Synopses & Reviews
A new translation of the poems of sixth-century Celtic bard and shaman Taliesin that reveals the mysteries of Druidic practices.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; The first collection of Taliesin's major poetry with commentary by John Matthews, author of more than 40 books on the Celts.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Reveals Druidic prophecy, methods of divination, and the rites, rituals, and beliefs that were essential to Celtic spiritual practice.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Features Taliesin's works as keys to the Arthurian legends.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Taliesin, Chief Bard of Britain and Celtic shaman, was a historical figure who lived in Wales during the latter half of the sixth century. Encoded within his work are the ancestral beliefs of the Celtic and pre-Celtic peoples. In addition, his verse is established as a direct precursor to the Arthurian Legends--and Taliesin himself, shaman and shapeshifter, is said to be the direct forebear to Merlin. Though the bard's work is steeped in the rich traditions of druidic practice, few have explored the revelations of his writings--the secret poetic language of the bards, revelatory information about divination, the ancient mysteries of the Druids, and the cosmological rites that were central to Celtic worship.and#160; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;John Matthews, one of today's preeminent Celtic scholars, sheds new light on the poems of Taliesin and on the vast body of allusion, story, and myth that grew from his body of work and shamanic practice. With the help of fellow Celtic scholar Caitlin Matthews, the author presents completely new translations of Taliesin's major poems in their entirety, uncovering the meanings behind these great works for the first time.
Review
"As with all of John and Caitlin's work, this book is well researched and has a wonderful bibliography."
Review
"There is something raw and essential here, something lost in modernity."
Review
"As with all of John and Caitlin's work, this book is well researched and has a wonderful bibliography."
Review
"There is something raw and essential here, something lost in modernity."
Review
". . . this is a deeply intriguing book and should be on the reading lists of all seekers of the Celtic ways, especially aspiring bards."
About the Author
John Matthews has authored over 60 books, including andlt;Iandgt;The Grail: Quest for Eternal Lifeandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdomandlt;/Iandgt;. A foremost expert in the Arthurian legends and esoteric wisdom of the Celtic traditions, he teaches and lectures around the world. He resides with his wife, Caitlin, in Oxford, England.Caitland#56224;Matthews is internationally renowned for her research into the Celtic and ancestral traditions. She is the author of 36 books, including andlt;iandgt;The Celtic Tradition, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdomandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;Sophia: Goddess of Wisdomandlt;/iandgt;. She is co-founder of the Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies, which is dedicated to oral, shamanic, and sacred arts. Caitlin Matthews has a shamanic practice in Oxford, England, and teaches worldwide.
Table of Contents
andlt;bandgt;Taliesinandlt;/bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;iandgt;The Last Celtic Shamanandlt;/iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgements andlt;BRandgt;Ceridwin's Boast andlt;BRandgt;Preface to Second Edition andlt;BRandgt;Preface to First Edition andlt;BRandgt;Introduction andlt;BRandgt;Part One andlt;BRandgt;1. The Story of Taliesin: Gwion's Transformation andlt;BRandgt;2. Shamanism and the Celts: The Fellowship of the Wise andlt;BRandgt;3. The Cauldron-Born: Ceridwen and the Goddesses of Inspirationandnbsp; andlt;BRandgt;4. The Life of Song: Taliesin and the Poetic Mysteries andlt;BRandgt;5. The Bardic Schools:L Teaching the Knowledge of Things andlt;BRandgt;6. The Art of Transformation: Hiding the Familiar andlt;BRandgt;7. The Art of Prophecy: Remembering the Futureandnbsp; andlt;BRandgt;8. The Language of Trees: Ogam and the Cad Goddeu andlt;BRandgt;9. The Region of the Summer Stars: Cosmologies and Cosmogonies andlt;BRandgt;Part Two andlt;BRandgt;The Poems of Taliesin Pen Beirdd andlt;BRandgt;Select Bibliography andlt;BRandgt;Index