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By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom)
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Product Description
Take one part of the world''s oldest spiritual system (shamanism), mix in one part of one of the world''s most popular spiritual cultures (the Celts), and bring it up to date by blending in modern forms of shamanism. The result is one of the most amazing books you''ll ever use, D. J. Conway''s By Oak, Ash, & Thorn.
This book is filled with information that can start you on a lifetime of study, practice, and spirituality. First, you''ll learn about ancient and modern forms of shamanism. You''ll discover the secrets of the three shamanic worlds, and how you can travel through these mysterious realms. You''ll be shown how to communicate and deal with the entities and allies you meet there. You''ll also learn about the tools that a shaman uses.
The thing that makes this book unique is that it comes from the viewpoint of Celtic shamanism, and not some generalized form. As a result, the worlds are specifically Celtic in nature. The tools come from Celtic myth and lore. The fifty entities you meet are named and defined as the Faery Folk and their kin — from the Bean sidhe (banshee) to the Will o'' the Wisp (a faery who appears at night in lonely places carrying a lantern to confuse travellers). Almost fifty more animal allies are listed and described. You will also learn the mysteries of the vision quest and how it applies and can be used by Celtic shamans.
Before starting your journey you will take a test to determine your strengths and weaknesses as a potential shaman.
Other topics include:
- Shamanic Healing
- Soul Retrieval
- Shape-shifting
- Invisibility
- Divination with stones, the omen stick and the Ogam alphabet
- Pathworking through the three shamanic worlds
- Different forms of Celtic magic
- Herbs
This only begins to hint at everything that you can learn from this book. Get your copy today.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #77367 in Books
- Published on: 1994-01-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 320 pages
Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
When most people think of the spiritual path of the ancient Celts, they think of the Druids. But just as there are many groups of Christians with varying ideas today, should we not assume that there were other spiritual paths open to the Celts?
In By Oak, Ash, & Thorn, D. J. Conway reveals that there was, indeed, another system which was shamanic in nature. Then she updates this ancient system with many of the modern techniques of shamanism to present a system that is usable today but goes back thousands of years: Celtic Shamanism.
This book shares a complete system with you. It begins by describing many aspects of shamanism, but with a Celtic spin to them. You will be amazed at how you see all of the shamanic references in the ancient Celtic texts. You will also discover the tools you need for Celtic Shamanism and learn that they come directly from ancient sources. And of course, you'll learn how to make use of them today.
Divination? You'll learn several Celtic techniques, including working with the ancient Ogam Runes. Shamanic Vision Quests? The book explains how to take Celtic ones. Journeying through the Shamanic otherworlds? It's in the book within a Celtic context. Magic? Of course! Secrets of herbs? They're in here. Healing? Instructions are included. Shamanic soul retrieval? In this book you'll find out how.
I really like this book's honesty. This is not ancient shamanism. Much of ancient shamanism wouldn't apply to us today. Rather it draws upon the ancient Celtic shamanism and combines it with some of the latest interpretation of shamanic beliefs and techniques. The result is a book that is fresh and meaningful.
One of the great things about this book, besides showing an entirely new — yet ancient — Celtic path, is that it shows how the ancient systems can be infused with life and value for today. This is a book you are going to read many times.
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.
Customer Reviews
Basic information; Inspiration to Study MORE
I am always astounded when someone criticizes a Wiccan writer for being a Wiccan writer as a number of other reviewers here have done. Conway is trying here to introduce a subject that, as she points out herself, died out. Most of her audience is going to be Wiccan or someone who believes the Rede whether they know it or not. Why? because the Rede is a restating of basic Christian principals (or as ET once said "beeee goood....") She is not promoting Wicca in this book; it does happen to be a point of origin for the writer -- just as those reviewers who criticize her for being Wiccan are writing from some non-Wiccan point.
Conway is trying to revive a practice from the dim dark past that doesn't have a written history. When she says things like "similar to Native American" she is making a comparison that allows the reader to access something that does have a written history. Anthropologists have been studying shamanic practices in many cultures that still have an active shamanic practice for over a century. They have found that many of the practices are similar. When Conway says "similar" she is not making it up because she doesn't know anything, she is basing the "similarity" on previously researched shamanic practices that can be used for extrapolation in to a shamanic practice that has no or little written about it.
Conway is rebuilding a path with this book NOT reporting history.
TERRIBLE
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 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.
A Rather Interesting Book about Modern Celtic Shamanism 
This is one of D.J.Conway's books that i rather enjoyed reading.It's been several years since i read this one however.It's quite imaginative and compelling reading about today's celtic shaman beliefs.She is often linked as the female alter-ego of Douglas Monroe.In other words,a fantasy writer making historical claims that can't be validated.Nevertheless,not all the histories of the celts and the druids are known and can only be speculative.So,if the reader keeps this in mind,then you will enjoy reading this interesting book.This book is a synergy of english-irish celtic-wiccan paganism of the British Isles,that may not be to everybody's liking and cup of tea.I can only say that i enjoyed reading this book,early on in my wiccan-seax-celtic research.
