Celtic Sacred Landscapes [Hardcover]

Nigel Pennick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

The Celtic tradition is one of the most ancient in Europe, with roots going back nearly 3000 years. Today there is much to be learned from the Celtic world view, with its emphasis on the recognition of the unseen world and the vital part it plays in our relationship with the physical landscape. This work shows the holy sites of Britain, Ireland and mainland Europe through Celtic eyes, reinvesting each place in the landscape with its ancient spiritual, symbolic and mythological importance - giving insight into how we can renew our lapsed relationship with the sacred landscape today. The book provides a historical tour of the Celtic holy places of Europe, focusing particularly on Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany. From the original Celtic site of the castle at Tintagel to the sacred forest of Broceliande in Brittany, it shows the mystery and lore of sacred trees and stones and reveals the power of springs and wells as places of healing. Sacred caves and holy islands, sanctified earthworks and cities and the holy places of the Celtic saints are visited. The book should also be of interest to visitors and travellers with a gazetteer that includes Ordnance Survey references.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A must-have for the lover of Celtic mythology and archaeology. -- New Age Retailer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Nigel Pennick has studied northern sacred traditions for over thirty years. He is a writer, illustrator, and lecturer on ancient and modern mysteries and an authority on northern European geomantic practices and labyrinths. His many books on earth mysteries and European sacred traditions include The Ancient Science of Geomancy, Celtic Art in the Northern Tradition, and The Celtic Oracle. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; First Edition edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500016666
• ISBN-13: 978-0500016664
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,120,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Celtic Sacred Landscapes, April 12, 2000

By 

Mrs Groan (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celtic Sacred Landscapes (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully presented book replete with the author's own illustrations of crosses, knotwork, labyrinths etc. For anyone with an interest in Earth Mysteries or Celtic belief systems this is an essential and informative read. Pennick's style is comfortable, easily accessible yet never too simplistic. One gets the feeling that he truly knows his subject and indeed he should for he has being studying the European Sacred Traditions for nearly thirty years and has written many other books on these subjects such as the Celtic Oracle and Celtic Art in the Northern Tradition. Each chapter is laid out in easy to read sections dealing with a comprehensive range of topics including the symbolic landscape and the Celtic World Tree, sacred groves, the healing powers of wells, springs and stones, caves and the underworld, cities, earthworks, holy mountains and islands, trackways and spiritpaths. Scholarly insight melds with folklore and spirituality yet never descends into over-sentimentalism as so many of these books can do. Pennick awakes in the reader a gentle sense of wonder and a yearning for a return to the times when the earth was embraced as the living being she is, where each tree and stone, each river and spring, bore a name and blessings to bestow, where spirits abounded and the bards sang with pure voices now sadly silenced. Highly recommended.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 28, 2002

By 

Michael Pearce (Los Angeles, California.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Celtic Sacred Landscapes (Paperback)

Mr. Pennick is thorough, detailed and pragmatic. I am thoroughly impressed with this book. In a field where new age mumbo-jumbo can overwhelm practical study, this shines. He has written careful, well researched accounts that clarify the celtic use of the landscape, without falling into anecdote, he gives useful examples, and writes clearly. I will buy more of his books.
10 / 10

5.0 out of 5 stars Sacred spaces~, January 2, 2012

By 

Linda Wenrick (Santa Fe, NM) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celtic Sacred Landscapes (Paperback)

"Psychologically, sacred landscapes are humane places that support the human psyche" This line from the book explains it all re my original attraction to this volume. I've already gifted it once to grateful (Irish) recipient.
Beautiful graphic illustrations, along with helpful Gazetteer(aka glossary)in back as well.
Another of my favorites, reflecting this same concept: Michael Franti's lyrics to "Hello, Bonjour", his paean to Mother Earth -- which I recommend for all ages of her children.
He too recognizes the holiness of place, residing not merely in nature, but inside us all.
Remember as well drawing on this source once -- in cross-cultural paper -- to illustrate universality of sacred landscapes. It's a treasure ~