Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #400114 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-01
• Released on: 2000-12-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 416 pages

Amazon.com
For over 2,000 years, oppressors and natural disasters have worked against the Celts, threatening to obliterate the ancient tribe's language, traditions, and spirituality. "Yet in the past 30 years or so, many willing minds and hands have undertaken the task of rekindling the guttering flame of the Celtic spirit," writes author Mara Freeman in Kindling the Celtic Spirit. Freeman is, in fact, one of those maintaining the fire, having spent 35 years studying Celtic traditions and assembling this well-written and organized tribute. Following the format of the Celtic calendar, Freeman shares the stories, recipes, spells, and Gaelic expressions that go with each of the monthly festivals and celebrations. The February chapter celebrates the Festival of Brigit (the goddess who represents the bride or young maiden). October pays tribute to the Festival of Samhain (the celebration that marks the beginning of winter and may have been the Celtic New Year). She recounts the origins of Samhain Eve, or "Mischief Night," which Americans celebrate by trick-or-treating. She teaches magical spells, tells a spine-chilling spooky story, and shows readers how to carve turnip lanterns, using a large rutabaga.

Although she writes about faeries, tree spirits, and other mythological creatures, Freeman narrates with confidence and maturity, so that readers feel as though they are sitting with a learned scholar. The elegant pen-and-ink illustrations by Linda Carol Risso capture the humble pagan origins while respecting the sophistication of Celtic design. The upshot is a beautifully crafted book with plenty of substance for those who like immersing themselves in this enchanting, age-old tribe. --Gail Hudson

John Matthews, author of Drinking From the Sacred Well
"This is an excellent book, offering a bright window into the Celtic World."

Margie McArthur, author of The Wisdom of the Elements
"...a stunning book, rich in enchantments, legend and lore...abounding in practical wisdom to nourish body and soul."

Customer Reviews

Celtic Spirit, an Uplifting Experience!
Thoroughly enjoyed reading (and re-reading) this book. I can see it being part of my personal library and holiday traditions for years to come.

New ideas in magazine format
This book keeps on giving. There are lots of ideas for celebrating the seasons, many of them not in other books, or at least not presented this way. I like it because when I am reading so many dense, heavy topics (which is always), I can pull this out and read a bit of this, a bit of that. And it is really beautiful.

Still Don't Know How She Did It
I received this book as a gift from my husband at the Winter Solstice in 2005, and finally am reviewing it. It has taken me this long because I don't quite know how to express the depth of my passion about this book. Everytime I open it, I feel I have a veritable one-volume library of Celtic lore. That's what I meant by I don't know how she did it! I've been on the Celtic path for over thirty years, and she not only puts in my favorite poems, she surprises me on every other page. Also, the recipes and activities that are at the end of each month serve to deepen the connection to the lore. Don't miss the Watercress soup from the House of Light Chapter for July, it's delicious! I honestly feel that years from now, I will still be discovering new treasures in this library.
Linda Carol Risso's illustrations are just the icing on a magical cake, clearly a fortuitous creative pairing.