With Celtic Lightning, bestselling author Ken McGoogan plunges into the perpetual debate about Canadian roots and identity: Who do we think we are? He argues that Canadians have never investigated the demographic reality that informs this book—the fact that more than nine million Canadians claim Scottish or Irish heritage. Did the ancestors of more than one quarter of our population arrive without cultural baggage? No history, no values, no vision? Impossible. McGoogan writes that, to understand who we are and where we are going, Canadians must look to cultural genealogy. He builds on the work of Richard Dawkins, who contends that ideas and values (“memes”) can be transmitted from one generation to another. Scottish and Irish immigrants arrived in Canada with values they had learned from their forebears. And they did so early enough, and in sufficient numbers, to shape an emerging Canadian nation. McGoogan highlights five of the values they imported as foundational: independence, audacity, democracy, pluralism and perseverance. He shows that these values are thriving in contemporary Canada, and traces their evolution through the lives of thirty prominent individuals—heroes, rebels, poets, inventors, pirate queens—who played formative roles in the histories of Scotland and Ireland. Two charged traditions came together and gave rise to a Canadian nation. That is when Celtic lightning struck.

The author traces and evaluates the possible influences of Celtic tradition on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. He discusses theories of the origins of the poem, draws parallels between elements in Beowulf and in Celtic literary tradition, and suggests that the central plot of the poem, the conflict with Grendel and his mother, is "fundamentally indebted to Celtic folktale elements." The study is well documented and rich in references to Celtic literature, legend, and folklore.

Explore the powerful magic of the twenty-five trees in the ogham tradition. Enrich your spiritual practice with authentic Celtic wisdom and practical techniques. Written by a Druid witch and Celtic shaman, Celtic Tree Magic shows you how to: Practice ogham divination, charms, and spells Work with each tree's magical correspondences and healing attributes Make salves, tinctures, ointments, and green crafts Find tree spirit allies in nature and the otherworld Fashion wands and other magical tools With exercises, hands-on tips, and an accessible exploration of folklore and myth, this lovely and lyrical handbook provides practical skills and deeper understandings for beginners and intermediate practitioners. Praise: "A trusted and guiding hand through the Celtic forests of wisdom and magic."—Kristoffer Hughes, author of The Book of Celtic Magic and founder of the Anglesey Druid Order "This lovely work offers a truly experiential journey...It offers the reader a richer understanding of nature and self."—Philip Carr-Gomm, Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids and author of Druid Mysteries "Danu Forest has made masterful use of the original sources...I heartily commend this book."—Nicholas R. Mann, author of Druid Magic

Presents an illustrated A to Z reference containing over 1,000 entries providing information on Celtic myths, fables and legends from Ireland, Scotland, Celtic Britain, Wales, Brittany, central France, and Galicia.

"Celtic Mythology" is a study on ancient folk tales and legends of old Ireland, Wales and other Celtic regions, which remained a precious legacy to their illustrative history. The book deals with different aspects of folklore and mythology: myths of the creation, tales of gods and their position and behavior, the mythical creatures and animals, folk tales of the divine land and many more. Well grounded in history and sociology, the author relates these folk tales, legends and myths of Gaelic, Brythonic and Gaulish people to each other and explores the influence of Christianity on their development through the ages. "The Religion of the Ancient Celts" is an exhaustive and comprehensive study of the Celtic religion. It provides insights into Celtic religious practices, and comparisons geographically as well as with more familiar Roman and Christian pantheons. The author offers numerous interpretations and overlaps regarding the mythological roles of gods and goddesses. The Celts interacted with many cultures over the years and adopted their gods and combined with theirs. Roman and Greek gods were adopted as were Vikings' and Christianity later.

Learn to knit intricate cabled knot-work with this collection of 7 beautiful shawl patterns inspired by Celtic and Pictish art. Celtic Cable Shawls is the first book by Scottish designer Lucy Hague and features photography from the stunning Scottish Highlands, along with information on the history of Celtic and Pictish art. All of the shawls feature completely original cable stitch patterns, and instructions are presented in both charted and written form. For the intermediate knitter who is ready to take on a challenge, this book provides a great starting point for exploring the techniques of closed-loop cable knitting. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lucy Hague is an independent designer based in Edinburgh, Scotland, who enjoys writing patterns with a focus on complex and engaging texture and unique stitch patterns. Her work has been featured in The Knitter, Knit Edge magazine, Pom Pom Quarterly and Knit Now. For more information, visit www.lucyhague.co.uk.

Dagda swept his fingers across the strings of the harp, and a beautiful melody started to play. It was the music of grief that had the Fomorians stop and bow their heads as they sobbed. Even the soldiers sobbed, but they drew their mantles so none could see the tears flowing... Celtic Mythology has through the ages inspired poets, authors, and songwriters alike with its ancient heritage of sagas, myths, legends, and battles. We live in a modern world that explains most myths and legends. However, there is still much that cannot be explained. To better understand who we are, it is essential to know where we came from and the cultures that were our past. Learning about Celtic mythology will help to keep these cultures alive for our future generations. Through books like this one and the interest of all its wonderful readers, these myths and legends will stay alive well into the future. And if you're looking for a collection of Celtic myths that speak to all ages then keep reading because the path to your calling has been answered with this book. Inside you will find heroic stories of gods and goddesses and epic tales of love and betrayal. Misty rolling hills, lochs, rugged mountains, and mysterious creatures form the grounds for the myths and legends. Discover heroic adventures, mythical creatures, intriguing fairy tales, magic and folklore. All This & Much More Including: > Celtics Beliefs, Ways of Worship & Rituals > The Mysterious Tombs of The Celtics & How They Aligned With The Stars > How Nature & Her Sacred Creatures Have Shaped Celtic Culture > Celtic Gods & Goddesses - including Dagda - Supreme God of The Celts, Lug - The God of Justice & Many More > The Legendary Origins of Merlin the Magician (Made Famous By Disney) > Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Brittany, Manx & Celtic Myths + Legends > Llefelys & Lludd - A Story of Dragons, Demons & A Thieving Wizard > The Leprechaun - Learn about the little green man synonymous with the Irish - but be careful what you wish for, as everything has a price. > Discover The Druids & Their Sacred Art of Healing Through Herbs > Why The Celts Were Sworn Enemies of Julius Caesar > Celtic Mythology That Has Inspired Star Wars, Harry Potter & Other Movies And much, much more… Open a door to another world…. a world of adventure, heroism, romance and magic. Celtic mythology, your calling has been answered with This Book.

First published in 2005. This work, a broad history of the Celtic religion, explores all aspects of Celtic life and worship. Topics include the Celtic people, the Gods of the Gaul, the Irish mythological cycle, gods and mem, nature plant and animal worship, cosmogony, sacrifice, festivals, the Druids, magic and rebirth.