Pagans Against Celtic Ignorance

Looking for a few good Pagan writers!

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:00:47 GMT

I am the Acquisitions Editor for GroundMark Press – a small Pagan publisher.

GroundMark is interested in the smaller 'niche' books that fall through the cracks at the larger Pagan publishers. 
If your manuscript has been rejected because it “won’t appeal to a general Pagan audience,” I want to hear from you!

 We print our books through Lulu.com, so we use their fee structure, exactly as it is published 
on their Website, and take no extra fee.  We don’t make royalties on the sale of your book for basic 
publication services (but see below regarding professional services you might choose to purchase)—
however, Lulu does make royalties.

We do charge additional fees when you need help from us in editing, formatting, designing a cover, marketing and so forth. These are charges for professional services, which you can choose to utilize or not.

To be honest, there is no enormous benefit you'll see to submitting your work through us rather than directly to Lulu… that is, unless your manuscript needs professional attention, or unless you would benefit with help in designing your cover, marketing your book and so forth.

For more information about what we offer and what we're looking for, I invite you to go to:

http://www.groundmarkpress.com/

 Although GroundMark cannot make an acceptance decision on anything but a completed manuscript, 
I am open to seeing a cover letter describing your book in the body of an email, and a detailed 
outline and the first two or three chapters as attachments.

 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at gmacquisitions@yahoo.com. 
I hope to hear from you soon!

Cross-posted like mad. My apologies if you get this more than once J

Another Question

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:10:04 GMT

I was reading, and I've seen some mentions of sheep and rams, but what all is there on that topic? Any books, websites, rescources one can look into? I used to help raise them, and I'd like to learn more about that.

Question from the new-one

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:31:17 GMT

Hullo -

I'm new here, and I was wondering on any information about Berecyntia and Gobannos - I didn't think the "y" was frequent in Gaul, but hey, I'm no expert hence why I ask.

And I was noticing alot of celtic words for the sun are feminine, while the moon references were male. Am I the only one seeing this?

Also, last question I promise: Where can I find reliable information on Nantosuelta and Sucellos? Albeit I've been having I guess you call it UPG with her being solar, having links with water, hearth, solar imagry n' whatnot - but.. Alot of the sources I've seen simply say "Goddess of nature, consort of Sucellos." Umm.. ok - anything else?

Any help would be uber appreciated... I'm scratching my head on this one.

New sport!! Spot the BS!!

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:12:42 GMT

http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=mini_home&mini_id=1076

Okay, quick! How many historical inaccuracies and cultural misconceptions can *you* spot????

I say we post one bad "History of Halloween" website/essay per day and make fun of them.

My answers in the comments.

music

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 06:48:01 GMT

I know i asked this question some time ago, but i have $ and a computer of my own now, so it's time to ask again. What celt/pagan bands would people on here recommend? If not pagan, then just any GOOD celtic groups/bands? Just looking for suggestions to expand my music collection, and keep my heart in the right place. THANX IN ADVANCE!!!

Yggdrasil

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:53:35 GMT

Recently i have come across certain small mentionings of the Yggdrasil/Tree Of Life/etc. I was wondering if anyone could suggest any resources to research this a bit more? Basically all i've seen is passive mentions of it, and sometimes allusions to it. I'm just looking for more information on the subject. As always...ANY help is greatly appreciated! ^_^

the customer is really not always right

Wed, 10 May 2006 21:27:48 GMT

aaack!

Customer comes in to my place of employment, looking for a book on Newgrange. I find something for her, she reads the info on Newgrange out loud to her companion. Then proceeds to tell her friend, and me & anyone else within earshot, that "Tuatha De Danaan" translates literally to "children of the sky"....and that there is some connection to Apache mythology.

Where do people come up with this stuff?!!
rhetorical question, really.

brushing up on my history

Tue, 02 May 2006 15:43:55 GMT

I know i've made posts in the past asking about good references for CR-based book recommendations. Well, i was just wondering if all the fine people of this group could now assist me in giving me some books worth reading just based purely on history. So, any book recommendations of scots-gaelic/irish-gaelic history would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you in advance!

About fifteen days ahead of time

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 06:42:17 GMT

Let's get this one settled out here and now.

The myths surrounding St. Patrick that need to be squelched have already popped up elsewhere on LJ this year. Perhaps a bit early; I think the odd winter weather's sprouting them funny.

These are, to my knowledge, the correct statements about the big three misapprehensions about the saint that neo-pagans fling around this time of year and any other time his name comes up. I'm sorry if this runs long; it's a pet peeve of mine.

1) Patrick was not the first Christian in Ireland. He wasn't even the first bishop sent by Rome. That honor went to Palladius, who showed up the year before Patrick did. Best hypothesis is that Christianity first appeared in Ireland sometime in the second or third century of the common era. Palladius was sent to serve as the representative of Rome to those Christians, who were in the south of Ireland. Patrick was sent to start evangelizing the northern Irish. His inflated importance to the Irish Catholic church was due entirely to the Leinster diocese's propaganda. See St. Brigid for the other success of their PR campaign.

2) The snakes he drove out of Ireland were not symbolic of druids, pagans, or goddess worshippers. They were, quite simply, snakes. The tale was lifted from the life story of St. Hilaire, who was said to have evicted the snakes in a section of France, as an explanation of why there are no native snakes in Ireland. That piece of ~~plagiarism~~ explicative text was added in the 10th century. Earliest versions of Patrick's story don't include it. They do, however, include direct claims of him besting druids in magical combat and argument, as well as having druids in his personal retinue. Catholic saints' stories, by and large, do not truck in allegory. To cite a different reptile story, they really did mean to say that St. George killed a dragon. I have never seen anyone who's bothered to study the way Irish saints' lives were written down and embroidered take the snakes to be symbolic of anything. It is a neo-pagan invention to assign that story any degree of symbolism.

3) Most of the druids, and many other pagans, were still around when Patrick died. It took a century or so after his death to finish the conversion process, and it was hardly what you'd call a complete success. This proves he didn't show up with an invading army and cut down all protesters. If he had, I think he'd have been the first Christian martyr of Ireland. They didn't get any blood martyrs there until the Vikings started showing up and poking at monasteries. The conversion process was one of social pressure and legal wrangling to switch power to the churches, not one of swords and bloodshed.

Thank you. Good night. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Please skip the green beer. You don't know where it's been.

aaand the twoo kelt racist strikes again!

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 23:42:08 GMT

http://www.freewebs.com/naastaraichean/

brain matter leaking....

Celtic equals Wicca

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 19:01:15 GMT

I found this comment on another Lj community. A person was claiming to be Wiccan because of inheritance.

"i understand the slavic part. however, i also have an irish side to my heritige and there are many similarities between the indiginous faiths of the peoples of celtic and slavic heritige if examined correctly. ergo, i have no quarms with claiming myself to be wiccan."

As we all know Celtic equals Wiccan, not!

Info on the Morrigan

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 09:11:56 GMT

I'm after some reliable information on the Morrigan - historically, or from myths, or even modern stuff, everything I can find on her.
Where does most of common Pagan knowledge on the Morrigan come from?
Also - does she bear any connection to the sea/water in any way?

Apologies for the x-posting

Clarification on Authors

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 23:37:29 GMT

Just so i know who to buy and who to avoid for books i'm looking into i just thought it might be helpful to get opinions on the following authors. To save time you just repost the list with "B" for Buy their books, "A" for Avoid their books, "D" for Don't know. Thanx!

Peter Berresford Ellis
Miranda Green
Patrick Logan
Lady Augusta Gregory
Proinsias MacCana
Jame MacKillop
Bernhard Maier
Eoin Neeson
Daragh Smyth
Marie-Louise Sjoestedt
Anne Ross
Daithi O hOgain
H.R. Ellis Davidson
C.H. Slover
Tom Peete Cross

whirlwind of questions

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:31:34 GMT

So recently i've been reading Celtic Heritage, and although the book is a GREAT book...i find that it makes me want to learn up on the gods & goddesses of the celtic pantheon even more the more i read into it. On an impulse the other day (that i may or may not get scolded for) i picked up Magic Of The Celtic Gods And Goddesses: A Guide To Their Spiritual Power, Healing Energies, And Mystical Joy by Carl McColman, Kathryn Hinds at the Barnes & Noble nearest my house. It was mostly out of extreme thirst for knowledge that brought me to it. So far it seems to be very careful not to lean too much Wiccan or any other way and presents itself as very plainly. Has anyone read this or have any comments on it?
Also i was curious if anyone had any recommendations on reading that would provide insite into the CR "creation of the world/life(?) after death" arena of knowledge. As always, ANY help would be greatly appreciated. =)

And i would also again like to thank you all for helping me find the truth i seek, and helping me learn in the process. Your help and advice does mean a lot!

Local Gods and Saints

Mon, 26 Dec 2005 03:43:36 GMT

Hullo!
I'm curious about local or terratorial Gods of Ireland. Does anyone know the specific local deities honoured in whatever areas? Possibly later adapted as Saints like Brigid? I've heard that different Gods/Goddesses were worshipped in different areas and I'm curious as to which.
Also - and this idea may well be utter bullshit - but I've come across a few people who claim the Faer in whatever ancestry. What's with this, anyone have a clue? Is this another rather Otherkin idea, or perhaps an expression of the local Gods or ancestors?
Can anyone fill me in or set me straight here?

Sun, 25 Dec 2005 12:53:01 GMT

So...this doesn't have to do with paganism, but with culture.

Are there any of you who are sufficiently well-versed in Gaelige (Irish Gaelic) that you could help me translate a poem from English to Irish? (For instance). And/or can you point me to where I could find such help?

I have taken a wee bit, am trying to reteach myself what I've previously learned, and so eventually I'd like to try my hand at writing Gaelige poems straight off but right now I can't.

An article for your amusement...

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 01:52:49 GMT

http://realmagick.com/articles/94/1494.html

Lay on!

Meey Samhain everyone?

Thu, 10 Nov 2005 03:12:46 GMT

How's everyone's Samhain? If it's not yet (some go by the full moon) then any special plans? Just trying to start a discussion that's all :).

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 18:13:45 GMT

Sorry to repost again so soon, but i was also wondering if anyone could suggest good gaelic/irish/scottish music to listen to when trying to unwind, during rituals, etc. I prefer instrumental (makes for better concentration when needed), but if vocals are present that is fine too. Thanx again in advance for any suggestions!

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 17:27:13 GMT

I've gone about half-way through "A Circle Of Stones...", and i am wondering what books, websites, etc. have good information on the gods described in the book (Danu, Bile, Manannan, etc.). I know there are extremely academic books on the subject which make everything very stale and lifeless as far as describing the gods, but i am open to all suggestions. I want to get a BALANCED look at them since i know in this community sometimes books can be biased towards pagan readers and represent things how they see fit and not how they are.
I would also like to thank all the people who helped me accumulate a nice long list of books that will keep me reading for the next couple of years.
Oh, and one last quick question...i recently read some reviews on "The Apple Branch" and heard some VERY discouraging remarks about the book and other very positive remarks on it. I'd like to know people's take on this from a CR standpoint. All responses, as always, greatly appreciated. =)

Also, if anyone would like to chat online my screenname for Yahoo! is: iwannab15in1977

Support/debunk time again

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 22:39:35 GMT

The topic of the day: Feri.

I know Victor Anderson claims it has Pictish origins. But has that ever been documented? Or is there documented proof of the opposite being true? I admit I'm dubious about its provenance.

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:02:50 GMT

So I have the opportunity to get a copy of the Mabinogion [sic] by Jeffrey Gantz. I would like Patrick K. Ford's book, but I can get this one for free and I'm not able to buy books right now. Is Gantz's edition worth a read even though I know Ford's is the definitive (or at least that's the impression I have)?

Thank you kindly. :)

Crossposted to cr_r and paci.

Just in case y'all missed this

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 14:50:54 GMT

I am a shaman who practicises mostly in the celtic pantheon (ergo Celtic Shaman). I've been studying for about ten years now, and am somewhat proficient in some areas. I'm in college studying English and Psychology.

All right class, let's discuss everthing that's wrong with this statement.

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 19:27:25 GMT

Hello, just to introduce myself...my name is George, i'm 23 and currently reside in Corrupticut (aka Connecticut for those of you that don't know our track record with public officials). Anyhow, some time ago i finally allowed my curiosity in the old religion/magick/magical arts to become more than curiosity, and with the help of my now ex-girlfriend started reading up. I've currently read the following books and was looking for further suggestions and possible insights for some questions:

"Magic of the Celtic Otherworld" by Steve Blamires
"Wicca For One" by Raymond Buckland
"Scottish Witchcraft" by Raymond Buckland
"Celtic Magic" by D.J. Conway
...and i am currently in the middle of:
"Celtic Myths and Legends" by T.W. Rolleston

One question i had is it seems that the from what i recently read in PanGaia that the Celtic belief system is more of a solar-based worship whereas Wicca is more Lunar-based. Since i have read a little from both i'm wondering what books would be good for someone seeking the Celtic path? Or are there books that i have listed i should weed from my mind for my own good? I'm simply looking for a little help in this predicament. I've never read so many books on one subject in my life and every time i have the $ i rush out to soak up as much knowledge as possible. Thank you to all who can lend some assistance to someone who is genuinely interested in the religion and not the hokey aesthetics movies like "The Craft" project into the world's psyche.

(i was referred here by a member of the adult_pagans livejournal group)

I'm Buying Books (Again)

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 18:49:18 GMT

I'm off buying books again and I have a quick (hopefully) question. Why are John and Caitlin Matthews (who seem to have written a heap of Celtic stuff) never mentioned on any of the recommendation lists and are never really mentioned? I have read several of their things and while I am not an expert, I'm fairly sure no obvious errors like pumpkins come up. Are some not worth reading, and conversely are some worth reading? Should I go back to the observation lounge and not start a topic again?