Covering the basics of Celtic shamanism, with reference to traditional lore and source materials through the lens of both ancient and modern Druidry and shamanic practice, The Druid Shaman is a well rounded guide, showing the seamless cross over between Druidry and shamanism in the Celtic tradition. It covers topics such as how to attain and work with guides and allies, understanding the spirit realm and interaction with spirits of all kinds, accessing powers of place, traveling the world tree and working with the seven directions and exploring and navigating within the Celtic Otherworld. With practical techniques, exercises and core skills, The Druid Shaman can be used as a practical manual as well as a valuable resource for practicing shamans and druids as well as those new to the subject. , A sound, practical introduction to a complex and wide-ranging subject. Danu Forest's guidance chimes closely with my own experience of working with spirits over many years. Integrating folk traditions, literary sources and archaeology with contemporary practice, Danu combines visually strong and spiritually apposite ideas with sensitive advice concerning our relations with spirit, as well as working with sacred sites. As Danu says, how we perceive the spirits we connect with as Druids does make a difference. Having been plugging the notion of Druidry as the native 'shamanic' tradition of Britain and Europe since 1974, it's good to see that it's increasingly catching on, not only amongst fellow Druids, but also amongst archaeologists. I believe we are heading in a direction that links us very firmly with the spirit of ancient Druidry. This is what I call rekindling the sacred fire of Druidry, and I believe Danu Forest's 'The Druid Shaman' will play a part in this rekindling. --Philip Shallcrass - 'Greywolf' Chief of the British Druid Order. , Danu Forest is a Celtic Shaman, Witch and Druid Priestess with over 20 years working in the Celtic Mysteries. Danu runs the Druid group 'Grove of the Avalon Sidhe' and teaches workshops and successful online courses on Natural magic, Celtic shamanism, Faery tradition and Seasonal Celebrations. She also runs a magical and shamanic consultancy in Glastonbury, UK. , Shaman Pathways - The Druid Shaman Exploring the Celtic Otherworld By Danu Forest John Hunt Publishing Ltd. Copyright © 2013 Danu Forest All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-78099-615-8 Contents Introduction, Chapter 1: The First Signposts, 3, Chapter 2: Preparing for Voyage, 10, Chapter 3: Circle Time, Chapter 4: Setting Out, 31, Chapter 5: Genius Loci and the Powers of Place, 39, Chapter 6: Climbing the Tree, 54, Chapter 7: Seeking the Radiant Brow – Druid Shamanic Divination, 73, Conclusion, 82, Endnotes and References, 83, CHAPTER 1 The First Signposts Who were the Celts? In order to explore the practices of the druid shaman, we mustfirst briefly clarify our definition of some familiar terms. Thepeople from whom we get the term 'Celt', the 'Keltoi' were firstmentioned by the Greek historian Herodotus, as a group ofpeople living in the region of the river Danube around 550BC.These people were distinctive in their incredible art, highlysophisticated culture, and material wealth. They were especiallyrich in gold. By this time it is believed that these people were apoint of interchange with the Greeks, while also being part of awider culture sharing common languages, customs and beliefs.These 'Celts' were an ethno-linguistic group of tribal Iron Agesocieties that spanned a large part of northern and westernEurope as far as Britain and Ireland. They shared common valuesand traditions, with variations over time and from region toregion. Contrary to popular belief, they were not a distinctgenetic race, although some 'Celtic' customs and linguisticsimilarities survive today in most Celtic areas. Britain, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man andIreland are all considered to remain Celtic heartlands to this day,together with Brittany, and are often described with the term'Insular Celts', as opposed to the 'Continental Celts'. These'Insular Celts' diverged into the Gaelic Celts, of Ireland, Scotlandand the Isle of Man, and the Brythonic Celts of Brittany, Cornwalland Wales. Scholars in the 19th and 20th centuries often arguedthat the Celts arrived in Britain via an invasion or succession ofinvasions around the 6th century BC from Continental Europe,but this has now been largely overturned due to a lack of archaeologicalevidence, and the work of archaeologists such as BarryCunliffe. The British Celts were for the most part probably theindigenous Britons, arriving in the early Bronze Age (2500BC) oreven earlier, adopting and adapting Celtic culture due to theirextensive relations and trading connections along the Atlanticseaboard and beyond. These people are notoriously hard to pin down, although theircultural effects have been profound on later generations, creatinga 'Celtic consciousn