Walking the Maze: The Enduring Presence of Celtic Spirit [Paperback]

Loren Cruden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1998

 
A vivid description of the fierce and free Celtic spirit as it has been sustained through history, and a vision for living that spirit in the present 

• Equates Celtic customs with Native American traditions and rituals 

• Presents a vision of the ancient Celtic path as it can be lived today 

With the perspective of a passionate historian and the clarity of a modern-day medicine woman, Loren Cruden presents to us a vision of ancient Celtic spirit as it can be lived today. In Walking the Maze she explores Celtic culture both in comparison to Native American ways of life and in its own light and strength, examining the attributes that define and sustain the vitality of the Celtic spirit. Four aspects of traditional Celtic life common to both Celtic and Native American cultures are kinship consciousness, a high regard for women as part of a general commitment to freedom, a fluid perspective of reality, and a primal spiritual engagement with the land. For the Celts this crafted rugged, land-loving individualists, fierce and free in their expression, gracious to all, answerable directly to Spirit but responsible for the entire community. This vision of Celtic spirit informs the vision of how we may live in the present, renewing a cultural integrity that is inseparable from personal wholeness and ecological consciousness.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Cruden, midwife, herbalist, and author of The Spirit of Place (LJ 9/1/96), again focuses on the spiritual and natural realms. Here she explores what she understands to be the essentials of the Celtic spirit, especially as illuminated in the traditional culture of the Scottish Highlands. Her concern is to identify key surviving or retrievable elements of this spirit, such as "kinship consciousness," so that people may incorporate these elements in their own spiritual walks. She writes well, and her book is a pleasantly individualistic ramble through various aspects of Scottish history, Scottish parallels to American Indian history and lore, modern environmental awareness, and more. Cruden is admirably cautious and honest about the many pitfalls of exploring such realms. Although not an essential purchase, this is an enjoyable addition to collections where there is strong interest in Celtic culture and the spiritual life.?Charles V. Cowling, Drake Memorial Lib., Brockport, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"[T]his book is the first and only one so far that places the Celts where they are today. Too many books treat the Celts as an extinct Noble Savage. Cruden gets right down to the core of the spirit that has persisted to modern times. She knows these people and their hearts. . . . Her narrative blends historical data, mythology, and her own journeys and experiences in a compelling tale of discovery. . . . The lessons taught in Walking The Maze--the recognition of what true spirituality is--will stay with me for a long time. . . . I cannot recommend this book highly enough. This is more than a mere "read;" this is an experience!"
(Muninn the Changeling, Nemeton, Jan 2006 )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Destiny Books (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892816236
• ISBN-13: 978-0892816231
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,425,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing: New Agey not Authentically Celtic, April 2, 2002

By 

Francine Nicholson (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Walking the Maze: The Enduring Presence of Celtic Spirit (Paperback)

This book is disappointing from beginning to end. The author seems to be sincere in her spiritual quest and anxious to share her insights with the reader. However, I'm not sure her insights are worth reading. First, the book is not about "Celtic" anything--it's an American's view of Scottish culture. Second, the author appears to be only superficially acquainted with Scottish history and traditions. From those impressions, she extrapolates generalizations about "Celtic" mindset and worldview that are not supported by the evidence. Indeed, those not new to Celtic cultures may question her conclusions. If you are interested in learning about Scottish culture and spirituality, I recommend Noragh Jones' _Power of Raven, Wisdom of Serpent_. That book will give you authentic Scottish tradition in a modern context.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth of the Celtic World Revealed, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Walking the Maze: The Enduring Presence of Celtic Spirit (Paperback)

In Walking The Maze: The Enduring Presence of The Celtic Spirit, Loren Cruden has taught us all alittle more about the world of the Celt. This book provides a splendid view of the Celtic world both past and present. Anyone in search of their Celtic roots or a better understanding of Celtic tradition must read this book. 'Walking The Maze' joins the likes of Tom Cowan's 'Fire in The Head' as a special glimpse into the Spiritual life of all Celts everywhere. Cruden's book makes the sometimes foggy world of Celtic mythology a little clearer. She also provides a real-life glimpse of modern day Celts and their history. This is an invaluable tool and suggested reading to anyone preparing to visit Scotland and/or Ireland.