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Books on Angels by Steve McCardell If you like the topic of angels, here are two titles you should enjoy. The two take such different approaches that they’re sure to appeal to different readers; each is a pleasure to page through and learn from. THE ANCIENT CELTIC FESTIVALS reviewed by Steve McCardell
FRAGMENTS reviewed by Margaret Doyle
Fragments is a slim volume in which poet Brooks Haxton has translated the fragments anew in free verse. These snippets of wisdom tell of ancient humanity’s desire to understand itself and the world around it, to find the unifying ideas in our varied experience. They "resemble prophecy and poetry as much as they do philosophical discourse," according to the foreword by James Hillman, author of The Soul’s Code.
THE WORLD OF FAIRIES reviewed by Christian Malcher
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It seems more widely recognized all the time that many of the events we celebrate each year are not quite the celebrations they seem, but hearken back to different celebrations of an earlier day. Possibly the one event gaining special notice today as a pagan holiday made Christian is that of Jesus’ birth: Christmas was set at roughly the time of the winter solstice (a celebration of the sun god’s victory over the darkness) to draw pagans into the new religion. But other events have changed with time as well.
Heraclitus, of the royal family of Ephesus, gave up his position, wealth, and power to seek the Word of Wisdom. His book, On Nature, written 2500 years ago, has been described as the first philosophical treatise. Of this book, only 130 fragments remain, some translated into no more than two words.
As a child, Gossamer Penwyche had an experience that turned her life into an unceasing search for that which dwells outside ordinary human perception. Whilst she was playing in a stream near her house, a warm and embracing breeze started whirling around her, making her spin in circular, synchronized motion with the wind. The birds, formerly silenced by a hawk’s presence, started chirping fervently. On top of the melodious chatter of the birds, Gossamer could discern the sound of sweet, jovial voices singing a tune.
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