Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit

On my shelf of shamanist titles, this one sits prominently figured. Cowan presents the traditional fantastic experiences of the shaman in an amazingly receivable framework. His experience of archetypes in well-known myths and legends opens one to the ability to read all things symbolically, thus, as the dynamic spiritual presences that they are. To that end I regard Cowan as a shapeshifter of symbols, not an interpreter of them. His telling of olde tales connects their spirit with a modern audience. In this book his love and connection to the Celtic path is evident, though it is not necessarily rooted in what we know of Celtic history, itself. I feel it is important to make that distinction, as Cowan is cultivating the opening of the shamanic experience of metaphor in a Celtic context. He is not a Reconstructionist, thus this work offers, rather, an experiential opportunity in a Celtic framework.

I first became interested in shamanism after reading books by core-shamanic practioners Michael Harner and Sandra Ingerman. While these books described a way of relating to and healing with the natural world that I have always longed for, my heart yearned for a practice more connected with my long-forgotten European ancestry. Soon I found this book, which addresses the issues of recovering native European Celtic traditions. I agree that it's a wonderful introduction to Celtic mysticism and spirituality. Cowan covers a wide variety of topics to "pull" from and trigger remembrance. Regarding the witchcraft issue, black and white magic has been a part of every native tradition since the beginning of time. Certainly the inappropriate use of magic figures prominently in our collective soul wounds, and needs to be considered.

It has been nearly ten years now since Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit was released. Ten years. That is a very long time for readers to encounter a number of other books on Celtic traditions, shamanism, and Celtic spirituality in general. However, if we track back to 1993 when this book was first released we will quickly see that at that time there really had not been any sort of exhaustive study of the shamanic archetype within the Celtic traditions--which Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit clearly is. Others who have reviewed this book and offered a less than gleaming assessment of the book are undoubtedly people who are seeking either more of a hands-on, experiential, or practical book on shamanic techniques (see Cowan's Shamanism As A Spiritual Practice for Daily Life), or something with a more classical scholarly 'feel' to it (see F. Marian McNeill's, The Silver Bough, W.Y.Evans-Wentz' The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries, or Celtic Heritage by the Rees'). However, for an overall introduction to the numinous power and energy of the shamanic archetype within the primal Celtic traditions Fire in the Head, even after ten years, is still the best introduction. It is a wide-sweeping flight into the themes and topics, devoid of the particularities of personal cosmology one sees in so many other Celtic books. Cowan gets out of the way so that readers can have their own experience and make their own assumptions. Certainly, once a person has read this it is time to read such works as Jean Markele's The Druids, Caitlin and John Matthews' The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom, etc., but, again, for an introduction to the core elements of primal Irish, Welsh, and Scottish animisitic spirituality this is still the best.Regarding the exploration of witchcraft within Fire in the Head: All too often people assume that witchcraft and Wicca are synonymous. They are not. Wicca, largely, was invented in the 1950's. However, witchcraft (both black and white)is well documented as having been practiced in different parts of the Celtic world, as well as the Anglo-Saxon world. I think Tom's exploration of witchcraft is in keeping with the premise of the book--to peel back the layers of European animism in general and see where the shamanic energies may exist.

Tom Cowan is lauded in shamanic circles for this book. It is well documented and integrates shamanism with the practices of the "old folk". He makes the old tales and techniques accessible once again. A great storyteller. Goes one step further to provide ways for modern shamanic practitioners to reconnect to their heritage. Definitely fills a place of longing for us Celtic folk in North America.

This is a thought-provoking book which stands apart from all others dealing with Celtic shamanism. Cowan offers detailed analyses on many different aspects of the Celtic brand of mysticism; he clears up the "clowdiness" that is often present when dealing with this complex system of symbology and myth. A wealth of subjects are covered, from the traces of shamanistic practice we find in the lives of Celtic heroes to the deeper significance of the Arthuran legends. The most interesting part of the book for me was the section on the Sacred Wound, a vital but mysterious part of shamanic initiation. This witty, energetic exploration of the Celtic mystical experience is definitely a must have for all interested in this genre.