By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism: Amazon.ca: D.J. Conway: Books

Product Description

Shamanism begins as a personal revelation and inner healing, then evolves into a striving for balance and healing into the Earth itself. Many spiritual seekers are interested in shamanism because it is a spiritual path that can be followed in conjunction with any religion or other spiritual belief without conflict. Shamanism has not only been practised by Native Americans and African cultures - for centuries, it was practised by the Europeans, including the Celts. This text presents a workable, modern form of Celtic shamanism that should help raise the reader's spiritual awareness. The book offers specific exercises and techniques to develop spiritual awareness and ties with the natural world: shape-shifting; divination by the Celtic Ogham alphabet; Celtic shamanic tools; travelling to and using magick in the three realms of the Celtic otherworlds; empowering the self; and journeying through meditation.

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
Whenever one thinks of the Celtic peoples of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and England, one immediately thinks of Druids. Read the first page

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Concordance

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

33 Reviews

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3 star:		(4)
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Average Customer Review

3.5 out of 5 stars (33 customer reviews)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars First you heal yourself, then you heal the World, July 3 2004

By

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Paperback)

Speaking for myself, I found the true spirit of shamanism in this book. Conway succeeds in connecting it with Celtic culture. She understands the core essence of both subjects. Some readers seem to think that she intended some sort of archeological study of "true" Celtic shamanism. This was clearly not the intent, as is stated in both the introduction and in chapter two, "Shamanism: ancient and modern." She is trying to introduce people to the SPIRIT of shamanism, and in this she richly succeeds. You have to approach this book with an open mind- not unlike the guided visualizations that form an important part of the text.

The goal here is to try to heal modern man's almost total disconnect with the heart of nature- and with the deep archetypical powers. The author is correct in stating that we have cut down the World Tree and blown up the tunnel to the Underworld. This book is to identify and steer the sort of individuals who are born to sense and heal this soul-killing divide. It will point the way to the true teachers.

For a change Llewellyn assigned a first rate designer and artists to this book- the cover and interior illustrations and details add and do not detract from the whole. Of course, I may be biased here- the frontispiece is the sacred Oak....

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars breaking the barriers, April 10 2001

By

Christopher Crittenden "seanuilaoghais" (Bay St. Louis, Mississippi United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Paperback)

Meditation, astral travel, dreamtime, or whatever...Shamanism is at the root of ALL religions. Anthropologists that study shamanism know that there are similar themes that are encountered in All cultures. Different cultures use different symbology to represent those same themes b/c jaguars don't live in Siberia, and polar bears don't live in the jungle. D.J. Conway has read the celtic legends and has seen the shamanic themes that are OBVIOUS in them to anyone who studies shamanism and reads this book with an open heart. I have been Wiccan for 12 years, a high priest for 3, and a student in Celtic Studies for 5. Wicca is a MYSTERY religion (you know, the kind most closely retaining their SHAMANIC roots) as opposed to a Revealed religion(by prophets, etc. such as Christianity). Being such, it WILL show similarities to shamanism, so there is no reason for anyone to whine when it does. If you don't believe me, just read a book on Native American shamanism then read the Irish legends with those themes in mind, then read By Oak, Ash and Thorn. You will see. This book contains guided meditations that use Celtic symbolism. Read the legends, read this book...You will see, and you will "see".

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good beginner book, Jun 3 2004

By

A. McDonald "A. McDonald" (TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: By Oak, Ash, & Thorn: Modern Celtic Shamanism (Paperback)

I found the book quite useful myself and think it would be very useful to a beginner. It covers alot of basics and does leave you ready for the next step, to learn more. But isn't that what an introductory book is for?

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars pseudo-Celtic Wicca thinly disguised...
I picked up this book a few years ago... having an interest in things Celtic and in shamanistic techniques. I found it lacking in both. Read more

Published on Jan 9 2004 by blackrose

1.0 out of 5 stars Wiccan Sell-Out
DJ Conway is a hack. I picked up this book to investigate some of the more Celtic background of Wicca, having already known some of the Native American theology, and I was... Read more

Published on Jan 1 2004