“The Celts are, and always have been, a people with one foot in the otherworld, and thus are governed by the enigmatic conventions and customs of that spiritual realm: where time is meaningless, love is forever, and dancing just might never end.” – Carl McColman
Part meditation book and part mystical curriculum, 366 Celt – A Year and a Day of Celtic Wisdom and Lore explains Celtic traditions and concepts in brief one-page essays for each day of the year. Drawing on the lives of saints, myth, folklore, symbol, druidism, and poetry, McColman provides an engaging overview of the key themes of this ancient spiritual tradition. Weaving his way through 40 different “paths”—each one consisting of 3, 9, or 21 meditations—the author demonstrates by example how the Celts value humor, storytelling and riddles over dry facts and matter-of-fact descriptions.
A few of the 40 “paths” include:
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The Path of the Bard
The Path of the Bard•The Path of the Seer
The Path of the Seer•The Path of Mythology
The Path of Mythology•The Path of the Saints
The Path of the Saints•The Path of the Fairies
The Path of the Fairies•The Path of Anamchara
The Path of Anamchara•The Path of Hospitality
The Path of Hospitality•The Path of the Gods
The Path of the Gods•The Path of the Goddesses
The Path of the Goddesses•The Path of the Otherworld
The Path of the Otherworld•The Path of the Warrior
The Path of the Warrior•The Path of Meditation
The Path of Meditation•The Path of Sacred Animals
The Path of Sacred Animals•The Path of the Grail
The Path of the Grail•The Path of the Ogham
The Path of the OghamRather than ascribe a particular date to a meditation, McColman numbers them from 1-366 so you can digest them at your own pace: one every day or many at a single sitting. 366 Celt covers a nice slice of Celtic terrain with reflections on sacred sites, holy days, ancient treasures, stories of fairies and heroes, flora and fauna of Celtic lore, and more. This book also includes a bibliography and index.
An example of one of the reflections is Meditation 64 under the Path of Neart:
“The Celtic tradition has a reputation for being optimistic. Certainly Celtic Christianity is a remarkably positive expression of the Christ path, and Celtic paganism (with its emphasis on the beauty of nature, the nobility of the hero, and the immortality of the soul) has its clear positive orientation as well. I rather think this upbeat characteristic of the Celtic path begins with the reality of neart. If we live in a universe pulsating with power and abundance, then ultimately our problems our solvable, surmountable—there’s nothing to fear. It’s reminiscent of Jesus’ overarching message: Be not afraid. How sad that so many of his followers are wracked with fear, fear of offending God, fear of damnation, fear that others will be lost just because they live or think differently!
Optimism is a choice. It’s the product of faith, for it requires a hopeful approach to life. Faith says “I believe in neart”, while optimism says “I’ll experience its blessings most any day now.” They go hand-in-hand for those seeking to live a life of spiritual wisdom.”
Whether you’re looking for an introduction to Celtic spirituality or a daily reminder of the path you’ve followed for years, 366 Celt – A Year and a Day of Celtic Wisdom and Lore provides tasty morsels sure to nourish the soul.
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