For over 2,000 years, oppressors and natural disasters have worked against the Celts, threatening to obliterate the ancient tribe's language, traditions, and spirituality. "Yet in the past 30 years or so, many willing minds and hands have undertaken the task of rekindling the guttering flame of the Celtic spirit," writes author Mara Freeman in Kindling the Celtic Spirit. Freeman is, in fact, one of those maintaining the fire, having spent 35 years studying Celtic traditions and assembling this well-written and organized tribute. Following the format of the Celtic calendar, Freeman shares the stories, recipes, spells, and Gaelic expressions that go with each of the monthly festivals and celebrations. The February chapter celebrates the Festival of Brigit (the goddess who represents the bride or young maiden). October pays tribute to the Festival of Samhain (the celebration that marks the beginning of winter and may have been the Celtic New Year). She recounts the origins of Samhain Eve, or "Mischief Night," which Americans celebrate by trick-or-treating. She teaches magical spells, tells a spine-chilling spooky story, and shows readers how to carve turnip lanterns, using a large rutabaga.

Although she writes about faeries, tree spirits, and other mythological creatures, Freeman narrates with confidence and maturity, so that readers feel as though they are sitting with a learned scholar. The elegant pen-and-ink illustrations by Linda Carol Risso capture the humble pagan origins while respecting the sophistication of Celtic design. The upshot is a beautifully crafted book with plenty of substance for those who like immersing themselves in this enchanting, age-old tribe. --Gail Hudson


John Matthews, author of Drinking From the Sacred Well
"This is an excellent book, offering a bright window into the Celtic World."


Margie McArthur, author of The Wisdom of the Elements
"...a stunning book, rich in enchantments, legend and lore...abounding in practical wisdom to nourish body and soul."


Alexei Kondratiev, author of The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual
"Mara Freeman...has a profound understanding and appreciation of [Celtic] tradition, and a talent for sharing it effectively."


Matthew Fox, author of One River, Many Wells and Original Blessing
"Mara Freeman has written a book that is fun, deep, playful, serious, useful, magical and enlightening."


Elizabeth Murray, author of Cultivating Sacred Space
"A very important work...[a] long awaited and much needed inspirational manual..."


R. J. Stewart, author of the bestselling Merlin Tarot, and many books on meditation, music and magic
"...Mara Freeman brings a depth of scholarship and clarity of presentation that outshines the rest."


Book Description
In this beautiful treasury of sacred wisdom, Mara Freeman shares the rich legacy of the Celts -- the festivals, gods and goddesses, saints, faeries, music, poetry, and storytelling that anchor this magical tradition. Discover myths, rituals, recipes, and crafts for every month of theyear. Honor Saint Brigit with a prayer in February, or ensure a merry start to May with a bowl of frothy syllabub. Come together with friends and neighbors to celebrate community in the high days of August, then learn to weave a solstice wreath in snowy December.Traditional blessings, ancient lore, and guided meditations inspire you to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world, and view the sacred as an integral part of every day. Rediscover the wisdom and healing power of nature, and cultivate and honor your soul as you would the earth. Let the spirit of the ancient Celts enchant you in every season, year after year.


About the Author
Mara Freeman, an accomplished writer, lecturer, and storyteller, has studied Celtic and British sacred traditions for more than thirty-five years. An Archdruidess in the Druid Clan of Dana, she teaches at the University of Creation Spirituality and is the founder of the Chalice Center. She divides her time between her native British Isles and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this beautiful book, renowned Celtic authority and gifted storyteller Mara Freeman shares the richness of the Celts -- the festivals, gods and goddesses, saints, faeries, music, poetry, and storytelling that anchor this magical tradition. Lovers of all things Celtic will discover stories, rituals, recipes, and crafts for every month of the year. Traditional blessings, ancient lore, and guided meditations inspire readers to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world, view the sacred as an integral part of every day, hone their intuition and give free rein to the imagination. With Kindling the Celtic Spirit, they will rediscover the wisdom and healing power of nature, cultivate and honor the soul as if it were the earth, and allow the charm of ancient Celtic spirituality to enchant, every season, year after year.

FROM THE CRITICS

John Matthews

This is an excellent book, offering a bright window into the Celtic World.

Matthew Fox

Mara Freeman has written a book that is fun, deep, playful, serious, useful, magical and enlightening.

Knoxville Sentinel

...a tempting invitation to the world of the Celts.

Margie McArthur

...a stunning book, rich in enchantments, legend and lore...abounding in practical wisdom to nourish body and soul.

Alexei Kondratiev

Mara Freeman...has a profound understanding and appreciation of [Celtic] tradition, and a talent for sharing it effectively. Read all 7 "From The Critics" >

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

John Matthews

This is an excellent book, offering a bright window into the Celtic World. Full of practical advice and a skilful use of material, it should be read by all those interested in the modern applications of Celtic wisdom. — author of Drinking from the Sacred Well

Matthew Fox

This book contributes immensely to the deep need of people of Celtic ancestry to reconnect to their rich spiritual heritage. Mara Freeman has written a book that is fun, deep, playful, serious, useful, magical and enlightening.  — author of Original Blessing, One River, Many Wells, etc.

Elizabeth Murray

With this long awaited for and much needed inspirational manual, Mara Freeman brings us a cauldron we can dip into any time of the year to quench our thirst for the Sacred in our daily lives. I look forward to giving it to my friends and family and using it as a guide in my own work. — author of Cultivating Sacred Space: Gardening for the Soul, etc.

R J. Stewart

There are many books claiming to introduce Celtic tradition to the reader, but Mara Freeman brings a depth of scholarship and clarity of presentation that outshines the rest. I recommend this excellent title to everyone exploring Celtic spirituality for the first time. — author of The Merlin Tarot, etc.

Margie McArthur

Kindling the Celtic Spirit is a stunning book, rich in enchantments, legend and lore to nourish mind and heart, abounding in practical wisdom to nourish body and soul.... The many meditations, spiritual practices and wondrous recipes offered may be woven into the fabric of our everyday lives, bringing us into harmonious alignment with the spirits of nature, the spirit of the season, and the spirit of our ancestral ways. Mara Freeman has truly given us a fine offering, food for the soul....  — author of Wisdom of the Elements, etc.

Alexei Kondratiev

At a time when so much shoddy research and outright misinformation is being circulated by people trying to cash in on the popularity of "Celtic" themes, it is truly refreshing to come upon an author who is authentically in touch with the Celtic world. Mara Freeman not only knows where genuine Celtic tradition is to be found, she has a profound understanding and appreciation of that tradition, and a talent for sharing it effectively. Anyone interested in exploring the rich heritage of Celtic culture will find her to be a dependable and engaging guide.  — author of The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual

ACCREDITATION