Customer Reviews

Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman

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I've long respected John and Caitlin Matthews for their elegance of expression and willingness to turn to actual Celtic sources. In fact, it's partly thanks to them that I'm studying Celtic language and literature at a graduate level. But...there's no getting around it: the evidence just doesn't support John Matthew's conclusions in this book. The translations are...imaginative, shall we say, (and yes, I do know Old Welsh) The [probably] historical Taliesin's poems are available edited by the great Sir Ifor Williams and his edition is available in English as 'The Poems of Taliesin' trans. by J Caerwyn Williams. They are a) much earlier than the material presented here, and b) not mystical or pagan. In fact, one of the best ones, the 'Marnawd Owain' begins and ends: 'The soul of Owain son of Urien, /may the Lord consider its need...' and is thoroughly Christian. Full stop.
The 'druidic/shamanic' poems Matthews presents as being earlier are AT LEAST THREE HUNDRED YEARS LATER than the poems of the historical Taliesin, and whilst it's true that they draw on common Celtic tradition about the role and power of the poet, we CANNOT draw conclusions about pre-Christian shamanic practice [if there was such a thing] from poems written between 900 and 1200. Do the maths. It's the same with the Sovereignty figure. In what sense is She the 'Goddess'? Yup, the pre-Christian Celts probably worshipped their bit of earth as a goddess. Fine. But this descends through three to four hundred years of Christianity before it appears in writing. It's a LITERARY motif, not a pagan one. To give another example, when medieval German poets referred to 'Frau Minne', Lady Love, the tradition they were drawing on could be traced back through European culture to the goddess Venus/Aphrodite. But in no meaningful sense were they worshipping a pagan Goddess! It's the same with early medieval Irish writers invoking the figure of Sovereignty, and with medieval Welsh poets concocting poems - drawing on old tradition - in the voice of a prophetic superbard, identified with a historical poet who died three hundred years or more before thy were born. such a strategy boosts their own prestige.

The saddest thing in the whole book is the introduction, in which John looks forward to the publication of Professor Patrick Ford's work on the same material. This is now out as 'Ystoria Taliesin'. It's brilliant. Get them both, compare and contrast...you'll see what i mean.

Taliesin is an epic adventure in Celtic Mythology, Legend, Oral Tradition and many other areas of interest (Ceridwen, Bardic tradition, etc.). Anyone interested in The Mysteries, History, Celtic Lore, Bardic Legend, Freemasonry & Bardic Legend will find this book extremely interesting. Also, you may want to grab a copy of "The Mabinogi And Other Welsh Tales," by Patrick K. Ford, to round-out your studies. I am surprised that this book was "out of print" for a while--it is one of my most-treasured books, and certainly a very mystical treatise on the subject. Mystics will truly appreciate this fine work! Luckily, this new edition is available and the Tradition lives on. Anyone interested in Celtic Mythology, Western Mystery schools, Freemasonry, Goddess Worship, Druids, etc. should definitely acquire this book. I have never found a more comprehensive treatise on the subject of Bardic Song, and the secret knowledge perpetuated in Oral Tradition.
This book is simply amazing.

This is a complete study of all the poems attributed to the bard, Taliesin, and reveals the depth and wisdom of the poetry. It is well researched and meticulously translated and stands next to Fire in the Head by Tom Cowan as being important for modern practitioners of Celtic Shamanism. It is, however, a circuitous and difficult read, as all the Matthews works tend to be, and requires the reader to "stick to it" to work your way through.

I've been fascinated with myths and dreams and prophecy for some time, so I found John Matthews book TALIESIN THE LAST SHAMAN quite intriguing. The book has two parts: 1) an exploration of what is known or thought to be known about Taliesin who was probably a real person who lived in the 5th - 6th centuries in Britain as well as an interpretation of what Taliesin's works represent; 2) a collection of Taliesin's poetry translated by Matthews and his wife Caitlin.

Taliesin was probably British or Welsh although he might have considered himself something else-perhaps Cymry. The Romans described the inhabitants of what is today the United Kingdom as British, while the English referred to them as Welsh-their word for foreigner. Matthews refers to Taliesin as Celtic (Keltoi), a word the Greeks used to describe the people of northern Europe. Matthews describes the Celtic society that probably produced Taliesin and links his poetry to the Celtic view of the cosmos. He sees Taliesin as a "wise" man who penetrated the secrets of the universe and then attempted to share his vision via words.

Since I don't speak or read ancient Welsh or Irish, I can't pretend to know whether or not Matthews' interpretation of the Taliesin poetry is good or bad or even accurate. Although the book is not from a mainstream academic source, Matthews appears to be relatively scholarly, frequently citing from respected works and noting where his perspective differs from that of others. He also uses contextual material to locate Taliesin in time and space as an historical person. This secondary material seems to be consistent with various academic interpretations.

While the author gives many, many, many page references to flip forward or back in the volume while discussing his different points, the organization is so indirect as to make it problematic to read. I have the gut feeling that the author has jumped to his own conclusions (some unsupported or long-reaching) and keeps the reader off-balance with the indirect though lines. I don't recommend this unless you have the time and inclination to wade through the rhetoric.

A lot of people will tell you that there is no such thing as Celtic shamanism, however, moving beyond the labels this book will give you a good look at what a "Celtic shaman's" practice could be like.

Even if you do not buy that theory the translations of Taliesin's poems in this book are well worth the effort of buying and reading this book.

There is no true study of the Celts or of Druidry that omits the work of the Bards themselves. While we may all await with baited breath an English translation of the Four Ancient Books of Wales, Matthews has provided us with substantial, fresh, sensitive translations of much of Taliesin's work. An indispensible volume.

Taliesin: The Last Celtic ShamanJohn Matthews brings the the last chief bard of Britain and Celtic shaman to the reader with much detail. The story of Taliesin begins with Ceridwen, set to watch the cauldron and then to to turn her temper. His beginnings are magical; born of a witch making a incantations for her son. He himself set to watch the pot for a year and a half, finally burned three times. He sucked his thumb. The potion was his. The magic was not for her son. The story unraveled not as she planned. She chased the boy as he learned how to shape shift, finally consuming him as a piece of wheat and she as a crow. She gave birth to him. He became her son, Taliesin.

This particular figure has an interesting link with Merlin.It marks the the Christianization of Ireland. The language of the trees and their sacred groves are getting cut down. It is a clear and well written book shaping Britain's movement into Ireland.

This books is a great read, although tainted with the stench of xtian thought. You could read it and still savor all the european pagan delights...