Good books on Celtic beliefs?

[David19]

I'm not a Celtic Pagan at all, but I am interested in learning more about Celtic beliefs (i.e. religious), I know that there isn't one "universal" Celtic religion, and that there were many, but I'd like to learn more about them, yet I'm not sure where to start.

Any help you could give me would be great.

Thanks.

David.

[skilly-nilly]

I'm not a Celtic Pagan at all, but I am interested in learning more about Celtic beliefs (i.e. religious), I know that there isn't one "universal" Celtic religion, and that there were many, but I'd like to learn more about them, yet I'm not sure where to start.

Any help you could give me would be great.

Thanks.

David.

There is a Celtic Re-Constructonist FAQ
http://paganachd.com/faq/intro.html

which is a great resource itself and has a reading list
http://paganachd.com/faq/readinglist.html

as well.

Really, imo to get good information you have to pick a nationality (at least) to begin reading about--the different cultures vary quite a lot.

[David19]

There is a Celtic Re-Constructonist FAQ
http://paganachd.com/faq/intro.html

which is a great resource itself and has a reading list
http://paganachd.com/faq/readinglist.html

as well.

Really, imo to get good information you have to pick a nationality (at least) to begin reading about--the different cultures vary quite a lot.

Thanks for the links, they do look amazing.

After I made the post, it actually occured to me, it'd make more sense to pick a culture.

I'd like to learn more about Irish beliefs, partly, just 'cause my dad's family is Irish, so I'd like to learn more about the ancient beliefs, and the little bit I've read sounds really interesting.

Also, there's ancient British beliefs (pre-Anglo-Saxon?) that I'm really curious about, so if you or anyone else knows any good books on one or both of these cultures, I'd really appreciate any help you could give me.

Thanks again for the links :).

[odubhain]

_Celtic Consciousness_ by Robert O'Driscoll
_The Celtic Realms_ by Nora Chadwicke and Myles Dillon
_Mythic Ireland_ by Micahel Dames
_Celtic Sacred Landscapes_ by Nigel Pennick
_Celtic Heritage_ by Rees and Rees
_The Sacred Isle_ by Dathi O'Hogain

[David19]

Thanks for those book recommendations.

[Stang]

Read anything by Peter Berresford Ellis or Miranda Green. Or you could read some of the ancient myths, which were generally first written down during the christian period, but which describe an ancient pre-christian Celtic Ireland. A lot of good material can be found in the Sacred Texts Library. A story like The Cattle Raid of Cooley can give you a feel for ancient Celtic society in a way that a modern history book or recon website can't.

It's unclear how much the belief systems of the ancient Celts varied from culture to culture, since Deities were often referred to by titles, so it's often difficult to determine whether various inscriptions refer to the same Deity or to a different one. However, the Welsh and Irish texts suggest that there were a lot of similarities between their pantheons. And Greek and Roman writers stated that there were some major Deities that were worshipped throughout the Celtic world, as well as others that were specific to certain areas. Stone carvings and decorations on metal objects seem to support this idea. So linguistic and cultural differences and geography may have affected the belief system of the different Celtic cultures less than one would assume. The Greeks and Romans indicated that the Celts of Ireland, Britain, Spain and northern Itally all had a learned class (the folks who we generally refer to as Druids), as did some Celto-Germanic groups, such as the Belgae. And the Romans believed that Druids in different parts of Europe were in contact with one another to some extent.

The idea of different Celtic groups having major Deities and certain beliefs in common isn't popular with some modern historians, who assume that different Celtic groups living in different parts of Europe and speaking different languages and dialects must have had quite a variety of belief systems. But there really isn't any hard evidence to support that notion.

[skilly-nilly]

Read anything by David Berresford Ellis or Miranda Green. .

Good suggestion, but his name is Peter
http://www.amazon.com/Druids-Peter-Berresford-Ellis/dp/0802841589/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7581185-5471258?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177558814&sr=8-1

[Morr]

I personally love "Kindling the Celtic Spirit" by Mara Freeman. Also, another book that my husband and I found in a small bookstore that I have yet to hear anyone speak of, but I love it as well, is "366 Celt -- A year and a day of Celtic Wisdom and Lore".

[Nitefalle]

Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses by RJ Stewart is another good one. The only criticism I have of his book is that he seems to group the goddesses together in the modern "Maiden/Mother/Crone" triple aspect, which was not a Celtic notion. Other than that, he is articulate but not dry, and very well researched.

I'd also like to recommend Anam Cara, by John O'Donahue. It's a slow read, as it's very thought provoking and contemplative, but something that I greatly enjoyed.

Morr - I've thumbed through that book at the bookstore and it was quite interesting. Definitely worth a deeper look, I think you'll enjoy it.

[Stang]

Good suggestion, but his name is Peter
http://www.amazon.com/Druids-Peter-Berresford-Ellis/dp/0802841589/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7581185-5471258?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177558814&sr=8-1

Right you are - Peter Berresford Ellis. I should have found a copy of one of his books and checked the name, instead of relying on my fabulous memory, which seems to keep getting better over time, lol.

[Stang]

Once a person has learned a bit about the ancient Celts, if that person decides they want to follow a modern version of Celtic spirituality, the main options seem to be modern Druid groups, recon groups or Celtic shamanism. For modern Druid groups, check out the websites of the ADF, the Druid Network, the British Druid Order and OBOD. Two of my favorite authors about modern Druidry are Philip Carr-Gomm (OBOD) and Emma Restall Orr (formerly of the British Druid Order but I believe now part of the Druid Network. I don't know much about the recon stuff, but I think that a book called The Apple Branche by Alexei Kondratiev would be an example of that approach. I'm also not very familiar with Celtic shamanism, but an author named Tom Cowan has written some books on that, including one called Fire in the Head.

And if you really want to capture the Celtic spirit, whether or not you explore modern Celtic spiritual paths, it helps to actually read about and make some things that are part of traditional Celtic life, such as baskets, wickerwork or musical instruments, such as the bodhran. I have a book called Ireland's Traditional Crafts by David Shaw-Smith, which has a lot of good ideas in it. I don't know if it's still in print, but there are probably others like it.

[StormVixen]

so whats a good book on the british celts then?
xXx

[Tranquility]

Mara Freeman's "Kindling the Celtic Spirit" is by far one of my favorites.

[omar]

I just got "Celtic Myths & Legends" by T.W. Rolleston, to read.

[Drouach]

I'm readings "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Celtic Wisdom".

I highly recommend it for noobs.


I have joined up to the New Order of Druids.

Their Bardic course is online and free! http://www.druidcircle.org

[Nitefalle]

Drouach, that is actually a very good book for noobs, or anyone wanting to learn a little bit more about Celtic beliefs. It's a very good resource for general information. I also want to recommend Gods and Fighting Men, as well as The Red Haired Girl from the Bog. I am still working my way through the latter, but it is a wonderful read.

[Drouach]

Yes I am very impressed with the Complete Idiots guides and the for Dummies guides.

They are great for all kinds of subjects.

[moonbride]

Mara Freeman's "Kindling the Celtic Spirit" is by far one of my favorites.

I love that one as well.

I also heard good things about The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual by Alexi Kondratiev was really good and picked it up used just this week (it's out of print at the moment)... so reading that one now.

[Cuchulian333]

hello and hello i got a great publisher that has a very wide variety of books on celtic peganism!!!
LLEWELLYN WORLD RELIGION AND MAGIC SERIES!!!!! :abanana:

[odubhain]

You might want to read some reviews of those books before buying them. Some of Llewellyn's books are ok while others are dreck.

Searles O'Dubhain

[Nitefalle]

Yes - definitely do NOT read anything by Sirona Knight!!! I was perusing her book yesterday on "Celtic Druidism" (it belongs to my housemate) and after reading one page I threw it down in disgust. I think she just plain made things up in that book.

[Seren_]

I'm not a Celtic Pagan at all, but I am interested in learning more about Celtic beliefs (i.e. religious), I know that there isn't one "universal" Celtic religion, and that there were many, but I'd like to learn more about them, yet I'm not sure where to start.

Any help you could give me would be great.

Thanks.

David.

It depends on what you're looking for, really. For information on modern practise I'd recommend Mara Freeman's Kindling the Celtic Spirit or Alexei Kondratiev's The Apple Branch.

For historical information I can't think of any one book...I agree with Skilly-Nilly that picking a culture and taking it from there is a good start. The Celtic Gauls: Gods, Rites and Sanctuaries by Jean-Louis Brunaux is an excellent choice for Gaul. Celtic Britain by Anne Ross or Celtic Gods by Miranda Green are fairly accessible (but dense) for more general information, but they're not exactly straightforward "this is what they believed and practised". Reading the mythology will help too.

[IrishDancer]

My knowledge is based on having had a Celtic Christian mom that was also a theological writer -- so we have a LOT of books on this topic. Most lean toward Celtic Christianity, so that's what I'll share, along with the Amazon links so you can check them out for yourself and see what you think might be helpful :)

Morr, my mom really loved 366 Celt. I've also loved looking through it.

Anam Cara was another great suggestion.

I know my mom also read the Carmina Gadelica a lot, by Alexander Carmichael (not sure if it's more Christian or more Pagan, or a mixture of the two)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0863155200?tag=internetsacredte&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0863155200&adid=1FBNJQHFNG7JGMYZQ2FB&

And also:

Holy Companions: Spiritual Practices from the Celtic Saints
by Mary C. Earle
http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Companions-Spiritual-Practices-Celtic/dp/0819219932/ref=pd_sim_b_5_img/102-4312702-6442505

Every Earthly Blessing: Rediscovering the Celtic Tradition
by Esther De Waal
http://www.amazon.com/Every-Earthly-Blessing-Rediscovering-Tradition/dp/0819218065/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4312702-6442505?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182258293&sr=8-1

The Book of Creation: An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality
by J. Philip Newell
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Creation-Introduction-Celtic-Spirituality/dp/0809138999/ref=cm_lmf_tit_5_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505

Celtic Christianity: A Sacred Tradition, a Vision of Hope
by Timothy J. Joyce
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Christianity-Sacred-Tradition-Vision/dp/1570751765/ref=cm_lmf_tit_2_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505

Celtic Christian Communities: Live the Tradition
by Ian Bradley
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Christian-Communities-Live-Tradition/dp/1896836437/ref=cm_lmf_tit_18_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505

Journeys on the Edges: The Celtic Tradition (Traditions of Christian Spirituality.)
by Thomas O'Loughlin
http://www.amazon.com/Journeys-Edges-Tradition-Traditions-Spirituality/dp/1570753377/ref=cm_lmf_tit_12_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505

Holy Ground: Celtic Christian Spirituality
by Deborah K. Cronin
http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Ground-Celtic-Christian-Spirituality/dp/0835808386/ref=cm_lmf_tit_17_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505

And some prayer books, that are also very educational:

Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings From the Northumbria Community
by The Northumbria Community
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Daily-Prayer-Northumbria-Community/dp/0060013249/ref=cm_lmf_tit_4_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505

The Celtic Way of Prayer: The Recovery of the Religious Imagination
by Esther De Waal
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Way-Prayer-Religious-Imagination/dp/0385493746/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505

Celtic Prayers from Iona and
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Prayers-Iona-Philip-Newell/dp/0809104881/ref=pd_sim_b_2_img/102-4312702-6442505

Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality
http://www.amazon.com/Listening-Heartbeat-God-Celtic-Spirituality/dp/0809137593/ref=pd_sim_b_1_img/102-4312702-6442505
by J. Philip Newell

Celtic Blessings: Prayers for Everyday Life
by Ray Simpson
http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Blessings-Prayers-Everyday-Life/dp/0829413448/ref=pd_sim_b_5_img/102-4312702-6442505


Here's a great Amazon list of books you can get on the topic, most of which I have in my house and really enjoy looking at:

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Tradition-Spirituality-and-prayers/lm/3VW934CIML8J8/ref=cm_lmt_dtpa_f_2_rdssss0/102-4312702-6442505?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=listmania-center&pf_rd_r=1B4JBD35212DWNXVCZHH&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=253462201&pf_rd_i=0863155200

[Morr]

Wonderful book list, IrishDancer!

Thank you!

[IrishDancer]

Glad you liked it :) I'm realizing that I learned a lot more from my mom than I even thought!