Nudity in Religion, Politics and Popular Culture

The naked human body evokes powerful and often contradictory feelings and ideas: it can thrill or revolt us; it can signal innocence or sexual availability, honesty or madness, oneness with nature or separation from society. Advertisers and the media are aware of the complex and ambivalent associations that most of us have towards the subject, and use images of bare skin or simply the word ‘naked’ to compete for our attention, while mystics have used nudity to get closer to God, and political protesters have discovered that simply baring all represents one of the most effective ways to gain publicity for their cause.
A Brief History of Nakedness traces humanity’s preoccupation with nudity in three distinct areas of human endeavour: religion, politics and popular culture. Rather than studying the history of the nude in art or photography, or detailing the ways in which the naked body has been denigrated or denied, this book explores new territory: revealing the ways in which religious teachers, politicians, protesters and cultural icons have used nudity to enlighten or empower themselves, or simply to entertain us.
From the naked sages of India and St.Francis of Assisi to modern-day witches and Christian nudists, from Lady Godiva to Lady Gaga, via 'The Full Monty' and 'The Calendar Girls', A Brief History of Nakedness surveys the touching, sometimes tragic and often bizarre story of our relationship to our naked bodies.

Illustrated 288pp hardback to be published by Reaktion Books May 2010

The Life & Legacy of a Druid Chief

With the Selected Poetry, Letters, Travel Diaries, Watercolours and Drawings of Ross Nichols, Foreword by Christina Oakley Harrington

Ross Nichols was one of the key figures in the revival of interest in Druidry and Celtic Spirituality in modern times. The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, which he founded, is now the largest Druid group in the world.
Journeys of the Soul vividly describes Nichols’ journey through life in the first complete biography of this enigmatic and influential Druid Chief, allowing us an intimate and controversial glimpse into the life and mind of one of the founding fathers of the modern Pagan movement.
Photographs, sketches and reproductions of his watercolours are included with the letters and diary excerpts of Nichols’ own journeys, continuing the theme of the book with stories of travel in evocative places: by the pyramids in Egypt, in the mountains of Bulgaria, in the 'House of Mysteries' at Pompeii.
In these travel journals, Nichols weaves impressions of the countryside and the people with historical and archaeological information, psychic impressions, anecdotes, jokes and poetry. As we follow a historian and spiritual teacher on his journeys, we too are taken on journeys of the soul.

Illustrated 192pp hardback to be published by The Oak Tree Press March 2010

How did the one small island of Britain, and the country of England in particular, become so steeped in magical practices across the centuries, and why has it given birth to the finest magical fiction ever written?

English authors such as J.R.R.Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, and J.K.Rowling dominate the world of magic in fiction, but from the earliest times England has also acted as home to generations of eccentrics and scholars who have researched and explored every conceivable occult art, and now more people practice magic in England than at any time in her history.

The Book of English Magic, authored by Philip Carr-Gomm & Richard Heygate, surveys England’s magical past from the moment the first humans inhabited her shores to our present-day fascination with all things magical. Historical explorations and biographies of leading figures are combined with interviews with modern-day magicians which reveal the extent to which magic is alive and well in England in the 21st century.

'This will remain the standard work for years to come.' The Sunday Telegraph

Fifty Sites of Spiritual and Religious Pilgrimage

Journeys to sacred places or shrines undertaken as acts of religious veneration or penance have been a feature of religious observance from the earliest times. Ancient religions had holy sites, temples and groves, such as Delphi and Dodona in Greece, where oracles and their priestesses were reputed to be able to tell the future. Even older is Stonehenge – whose original religious purpose is still shrouded in mystery – and the Pyramids of Giza which stand in the Egyptian desert, defying all attempts to fathom their mysteries.
During the medieval period Christian pilgrimage – to Jerusalem, Rome, Constantinople and Santiago de Compostela – was a sacred obligation and a trial of faith. On the other side of the Eurasian landmass, the Golden Temple and Dome of the Rock became two of the holiest sites of the Sikh and Islamic faiths, with pilgrimage to Mecca, or hajj, becoming one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Whether for reasons of divine providence, immemorial tradition or sheer visual power, certain locations have long been imbued with a sense of spiritual significance. Philip Carr-Gomm tells the stories of 50 sacred sites across all five continents, including sites venerated by all of the major religions.
Many of the world’s holiest sanctuaries and landscapes are here examined in a series of concise, informative and lavishly illustrated essays.
Involving, instructive and steeped in spiritual insight, Sacred Places offers a dramatic and distinctive perspective on more than six millennia of world history.

Available in English, French, German, Czech and Bulgarian editions

Eight Lectures on Druid Scholarship

In this illustrated 309 page volume Philip Carr-Gomm introduces eight unique contributions to the field of Druid Study, including essays by Professor Ronald Hutton, Gordon Cooper, John Michael Greer, Caitlín Matthews, Dr. Adam Stout, Professor Roland Rotherham and Dr.J.Maertens. The book includes Philip's An Exploration of Michael Tippett’s ‘The Midsummer Marriage’ and its Relevance to a Study of Druidism which explores the way in which the Bardic Grade teaching of the Order of Bards Ovates & Druids uses an old Welsh story - the Tale of Taliesin - to initiate us into the Druid mysteries and to help us access and develop our creative potential. Michael Tippett’s opera The Midsummer Marriage uses the same story to help create an experience of initiation. The paper first examines the common ground that inspired both Michael Tippett and the founder of the Order, Ross Nichols, and then explores the genesis and structure of The Midsummer Marriage, with particular relevance to contemporary Druidism.

Working with the Magical Flora of the Druid Tradition

An oracular system based on Druid plant, tree and herblore. 36 full-colour cards (and three spares) and accompanying book. The book gives a wealth of folklore, myth and interpretations for each plant and gives both oracular spreads and ways of working with plants that can act as guides, allies and healers.

Available in English, French, German, Dutch & Czech editions

An exploration of the beliefs, values and practices of contemporary Druids

Druidism evolved out of the tribal cultures of Britain, Ireland and western France over two thousand years ago. In the seventeenth century it experienced a revival which has continued to this day.

Druidry's modern worldwide appeal lies in its focus on reverence for the natural world, a belief in the value of personal creativity, and of developing a sense of communion with the powers of nature and the spirit. Its startling recent growth derives from its broad appeal: some treat it as a philosophy, others as a religion, still others as a path of self-development. Philip Carr-Gomm explains the practical value of following Druidism today, and examines its core beliefs and relevance to the contemporary issues that face us all.

''Far and away the best short introduction to modern Druidry in print."John Michael Greer

Rated Four stars - The Independent

Available in English, German & Portuguese editions

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A shamanic journey through an ancient landscape

The Druid Way is a book that weaves history, folklore, Druidry, spirituality and psychology into the story of a walk from a sacred hill in Lewes, Sussex, to the giant chalk hill-figure of the Long Man of Wilmington. A reviewer writes: "The book describes one person’s journey in the countryside of southern England that evolves into any-person’s journey of self-discovery, and discovery of the Goddess of the Land.'

Available in English, German & Dutch editions

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Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century

This is a completely revised and updated edition of The Elements of the Druid Tradition. It includes much new material, and completely new chapters. It gives a comprehensive overview of Druidry covering its origins and history, the modern Druid movement, Druid ceremonies, tree lore and animal lore, and an exploration of the work of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Each chapter includes suggested exercises, and there is a full glossary and Resources and Recommended Reading section.

Available in English, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, Hungarian, Czech, Bulgarian and Braille editions

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The Druid Teachings of Ross Nichols

In the Grove of the Druids is a major study of the work of one of the seminal thinkers in Western Paganism. Ross Nichols was Chief of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids until his death in 1975. He was a man who believed passionately in the power of myth, poetry, ritual, and drama, and in the interconnectedness of the world's great religious systems.This fascinating biography and wide-ranging selection of Ross Nichol's work contains writing on key themes including ritual, festivals, mythology, symbolism, temple architecture, and archeology, and the links between Druidry and other ancient wisdom traditions.

Available in English & Hungarian editions

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The 78 exquisitely designed cards, painted in tempera, achieve a depth of feeling and artistic quality rarely seen in contemporary Tarot sets, while the accompanying manual explores the Tarot and its relationship to both Druidry and Wicca, tracing some of the earliest roots of the Tarot to the tales of the Bards, and the numerology of Pythagoras taught by the Druids in their Sacred Groves. The boxed set includes all cards of the Major and Minor Arcana, together with a 192 page book which reveals the way in which we can use the Tarot to deepen our spiritual lives and practice.

Available in English, French, German, Spanish, Taiwanese, Bulgarian, Czech & Dutch editions, and audio for the RNIB

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Working with the Sacred Animals of the Druid Tradition

An oracular system based on the totem animals of Druidry. 33 full-colour cards (and three spares) are accompanied by a 176 page hardback book and divination cloth. The book gives a wealth of folklore, myth and interpretations for each animal and gives both oracular spreads and ways of working with power animals that can act as guides, allies and healers.

Available in English, French, German, Dutch, Czech & Italian editions

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A magical exploration of what happens when Wicca and Druidry meet

Druidcraft draws on the traditions of scholarship, storytelling, magical craft and seasonal celebration of both Druids and Wiccans, to offer inspiration, teachings, rituals, and magical techniques that can help you access your innate powers of creativity, intuition and healing.The book invites you to visit a 'forest school' of Druidcraft, and in each chapter you hear a Bard's tale, witness a dialogue between a pupil and teacher, learn the history of the subject being explored, and are given practical suggestions that can be applied in everyday life.

Available in English, Dutch & Czech editions, and in German from Spring 2010

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Ancient Earth Wisdom for Today

The Rebirth of Druidry is the definitive guide to the modern Druid movement, with contributions from chief Druids from America, Britian and France, as well as writers and mystics, healers and psychologists, professors and historians. Together, they delve into the past and examine the history and sacred rites of the Druids, as well as examining the state of Druidry today. Includes a lyrical preface by Tom Cowan and introduction by Professor Ronald Hutton. Edited and Foreword by Philip Carr-Gomm.

Available in English, French & Bulgarian editions

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Entretiens avec Philip Carr-Gomm

In an extended conversation with Paco Rabanne, the French fashion designer and perfumier, Philip explains the value of Druidism in today's world. Their discussion is divided into seven sections that explore the early roots of Druidry, its recent renaissance, its relationship to Christianity, and its relationship to the world of Nature, and the creative spirit. Not available in English.

Available in French & Bulgarian editions

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