Customer Reviews

Yearning for the Wind: Celtic Reflections on Nature and the Soul

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Yearning For The Wind is one of those books you keep on your bedside table and refer to repeatedly to soak up the author's vision. It is a collection of forty vignettes, each of them containing a jewel in the form of story, ancient cosmology, or teaching about the nature of the soul, and the soul of nature. Tom is a master storyteller and one embodiment of an ancient living tradition of spiritual awareness. A blend of traditional ideas from primal Irish spirituality, contemporary ways of looking at life shamanically, and truly humorous ways of holding space for the mysteries of life to unfold, Yearning For The Wind is a book that truly fosters a "reading between the lines." And, when you read between the lines of this book you find whole worlds waiting for you.

Tom Cowan's latest book is a delightful read, beautifully illustrating how the sacred world interweaves with the everyday. If your soul is Celtic, the prose and dream-like presentation of this book will inspire you into your own knowings. Central to the process of healing the Earth is our individual reconnection with the soul of Nature, a potent and necessary source of healing power and wisdom. Cowan describes his own healing process with humor and candor, challenging readers to take charge of their centers, walk in truth, and most importantly, to remember.

This book is one of the most wonderful books I've read in a long time! I'm almost all the way through it now and every chapter is just so wonderfully written - its deep and philosophical yet not so heavy that you can only make it through a few pages. The author weaves together Celtic lore, shamanisn and experiences with nature to just pull all sorts of "meaning of life" type ideas together. The chapters weave in upon each other such that there may be a line in one chapter that hits you and you put it in the back of your head and then a few chapters later he develops the idea further. One thing I love is that throughout the book, the author presents ideas but does not preach or try to impose a way of thinking - its more like sitting with a friend, philosophising on life. It so wonderful I'm seeking out more of his books. The writing style is so accessible. After a long day at work I usually can only get through a few pages of a book or magazine before falling asleep. This book keeps me reading into the night....50 pages later I decide I better rest and save some for tomorrow. This is definitely a book I'll be reading again and loaning out to friends. There's so much in here, just one read isn't enough. Highly ghighly recommend. I'd give it 10 stars if I could!

I have been student of Celtic wisom since I was 12. Over the years, I have read many books written by so called "experts" who cannot take the time to do even a little bit of historical reasearch into this often murky and historically difficult form of spirituality. I am from a Scottish family, and I have always wanted to know more about my ancestors. This book helps a lot in terms of that. Cowan is also an excellent writer, and makes you feel that you are talking to him face to face in this soon to be classic literary work. I urge anyone who wants to know about the Celts, thier spirituality, and maybe more about the fascinating history of shamanism, to buy this book. Bottom-line, there are a lot of authors out there who think they can make some stuff up and pass it off as something genuine.(*Conway*cough*Monroe*cough*That Goth chick who thinks she is a witch*cough cough.)While some may find what I am about to say crude, I will say it. This "authors" cannot hold Cowen's jockstrap. Buy this book. It is truly worth the $14.00 dollars Amazon will make you put out.

I found "Yearning for the Wind" to be an absolutely inspiring text that gives great insight into the heart of Celtic Theology. Of particular interest to me, and something I hold as a personal belief is the Celtic mystery tradition, going back to the time of Plato, that all created things share in the divine life of the Creator (pp. 56). I believe that the spirit of God is in each of us.

Some may ask how the spirit of the divine can be found in those who are not godly, yet we find this too explained in "Yearning for the Wind" and in Celtic Theology in general. In the text a story is related of two groups of sheep. One group being white and the other being black. From time to time one of the white sheep would wander over to the group of black sheep and would itself turn black. And, later a black sheep would wander into the white flock and would thereafter turn white. I took this to mean that we tend to take on the likeness of those with who we associate. So... when we associate with those lacking an abundance of the divine spirit we ourselves show a lack of this spirit too. Yet, the divine spirit that is in us will grow when given an environment that is nurturing to the spirit.

Along this same line however, we are never completely black, nor are we ever completely white. In "Yearning for the Wind" we see this reflected in the story of the tree, half of which is on fire, the flames blazing up to the top of tree; while the other half of the tree is green, leafy and beautiful. Although not explained in great detail I found the story of the burning tree to be similar to the Chinese theory of yin and yang. Each is the opposite of the other, yet yin flow into yang and yang flows into yin, and at the heart of each is the essence of its own opposite. In each person we can find the rage and flames of the burning half of the Celtic tree and at the same time we can find the shade, and leafy beauty of a tree in the fullness of its bloom.

I believe it is what we do with that that is found within each of us that dictates the course of our lives, and how brightly the spirit of the divine is reflected in us. In Celtic Theology we read the story of Dagda's harp, the music of which affected the soul of man. It is the music of sleep that brings us to that state beyond joy. The Buddhists call it `satori' and the Hindus call it `nirvana', but in each case it is simply realizing the spirit of the divine living within each of us. When we reach a state where we realize that inner divine spirit we can thereafter use that spirit to aid others ~ as with the Celtic songs of healing, which heal those who hear them as well as those who sing them.

We must not think however that Celtic Theology is all mystery and hidden spirit. Those of the Celtic faith are very much in tune with life in this world. We see this reflected in the reply of one of Finn MacCool's men when asked by St. Patrick what had sustained him before the `Gospels'. "The warrior-hunter answered `The truth in our hearts, the strength in our arms, and the promise on our lips'." This clearly summarizes the Celtic Moral Code: "To live from the deep inner knowledge of the heart and soul, to manifest it by physical action, and to be true to one's word." (pp. 83)

Although every religion attempts to offer a code or commandments to guide the moral lives of the faithful, I believe that this Celtic insight into morality says it best. For if a man follows the deep inner knowledge of his heart and soul, does he not draw upon the spirit of the divine that is within us all? And, by drawing upon this inner spirit of the divine a man's physical actions with be brave and right and strong. With strength of spirit, and strength of deed, our word will surely be honorable and true.

Tom Cowan's Yearning of the Wind: Celtic Reflections on Nature is truly wonderful. I imagine that I will reread sections of this book time and time again--each time taking something different with me, each time seeing it from a different perspective. His writing is easy. Flowing from word to word and thought to thought, he takes you on a journey of the soul. It's deceptively simplistic and easy to read--but the depth is tremendous. In a few pages, his words convey universal meanings that strike a chord deep within me.

Cowan writes "Live courageously even though circumstances frighten you. Push through fear, knowing that ultimately nothing can harm your soul."

Wise words from an eloquent man.

I've recently realized that I'm very spiritual, in a naturalistic (i.e. nonsupernatural/nonmystical) sort of way.

There are very few books out there for folks like me. I've studied Buddhism (I especially like Zen), Taoism, Pantheism, and Religious Naturalism, to name a few areas that I've examined.

A while back I read a book on Druids but that was before I realized my naturalistic spirituality.

My ancestors are from England, Ireland, and Scotland and so I decided to get this book to learn a little bit about Celtic spirituality (I also got 'The Mist-Filled Path').

I really enjoyed reading this book. I don't believe in the mystical/supernatural/superstitious elements, but I enjoyed trying to find the psychological reasoning/explanations underlying them. I found myself smiling at what I was reading on almost every page.

I'm a truth-seeker and this is a beautiful little book with some nice kernals of truth hidden in it, if you're willing to hunt for them.

Tom Cowan's Celtic Reflections is a wonderful read. Every chapter contains pearls of wisdom. The book is also written in a way that builds on concepts presented earlier to make the point later in the book. The reflections draw on Celtic traditions and myth, as well as Cowan's personal life. His explanation of spirit and living "in the spirit" was particuarly poignant. I plan read sections again to try to pull out individual practices and meditations. Although they are presented in almost every chapter, I wish there had been a summary or methodology to the techniques that were presented. Overall, though, an excellent book worthy of reading and study, whether you are into Celtic traditions or simply want to experience another way look of seeing the world.

Delightful reading - and now we're taking turns reading it aloud to each other in the evening. A very positive book - just what we need right now.

A combination story, teaching tool, Tom shares his visions of nature, shamanism and Celtic mystery in a way that weaves our hearts and souls together and transports us into the other worlds. I keep this beautiful book handy on my coffee table to refer to often to soak up the wind and rain and sun. This collection of forty vignettes, each a powerful lesson/story reconnects the reader with the soul of nature and in deed, their very own soul as well. For those who want to experience the power of journey though story, this book is highly recommended. As an author of several books on shamanism and energy healing, Seeing in the Dark: Claim Your Own Shamanic Power Now and in the Coming Age, Energy for Life: Connect with the Source (Next Step), and Inner Power: Six Techniques for Increased Energy & Self-Healing I have a deep appreciation for the beautiful soul and man that Tom is, and his gifts for sharing that beauty in the world through the written and spoken word. I have had the honor of studying with Tom and can assure you that he is the real deal. A humble, spirit-connected, beautiful soul.