"There are, of course, a slew of New Age books out there purporting to reveal the secrets to the mysteries of the Celts to the unwary. By cobbling together a myriad of types of information sometimes not properly Celtic at all with a liberal dose of imagination, they claim to provide a template for neo-pagan Celtic ritual and worship. This, fortunately, is not one of those books: it is intelligent throughout, and does not provide the kind of overly simplistic answers (and contrived assumptions) that have become far too common in popular books about the Celts.

   Anyone familiar with Celtic sources will wonder how anyone could possibly write a dense 261-page book about the role of the Moon Goddess in Celtic tradition. But, as NicMhacha, a native of Ontario, points out, the moon is not just a physical object in the sky, it is a series of related concepts and perspectives that underlie our understanding of the natural world and our existence as spiritual beings. These concepts include fertility (the connection between the lunar cycle, water and organic life), the cyclic nature of time (both in terms of the universe and human life), rites of passage, and the archetypes of the feminine. By casting a wide net, she has uncovered a wealth of information which relates to the Moon and lunar symbolism in the many disparate traces of Celtic cultures.

   Most books about the Celts play very fast and loose with the idea of 'the Celts', citing, for example, Iron Age archaeological evidence from the European continent right next to modern folklore from Ireland. This is no longer accepted as valid methodology by serious scholars, as 'the Celts' were not a single, homogenous people over thousands of years, but rather (like any people) developed into distinct regional cultures as they took root in particular environments at particular times. It is important to assess evidence according to its particular context, and to be wary of the biases inherent in the nature of the evidence. NicMhacha does us the favour of examining the evidence chronologically, and warning us of the shortcomings of each kind of source.

   She begins with Neolithic archaeological evidence which, technically, is not verifiably Celtic at all; but, as she shows, there are continuities with Celtic cultures, and the latest research indicates that there were no mass invasions of Celts to the British Isles, so this material does have relevance. When she discusses the Classical sources, she alerts us to the fact that Greeks and Romans interpreted culture, and religion in particular, according to their own traditions. And while Caesar has some very interesting things to say, he had his own agenda that strongly influenced his depictions of Gaul and Britain.

    While the tales and legends recorded in medieval Ireland and Wales contain much suggestive material, they were recorded by people who had been Christians for centuries. NicMhacha finds echoes of lunar myths in some of these, and offers her own version of the fourth branch of the Welsh Mabinogi to reconstruct the lunar symbolism which may have played a much fuller role in older versions of the tale. Finally, by examining the linguistic evidence in the modern Celtic languages and the folklore of the Celtic lands, she rounds out what we can glean of the fading resonances of the lore of the moon.

   Another of the strengths of this book is her cross-cultural approach, scrutinizing lunar myth and symbolism from other peoples to find ways in which it might help illuminate the scant Celtic sources. While this may tax the casual reader, and it must always be used with great caution, it does help to strengthen the usefulness of the book, especially for the dedicated reader and independent scholar.

   Like many other neo-pagan books, most of the chapters end with a set of suggested meditations and exercises. Rather than simply tell the reader what to say, or what rituals to conduct, however, NicMhacha challenges the reader to engage directly with the natural world and the reading material to find their own meanings and reach their own conclusions. These exercises should encourage a much better appreciation of the moon itself and its role in these traditions than if simplistic, prescribed rituals were provided.

    Any research on pre-Christian Celtic religion must remain speculative, and NicMhacha does not pretend to have all the answers. What she has done, however, is provide the reader with many valuable texts, tools and suggestions for their journey for sacredness and meaning. She says, near the close of her book that 'The Moon shines forth as a sacred guide to those below, lighting our way and welcoming us back from the void.' Thanks to Sharyanne for providing us with illumination!"

     'We are lucky to have Sharynne NicMhacha as our learned guide [through the realms of Celtic Moon lore], Like the ancient Irish poets whose task it was to harmonize all the stories, Sharynne has the ability to see it in its fullest context. It is her gift to seek and to find meaning in material which other scholars have dismissed as impenetrable.
    She offers this wonderful store of tradition to us in the hopes that we will make use of it and reshape what is ancient according to our contemporary and changing needs.'

     In Sharynne NicMhacha we have the all-too-rare mix of a well-educated scholar and an experienced magical practitioner. It's because of this combination that I've been a fan of Sharynne's workshops for years. I'm delighted to see her thought-provoking take on the Celtic Moon Goddess in print and available to everyone.'

Sharynne MacLeod NicMhacha, Queen of the Night: Rediscovering the Celtic Moon Goddess. Boston: Weiser Books, 2005. Paper. Pp. xii, 267; 7 tables.

     In her Foreword to Queen of the Night, Dr. Kate Chadbourne states that "So often we find books that are either rigorously academic (and dry as bone) or intuitive and popular (and wildly inattentive to fact). Sharynne's work combines the best of each approach, delivering meticulous research from the best sources and remembering all the while that her intelligent, non-specialist reader wishes not only to know but to understand" (pp. xi-xii). And indeed, NicMhacha has done just that. She has produced a book that is both informative and highly readable for a wide audience.

    The author starts with an astronomical introduction to the moon itself, then proceeds to discuss moon goddesses in both Indo-European and non-Indo-European cultures. This is necessary background for those not familiar with the various traditions under discussion. NicMhacha next examines the archaeological record and the evidence from the Classical authors before finally turning to the topic of the Celtic moon goddess. Each chapter ends with a set of meditation exercises and further thoughts on the material.

     Particularly strong is her handling of the material from the Classical authors on the Celts. All too often one finds popular authors taking the information provided by the Classical authors at face value without understanding the context within which each source was written. Sharynne proves just how much accurate information we can get from them while being mindful of each author's particular bias and/or agenda.

     For the most part NicMhacha cites secondary sources, which are generally more readily available to readers than most of the primary sources. This can be problematic, however, in instances where the secondary source doesn't give a full account of the material under discussion. For example, when discussing Scottish healing stones (p. 186), she mentions an incident recounted by Adomnán where Broichan, a Pictish druid, is healed by drinking water in which a stone from Loch Ness had been dipped. She cites McNeill's The Silver Bough as the source of her information and moves on to other examples. The full account given in the primary source would have added greater fullness to this part of her book without changing her argument in any way.

    The author frequently quotes material in translation, either her own or one previously published. Because she demonstrates continuously throughout the book that she is more than capable of navigating her way through a linguistic labyrinth of Celtic languages, it would have been nice to see the original quoted in the Endnotes. This comment having been made, the original might not be given due to the publisher's preference and not the author's.

     NicMhacha has written a book that neatly starts to fill the gap between popular and academic material on the Celts. She is consistently careful to signal to the reader when she is discussing published theories and interpretations and when she is expounding her own interpretations of the material. NicMhacha should be congratulated for writing a book on such a difficult and highly subjective topic.

Queen of the Night:
Rediscovering the Celtic Moon Goddess
by Sharynne MacLeod NicMhacha, Red Wheel/Weiser, 2005

The effectiveness of properly conducted research stands out in Harvard University scholar Sharynne Macleod Nic Mhacha's book, Queen of the Night. This book contains an extensive investigation of the Celtic Moon Goddess and a treasure trove of information gleaned from ancient manuscripts and documents and from contemporary studies by scientists, archeologists, and anthropologists.

     Nic Mhacha goes beyond Celtic lunar mythology to weave a rich tapestry of Celtic, Norse, Greek, and Hindu literature, science, art, history, and culture. She divides this book into thirteen chapters, or lunations, which address the human experience with the Divine through lunar tradition. The first lunation introduces the reader to a brief scientific analysis of the Moon, its phases, rotation period, effects on the Earth, and tides.

     The lunations include a historical overview, which explores the work of ancient Greek scholars such as Aristarchus of Samos, who calculated the distance from the Earth to the Moon, and Aristotle, who believed the Moon was a perfect sphere. Activities at the end of each lunation show the seeker how to incorporate this material into one's everyday spiritual activity. To connect with Celtic ancestors, for example, the author suggests a ceremony involving making spelt bread. This ancient Celtic grain is still available and does not contain the allergens of modern wheat. Other activities include constructing calendars, meditation on numbers and their effects on the seeker's daily life, astronomical observations, and spiritual journeys focusing on the sky realm and the Silver Wheel. Finally, Nic Mhacha provides the reader with a lovely new moon ritual that combines a spiritual journey into the underworld with personal transformation.
Patricia Snodgrass

What all Celtic Spirituality books should aspire to..., October 4, 2005
Reviewer: Phillip A. Bernhardt-House (Cork, Ireland and Anacortes, WA, USA)

     Sharynne is a wonderful person and a fantastic musician and ritualist, and this book reflects both her personality and her spirituality quite deeply. A wealth of research and consideration went into this book, and the references are both extremely helpful AND trustworthy, which is something that can't be said about many other books in the realm of Celtic spirituality and reconstructionism. Further, this book is one in which a variety of topics--shamanism, classical views of the continental Celts, insular Celtic stories and traditions--are brought to bear on the overall question.
     While one may not agree with the overall interpretation presented, what is given is also not presented dogmatically as the only possible way; no matter what, the average reader will come away with much more information than they had initially, and the specialist (both academic and those practicing Celtic spirituality) will also benefit from the point-of-view under which the evidence is presented. I commend the author greatly, and would unreservedly recommend this book to anyone who is a seeker in the Celtic traditions!
***** (five stars)

Accurate and Inspiring!, September 27, 2005
Reviewer: Laura Kidds (Florida)
     Queen of the night is one of the best books I have read so far on spirituality. So many books rehash the same information over and over....Wicca 101 and Goddess basics 101. This book is definately different! It is rare to find a book that provides historically accurate information in a spiritually inspiring setting. This book provides a solid foundation for so many aspects of moon worship and Celtic religion, and continues to take you deeper into the heart of each one. This book is a treasure trove of really authentic wisdom about Celtic spirituality...a rare thing indeed!
***** (five stars)

A perfect blend, September 27, 2005
Reviewer: Laura Eastment
     Thoroughly researched and written with love and simplicity. Brings alive a body of knowledge for scholars and is a rich source of delight for those of us who have kept our sense of wonder.
***** (five stars)

Brilliant Research That Will Appeal to All, September 19, 2005
Reviewer: D. Champigny "Bibliophile" (Central Mass.) -
     This book speaks to me on several different levels. The moon has always been a strong influence in my life and spiritual practice and Celtic/British mythology one of my favorite subjects. Sharynne's book has brought my two loves together. She has struck what in my opinion is a most difficult balance. There is much to learn here from a scholarly perspective, but it will also appeal to people who wish to incorporate Celtic spirituality and moon lore into their lives. Two thumbs up and five stars for a book that people will be able to go back to again and again over the years for juicy information and rocking spiritual material. I will eagerly anticipate her next offering.
***** (five stars)

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