Celtic Books

This is a well written and documented work on the Celtic pattern of worship. I have found it useful for my personal research on Celtic Christianity.

I am pleased the book arrived well within the time frame expected and that it was in excellent condition as described. Thank you!

The Pattern of Our Days is the 4th book I've purchased from the Iona Community/Wild Goose Publications. In fact, I've purchased Cloth for the Cradle 4 times alone, because I keep giving it away.
If you are responsible in any way for worship/worship planning, any of the Wild Goose books are crucial resources for sign acts and responsive liturgies. These are "book[s] of bits", not whole liturgies, yet each of the books, with a different thematic thrust, brings the Good News into human terms that will help bring your congregation closer to God.
I was especially impressed with some of the healing liturgies in The Pattern of Our Days. Less formal, more immediate than we are normally accustomed to. Perhaps that is why they are so effective.

O'Hogain has done it again, by providing another invaluable resource for those interested in learning more about Celtic and Irish pre-christian religion. Very well-researched and written, this book will take you on a journey back in time, which you'll never forget! Don't miss his other works either.

Excellent! Very blunt, well put, and provides the information in a way that is no nonsense, straight way. Loved it.

This is a definitive work on the subject. The author surpasses credible to the level of genuine expert. I feel safe in trusting his research and speculations. Being a scholarly work, the book isn't for the faint of heart (it can be thick reading at times), but if your into Celtic studies, the history of Ireland, the history of the Druids, then this book is a must and should be read and referred to again and again. The author uses a wonderful blend of archaeology, literature, and mythology not only of Ireland, but also from a vast range of sources. He ties in accounts of the Continental Celts, the Indo-Europeans, the Greek and Roman sources, and even accounts from India (Vedic, rig Veda, etc). The author gives us a complete picture that is supported by a myriad of sources and language associations. The only thing that I felt could have enhanced the book would be an index. Very great work, well worth the money.

Title says it all. This is THE book. The book is very instructive for anyone interested in linguistics, as every issue in linguistics is covered (but via an analysis of a visual, multi-dimensional language). Many insights can be gained from this book, no question.

This book is and was intended for use by linguists, educators, and others such as anthropologists who were in the 1970's and the 1980's beginning to realize that ASL was not a manual gesture system mimicing English, but rather a language in its own right. Dr. Bellugi and Dr. Klima have been working on exploring this language for the past 30 years, both in studying native signers (the prelingually deafened of deaf parents) and also in studying aphasics in the deaf community in comparison to aphasics in the hearing community. This particular book sticks mostly with elucidating the grammar, the lexicon, the syntax, and all the other components which make up ASL.

As a Deaf person whose first language was English, and who was required in college to take a foreign language I had to, of course, learn ASL. I started using ASL when I totally lost my hearing to get information in my classes which I couldn't get through lipreading. As I progressed in Neuroscience and Science education for my Ph.D. I found that I needed to know more about ASL and the grammar and syntax of it. This particular book was required for one of my classes studying English versus ASL grammar. Because the book is so heavy duty, I did not read enough for the book or language to make sense. It wasn't until I read the book over summer vacation, very slowly, that I gleaned the vital information which I needed as both an educator and a neuroscientist.

This is not an easy book to read. Many of the best books never are. This is not to say that the authors did not try to make the information accessible. They did, but the topic is very confounding. I recommend this book for anyone sincerely interested in learning accurately about ASL, no matter what their field, but with the warning to give yourself time to assimulate the information, and read the book. I personally would not require reading the book partially for a class, because it is only in starting from the beginning and going to the end that you can view the language as a whole. This is a book that should be used and read over a period of two semesters, with a lot of discussion. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh

One of the few books the discuss the language, the culture, and society of the American Deaf. A real goldmine of treasure will be found in this book. The book is not intended to teach the language (i.e. American Sign Language), but presents how research proves that it is indeed a language in its own right--apart from English. Recomended reading for any serious student of the language.

John Matthews has done a great service by bringing the old welsh pagan tales to print. The stories teach the old religion and celtic folkways through the eyes of a fictional christian monk. I really enjoyed the book though I did find a few mistakes here and there...no big deal. Try reading the Mabingion along with this book. Or reading Evangeline Walton's fine series based on the Mabingion as well...Great stuff!

John Matthews is a poet and a scholar. In this translation, Mr. Matthews successfully invokes the spirit of the bard, taking these ancient Welsh tales and turning them into a readable, intelligable and excellent writing. The Song of Taliesin is so skillfully done, I recommend it to beginners, middlers and experts alike. Seek this book out if you have any interest in Celtic myth or culture.

This is a book I have bee waiting for for a long time. Both John and Caitlin Mathhews' more (overtly) scholarly books have hinted at the possibility of more primitive, more whole versions of the Celtic stories that we have - and here John fascinatingly reconstructs them. My favorite is 'The Battle of the Trees', which takes hints from the medieval poem 'Cad Goddeu' and fleshes them out into a prose narrative, creating in effect a 'Fifth Branch of the Mabinogi'. The character of Gwydion is as wily as ever. The excitement of reading these stories, as a Celticist in training, was not only in their elegant and evocative narratives, but in seeing where fragments had been stiched together seamlessly. I'm not sure that the Irish stories worked as well as the British/Welsh ones, but the marriage of scholarship and vision is astonishing, from the story born from the poem 'Preiddeu Annwn' 'The Journey to Deganwy' to the wonderful version of the story of Branwen.
Highly recommended to those who are familiar with Celtic literature and those who are just discovering it.

The bloodthirsty Celtic epic "The Tain " clearly starts another war:Liam Mac Uistin vs Roald Dahl.This well known and loved Celtic myth is a stunning epic that tells of a quarrel between Queen Maeve of Connaught and her husband,Ailill.Maeve cannot bear being less wealthy than her husband so she tries to take the brown bull of Cooley even though she knows there will be fierce competition between her army and the Red Branch Knights of Ulster.Deviously her chief druid puts a geas(spell)on them to put them into a deep sleep so Maeve has enough time to swipe the brown bull, but Cu-Chulainn has other plans........ This adventure, told with exciting description and in great detail deserves all the praise it gets.The Tain is a fantastic read and in my opinion Liam Mac Uistin shows Roald Dahl who is BOSS!

My teacher asked me to read this book and review it but I didn't let that put me off!She has good taste in books actually!The Tain is a very exciting book with lots of gory details .It's all about our old friend Cu-Chulainn but I'll let you read the rest yourself, you'll be glad you did!

A bloody epic by the fantastic author Liam Mac Uistin. This adventure is a tale of the struggle between Maeve's army and Cu Chulainn as they fight for the brown bull of Cooley.This superb novel fuses Maeve's greed with Cu Chulainn's might.Maeve wants to be richer than her husband and so the Tain begins... The book progresses into magical twists and bloodcurdling battles and as the tale continues more and more people die and more and more magic is used. This book is so interesting you cannot put it down,for the twists and turns that Liam has produced are brilliant and we recommend this fantastic book to anyone.It especially encourages children to read and learn of the historic legends of Ireland.

From a truly amazing variety of sources--from the stuff of life itself; from saints and poets of all traditions and cultures, Bishop Seraphim seems to have the gift of simplicity and simplifying so many threads: the plunge into Love's wonder, the Love that moves the sun and stars.

Striking many chords, playing many notes, the final result: a beautiful symphony composed not only by the author but by the many who are a part of his own life and journey: ending/beginning in silent adoration and a new sense of joy and WONDER.

This book is wonderful, full of wonder! Not many books like this are written--how good this one was!

The human spirit is indeed under attack and is being "suffocated" by a world (according to Huston Smith) that is "dominated by materialism, consumerism, educational elitism, and government and legal systems without morality". Bishop Sigrist writes as not only Priest in Theology of Wonder, but as Poet/Warrior as well. This book sits next to my collection of Mattie Stepanek poetry and I regard both authors as spiritual brothers. The Bishop's writing is filled with illuminations of the Holy Spirit throughout and one considers the writing at times to be written, as Blake proclaimed of his own verse, in Heaven itself-it remains a gift of Light and Hope for us all. The reader is lifted into a world of transcendence as eternity becomes now-I found myself moved with the "gift of tears" after only reading several pages. Theology of Wonder is perhaps one of the most important books that I have ever read.

The difficulty with most theological speculation is that it involves only the intellect. If one gives a great work of theology to someone who has never seen a reason to be involved in the spiritual life, typically it will collect dust. What Bishop Seraphim does here is attempt to provide a reason for people to seek out the Almighty.

_Theology of Wonder_ seems to address the conception of churchliness as entailing a dour, gray life devoid of the color needed for human life to be something other than that of the automaton. It is done in a way that is gentle; the author does not employ verbal brickbats to make his points.

This was a very enjoyable book for me on several levels. First off, I feel fortunate to know the author. I have known him to be a wonderful family man, kind and spiritual. But what was fun for me was that I learned through his story-telling that he has a "spit-fire" nature as well.
Secondly, being of Irish decent, I too have a desire to visit Ireland. However, I did not grow up with such strong emotional tales of family history. Through Kurt's stories I felt transported along with him back to a place I hope to one day venture as well. There were times that I felt as if I were right there sitting next to him, taking in the beauty of the land and the mysteries of history.
Finally, through his book I learned more about his efforts along with others in his church to help our community. I am reminded through their efforts that there are many ways in which we can and should help.
Kurt, Thank you for sharing your pilgrimage through "Urban Iona"

Kurt Neilson is my one younger brother. We are from a family of six sons. I thought I knew all there was to know about him, until I read Urban Iona. I was privileged to spend a weekend with him in Ireland during his pilgrammage and learned so much from and about him there. I learned more reading his book. On one level it is the search for part of our heritage, but more importantly it chronicles the process by which he and the members of his parish took this experience and applied it in a personal and community way. There are many sound bites (my copy is filled with "yellow stickees" marking the pages) but its strength lies in the coherent message of applied, inclusive Christianity being lived by him, his family and his parish family. I am so proud of him for having the courage to bare his soul in such a public way.

And the members of Saints Peter and Paul have done their namesakes proud. When we hear the phrase "team work" most of us picture a long pass in a stadium filled with people. Perhaps, after reading Urban Iona, we will picture the good people of Saints Peter and Paul and those from neighboring parishes who have joined them. Reference the mobile dental lab. Applied Christianity with a capital "C".

This is a book to be read and digested, not devoured. There is a message for us all here. Take the time to listen to it, and as I have done, listen again. You will be amazed at how loud the silence can be. It is inspirational in a very, very personal way. I believe there is more to come from Father/brother Kurt. I, for one, can't wait.

This book is a "winner"! Fr. Kurt Neilson is the Rector of the Episcopal Church I attend in Portland, OR. As a member of his congregation, I've been priveleged to hear magic in his 'sermons' that make deep, lasting impressions in his parishinors hearts and leave us spell-bound. By reading "URBAN IONA", I've discovered that Father Kurt, in addition to having a 'verbal' talent for 'story-telling' with the 'gift of the gab', is also an accomplished author. I highly recommend it to people of all faiths, and readers who have an interest in Celtic History of Religions and Mythology. IT'S A GOOD READ!
Urban Iona: Celtic Hospitality in the CityUrban Iona: Celtic Hospitality in the City

101 beautiful colored PLUS b/w Celtic crosses suitable for tracing and enlarging. Images are small, approx 4"-5" tall, but lovely.

Courtney's Art is just fantastic. This book, as well as all of his other works that I have picked up, is well worth owning. Mr. Davis's designs are inspired and unique. Anyone interested in Celtic art or design should own this book.

"Courtney Davis ....Offers Celtic Art as displays of richness and colour, intricacy and symbolism to equal the world's finest styles" (quoted from "Arts & Crafts Magazine").

I picked up this book of illuminated letters at a museum in Dublin, and if you are interested in Celtic art, both old and new, be sure to check out the artist's web site at awenpress.com. Courtney Davis has published over 50 books on Celtic art, including coloring books and books of Viking and Celtic tattoos.

"101 Celtic Illuminated Letters" is a source book of decorated initials from some of the most celebrated thousand-year-old Celtic manuscripts, including the Book of Kells and the Lindisfarne Gospels.

After a brief introduction, the letters are arranged one to a page, the black-and-white version facing its counterpart colored by Courtney Davis. The letters average around 3.5 to 4 inches high, and are very easy to size up or down using a grid (not supplied).

Beauty is combined with humor in the letters of the Celtic Dog Alphabet, and there are also birds and human faces worked into some of the illuminated letters. This is a lovely and useful source book for anyone who is interested in Celtic knot-work, embroidery, or calligraphy.

Mr. Davis is my favorite author of books on Celtic Design. He is a master of it and besides the designs he has a mind like a color wheel. He is truly talented.

if you love celtic art, check out this book. I have only borrowed from the library, but it is beautiful.

I'm a long time fan of Courtney Davis' celtic art books and this book is even better than I expected it to be.

The designs are from carvings, manuscripts, metalwork and other sources. They are easily adaptable for needlework, painting, fabric painting and numerous other arts and crafts.

The best thing about the book is the duplication of each design, first as a clear black-and-white line drawing and then as a vibrant colour-filled design.

What an inspirational book!