Celtic Myth and Religion

Sharon Paice MacLeod is a Harvard-trained Celticist, grant-funded researcher, historical consultant and professional musician. She has taught Celtic literature, mythology and folklore at the university level and lives in New England.

“this well-organized, readable book unites a widely scattered body of primary information on the myths, ritual practices, songs, cosmology, poetry, folklore, and symbolism created within and shared among the Celtic cultures of western Europe...a good general volume on Celtic myth and religion. Recommended”—Choice; “excellent”—Witches and Pagans; “well researched and richly diverse scholarly study”—Story Circle Book Reviews.

• Table of ContentsPreface      Introduction: Journeying to the Well of Wisdom      Part One: Celtic Religion and Mythology1. The Sacred Elements of the Tradition      2. Sources of Knowledge      3. Druids, Seers, Poets and Priestesses      4. The Celtic Otherworld      5. The Gods of Britain and Gaul      6. Irish Gods and Goddesses      7. The Ritual Year      Part Two: Celtic Shamanism and Wisdom Traditions8. Elements of Celtic Shamanism      9. The Feathered Cloak      10. The Song of the Shaman      11. Celtic Cosmology      12. Celtic Wisdom Traditions      13. The Knowledge of Trees      14. Symbolism of Animals and Birds      Part Three: Celtic Legends and Folklore15. The Wisdom of the Ancestors      16. The Legend of Arthur      17. The Mabinogi      18. Fairies, Healers and Seers      19. Folklore of Spring and Summer      20. Folklore of Autumn and Winter      21. The Path of the Old Ways      Appendix A: The Rights of Women in Early Celtic Culture      Appendix B: The Celtic Folksong Tradition      Appendix C: Suggested Reading and Further Study      Chapter Notes      Bibliography      Index