Glamoury: Magic of the Celtic Green World (Llewellyn's Celtic Wisdom Series)

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Summary: Glamoury: Magic of the Celtic Green World
Review: Overall, this book gives a decent accounting of Celtic myths and Deities. However, since it pushes a four directional ritual, it is really nothing more than a highly Celtified version of Wicca. There is nothing wrong with Wicca per se, but it is not what the ancient Celts practiced. What is known as Wicca today was developed in the 1950's by Gerald Gardner. Despite this misleading four directional approach, the author has come up with some good material. But it should be remembered that the rituals are not strictly Celtic and reflect modern Wiccan practice. The good information on the stories and figures of Celtic religion is what makes me give this 3 stars. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother with it. It is not traditionally Celtic.

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Summary: Good basic grounding...
Review: Part history, part mythology, with a liberal sprinkling of magick. Glamoury provides an over view of Irish Celtic Magic. Though Blamires himself admits that the book is only intended to give a basic grounding in the subject, there is certainly enough information to help you decide if this is the path of personal and spiritual growth for you. Glamoury is a "life-affirming, holistic, magickal system that will break down the barriers between you and the natural world." It is based on natural cycles and also the archetypes found in the cycles of myths of Celtic traditional stories and tales. Blamires is eminently qualified to present this material as he is one of the world's foremost Celtic scholars, and founder of the Celtic Research and Folklore Society. This book contains a plentiful bibliography and additional resources to allow you to continue delving into the subject.

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Summary: a very beautiful book
Review: Some reviewers have made some ill-informed, yet critical, comments how this book is about wicca rather than authentic druidry, and then how it doesn't kow tow to the feminist wiccan agenda. I am writing as an initiate in a traditional British Druid society. It must be understood that what is known of the old Druid practices is somewhat sparse; Druidry was subjected to corrosive forces for more than 2000 years. While there are some significant differences between them, there are distinct parallels between the Druid traditions and what is now called Wicca. It must be understood that Druidry evolved over many millenia, and that it changed its focus more than once. It was never something fixed, uniform and stable. Too many people want to think of it as being something that was immutable. Well, it ain't so; to think like that is sentimental and smacks of a nostalgia for something that never was. Among other things, there was a major change in the general Druid tradition at about the 6th century BC. It also must be understood that there were many variants of Druidry, as there were many tribes and many royal lineages. Druidry at one time was the spiritual culture of Gaul, Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and Scotland. In these lands, different languages were spoke and different gods and goddesses were recognised. To criticise Blamires' book on the basis that it isn't real Druidry therefore is sheer nonsense. Blamires' books are excellent. His exercises give the sincere readers wonderful opportunities to develope their inner world. Perhaps he will have learned something from the rather arrogant and ignorant criticisms of some of his readers and write a book containing exercises for the elimination of self-importance. For all those who love the Irish culture and Druidry, Blamires' books are not to be overlooked.

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Summary: MUCH more practical than standard neopagan fare
Review: The exercises in this book are a lot more practical and more sensical than typical neopagan practice because whereas Wicca is basically just a lot of quirky rituals, the exercises in this book are instead otherworld journeys where the the practicioner creates their own personal otherworld in their mind and then populates it with characters for them to communicate with and places to explore. I found this to much more meaningful than Wiccan practice because the Glamourous world that you create is completely yours, and the lessons you learn seem to be a lot more effective than just doing a ritual. The book primarily consists of two key elements, meditative and concentrating techneiques, and an anthology of Celtics gods, goddesses and myths. By combining the mythology with the meditative practices, the practicioner thus creates their own otherworld. In many ways, you'll feel like a child again because you're basically just travelling through an imaginary world, but when you apply true-blooded Celtic myth to it, you can really understabd where and how make believe influences us. And to the true poets out there, the people who can grasp the lessons in life as they are taught through fantasy characters and experiences, this book will be an invaluable map for self enlighenment.

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Summary: awesome
Review: this is book has awesome exercises to enter and work with deities and other beings in the otherworld. it is really good book on the irish celts as well,my only problem is that the author,seems to have my way is the only way attitude.

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Summary: Not a favourite
Review: While information is thorough and sound, I found it rather interesting that Mr. Blamires had nothing good to say about any of the female deities. I am not a dianic or feminist witch - I worship both the Goddess and the God. However, I was slightly offended at the way in which he treated the Goddess in this book. Perhaps Mr. Blamires did not mean it to come across that way, but his book is the least favourite in my library. There is nothing in this book that you cannot find in another book dealing with celtic culture, religion and magick.

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Summary: Not the Only Way
Review: _Glamoury_ is one of the most interesting books I have read in my studies of magic and witchcraft. It gives information on the gods, goddesses, heroes, and Sabbats that is more in-depth than most books give, and its exercises are interesting ones. You will explore, through trance, the mythic history of the land of Ireland as well as your personal history, and you will learn to meet deities and other astral beings via meditation.

However, the book's downfall lies in Blamires' implicit assertion that his way is the only way to Celtic spirituality. He calls his system "THE Irish system" (emphasis mine) and says that if you can't or don't want to do his exercises, then you just aren't ready for the rigors of Irish spirituality. He doesn't acknowledge that there are many paths, not just his own.

This aside, it is a useful resource if you can get past that, or if his particular spirituality is exactly what you're looking for. I did what I always do with books on magic--sift out what I don't like and keep what works for me.