Celtic Myth & Magick: Harness the Power of the Gods & Goddesses

Seems like an informative book and it’s quite thick . Had some strange stains on the pages but I can still read it. Pages 171-432 are dictionary of gods and goddesses and appendixes.

I was given this book, by an aquaintance. One of those people that shows up in your life, helps you and moves on. I'd always been interested in Witchcraft, but never did anything about it. I look upon this book as a resource, it does give some ritual and pathworkings, but more than that it is an encyclopedic reference to the Celtic pantheon and is a great book to pique the interest and imagination of those interested in the Celtic branch of the craft. I keep my dog eared copy on the book shelf with pride.

In an arena that has produced tension between those who seek to rebuild 'Celtic' like a static museum display and those who strain to hear the voice of the Lady and the Lord in their Celtic mileu, this book is a valuable tool to really get to the heart of Celtic spirtuality. Far removed from the camp of those practioners who want everything they do or believe backed up by archeology and literature, Edain McCoy's book is about understanding the spirit of the Tuatha Dé Danann (children of the goddess Danu)by understanding the mythology, how it evolved, and how it can work for us today. I realize that Celtic reconstructionists may balk at this, but this is about the voices we hear today, in a living faith, not a hair-splitting treatise on just what was the 'hero's portion' on a roasat pig. The book has several pathworking journeys to get you started on guided meditations with Celtic dieties and heroes, guides to celebrating the sabbats and esbats, indexed lisitngs of goddesses and gods, and a vast list of correspondences that would make Aleister Crowley proud. For those of us who want to work with the living God & Goddess, this book is an essential. Easy to dive into, it rewards careful study and will continue to be a valuable reference in the future. I first read it about two years ago, and it was pivitol in redefining my magickal path to a beautiful and enriching journey.

This book provides a good overview of how one can integrate elements from Celtic traditions into their own spiritual/magickal practice. I recommend it to beginners who are inclined toward being eclectic and eclectics who are looking for some really basic reading material. This book doesn't really adhere to a specific Celtic/pagan tradition which I think is why it has been the most suitable beginner's book for me (both to Celtic spirituality and pagan rituals in general). Having been raised to honor Christian and pagan tradition (yes it does work or my family wouldn't exist), and being quite happy already with my own Christian eclecticism, it's taken me a while to find an intro to Celtic paganism that isn't too fluffy or too specific (i.e. Druidry, Wicca). I personally don't need a book to tell me how to be a Celtic Wiccan/Druid/Faery Wiccan/etc. at this stage, so I don't find those types of books as the most useful. This one provides just the right overview of the Celtic pantheon and practical pagan ritual. When I want to read about the history of the Celts I go read history books! (For crying out loud, the title of this book is "Celtic MYTH and Magick"). I also have to note that guided meditations in here are absolutely wonderful. I thank the author for writing them and sharing them with her readers.

I am writing this review to defend Edain McCoy from some of the mean reviews I've read about her book in this section. First off, let me just state that I am an initiated Gardnerian with a college degree, and that I have extensively studied Celtic history and language, ancient languages and civilizations, and world religions, etc. I am saying this not to boast but because I believe that my background should lend credence to my review. Anyway, I bought this book merely for the god/goddess dictionary, because I thought it would be another of those Llewellyn stinkpots -- you know, the usual unethical mix of fact and fantasy all put together so the author can make a quick buck. Believe me, I HATE those kinds of books. But this one really surprised me, and I think McCoy did an excellent job. Celtic history and the Celtic pantheons are very complicated and difficult to simplify into a workable and understandable whole. I think McCoy did a good job of both attempting to do that as well as explaining how difficult it is. I think she was quite honest about her limitations, which I think are limitations almost anyone would have (my one complaint is that she doesn't cite her souces). As for her spelling and pronunciation of the words, I found them to be pretty much the same as I have seen in my non-Craft related Celtic books. I found them very helpful. And yes, at first some of her entries on the gods seemed to be erroneous, but sure enough when I looked them up in other books I would find she wasn't wrong. Let's face it, there are so many forms of Celtic myth, and as I said it's a complex system; there are many different versions of the stories and the most popular versions certainly aren't the only ones. I am not a relativist, but there are some things that are in constant flux, some "truths" that are always shifting, and it seems to me that myth is an ever-evolving entity. In short, I loved this book. If you want a book that teaches you Celtic Wicca or Wicca, read books by Buckland, Cunningham, and especially Janet and Stewart Farrar. But if you are already working in or learning a tradtion and want to add some Celtic flavor, this book is a treasure. I've read so many Pagan books, it's a JOY to read one and learn things in a place you least expected. I highly recommend it.

This book is one of my favorites. It overviews the sabbats, esbats, every god/dess imaginable, and various other Pagan topics. It includes songs, resources, recipes, patchworkings, and a glossary. McCoy did an excellent job, even if this book is written much on personal opinion rather than fact. Kudos to McCoy.