Table of Contents
Introduction ix
The Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Celts 1
The Gods of Darkness 3
The Twin Gods of the Sea 4
Ancient Gaulish Animal Magic 5
The Druids and Their Teachings 7
Women of the Druids 9
Visions from the Dead 11
Reincarnation and Rebirth 12
Divination and Human Sacrifice 14
Mistletoe, Sacred Plants, and Magical Snake Eggs 17
The Holy Island of Women 21
Two Gaulish Magical Spells 23
The Sacred Isle 26
The Magical Islands of Ireland 27
Imbas Forosnai: The Ritual of Illuminating Knowledge 29
Awen: The Welsh Gift of Magical Inspiration 32
The Irish Story of Creation 34
The Reincarnations of Tuán Son of Cairell 36
The Coming of the Tuatha Dé Danaan 40
The Songs of Amairgen 45
The Taking of the Síd Mound 48
The Adventures of Nera in the Otherworld 50
The Lives of Étaín 55
The Story of the Shannon River 63
Connla and the Woman of the Otherworld 65
The Boyhood Deeds of Finn 67
The Story of Gwion Bach and Taliesin 71
The Ancient Irish Horse Sacrifice 75
The Confession of St. Patrick 77
St. Patrick's Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus 85
The First Synod of St. Patrick 88
The Irish Penitentials 91
The Legends of St. Patrick 94
The Goddesses Brigid 98
The Life of St. Brigid 99
The Holy Fire of St. Brigid 108
The Life of St. Darerca 110
St. Columba and the Loch Ness Monster 114
Christian Irish Poetry 116
The Voyage of Bran 119
The Voyage of St. Brendan 124
Notes 137
Further Reading 155
