Elessacar.com : Recommended Reading

Reverend Gwynarion Elessacar invites you to join him in investigating the ancient and modern spiritual paths of paganism, pantheism and the way of the warrior, as well as his relationship with the Morrighan (an Mhór Rioghain, Morrígan, Mórrigan, Morrigan, Morrigu). (crooked liar)
Information on the Morrighan (an Mhór Rioghain, Morrígan, Mórrigan, Morrigan, Morrigu), an Irish Celtic goddess often associated with Badb, Macha, Nemain and Anu/Danu. She is the patron goddess of war, warriors, battle sexuality and more. Her symbols are the raven/crow and the spear. (crooked liar)

This section of my web site is intended to be a place where I can share information about whatever book I am currently reading (that would benefit other pagans) and ones that I have read in the past. It is also a place for me to share the books and authors that I feel are NOT worth reading. If you would like to make suggestions as regards this page please feel free to sign my guestbook (link on the right) or send me email (link at the bottom).

‘The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual’
by Alexei Kondratiev

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Citadel Press; (July 2003)
ISBN: 0806525029

I've begun reading this book over the last week and so far I have found it to be inspired and inspiring. Kondratiev masterfully makes his case for why an honest revival of Celtic spirituality must not ignore the existance of the modern Celtic nations or their history, and why it must incorporate a knowledge of a Celtic language. Further, he highlights the differences between authentic Celtic practice (based upon historical and archeological records) and Neo-pagan practices only loosely based upon Celtic ones. For anyone who is seeking to discover an authentic view of Celtic ritual and belief (as opposed to what is peddled by Llewellyn) I would highly recommend it.

Below are a list of other books that I have read which I think are of particular value to pagans of all varieties, though especially those of us who try to practice a European-derived (Celtic, Asatru, Wicca, etc.) spirituality.

Nonfiction

'Europe : A History'
by Norman Davies · Perennial Press; (February 1998)

'The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion'
by James George Sir Frazer · Oxford University Press; (September 1998)

'This Sacred Earth: Religion, Nature, Environment'
by Roger S. Gottlieb (Editor) · Routledge; (December 1995)

'Ecology and Religion'
by David R. Kinsley · Prentice Hall; (July 1994)

'Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion'
by Arthur Lehmann & James Myers (Eds.) · McGraw-Hill; (July 2000)

Fiction

'Ecotopia'
by Ernest Callenbach · Bantam Books; (March 1990)

'Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish'
by Morgan Llywelyn · Tor Books; (March 1994)

'Druids'
by Morgan Llywelyn · Ivy Books; (January 1993)

'Finn Mac Cool'
by Morgan Llywelyn · Tor Books; (May 2002)

'Red Branch'
by Morgan Llywelyn · Ivy Books; (January 1990)

Below are a list of books and authors that I feel should be avoided. In general they are poorly researched (if they were researched at all), poorly written and reflect no true spirituality or real scholarship. These authors write for nothing more than profit and serve no benefit to any pagan community.

Anything by Deanna J. (D.J.) Conway

Anything by Edain McCoy

Anything by Silver Ravenwolf

No materials contained herein may be duplicated or used in any way without the express permission of Aaron G. Peabody or his legal representatives. All of the text, unless otherwise cited, is the original work of Aaron G. Peabody and is protected under Title 17 of the United States Code — 'Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws'. Any parties making illegal use of these materials are subject to prosecution under the laws of the United States of America and are subject to retribution under the code of the Warrior. We know who you are, we know where you live, no you can't hide there, and we will be over shortly.

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