Magic of the Celtic Otherworld by Steve Blasmires © 2007 Llewellyn
Worldwide ISBN 978-0-7387-0657-3 327 Pages Paperback
$17.95 (U.S.) $20.95 (Canada
I got this book because my daughter was enthusiastic about the bit she
read
while browsing at a local bookstore. I wasn't sure about it for a couple
of
reasons: First, I didn't recognize the author's name and second, it seems
that everybody is writing books about their interpretations of the Celtic
culture. So I approached it with caution.
One thing which impressed me early on in this book was the sincere manner
in
which the author approached the subject. There are numerous "fluffy"
books
on the market about Celtic Magic, and there are many "serious" (i.e.,
"This
is the way it is and you must do exactly this.") books available. In this
case the author lays out some foundations, provides sources for further
personal research and offers some common sense advice, and then says,
basically, "The rest is up to you."
It was a pleasure for me to read his warnings about contacting some of the
more primal deities of the Celtic pantheon. Far too many Pagans today
assume that "good" or "beneficial" deities may be safely contacted by
anyone
without learning the culture and lore associated with them. That can be
like assuming that since electricity can heat and light our homes, it is
safe to embrace without taking precautions. You can get seriously hurt in
either case.
More primitive, less civilized entities may have very different concepts
of
acceptable behavior. If you have ever experienced (even second hand)
possession (such as in a Santeria or Vodun ceremony) you may have been
surprised by the behavior exhibited by the possessing entities. It is
perfectly acceptable to them, even if your sensibilities are offended.
This book is intended as an introductory work on the subject of the Celtic
Otherworld. It is, therefore, fairly basic. It does give a broad outline
of beliefs, festivals, and word pronunciations as well as a simple
glossary.
I found it to be a useful, easy to understand and informative book. If
you
are interested in Celtic culture and beliefs, this is a good book to start
with. The bibliography and discography provide further inspirations and
are
a valuable addition, even if they are short.
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