(Part 2) Best celtic religion books according to redditors
We found 66 Reddit comments discussing the best celtic religion books. We ranked the 32 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
I can't speak for all of those books, but you cant go wrong with The Path of Druidry, Druidry Handbook, Druid Magic Handbook, and From the Cauldron Born. I would also recommend:
The Druid Way by Phillip Carr-Gomm
The Mysteeries of Druidry by Brendan Myers
Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism by Isaac Bonewits
Principles of Druidry by Emma Restall Orr
The Solitary Druid by Robert Ellison
And please, steer clear of Druid Power and the 21 Lessons of Merlin. If you feel you must, read some of the others ones first before delving into those 2. They rely heavily on fantasy (not mythology) and don't have the good graces to tell you so.
Alright, hold onto your seat, there are quite a few haha
Some ecology books, good for your approach to nature itself
These are more Druid-centric books
These are more historical and culture books about the ancient Celtics, very good for context. Anything by Ronald Hutton I'm going to suggest, though he does tend to have a very dry, academic style. Reading his stuff is more like reading a text book than anything else. So if you do get any of these, pace yourself. I would still suggest getting and reading one Celtic historical book, it's important to know the history.
As you go, you'll figure out what works for you and what doesn't, you might end up mixing in shamanism or witchcraft, even wicca, or buddhism, druidry works with a number of other approaches. Keep an open mind, try things, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Paganism in general can be pretty overwhelming, and Druidry has even fewer guidelines than most. Good luck with your coursework!
Read, read, and read some more, until you figure out what you want from witchcraft and what type of witch you are (should you choose to identify with one path). Some recent books that have helped me:
I lean toward Green and Kitchen Witchcraft, with a healthy dose of Druidism. Happy to pass on more recommendations if any of that interests you.
Mark the sabbats and festival dates on your calendar, read up on their histories and prepare your celebrations. Do you want to follow any deities, Gods, and/or Goddesses? Do you want to include Tarot, crystals, or herbalism in your practice and studies?
There is so much information out there, it can be completely overwhelming. But I would make a list, keep adding to it, and see where your needs, wants, and ideas take you.
You should check out The Rebirth of Druidry by Philip Carr-Gomm, Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. It outlines the history of contemporary druidry and speaks to some of the issues others have pointed out (prejudice from outside, lack of primary sources, discontinuity in the community). It would be an excellent source for you. Some ideas:
• There is prejudice against Druidry as being seen as "not a real practice" or "not a real religion" (although many Druids do not practice Druidry as a religion). The reasons given are the lack of primary sources (first hand accounts, histories and interviews with historic Druids), lack of religious canon (Bible, Qur'an, etc), and lack of a unified organization (hierarchical church, administrative structure, central organizing body).
• Druid traditions are generally built on the idea that it is the indigenous tradition of the Celtic peoples. As such, there is sometimes a perception that it is only for people of a certain northern European ancestry. Heathenry & Asatru have been much worse plagued by this issue, but Druidry has had to defend itself as an all-inclusive tradition.
• Since Druidry comes from a largely conquered people (Rome systematically destroyed Celtic peoples, Christianity mopped up mythologically), many Druids incorporate other traditions and borrow practices from other belief systems to supplement their practice. Many embrace Universalism or Syncretism. This has led to criticism of Druid practitioners co-opting other cultures and beliefs in their spiritual pursuits. Although there is archaeological evidence for the Celtic use of structures like sweat-lodges, didjeridoo-like instruments, and entheogen use, there are some who see this as appropriation. I want to stress that these are broad statements - Druidry is complex and every practitioner is a bit different. Not everyone incorporates or even endorses these practices. But I do see and hear this conflict come up from time to time.
• As far as modern issues that affect Druidry (which is a different question, but may be what you were asking), I would say the primary one is Environmentalism. One thing nearly every Druid will tell you is that their practice is rooted in nature spirituality, or is a nature-based religion. The connection to, and rooting in, nature is central to nearly every practice. Some Druids forgo belief in "the Gods" altogether and merely seek communion with nature directly. Druids have a long history of environmental activism, tree-planting and preservation, what we might today call permaculture practices, and natural living (a useful, albeit broad term).
I hope this was helpful! If you have specific questions or follow-ups, please post them and I'll do my best to provide a balanced answer or try to point you to a contemporary source you can use!
The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford has a book on Druids that was really informative and digestible for me! Find that here.
I can think of several that focus on many goddesses from around the world. All these books present these goddesses as being aspects of The Goddess which is not my own theology, so I sift through some of the text with saltshakers handy.
If you'd like books on working with specific goddesses, I can offer suggestions for the Morrigan and Brighid. I've contributed content to a Brighid devotional and another text for Brighidine Paganism. Devotionals might be helpful if you're looking for a specific Lady; I can think of several titles for Kemetic and Norse goddesses.
For a reconstructionist's approach, I've heard good things about The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual.
Since you said you're Druidic, I would also recommend The Druidy Handbook by JM Greer. It provides suggestions for how to open and close a grove as well as celebrate each station of the Wheel Year.
Some common elements you'll find in Celtic ritual include circling the ritual space three times sunwise, purifying the space by burning herbs or incense, and making offerings to the ancestors, aes sídhe, land spirits, or gods. Celtic rituals are also presumed to have taken place primarily outdoors.
Note: I would not recommend approaching the aes sídhe or gods without doing thorough research beforehand.
Druidry often blends these practices with Golden Dawn/Masonic ritual and Arthurian themes. For example, my Druid order AODA (which is headed by JM Greer) circles the ritual space four times sunwise so you can bless the space with each of the four elements (earth, water, fire, air). Those four elements are not attested in Celtic lore that I'm aware of. As far as I can tell, that aspect is derived from Golden Dawn ritual.
Additionally, AODA calls peace in each of the four quarters by drawing and sheathing a sword that represents Excalibur. Calling for peace in the quarters isn't traditionally Celtic, but the incorporation of symbols from Celtic lore clearly is.
There are two JOCHT's, but the last volume of this anual publication is if 2012. It is a pretty academic work.
Similar journals are "Mímir", "Northern Traditions" of Primordial Traditions/Numen Books (less academic) and in German the "Heidnisches Jahrbuch" (six volumes, the last one from 2012.
Less heathen, but still upto a certain degree is "Tyr Journal" (with Collin Cleary who wrote some books worth reading.
https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Night-Rediscovering-Celtic-Goddess/dp/1578632846
This book is very informative and eminently readable: "Celtic Wicca" by Jane Raeburn. http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Wicca-Ancient-Wisdom-Century/dp/0806522291