Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses [Paperback]

R.J. Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2006

Many of the beliefs and customs of the ancient Celts persist even today, sometimes in surprising ways-and interest just keeps growing. Through illustrations old and new, this guide to Celtic magic and religion examines their enduring strength and continued relevance. It provides background on the Celts and their relationship to nature, their totem animals and mother goddesses, and the Irish Book of Invasions that supplied so much material for the mythological tradition. Individual chapters focus on such significant figures as Brighid, the sister or virgin aspect of the Great Goddess, as well as The Divine Ancestor and the Son of Light.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bob Stewart is a composer and writer. His books include two volumes on the medieval Merlin texts and studies of magical tradition in folklore.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (August 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844035506
• ISBN-13: 978-1844035502
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Celtic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "..can help you better understand the Soul of humanity..", January 3, 2000

By 

DJ Rix (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses (Paperback)

As a widespread tribal people, the Celts did not have a centralized, codified religion. Nor can we be exactly sure what they believed or how they practiced their beliefs at any given time & place. In "Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses," R.J. Stewart unveils some of this mystery for us. It is well-researched, with excellent color illustrations. Substantial excerpts from Celtic literature - mostly oral tales reflected in a Christian mirror - are included. There is special emphasis on the Celtic goddess figures, who are rather slippery to grasp with their triple aspects & mixes of fertility & warrior powers. The preCeltic origins of the Mother Goddess & the connections between Celtic & Roman myth (Minerva/Brigid) are explored.

This is not a "Bible" of Celtic religion. No such book exists or ever existed. Anyone trying to invent an easy cut & paste "pagan" spirituality will probably find this book a difficult read. But if you are looking for timeless metaphors that can help you better understand the Soul of humanity & lead you to nature & to a calendar of the seasons & the sky, "Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses" will be an essential addition to your library.

Bob Rixon

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It is a good start......., June 16, 2007

By 

Shonna Gariepy "Shonna" (Las Vegas, Nevada USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses (Paperback)

One of the first pleasant surprises within this book is that it touches upon Deities and legends that go beyond the British Isles, which have up until recently held a bit of a monopoly on Celtic *anything*. There are myths and Deities from Germany, France, etc. My main complaint is that it is woefully incomplete. I would love to see more information about pretty much everything in the book. What I also found astounding was that Stewart could title a section "Mother Goddesses" (pg. 58) and only name ONE Goddess by name, and that one (of them all!) The Morrighan! Then delve more into Cernunnos as the Lord of All Animals and the Hunter God and Celtic Gods which I believe IS important on one hand - as the Goddess is balanced by the God; however that said, the God has his own section in this book, and when discussing the Mother Goddesses, I expected to read about Celtic Mother Goddesses, not about Cernunnos, "Mabon as The Divine Child of Light, the Celtic Apollo" as Stewart calls him, and quotes from The Mabinogion based on Lady Charlotte Guests's translation which is the most Victorian and repressed of the lot! Might give Patrick Ford's "The Mabinogi" a try if you're looking for something that will not edit the Welsh tales for Victorian sensibilities. I have a fair amount of respect for RJ Stewart and his work, however, what I found in this was a need for MORE balance and certainly MORE information - MORE research on the Goddesses in particular as he already has a solid base with the Celtic Gods. He knows his Gods, that's evident - but when it came to the Goddesses, there is where the balance faltered for me. Still, it's well worth a read, there is a LOT of great information in this book and it is a great start for anyone who is looking to get into actually studying the Celtic Pantheon in any way deeper than playing it lip service. I give it 3 out of 5 cauldrons.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty in Abundance, August 9, 2001

By 

Lance (Littleton, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Gods, Celtic Goddesses (Paperback)

It's not the most complete tome on Celtic mythology, but it just might be the most beautiful! How could anyone look at these illustrations and not come away feeling enriched? Reviewers who have been hard on this book seem to think it walks the fence between historical record and whimsy. I submit that any study of the ancient Celts must do exactly that. The Celts remain something of an enigma because of their lack of written history. And the same people who gave us a deep and abiding love of nature and reverence for all things female were also known to lop off a few heads when angered. Let's take the best of what an ancient society had to offer and leave the brutal rest to the "scientists." This book makes a splendid introduction for the uninitiated. The worst thing a newcomer to Celtic spirituality could do would be to crack open a heavy-handed archaeological study or how-to for druidic practitioners. I can think of no gentler introduction to Celtic mythology than this one. Readers might not come away with an in-depth understanding of the subject, but they will almost certainly come away with a new love for an ancient way of thinking and a drive to seek out further discoveries. The FACTS surrounding the ancients will forever remain elusive, but the FEELING is within these pages. Feel and enjoy.