Celtic Magic (Llewellyn's World Religion & Magick) by D.J. Conway
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Book Reviews of Celtic Magic (Llewellyn's World Religion & Magick)
Book Review: eh...could be done better....
Summary: 3 Stars
I grew up learning Celtic mythology and different types of Cetlic Magick. This book confused me at times, and the rituals are a little odd. Conway makes Celtic mythology sound like it's all about PEOPLE. I think I read one or two things about the Faerie Kingdom...the tables and encyclopedia of Gods and Goddesses was good though...Book Review: A Mediocre Book
Summary: 3 Stars
This book wasn't very well researched, however I found the herb magick to be very useful. I have been into Celtic mythology, culture, and Magick for years, and this book did not really tell me anything new. An OK book for beginnersBook Review: good yet too broad needed to be more precise
Summary: 3 Stars
This was a helpful book for beginers.But it needed to be a little more precise. The author needed to make it clear that Celtic and Wican magicks are almost the same. Also, to be extremely careful in their practices.Book Review: Cute But Inaccurate
Summary: 2 Stars
One of the neat things about Magick is that with the power of the imagination and the knowledge of how to direct energy, you can make any system work. It doesn't matter if much of what you're using as a system is the product of an undereducated "expert"--with the will and the way, Magick can happen.
And that is very fortunate for Miss Conway as if the preceding weren't true then this book would be worth not one penny. The two stars are for the fact that the ritual framework is not bad--I can see a beginner who doesn't know any better take control over more things in their life by following some of the spell instructions in this book. Other than that, this is a VERY poorly researched and almost comical look at authentic "Celtic Magic".
Firstly, I really disagree with the whole "including a self-initiation into a different religion without expressly telling the reader what it is" thing. She gives a modern Wiccan self-initiation without informing the reader of what Wicca REALLY is or without mentioning the fact that you don't need to initiate yourself into any particular faith in order to practice Celtic Magick. I find this sneaky and irresponsible.
Secondly, she doesn't give enough kudos to the Golden Dawn and other High Magickal traditions and groups for providing her with much of the material for her ritual framework and Tables of Correspondence. The whole Four Elements ritual "template" of modern Wicca derives directly from High Magickal and Ceremonial traditions and has nothing whatsoever to do with actual Celtic history/practice. Her Table for the God(s)/dess(es) in the back is a (rather poor) ripoff of Kabbalistic/Golden Dawn associations for the Celtic deities on the Tree Of Life and has nothing to do with genuine Celtic belief apart from deity names. If you're going to take from a source, be sure to cite it and admit it.
Overall, this book is not to be taken seriously for it's history, scholarship or descriptions of Celtic Magick. It should have been titled "Wiccan Self-Initiation and Magick With Celtic Deity Names" instead of "Celtic Magic". The only value in this book lies with the instructions on casting for a rank beginner and even for that there are better sources.
Book Review: Not Up To Llewellyn's Standards
Summary: 2 Stars
I have ready many good books published by Llewellyn, This is not one of them. This book is not a good reference on Celtic ways. The myths are very touch and go, and written in a way that wold be confusing to someone not familiar with them, and if your familiar you won't learn anything. The table of correspondences is not a druid one, but a modern one having nothing to do with tradition, one fact evident of this is that aluminum which is named in the table was not invented for centuries later. Book is worth reading, but not entirely true, take everything with a grain of salt. I did enjoy the section on the Ogham Alphabet, but it alone is not worth ordering this book considering much more in-depth coverage of it is available. I would say if you are new to Celtic ways, and don't plan to do much other reading on it, get it, otherwise don't waste your time.