Book Review: Kindling The Celtic Spirit

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Book Review: Kindling The Celtic Spirit
by Bridget Haggerty

Did you ever wish you could be inside someone's head and instantly absorb all of their knowledge, skills and expertise?

This is precisely what happened when I began reading Mara Freeman's comprehensive work on "ancient traditions to illumine your life throughout the seasons."

As soon as Kindling the Celtic Spirit arrived, I was immediately drawn to the beauty and grace of its design, and then, in typical fashion, I casually leafed through, stopping here and there to read a paragraph or two.

To say I was entranced is an understatement. In great anticipation, I turned to the beginning and began to enjoy one of the most thoroughly satisfying reads I can ever recall.

Drawing from more than 30 years of experience, Mara takes the reader through the Celtic Year, month by month, season by season, sharing with us her vast knowledge of customs, traditions, myths, saints and scholars. An entire chapter - February - is devoted to St. Brighid, my patron saint, and I learned a great deal about her that I didn't know before. And that is the beauty of this wonderful book. Mara offers unique perspectives that I've yet to find in any other work.

I still have my nose in the book and I find myself carrying it with me, stealing precious minutes from my busy schedule to read just a little bit more. It's become a constant companion and for anyone as interested in the Celtic way of life as I am, I highly recommend that you purchase this book before buying any others. For while there are many works that are similar in scope, this is the first one that I've found which is interactive. Not only does Mara teach us what the ancient Celts did and why, she also describes in great detail how we can apply the old ways to modern life.

In summary, this book will teach you about the festivals, gods and goddesses, faeries, saints, animals, music, poetry and storytelling that anchor the magical tradition of the Celts. You'll learn about the myths, rituals, recipes and crafts for every month of the year. And you will discover traditional blessings, ancient lore, and guided meditations that will inspire you to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world.

A supremely talented author, story-teller and teacher, I am grateful to Mara for the exposure to her practical wisdom. Truly, this book is definitive nourishment for the Celtic soul.

Author's Bio:

Mara Freeman is a keeper of the ancient Celtic spirit whose life is dedicated to reweaving the ancestral traditions of the British Isles and Ireland for today's world through teaching, writing and storytelling. The legacy of the Bards and Druids is embodied in her transformational workshops, pilgrimages and retreats. To learn more, Mara invites you to visit her web site: The Celtic Spirit

Fri, Sep 27, 2024

The Galway Hooker

This unique vessel, with its distinctive curved lines and bright red sails, originated in the village of Claddagh. During the 19th century, hookers supported a significant fishing industry and also carried goods, livestock and fuel. Seán Rainey is remembered for building the last of the original boats, the Truelight, for Martin Oliver who was to become the last king of the Claddagh; as king, he was entitled to white sails on his boat. Since the mid seventies, many of the old sailing craft which were on the verge of extinction have been lovingly restored and new ones have been built. During the summer months they can be seen at festivals such a Cruinniú na mBád - the Gathering of the Boats - in Kinvara.

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