The Silver Wheel: Women's Myths and Mysteries in the Celtic Tradition (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom Series) [Paperback]

Marguerite Elsbeth (Author), Ken Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom Series | Publication Date: August 8, 1997

Reclaim your heritage, your independence and self-confidence like a Celtic heroine of old - full of fire and spirit, fresh from the Otherworld. Awaken and integrate the primal archetypes within your personality and feel the untamed power within your soul.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marguerite Elsbeth (New Mexico) has facilitated shamanic healing and ritual groups, is a hereditary Strega, and is also exploring her ancestral ties to the Delaware Indian culture.  She has personally experienced crystal healing at the hands of a Shoshone medicine man and uses crystals in her own healing work.

Kenneth Johnson holds a degree in Religious Studies from California State University Fullerton. His emphasis was in the study of mythology and this interest is reflected in his writing and his astrological practice. Kenneth discovered astrology while traveling in Europe during the summer of 1973. He studied in Amsterdam and London before returning to the United States and developing a practice which focuses on archetypal themes and personal mythologies. In addition to his astrological interests, Kenneth is also a musical theater librettist and a member of the Dramatists Guild.

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; 1st edition (August 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567183719
• ISBN-13: 978-1567183719
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,153,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The search for the Divine Child...., November 3, 2002

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Silver Wheel: Women's Myths and Mysteries in the Celtic Tradition (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom Series) (Paperback)

Every now and then I read an out-of-print book and wonder why it's out-of-print. The SILVER WHEEL by Marguerite Elsbeth and Kenneth Johnson is just such a book. I can't believe the content of SW is so esoteric most women won't understand it. Maybe it didn't get enough publicity when it was released to keep it in print or maybe those "really important" critics writing for mainstream news organizations ignored it thinking it was some kind of new age arcane book at best or "silly" feminist stuff at worst. If you read Marion Zimmer Bradley's THE MISTS OF AVALON, or if you're fascinated with Joseph Campbell's works, or if you consider yourself a fan of Jung, or if you are working a 12-step program, or all or none of the above, but are fascinated with the relevance of mythology for our "modern" age don't miss this book.

The authors, provide a test in the early pages (similar to the Myers-Briggs personality test) to help a woman determine her location in the process of finding the self (growing self awareness). Unlike the MB, however (which is often misused), this test does not pigeonhole you into a type, but rather helps you get in touch with your current phase of development.

Elsbeth and Johnson present a paradigm consisting of four phases: Queen, Sorceress, Woman Warrior, Lover. During the course of her lifetime, a woman experiences each of these aspects but not all women experience all aspects in the same order, with one exception, the Sorceress is the final phase. Although she experiences the phases of growth at different times in her life, one facet will be more dominant than the others at each point through life. You can probably work out the order of dominance for your own life. Perhaps you became a Queen (mother), divorced and became a Lover, then became single again and a Warrior Woman who earned her daily bread and protected her kids.

The end game of every life is to become the Sorceress (the male equivalent is the Shaman). Sooner or later, you will become a Sorceress because you are going to die. Only the Sorceress, Shamaness, or Saint, is capable of a mystical union with a higher self.

The authors make connections between the Celtic world view and the views of Zen Buddists, American Indians (North and South), the Kabbala, and other Indo-European mystical practices. The metaphors and myths of the Mabinogion presented by Elsbeth and Johnson can work to heal your life. I found many similarities between SW and ANATOMY OF THE SPIRIT by Caroline Myss, and I liked the SW much better. If you are pursuing the path of healing knowledge, this book can provide you with wonderful insights.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing read..., January 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Silver Wheel: Women's Myths and Mysteries in the Celtic Tradition (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom Series) (Paperback)

An excellent book, unlike many of the other llewellyn books on the market, this one was well researched with reputable sources, and contained a great deal of wisdom that could help many women (even if they don't have celtic leanings). Heavy focus is placed upon Jungian psychology and mythological analysis, a little heady in places, but is well written and not too difficult.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, January 7, 2001

By 

Kashmir White (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Silver Wheel: Women's Myths and Mysteries in the Celtic Tradition (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom Series) (Paperback)

Got this for Christmas and I can't believe how good it is. I've been studying these Welsh myths for awhile (they are from the medieval collection of myths called The Mabinogion) and I must confess I've always been confused by them. But Arianrhod (SilverWheel) is my Lady so I've read and re-read the Mabinogian and scoured the bookstores trying to find out more about her and the other goddesses I love: Blodeuwedd, Cerridwen, Rhiannon, and Branwen. And then I get this book! I'm still gasping at how great it is. (BTW, though the emphasis is on the Welsh myths, Irish goddesses are included, too.)

The authors carefully take each myth about these goddesses (and several others) and explore the psychology behind them, helping you to understand each myth as a primal archetype within yourself. NOTE: It's not a history book that digs up more information about these confusing myths -- in other words, it doesn't say, "Arianrhod's myth as written in the Mabinogian is corrupt; here is the real myth from earlier sources." It deals with the Mabinogion straight on, with all its' twists and turns. But by sticking with the story as we have it and delving deeply into those archetypes, the authors give us amazing insights into the myths. This book allows us to experience the myths in a new way, not only by studying each myth indepth and applying it to our life-patterns, but by giving excellent meditations and exercises that take us on an actual journey. You discover things about yourself, and the myths become a part of you. I'm probably going to be working with this book for several years. Get this book if you want to learn more about Welsh myth, or if you want to do some very intense soul-work. You'll be a changed person!