Yearning for the Wind: Celtic Reflections on Nature and the Soul

I found "Yearning for the Wind" to be an absolutely inspiring text that gives great insight into the heart of Celtic Theology. Of particular interest to me, and something I hold as a personal belief is the Celtic mystery tradition, going back to the time of Plato, that all created things share in the divine life of the Creator (pp. 56). I believe that the spirit of God is in each of us. Some may ask how the spirit of the divine can be found in those who are not godly, yet we find this too explained in "Yearning for the Wind" and in Celtic Theology in general. In the text a story is related of two groups of sheep. One group being white and the other being black. From time to time one of the white sheep would wander over to the group of black sheep and would itself turn black. And, later a black sheep would wander into the white flock and would thereafter turn white. I took this to mean that we tend to take on the likeness of those with who we associate. So... when we associate with those lacking an abundance of the divine spirit we ourselves show a lack of this spirit too. Yet, the divine spirit that is in us will grow when given an environment that is nurturing to the spirit. Along this same line however, we are never completely black, nor are we ever completely white. In "Yearning for the Wind" we see this reflected in the story of the tree, half of which is on fire, the flames blazing up to the top of tree; while the other half of the tree is green, leafy and beautiful. Although not explained in great detail I found the story of the burning tree to be similar to the Chinese theory of yin and yang. Each is the opposite of the other, yet yin flow into yang and yang flows into yin, and at the heart of each is the essence of its own opposite. In each person we can find the rage and flames of the burning half of the Celtic tree and at the same time we can find the shade, and leafy beauty of a tree in the fullness of its bloom. I believe it is what we do with that that is found within each of us that dictates the course of our lives, and how brightly the spirit of the divine is reflected in us. In Celtic Theology we read the story of Dagda's harp, the music of which affected the soul of man. It is the music of sleep that brings us to that state beyond joy. The Buddhists call it `satori' and the Hindus call it `nirvana', but in each case it is simply realizing the spirit of the divine living within each of us. When we reach a state where we realize that inner divine spirit we can thereafter use that spirit to aid others ~ as with the Celtic songs of healing, which heal those who hear them as well as those who sing them. We must not think however that Celtic Theology is all mystery and hidden spirit. Those of the Celtic faith are very much in tune with life in this world. We see this reflected in the reply of one of Finn MacCool's men when asked by St. Patrick what had sustained him before the `Gospels'. "The warrior-hunter

This book is one of the most wonderful books I've read in a long time! I'm almost all the way through it now and every chapter is just so wonderfully written - its deep and philosophical yet not so heavy that you can only make it through a few pages. The author weaves together Celtic lore, shamanisn and experiences with nature to just pull all sorts of "meaning of life" type ideas together. The chapters weave in upon each other such that there may be a line in one chapter that hits you and you put it in the back of your head and then a few chapters later he develops the idea further. One thing I love is that throughout the book, the author presents ideas but does not preach or try to impose a way of thinking - its more like sitting with a friend, philosophising on life. It so wonderful I'm seeking out more of his books. The writing style is so accessible. After a long day at work I usually can only get through a few pages of a book or magazine before falling asleep. This book keeps me reading into the night....50 pages later I decide I better rest and save some for tomorrow. This is definitely a book I'll be reading again and loaning out to friends. There's so much in here, just one read isn't enough. Highly ghighly recommend. I'd give it 10 stars if I could!

Tom Cowan's latest book is a delightful read, beautifully illustrating how the sacred world interweaves with the everyday. If your soul is Celtic, the prose and dream-like presentation of this book will inspire you into your own knowings. Central to the process of healing the Earth is our individual reconnection with the soul of Nature, a potent and necessary source of healing power and wisdom. Cowan describes his own healing process with humor and candor, challenging readers to take charge of their centers, walk in truth, and most importantly, to remember.

Yearning For The Wind is one of those books you keep on your bedside table and refer to repeatedly to soak up the author's vision. It is a collection of forty vignettes, each of them containing a jewel in the form of story, ancient cosmology, or teaching about the nature of the soul, and the soul of nature. Tom is a master storyteller and one embodiment of an ancient living tradition of spiritual awareness. A blend of traditional ideas from primal Irish spirituality, contemporary ways of looking at life shamanically, and truly humorous ways of holding space for the mysteries of life to unfold, Yearning For The Wind is a book that truly fosters a "reading between the lines." And, when you read between the lines of this book you find whole worlds waiting for you.