Awen, the Quest of the Celtic Mysteries (Paperback)

by Foreword by Gareth Knight Mike Harris (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Awen is a Welsh word often translated as "inspiration." However, in its fullness it is untranslatable as a single word, comprising as it does a kind of irradiation of the soul from paradisal origins. In the end, our descriptions and our definitions must be rendered in poetic terms. Hence the importance of the Bard. It was the Celtic bards who laid the foundation of inner wisdom that has come down to us as the Arthurian Tradition. It was Celtic bards who, leaving Wales and Cornwall for Brittany, and thence seeking service with Frankish lords, provided the tales that informed the Arthurian romancers of twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Chrtien de Troyes, Robert de Boron and others, wove them into tales of Merlin, Arthur, Lancelot and Guenevere, the Lady of the Lake and the Questors of the Grail. The pages you hold before you reveal the source of the hidden tradition as preserved for us in the Celtic folk soul. This, if not the only vehicle of inner wisdom, is nonetheless one of the most evocative.

Product Details

• Paperback: 314 pages
• Publisher: Sun Chalice Books (April 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928754007
• ISBN-13: 978-1928754008
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,449,067 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wealth of Information, February 21, 2000

By A Customer

The amount of information regarding the Celtic Tradition is enormous. It spans the subject from actual historical facts of early cultural influences within the land through to the less known Atlantean influences which lie at the base of the Druidic Tradition. It covers such interesting subjects as Divine Kingship; the Templars and Gnosticism; Arthurian Legends encompassing Merlin and the Grail Myths; the bards and their important function of carrying on the stories and atmospheres of old; and even approaches the subjects of Qabalah and the Temple of Jerusalem. The Glossary alone is worth purchasing the book! I think anyone who is interested in the Celtic Tradition of faeries, gods and goddesses; or simply, if they are a history buff with interests in Celtic racial lines of development, they will find that this book is a must. It is both informative and well written.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Loaded with Information and facts, October 24, 2000

By	B. Merritt "filmreviewstew.com" (WWW.FILMREVIEWSTEW.COM, Pacific Grove, California United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Similar to John King's book (The Celtic Druids' Year) this book delves deep into the history, lore and magic surrounding the ancient Celts and the influences of outside society throughout the ages. Sometimes it boggs down with a little too much overly-structured detail but for the most part I loved learning about the Celts and how they came to view the world. Obviously, Mike Harris did a lot of research for this novel and that is what shines through here. There are some personal insights that Harris uses in lieu of traditional beliefs but I found them fresh and challenging. A good read all in all.