There are literally thousands of books on Paganism. esoterica and magic, most of which have been published in the last 30 years. While there are many good modern books, it is also a minefield for the modern student of spirituality. These are just some recommendations of books that are about Irish Paganism or connected with the subject in some way. You'll find links to buy the books next to each title (either from this website or from external websites in Ireland or internationally).
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You can pay by cheque payable to Electric Publications, sent by post please email us to arrange that: editor@paganireland.com.
Explore a world of flowers and beautiful fairy beings in this colourful book, that describes these wild Irish herbacious plants, their culinary value, and use in folk medicine, as well as their spiritual, magical and mythological characteristics. Exquisitely full-colour illustrated and co-written by renowned author Elena Danaan, with Fionnuala O’Gorman, this little book is a visual gem to treasure forever...
This first full-scale study of modern pagan witchcraft, otherwise known as wicca, provides a thorough account of an ancient religion that has spread from English shores across four continents. For centuries, pagan witchcraft has been linked with chilling images of blood rituals and ghostlike druids. But while author Hutton explores this dark side, he stresses the positive, reminding us that devotion to art, the natural world, femininity, and the classical deities are also central to the practice of wicca. Indeed, the author shows how leading figures in English literature--W.B. Yeats, D.H. Lawrence, and Robert Graves, just to name a few--celebrated these positive aspects of the religion, thereby softening the public perception of witchcraft in Victorian England. From cunning village folk to freemasons and from high magic to the black arts, Hutton chronicles the process by which actual wiccan practices evolved into what is now a viable modern religion.
A new fourth edition of an invaluable collection of literary sources, all in translation, for Celtic Europe and early Ireland and Wales. The selections are divided into three sections: the first is classical authors on the ancient celts - a huge selection including both the well known Herodotos, Plato, Aristotle, Livy, Diogenes Laertius, and Cicero - and the obscure-Pseudo-Scymnus, Lampridius, Vopsicus, Clement of Alexandria and Ptolemy I. The second is early Irish and Hiberno-Latin sources including early Irish dynastic poetry and numerous tales from the Ulster cycle and the third consists of Brittonic sources, mostly Welsh. This edition includes three new early Irish tales, translated by Máirín Ní Dhonnchadha: The Birth of Aed
Perhaps the first serious attempt to collate the vast body of druidic knowledge from verifiable ancient sources and Celtic survivals into one usable and practical volume as a handy reference for druids and a learning tool for the would be druid. Inspired by the medieval Irish 'Scholar's Primer' this work is the culmination of 15 years research and practical exploration of what it means to be a druid in a modern context.
The new 2025 edition of Mythical Ireland: New Light on the Ancient Pastwill shortly be published (End of February 2025). Pre-order your copy (signed by the author) below.
"Mythical Ireland embodies the search for a soul among Ireland’s ancient ruins, and is an attempt to retrieve something of deeper import from 5,000-year-old megalithic monuments and their associated myths.
The book represents a fascinating and engaging journey through time, landscape and the human spirit. Dealing with archaeology, interpretive mythography, cosmology and cosmogony, Murphy attempts to grapple with a core meaning, something beyond the functional interpretations of academia.
This classic study by a distinguished scholar, first published in 1911, builds not only upon the valuable hints supplied by the surviving texts but also upon the still-extant folk customs derived from the rituals of the old cults. A masterly and extremely readable survey, it offers a reconstruction of the essentials of Celtic paganism. The Celt is portrayed as a seeker after God who links himself by strong ties to the unseen, eagerly attempting to conquer the unknown by religious rite and magic art. The earliest aspect of Celtic religion lies in the culture of nature spirits and of life manifested in nature, and this book offers fascinating glimpses into primitive forms of worship, depicting Celtic rites centered on rivers and wells, trees and plants, and animals. The Druids maintained an optimistic view of the afterlife, and the author presents the subject from the comparative point of view, drawing upon evidence from Celtic burial mounds to elaborate upon ancient beliefs and customs related to the culture of the dead, including rites of rebirth and transmigration.
This edition of Regardie's 1938 work introduces a psychological perspective in magic and occultism while giving clear directions on how to perform Qabalistic Cross, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, and the Middle Pillar exercise.
The classic book on working with the energy of the body for spiritual purposes, The Middle Pillar by Israel Regardie, is now more complete, more modern, more usable, and better than ever. The exercise known as the Middle Pillar was devised by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Regardie expanded upon it and made it public over 60 years ago in the first edition of this book. Since that time, the exercise has been altered and adapted for just about any spiritual use you could think of. It is a mainstay of many Western traditions of magic. Now in its third edition.
Have you ever dreamt of soaring beyond the confines of your physical body, to explore hidden dimensions and unlock the mysteries of the universe? Then crack open Astral Doorways, your passport to the extraordinary world of astral projection!
Within this book's pages, J.H. Brennan acts as your seasoned guide, unveiling the secrets of separating your consciousness from your physical form. Learn to navigate the astral plane, a realm brimming with vibrant landscapes and boundless possibilities. Brennan equips you with powerful techniques, honed over years of exploration, to unlock this hidden doorway within yourself. Are you ready to awaken your inner explorer and unlock the secrets of the astral plane?
'Samhain was the entry point into winter, a time of hardship, cold and hunger … It was also a time of introspection, of communing with the dead and the otherworld – themes that have somehow survived, albeit distorted, into the modern era.'
The modern celebration of Halloween is derived from the ancient festival of the dead known in Ireland as Samhain. It is from Ireland that we have inherited most of our Halloween traditions, mainly through the diaspora. Delving into the ancient past, this book uncovers the history of this festival in Britain, Ireland and Brittany, including the forgotten goddess Tlachtgaand the sacred temple of the Druids in Co. Meath, where the first Halloween fires were lit.
Thomas William Hazen Rolleston (1857-1920) was an Irish writer, literary figure and translator known for works that spanned a wide range of literary and political topics. He wrote "Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race" in 1911 in an attempt to revitalize what he felt was a waning appreciation for the heritage of all Celtic peoples. Perhaps the best representation and description of all the legends, myths and spiritual histories of Ireland, Britain and Wales, this collection includes the stories of Ultonian and Ossianic cycles, the voyage of Maeldum, and the myths and tales of the Cymry (Welsh). Rolleston also provides the fantastic narratives of Cuchulain, King Arthur, Deirdre, the Grail, and many more. For anyone wishing to learn about the Celtic peoples, their culture, legends, religion, and their influence on the development of Western civilization, these legendary tales are an essential addition to your library.
The myths and legends of the Norseman have entertained the young and old for hundreds of years. Collated here in this thrilling treasury, these tales will transport you to the magical realms of Asgard, Midgard and Jötunheim.
Full of dramatic stories of dark deeds, cunning and war, as well as love, compassion and humor, Norse mythology has influenced countless generations of writers, including Tolkein, George R. R. Martin and Stan Lee.
Following the deeds of the powerful Norse gods, such as Odin, Thor and Loki, and filled with a host of fantastic creatures and magical objects, these tales conjure up a world of heroism and romance that will enthrall readers.
