I'd give it more if I could...This book is fantastic. The way it is "set-up" is a little odd at first, but you get the hang of it quickly. The writing is beautiful, gentle, kind, I wanna say more, but you get the picture. It is definatley not the type of book for a (shall I say) non-believer in all things spiritual. It's spiritual and celtic, "other-world" has invoking prayers, etc. It's not hokey by any means, but if you are not open-minded you MAY think so. Someone who is ready for the right teacher to appear will be ready for this book. If this book (or author) find their way to you, consider it a blessing and read her. You'll be pleased the universe brought you together.

Blessed be the spinner of the universe for giving us Caitlin Matthews! If you want a book to guide you DAILY on your path toward Celtic spirituality, this is it. I read from it morning and evening, and take it with me whenever I leave home. It is both comforting and thought-provoking! Companioned with Caitlin Matthews' The Celtic Spirit: Daily Meditations for the Turning Year, you have an infinite supply of daily and special devotionals as well as Celtic lore with meditation suggestions.

Caitlin Matthews proves herself once again as a pre-eminent wisdomkeeper of our ancient Celtic inheritance with the release of Celtic Devotional. Mirroring the ancient formulaic prayers to the elements found in the Celtic tradition, along with the wondrous invocations and declarations of the bards of the Scottish, Irish and Welsh traditions, Celtic Devotional provides a numinous doorway through which the modern person can re-invest their life with meaning within the twilight times of dusk and dawn. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

This isn't a how-to guide. This is, however, a book proposing a theory, legends and myths of the beyond according to Celtic traditions. It is fluent and very well put and I believe in can fit young readers and old as one. Although it is fairly leveled and can be used as more than just bedtime reading, it draws one into the wonderful, lost world of the Celts.

To those who practice witchcraft - it is a beautiful guide to the Celtic afterlife, and with it arrives an inspiring deck of Tarot cards, especially designed to read after-life journeys. The concept and the practice are a thing of beauty. I would recommend you practiced this specific reading thoroughly before applying it on others.

On the personal note - I bought this book shortly after a family member who was a dear friend had died. While pondering the meaning of death and what it suggests, I started a deep research on cultures and the way they have related to death, sorting out my beliefs in order to face fears and worries. This book was a lifesaver.

As always, Caitlin Matthews has managed to express in an outward and manifested object the deep strata of perennial truths of the Celtic soul. The premise upon which she approaches her subject is a fascinating one. . . that, indeed, like the Tibetans and Egyptians, that the Celtic tradition has its own particular expressions of a 'Book of the Dead': a compendium of stories or tales believed to be of Otherworld origin that speak to the soul of the living about the passage after death. The particular mythopoetic and shamanic root story that Caitlin approaches is that of Immram Curaig Maelduin Inso, or The Voyage of Maelduin's Boat.

Indeed, a fascinating account of a mystical voyage to thirty-three islands, each of which holds a particular adventure or lesson to the voyagers. Undoubtedly a strand of the many sea-faring tales of the Irish (such as St. Brendan the Navigator), the Immrama of Maelduin in THE CELTIC BOOK OF THE DEAD, proves to be an invaluable contribution to Celtic studies, visionary tradition, and the modern need to reincorporate the tools and sacred orientations of the psychopompic process (conscious death journey, or soul-leading). ...

A thought provoking journey into our own souls. Well written and researched. The cards are illustrated beautifully. I can't say enough for it. Those seeking to learn more about ourselves this set is a must.

This re-telling of the mythical events of human creation resonates with great love and support of the human condition. It is a simple but profoundly moving story of how our human spritual journey began. I read this to my grandchildren so that they might not be isolated in the view of failure and rejection as the story is commonly told. This presentation, with its exhuberantly colored drawings and unique explanations of the paths we must all travel, encourages and inspires the reader to understand mistakes and the resulting growth while under the care and company of a loving God.

I agree with the previous review and I wanted to add that this is a beautiful book, the art work is bold and colorful and the message is loving. I bought this book last year and was saving it to give to someone this Christmas. As I was starting to wrap it, I read the book to my children and I remembered how much I liked it. I am ordering a couple more for other friends!

This story retells the creation story without the judgemental overtones of "human sin" which most of us grew up with. It is a loving account of God's creation of us and all of our frailties, explaining how all of our lifes experiences, be they good or bad, are part of our growth in faith. An absolute must read for families who seek to give their children a view of a loving and forgiving God.

I bought this book after having worked with the Arthurian Tarot for a while. I was intrigued at the links between Arthurian myth & celtic myth that the deck pointed at, so I bought this book to explore this idea.

I have since read lots of other books on the subject by varying authors, but still find this book a fascinating read. It is by no means an in depth exploration of the culture, but a consideration of the prime structures, and the way they realte to our modern world, including some exercises to bring them into our own lives.

It is in this book that I first encountered the Ogham, which eventually led me to adopt it as a divination technique. It is also through this book that a whole world of spirituality opened up to me.

The book covers an understanding of the view of the world, the Gods & Goddesses that inhabited it, the relation of the King to the land (which gives great insight into the nature of King Arthur, and also our relation to our land), the druids & their area of influence, the Otherworld & its inhabitants, the nature of heroes (again giving insight into our own attitudes), the turning of the year (which as a pagan is of prime importance to me), and finally the place of Celtci magic in the world of today.

This book can be seen as a springboard into an understanding of the Celtic world, and I feel it is one of the best introductory texts on the subject of Celtic tradition.

If you are new to Celtic studies and wary of the plethora if misinformation on the subject as presented by many Pagan authors then this is a must for your library. The book is short and to the point, making it an excellent introduction and quick reference.

This is the supreme introductory collection of ancient celtic knowledge and stories. I read many books along this subject line, but this one stands out as one of the best. Since it is divided into many short entries, it never bores you like many texts containing those obscure names and places from the past, but instead makes you want to read on to the next tale. This is one of the few books you can pick up and open to any page to begin reading, and still be satisfied. Strongly recommended for anyone interested in celtic ancestry, druidry, religion, nature, wicca, or religion in general.

Ms Matthews here provides a delightfully straight-forward template for the serious study and exploration of the sanctum sanctorum of Celtic Mysteries, providing a glimpse behind the veil of the Ninefold Sisterhoods, the Otherworld Realms, the Wasteland, Mabon and the Sleeping Lord. The course is one of only a handful to really take on the central Mysteries of the Celtic and pre-Celtic traditions. A graceful, eloquent journey into the Otherworld itself.

Whether a tarot novice or a master reader, Caitlin Matthews' work serves as a self-paced learning guide to the Arthurian Tarot. This workbook provides practical advice on meditation, journal keeping, rituals, and spreads specific to this deck, yet these same principles can easily be adapted to other decks. Sixty lessons, mostly detailed studies of one or more cards, offer tarot students a way to better understand both the cards and themselves.

There are, however, two drawbacks to this book. First, it's out-of-print. Secondly, cross-references to two other works by Caitlin and John Matthews, the deck's HALLOWQUEST HANDBOOK and HALLOWQUEST: TAROT MAGIC AND THE ARTHURIAN MYSTERIES, mean additional purchases. A reader may also question the need for all three books when apparently material is recycled (note: I have not seen the 1998 HALLOWQUEST: THE ARTHURIAN TAROT COURSE: A TAROT JOURNEY THROUGH THE ARTHURIAN WORLD, which may have resolved this issue). Nevertheless, this workbook is a valuable addition to one's tarot library and is well worth its cost.

This is a beautifully illustrated anthology of folktales from many cultures. I enjoyed reading it as much as the listener enjoyed hearing it. I did have to tone down some of the stories slightly based on our choices for our preschooler [they are traditional folktales, and sometimes violent, but not more than I was exposed to as a child!] and would not be upsetting to most older children. It is a lovely way to glimpse other cultures and traditions, particularly as the illustrations seem to mesh well with each story and culture.

This is the most comphrensive guide I have seen of British and Celtic mytholog. It's organized like a dictonary, from Arthur to Ymir. Any myth guru will get a kick out of it!

I'm sad to see this wonderful little book has gone out of print. However, it's worth the hunt.

This book includes daily prayers for each day of the week for the four seasons of the Celtic year (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnsadah). There is a morning and an evening prayer specific to each day and prayers for the solstices and equinoxes and special events.

The prayers are non-denominational. No God or Goddess names are used, only descriptions like "Keeper of the Mysteries" that could be changed or adapted to fit any path.

This book is wonderful for people who enjoy celebrating and meditating on the seasons in a deep daily practice.

This deck is truly magical as is the book "hallowquest the arthurian tarot course" which is its companion. This book is out of print and I was fortunate to get it used after buying the deck! The deck is a teacher and will take you on many journeys. Arthur's lesson is a powerful one which we desperately need today. I think the expression "you and the land are one" holds true for all of us for when we separate ourselves from the land we perish, hurting only ourselves. This deeper message is evident throughout the deck. When returning to the land we return to ourselves. The mystery, magic, wisdom of this deck sings its song for all to hear.

The Arthurian Tarot was the second tarot I bought (the first being the incredibly dull 1JJ!), and despite having since amassed a collection of 15 decks, it has remained my main reading deck for the last 9 years. This deck lends itself to the type of reading that I mainly carry out, which is that concerning personal developmet & exploration of issues, rather than prediction.

This deck follows the Rider-Waite initiative in having a pictorial minor arcana, rather than the bland arrangement of pips so beloved of occultists. The suits are different only in the fact that Spears replace Wands & Stones replace Pentacles, with Pages becoming Maidens. The illustrations embody the feelings of each card perfectly, you can feel the isolation & imprisonment of the eight of swords, the defenciveness of the nine of spears (wands) is clearly evoked by the strong cliff edges and the Washer at the Ford powerfully embodies the forces of Death.

This deck expresses the whole range of experience, refusing to soften the less desirable aspects of life by wrapping them up in soothing colloquialisms. The cards, like life, depict suffering, cruelty & harshness alongside those of love & abundance. This makes it the perfect deck for confronting your inner landscape, and journeying through it, in order to bring restoration & wholeness. This deck is also backed up with two further books, Hallowquest & the Arthurian Tarot Course, which aid those interested in going deeper into the cards than mere prediction.

The book that comes with the cards describes the myths that the scene on each card depicts, which aids the interpretation somewhat, with the myth often embodying a process that the person is currently going through. Also included in the book are some themed spreads, such as Merlins Mirror & Mabons Gate, which I have found are great tools in unravelling the Self.

I must admit that those interested only in prediction are most liklely going to be diappointed by the book, concentrating as it does on more esoteric matters than whether or not someones going to get that house they're hankering over. But that's not to say it's not adaptable to this use, just it's more suited to exploration.

And if anyone is trying to decide whether to go for this or that horrid Legend deck, go for this one, it has finer illustrations and its composition shows that the author's of this deck actually have a knowledge of their subject. The Legend deck is a poor attempt at a copy.

I have been working with Tarot, divination, astrology and shamanic practice for many years, and Caitlin and John Matthews' "The Arthurian Tarot" is by far my favorite deck. Though I also use Robin Wood Tarot and Universal Waite and Hanson-Roberts and others as well, The Arthurian Tarot lures me again and again with its Celtic and Arthurian/Grail imagery, mythology and symbolism, and its excellent artwork. The "arched-window" border that frames each scene depicted gives the impression of personally observing the scene firsthand from wherever you are in time and place. The Tarot journey is the journey of "The Seeker" in all of us. The scenes are more "realistic" than traditional tarot decks, and sometimes they are more harsh as well. The paperback book "The Arthurian Tarot" that accompanies the deck succinctly describes the myth and legend behind the cards' meanings. Keep in mind that the Matthews' background is rich in Grail lore, Celtic and Druidic study, and Shamanic Practice. Their considerable knowledge and practice in these areas is evident in the symbolism of the cards as well as the explanations in the accompanying book. Caitlin provides helpful first-hand descriptions of how the different spreads have been used with her clients, and many helpful suggestions in using and interpreting them.

If one is already even minimally knowledgable regarding the traditional Waite/Universal tarot meanings and symbolism, it is no great leap to accomodate the Arthurian symbolism. The book lists the traditional Celtic Cross spread along with several other interesting and useful spreads, Excalibur Spread, Merlin's Mirror etc. The Arthurian Tarot is the better deck for use in personal growth and enrichment, as the symbolism and mythology lends itself to this kind of psychological work.

I also own and heartily recommend the companion work by the Matthews, Hallowquest-The Arthurian Tarot Course, (purchased through Amazon.com) which more elaborately explains the mythology and symbolism, and utilizes the The Arthurian Tarot cards in a year-long personal journey of self-discovery and enrichment. There you see that the "arched-window" effect of the cards is carefully planned to assist the Seeker in shamanic meditations to enter the scene and interact within that realm rather than merely be an observer of it.

All things considered, this is a tarot experience that everyone could benefit from, and I heartily recommend the Matthews' Arthurian Tarot.

I have enjoyed much of the Matthews' writings, both when together and on their own, but I'm not so elated with this. I was fortunate enough to pick this up when a book shop was closing down and so got it at a very low price, I'm not so sure I would have been so forgiving if I had to pay full price.

I have read quite a lot on the Ogham, and aside from Robert Graves' White Goddess, this is probably the most inspired and innovative spin on them I have come across, although it is not the most insightful. Now whilst I agree that the Ogham should not be looked upon only as a "tree alphabet", if one has decided to emphasise this approach then there should be a little more about the nature of the tree and how this affects ones interpretation of the individual staves. Just my personal opinion!

That aside, the actual practical side of the book is a geat idea, enough to redeem it at any rate! I particularly admire the work gone into the quatrains, which are far more insightful than many of the traditional word oghams, which have lost much meaning in their translation. These add so much more to the depth of reading one can traditionally get from them, and has revived my flagging use of them.

This book has altered the way I use the ogham quite considerably, but I shan't be using the staves that come with the set, I'll stick to my own (oh the comedy!). Mine came with two that were losing their bark and in a fraying bag. Rustic,or just shoddy? I think the latter. That aside, it is true that making one's own staves is a much better idea. My own set I spent a while over, collecting the wood of each tree and bush to make them with, all in all a much better way of doing it!

It is true that the oracle text is concrete and pragmatic, and that the wisdom sticks themselves look like french fries. And one would have liked some hints as to time and place for consulting the sticks. Nevertheless, this is Caitlin Matthews' most accessible, most "tactile," least esoteric oracle device yet. Lest you think from the foregoing that Celtic Wisdom Sticks are some kind of Irish fortune cookies, used intuitively and contemplatively they can lead one to a deep, rich, mystical experience equal if not superior to tarot.

Of all of Ms. Matthew's works, I find the Celtic Wisdom Sticks of a par with her Celtic Devotional, and both to be superior tools for those pursuing a neo-Celtic or maybe meta-Celtic path.

First off, let me say that I have incredible respect for the work and writings of Caitlin Matthews. I have followed her line of inquiry into the Celtic visionary tradition over the years and feel that she has done an incredible service to both Celtic and non-Celtic descendants by what she has produced. Her research into Ogam to produce The Celtic Wisdom Sticks is keeping in her prolific strides to produce time-tested, yet relevant means for people to deepen their practice. Her work on the Ogam is very good both via scholarship and translation but, probably even more importantly, via utilizing some of the very visionary states of consciousness employed by our Irish ancestors. The book really is very innovative in its consideration of the Ogam--speaking openly that the sacred markings have a utilitarian purpose, but also a visionary application.
The actual "sticks" in the set The Celtic Wisdom sticks--at least in the ones I received--were not really that great, but I have since realized that, truly, they are merely meant as a guide--and that if your soul takes to the Ogam, and the soul of the Ogam takes to you, that you will eventually make your own set that has the mark of your own energy within them. And, I would recommend doing this. The 'forfedha' letters on the Four Airts, or Four Directional Indicator stave is truly ingenious and adds a remarkable sense of visionary continuity with other visionary practices in the Celtic tradition. The particular indicator stick I received in the set was a little imbalanced--which I think can throw a reading off and is another reason for making your own staves--but I find this innovation, like everything else Caitlin does, to be truly cutting edge, while honoring of the ancient.
Many of the suggested readings are also beautiful, combining the best of intuition with the nature of this lore to guide those who walk in this way with a quality of "the next step," which any working oracle should do. The Oghams, like the Runes and the Yarrow Sticks of the I-Ching, are not a static and lifeless oracle, but a living, breathing being that becomes a co-walker in your life.
To this end, I feel that the book is well worth the purchase, but I would recommend using the actual sticks that one receives in The Celtic Wisdom Sticks as simply a model or guide for creating your own set. Definitely reap the harvest of Caitlin's analepsis, as she puts it, but buy this set primarily for the book.