Portals into Deep Imagination

Subtitled ‘Celtic mythology, Nature’s year, and the quest for the soul,’ this is a wonderful anthology of weekly contemplations and spiritual practices for people who want to remain connected to the indigenous Celtic tradition and therefore with the rhythms of nature. It is deeply informed by the author’s knowledge of symbolism, psychotherapy and depth psychology, and his general philosophical background. The year begins traditionally at Samhain and charts a spiritual journey through the seasons, drawing upon myths, legends, folklore and history inviting the reader ‘to follow up a path of deepening into your life through the interpretive lens of depth psychology.

Tales and folklore allow us to reflect on the corresponding themes in our own lives, and the procession of the seasons keeps us attuned to the rhythms of nature marked in this tradition by festivals. Readers can begin from the time of year at which they purchase the book, so in August we are encouraged to feel gratitude for fruit, and begin to take an inward turn towards rest. Lughnasadh is traditionally celebrated on August 1, when the element of fire gives way to water, while at the end of October we are encouraged to engage in a spirituality of kinship with nature, seeking to live with its rhythms and cycles. This enables the author to reflect on mature spirituality in terms of acceptance and disinterestedness as an elder. A rich and rewarding book.