Celtic Sacred Landscapes

by Nigel Pennick

From the original Celtic site of the castle at Tintagel, passing through the sacred forest of Brocéliande in Brittany, and on to the monastery of Scelig Mhichil off the coast of Ireland, Nigel Pennick takes us on an exhilarating spiritual and historical tour of the Celtic holy places of Europe. He delves into the mystery and lore behind the power of sacred trees and stones, springs and wells as places of healing, holy mountains as centers of geomythic energies, sacred caves, holy islands, sanctified earthworks and cities, paths and trackways, places for demons and supernatural beings, the visible instances of the divine in hidden temples, and the holy places of the Celtic saints. Through these themes, supported by a wide-ranging gazetteer of sites, he reveals the continuing importance of the Celtic tradition to us today.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Ireland, Paganism, Religion, British Literature, Mythology

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Nigel Campbell Pennick, born 1946 in Guildford, Surrey, England in the United Kingdom, an author publishing on occultism, magic, natural magic, divination, subterranea, rural folk customs, traditional performance and Celtic art as well as runosophy.
He is a writer on marine species as well as an occultist and geomancer, artist and illustrator, stained-glass designer and maker, musician and mummer. He also writes on European arts and crafts, buildings, landscape, customs, games and spiritual traditions. He has written several booklets on the history of urban transport in Cambridge and London . He is best known for his research on geomancy, labyrinths, sacred geometry, the spiritual arts and crafts, esoteric alphabets and Germanic runic studies.
He has written many books in German and has over 50 published books and hundreds of published papers on a wide range of subjects.

Reviews

[Owain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book in a Parisian bookshop probably about five years ago and only just now got around to reading it. Still has a postcard from the catacombs within

Arrète! C’est ici l’empire de la mort

Interesting and informative, although in a general way. It didn't go into enough detail about some things for me. Interesting was the way in which it described how many ancient sites had continued in their use with the coming and goings of different cultures and religious faiths. I live in a landscape with quite a lot of these places so I find it interesting on a personal level as someone who sometimes interacts with these places.

He does express some interesting opinions:

In traditional Celtic society, nothing was impersonal. Everything was a subject not an object, and was spoken of by its own personal name. Every thing, artefact and place was named, reflecting the character of its animated nature. Each name possessed a personal quality that had meaning both with regard to the thing itself and to those who lived with and related to it. With the rise of manufacturing and industry this personal contact was lost; most artefacts became anonymous products. Their essential character no longer reflected the character of its maker, use and users. Trade became the main consideration. Today the naming of the animated world survives in truncated form in the names of private and public houses, hotels, aircraft and ships, and occasionally other personal possessions such as cars, knives, guns and guitars.

It sounds a bit over stated and difficult to verify however I think there’s an element of truth to how humans have become alienated from the world around us which has become more and more abstract as civilisation goes on. How many people look out the window and see a tree, a bird etc. instead of a grey willow tree and a thrush?

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading details of how sacred places and structures may have been used in ancient times as well as how they are still used today. I was expecting almost a picture book with little text, but was surprised that it was mostly text with just a few pictures and diagrams, so more in depth than I had anticipated.

[Cameron Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise encyclopaedia of Celtic landscapes and traditions which span from Ireland, Britain to Western Europe. It breaks these down into twelve sections: The Celtic Symbolic Landscape; Sacred Trees; Sacred Stones; Springs, Wells and Places of Healing; Holy Mountains; Sacred Caves and Subterranea; Holy Islands; Earthworks, Enclosures and Cities; Trackways and Spirit-Paths; Places of Epiphany; Images and Temples; Continuity in the Celtic Church. Although a little too comprehensive for me to keep up with at times, it provides space for an archetypal perspective on myth and folklore which is illuminating. I found most fascinating Celtic cosmology and of the implications of the anima loci as one of the primary foundations of Celtic culture. Includes a 'Gazeteer' of 'Notable Celtic Sacred Places' around Western Europe which is useful.

[Psychedelic Amadeus · Rating 2 out of 5]

hauptsächlich eine ansammlung von geschichtlichen daten.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fact-filled and well researched. Excellent resource.

[Birch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

[Michael Wylde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, and uses some very diverse sources.