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A Guide To Their Spiritual Power, Healing Energies and Mystical Joy
New Page Books/Career Press 2005 ISBN #1-56414-783-5
Magic of the Celtic Gods and Goddesses is a journey into the world of Celtic myth and lore that is strong on research, and deep in placing the energy into our everyday lives. It is the best of two worlds - the world of scholarship and the world of spirituality. The authors present an extensive list of benefits to be found on this journey1:
They define their goals for writing this book as2:
What this book does not do is as important as what it does do - it does not offer lists of spells, magical attributions or tables of correspondences. This book is reality TV in text format - this is about the real world, and the connections that the deities can help us make in the real world. The approach to this book is through story and myth - a blending of the academic with the spiritual. Enough information is given in this book so that there can be a true spiritual connection with any given deity, and so that the reader will have a decent foundation for future personal research. Carl McColman is the author of When Someone You Love Is Wiccan (New Page Books) and Before You Cast A Spell (New Page Books), and is the founder and spiritual leader of the Brigit's Well Celtic Community in Atlanta, Georgia. Kathryn Hinds is the author of more than twenty books, including The Celts of Northern Europe (Benchmark Books). She has been a student of Norse, Irish and Welsh literature and spirituality sin the late 1980's. I found interesting the different ways in which the authors state that the Celtic deities can be approached3. For myself, I think a combination of ways of looking at/accepting the deities into my life is appropriate.
The book is broken down into sections on Goddesses and Heroines; Gods and Heroes; and Goddesses and Gods In Our Lives. The authors have picked the most interesting, recognizable Goddesses and Gods to present here - representing myths and stories readily familiar to the reader. Each deity is presented with their background, the energy they represent, their story, and how to honor and work with the energy they represent in "real time". We begin with the story of the Mother deity, and her connection with the land. Interestingly, the triple image of the Mothers is of three women, sometimes of varying age, but always adults, and not the triple Goddess image of maiden/mother/crone that we would normally think of. The Mother deity represents fertility and abundance, and can be approached by anyone - male or female. The way to honor the Mother deity is to become aware of and connected to the nature that surrounds us. We also hear about Anu and the River Goddesses; Brigit, Goddess of poetry, healing and magic; the Morrigàn (Phantom Queen), Goddess of war; Medb (She Who Intoxicates), who is best honored by cultivating our own confidence and ambition; Macha (Goddess of Many Lives); Rhiannon (the Great Queen); Ceridwin (Keeper of the Cauldron); and Arianrhod (The Lady of the Wheel). The section on the Gods begins with Cernnunos (Master of the Hunt), and moves on to the Dagda (the Big Father), who is honored by choosing to exult in the good things of life; Manannàn and Manawydan (Lords of the Mist); Lugh and Lleu (Gods of Strength and Skill); Oenghus (the Young Lover); Cú Chulainn (the Hound of Ulster); Gwydion (the Trickster-Magician); Brân (Guardian of the Land); and Taliesin (the Divine Poet). We hear their stories, and for a time their lives and ours become enmeshed. We see how they connect with the holidays of the Wheel, and we see some of the ways in which we can honor them in our lives. This is, as the authors state, a first step in beginning to live a life centered on the spirituality of the old ways. The authors focus here is deeply mystical: not asking what the energy of the Gods and Goddesses can do for us in our lives, but asking how we can do for them. The first is the energy of magic (defined as the spirituality of personal fulfillment), the second is the energy of mysticism (defined as the spirituality of profound relationship with the Gods). They are not mutually exclusive. Cultivating mindfulness is seen as an important part of spiritual practice. It is the interaction of spirit and matter. The Gods and Goddesses can be prayed to for specific situations, or one can choose a deity to devote a lifetime to. Making use of the five senses to focus on a particular deity is suggested - placing symbols around us that remind us of the energy we wish to work with and honor. Setting up a personal alter can also be part of this work. Storytelling is a wonderful way to place the energy of the deities in our lives. As the authors put it, it makes it easier for us to "walk our talk" in reference to the Gods and Goddesses when we understand them well. Appendices are included that list text references for further study; musical references; and synopsis of the Celtic festivals. This is a wonderful reference book, and a great place to begin study of the Celtic Gods, and Goddesses, myths and stories. It is also a wonderful tool of empowerment for those that are earnest about honoring these deities.
1. Ibid pages 15-18.
Bonnie Cehovet
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