kind of logic, this kind of appeal to "non-ordinary reality." That, by the way, sits strangely with me -- shamans who need hallucinogens to enter their trances and states...kinda sound just like people who took hallucinogens, to me. But hey, maybe I'm slipping; maybe my roots in nature and possibility are drying up and dying. Maybe I'm getting too scientific, too analytic. Maybe -- definitely -- this book is not written for me.

But it was written for who I was, once.
And maybe that says more about Cowan's point than anything else. If we're all connected, if we all can experience these shamanic moments, then perhaps I should be drawing out my old teenage self for inspiration. And know what, I like that -- I like the idea that we can learn from who we were, not just bury them as embarrassments or past versions. I am still the girl who read books about Wicca and blasted "Sister Awake" on her boombox.

That said, I'm also an English teacher who can't stand bullshit. So: 3 stars.

[S. Harrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

On my shelf of shamanist titles, this one sits prominently figured. Cowan presents the traditional fantastic experiences of the shaman in an amazingly receivable framework. His experience of archetypes in well-known myths and legends opens one to the ability to read all things symbolically, thus, as the dynamic spiritual presences that they are. To that end I regard Cowan as a shapeshifter of symbols, not an interpreter of them. His telling of olde tales connects their spirit with a modern audience.

In this book his love and connection to the Celtic path is evident, though it is not necessarily rooted in what we know of Celtic history, itself. I feel it is important to make that distinction, as Cowan is cultivating the opening of the shamanic experience of metaphor in a Celtic context. He is not a Reconstructionist, thus this work offers, rather, an experiential opportunity in a Celtic framework.

[Peat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating stuff.

There are times when I wished to shout at the author 'How can you be sure of that'. This book fits everything that can be made to fit to the model of Celtic shamanism, rather than weighing the possibility of what each thing meant.

As a whole though, the model is compelling. The use of Celtic folklore and myth to illustrate the examples was well done and made the book very easy to comprehend. All in all, a fine look at shamanism and Celtic spirituality.

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and need to buy it! Everything it went over felt so familiar to me... it was like remembering how to swim or ride a bike.

One of those rare books I actually want to read AGAIN. =)

[Lilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Core Shamanism given a Celtic veneer.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

For mythology to folktales~and also ones outside of the paradigm of Celtic magic ~ its world alone is explored in this well broken down book. From Robin Hood to Cuchulain, and other not so well known hero archetypes; explore their make-up and comparative heros. Shamanism is a wonderful study and this book is a great one, even for those who have not read a great deal previouly on Irish history specifically or Shamanism itself. For those that have it has excellent comparative writings as well as an in-depth but not too studious look at the title matter
It has an excellent 'floorplan' for easily browing as well, studies on Music, or Forest Magics, again nont Just isolated to Ireland tough the circle will always find itself there again.
Four not five stars due only to a small notes section for those who like to find facts there or in the Bibliography.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great book that gives an introduction to shamanism and the Celtic Spirit. Tom Cowan gives a wonderful introduction on the problem of Celtic shamanism, which is a must read for anyone trying to walk this path.

Tom Cowen talks about the different kinds of Shamanic experiences and outlines the important components of Celtic Shamanism. This book is a must read if you are going to follow the Celtic Shamanism path or is trying to incorporate it into your own brand of Celtic path.

[Alubjorn]

Nice comparison of Celtic spirituality with traditional shamanism. The author (Tom Cowan) comes from a background of core shamanism (Michael Harner)which is a modern approach to shamanism that strips it of any culture and tradition. How can you practice shamanism without culture and tradition? I guess that's why Mr. Cowan wrote this book, because he knew he needed some depth to the practice of core shamanism so he made a nice comparison to the wonderful culture of the Celts.

[Julene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to Celtic Shamanism by a dear friend. I read it long ago. I've journeyed with him, and I've done a weekend intensive at Breitenbush years ago. I'm glad he is still teaching. If it were more my path I would travel with him through Ireland, what a way that would be to experience the ancient traditions. Alas, not this lifetime.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I found it insightful and I think it ties in well with Michael Harner's books.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I read this book over 10 years ago. If I recall properly, it describes the experiences of modern (celtic) shamanism, it's trance traditions and mythological roots. 10 years later I read Julian Jaynes' "Origins of Conciousness" which added a wonderful and controversial consciousness evolution theory on shamanic experiences, modern and otherwise. While reading Jayne's book, I often nodded in recognition from what I'd remembered reading in "Fire in the Head."

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting to see the connections made between faeries and other beings and a faeryland with various types of other worlds/death.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the Celts and the wonderful connection to the land of faeries, the green and the animal kingdom.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. A leisurely exploration of Celtic society past and present with a great survey of traditinoal shamanism from Siberia to South America.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went through a phase of being very interested/involved with Native American shamanism, but since I'm into the Celt/Irish deal, I thought this book would be a great hybrid. And it is.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable overview of Celtic shamanism. Easy to read. a bit redundant from other books I've read on the deeper meanings of the Grail stories, but good nonetheless.

[Zerahel of LeavesoftheTree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on Celtic Shamanism - I am getting ready to re- read it -- Will share more later.

[Silas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. I didn't think I'd like it that much, but it really moved me.

[Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. A combination of academic and spiritual knowledge, tied in with a bit of entertaining folklore and stories.

[Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the fact that the author made comparisons with other cultures all around the globe rather than singling out the Celts as the only ones with this type of shamanism.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but information is awkwardly arranged.

[Kevin Orth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, thoroughly researched. Wish the author did a deeper dive into Celtic shamanism rather than tour the world and speak of shamanism more broadly.

[John Ramage · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Irish and British folklore" typically misleading people to think this involves the recent English occupiers as most use British/Britian synonomously with English/England. Tarnishing the identity of the true natives in Scotland and Wales.

Scottish Irish Welsh share ancient bloodlines om these islands espeically from the first settlers in the early stone around Scotland in 12,700BC to the first formation of Celts merging on the islands over time creating a similation of language and culture becoming one people with the indogenous tribes, birthing many unique Celtic tribes different from most European Celts. The Scottish Pegan Picts (blue painted ones) defended the island against the Romans, Vikings then newly formed English. Without them Celture culture would not have survived.

To tarnish them as British(English) in the modern interpretation is quite offensive to the natives.

Also the author appears to think most Celtic culture on these island originates in Ireland... not realising both the first settler and later Celts arrived on Ireland from Scotland ovee thousands of years... only some returned to Scotland over a small peroid in time and why Scotland Ireland share a very close bloodline as it has been mixed back and forward since 10,000BC.

The Celtic languages fluctuated all over the Island just because Scotland speak a modern Gaelic one and not one of the many others it used doesn't mean anything else in Scotland or its people originates in Ireland, however Irish are literally Scottish bloodlines just returning to Scotland from Ireland in which Scotlands inhabitants and Celts inhabited.

[Susan Landy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book I've picked up over and over and it's a good sourcebook for European poetry. It makes an association between poetry and magic which seems natural to me. It supplies well-chosen poetry, mythology and culture to back up this claim. It provides instructive and whimsical motifs (if you consider a talking, severed head whimsical) from Celtic mythology.

Imagine my surprise when I read that Cowan was an MD who had his license suspended because he prescribed an off-label drug to treat a woman's cancer without telling her it was off-label, and without looking at her chart. He is associated with the Center for Shamanic Studies in Connecticut, which was started by Michael Harner of The Way of the Shaman fame. The Center for Shamanic Studies seems like an interesting place. Cowan could have reapplied for his license in 3 years but chose to resign it. Laurie Cabot's most well-known book, Power of the Witch, would probably have languished in obscurity if Cowan had not co-authored it.

[H M · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent overview of Celtic cosmology and folklore that highlights similarities with shamanic practice in other cultures. The citations, however, often refer to works that have now been shown ahistorical (Mead and Murray especially) or culturally insensitive (generic pan-shamanism). The seeker will find much wisdom in this book, but should tread carefully. The author uses comparison with Native American practices far too freely, and does not address the cultural implications of Europeans practicing "core shamanism". Those interested should look into the Lakota Declaration of War on Plastic Shamans.

[Chante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and the way in which the author explains the history of shamanism and defines the elements of Shamanic practices so eloquently and easy to understand for the readers. I found it very interesting while reading this book to learn that many Old Religion and Shamanic practices are still alive within mankind today; one small example is how many people all over the world believe by casting a coin into a fountain or spring will grant wishes and give good luck to the castor.
I also really like the chapter on death and nde's. Death is nothing to fear- death is a rebirth or transformation-- not an end but an experience of and union with ALL THAT IS.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A interesting work of scholarly speculation. The author draws from the shamanistic traditions of the world, taking selected characteristics from many of them. Then he points out the characteristics in Celtic mythology, legend, stories, and culture. This believably gives one the idea that pre-Christian Celtic religion was shamanistic. To be sure a possibility. The authors style was somewhat dense with some chapters being captivating and others being just browsable. If you are interested in possible commonalties between shamanism and Celtic myths give this a read.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes a brilliant argument that there's no such thing as Celtic Shamanism, except there was totally such a thing as Celtic Shamanism -- we just haven't bothered to apply the label. By drawing us into the historical and modern Celtic cosmology and through a helpful analysis of Celtic mythology, fairy-tales, and spirituality, the author shows us where the Shamanic practices are described. He gets speculative at times, but acknowledges when doing so. This is one I'm certain to return to.

[Ulvhud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro interessante sull'argomento. Acquistato molti anni fa, l'ho letto effettivamente di recente.
Prendendo spunto dai miti e dall'iconografia, mostra uno spaccato dello sciamanesimo celtico. Per me si è trattato di un ottimo libro, ma è bene sottolineare che le informazioni riportate sono per lo più poste in una chiave teorica: non troverete meditazioni guidate o esercizi di sorta, che può essere un malus per alcuni, o un aspetto positivo per altri.

[Gabby]

This is a book that I can see myself returning to time and again as reference and to reconnect when the constant hum of the world becomes pressuring. It really brings into new lights the corruption of history and understanding that can occur over time when those who want to present control as a choice are in control. An interesting and heavy on the lore book but one for those interested in some of the Celtic roots of poems or Celtic influences on some Christian lore.