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. Book website: www.sacredplaces.info

Published in the USA and in the UK August 2008 by Quercus

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.

Published in the UK December 2007, in the USA August 2008, and in Australian, French, German, Dutch & Czech editions April 2008

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 & Portuguese editions

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A shamanic journey through an ancient landscape -A new edition with a new preface and revised material

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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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

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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.

Available in English, French & Bulgarian 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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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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An exploration of Michael Tippett’s ‘The Midsummer Marriage’ and its relevance to a study of Druidism

The Order of Bards Ovates & Druids Mount Haemus Lecture for the Year 2002

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. This 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. 46pp, 2 B&W and 12 colour photographs.