Heart of Albion
Heart of Albion titles
Complete publications for free download:
See also Explore Books series
and also Alternative Albion imprint
NEW
April 2008
HOLY WELLS IN BRITAIN
A guide
The secrets of Britain's most evocative sacred sites
Holy wells were once widespread throughout Britain. They were often dedicated to local saints and were important features in the medieval sacred landscape. Over many centuries, pilgrims sought the healing powers of their waters, and many left votive offerings in the form of bent pins, coins and rags.
Interest in this aspect of our sacred heritage has been growing since the publication of Janet Bord's first book on holy wells over twenty years ago. Many holy wells have now been restored, and the modern visitor may still experience a quiet communion with the spirit of the place, and come away spiritually uplifted.
For this book Janet Bord has sought out three hundred of the surviving holy wells of England, Wales and Scotland that are most rewarding to visit, and she recounts their histories and traditions in the light of current historical research.
Holy Wells in Britain is the first guidebook to British holy wells to draw upon the extensive research of recent decades. Up-to-date practical information for visitors is also provided to inspire readers to seek out these evocative sacred sites for themselves.
This guide is a companion to Janet Bord's recent book, Cures and Curses: Ritual and cult at holy wells and Jeremy Harte's forthcoming book The Holy Wells of England: A sourcebook.
'This is a splendidly presented and illustrated book... and is a very worthwhile addition to the burgeoning literature on this fascinating aspect of our history and folklore. Recommended'
Jerry Bird Merry Meet
Another lovely and fascinating book for those of us drawn to wells and watery sources generally. Broken down into Wales, Scotland, or regions of England, the book features a selection of over three hundred especially rewarding to visit wells. There are many black and white photographs, directions, and Ordnance Survey references. The book features an excellent index and details of the author's sources, paper and web-based.
There's a sense of wonder throughout, of tapping into something old and mysterious in our heritage. It was almost lost, but the last few decades have seen a revival of interest in such wells. This book forms a part of our increasing knowledge base about them and encourages us to get to know them more. I am inspired to visit more wells, especially those local to me, and to begin to really get to know them much better than I do now.
A useful and stimulating reference book that is a pleasure to read.
Hawthorn Druid Network
ISBN 978-1-905646-09-8 April 2008
245 x 175 mm, 226 + xii pages, 179 b&w photos, 5 line drawings, paperback.
£14.95
NEW
May 2008
LOST ISLANDS
Inventing Avalon, Destroying Eden
Otherworldly islands haunt the imagination of the West. From Atlantis to Ys, the peoples of the Atlantic seaboard have dreamt of, searched for, journeyed to and lost several distinctive kingdoms of the sea all 'into the West', where the sun sets and where the soul is said to go at death. Are they a collective dreaming of a real place, or mere salty yarns spun by ancient mariners?
In Lost Islands: Inventing Avalon, Destroying Eden Kevan Manwaring takes you on an adventurous odyssey charting this metaphysical archipelago, drawing upon philosophy, folklore, literature and myth. This voyage encompasses many imaginary Eden-like utopias. Can we ever hope to attain such paradises or are they ultimately within ourselves states of consciousness and enlightenment to aspire to and fall from? And why do such island Edens seemingly inevitably end in disasters whether inundated by mythic floods, as with Atlantis, or with all-too-real ecological disasters, as with Easter Island?
In an era of climate change and global uncertainty the myths of inundations are more poignant today than ever. How permanent is our own 'island state' of living on Earth?
Kevan Manwaring is an author (The Bardic Handbook, The Long Woman, Windsmith) and teacher of creative writing with the Open University. He won the Bardic Chair of Caer Badon in 1998 and has been a professional storyteller since. He lives in Bath, Somerset, when not island-hopping.
ISBN 978-1-905646-07-4 May 2008
245 x 175 mm, 217 + viii pages, 47 b&w photos, 2 line drawings, paperback.
£14.95
New!
ENTRANCED BY THE GODDESS:
Folklore in north Indian religion
The Mother Goddess has been worshiped in India for at least three thousand years. Although often known as 'Mata' or 'Devi', she is also known by a myriad of names, with every village having its own local manifestation. Her devotees have established a rich tradition of ritual, lore and song. However few English-speaking people know the details of Indian goddess worship.
Dr Chandola combines her north Indian origins with her training in anthropology to provide a unique insight into the millennia-old beliefs, lore, songs, pilgrimages and rituals.
Even within India few people have direct experience of the trance rituals associated with goddess worship. During these seemingly-impossible acts are accomplished, such as licking red-hot metal without causing injury. Dr Chandola attended several of these trance rituals and provides a dramatic account of licking a red-hot metal ladle without harm.
Some aspects of traditional Indian goddess worship have been known about in the West for over 200 years. Indeed, in a very confused way, this knowledge underlies modern pagans' veneration of a Great Goddess. Some modern pagans also seek trance states – although few, if any, with the dramatic consequences of these north Indian traditions!
The final section of the book looks at how these traditional beliefs are adapting in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, both within Indian and among international Hindu communities.
Entranced by the Goddess is essential reading for all those interested in Hinduism – both traditional and modern-day – or goddess worship – whether Indian or Western.
Dr Chandola, originally from India, has taught Hindi at the universities of California at Berkeley and Wisconsin at Madison. She teaches Hindu Mythology at the University of Arizona. She has published numerous Hindi short stories and research papers.
'This is an amazing book... well worth obtaining.' Cheryl Straffon Goddess Alive!
'A well written and soundly structured study which will be of interest to many European Pagans... Recommended' Jerry Bird Merry Meet
ISBN 978-1-905646-08-1 October 2007
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 205 + xvi pages, 12 b&w photos, paperback.
£12.95
New!
INVIZIKIDS:
The curious enigma of 'imaginary' childhood friends
Just who – or what – are the so-called 'imaginary childhood friends', the mysterious companions who often attach themselves to youngsters as playmates, confidantes and advisors? Where do they come from? Is there any evidence that they enjoy some form of reality other than in the imaginations of their chosen companions?
Mike Hallowell interviewed dozens of people from different continents who had experienced such imaginary friends. These personal testimonies revealed fascinating cross-cultural parallels and provide a fascinating insight into a world that defies all attempts to understand it.
The bizarre world of quasi-corporeal companions, as the author prefers to call them, involves strange entities that may look like ordinary children – or just as easily appear as animated household objects. If you ever wondered what it was like to hold a philosophical conversation with a yoghurt carton with arms and legs, then Invizikids will enlighten you.
Parents who have hitherto been confident that their child's imaginary pal is no more real than the Tooth Fairy may be staggered to realise that they may be sharing their home with an entity that is just as 'real' as their own child – but far, far stranger.
Mike Hallowell is from South Tyneside and specialises in writing about the paranormal and Native American spirituality. For the last decade he has written 'Bizarre', a weekly dip into the paranormal published in the Shields Gazette, the UK's oldest provincial newspaper. He is a columnist and contributor with Vision magazine, and regularly appears on TV and radio.
'Hallowell's honest and straightforward prose certainly shows he's no crackpot spouting half-baked ideas.' Beyond
'Amazing mind-bending stuff and highly recommended.' Mike Howard The Cauldron
ISBN 976-1-905646-04-3 August 2007
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 143 + xii pages, 6 b&w photos, paperback.
£12.95
NEW!
ROMAN SILBURY AND THE HARVEST GODDESS
In his earlier book The Silbury Treasure, Michael Dames argues that Silbury and its 'moat' make a gigantic Neolithic pregnant goddess who each year gives birth to her 'harvest child'. The recent discovery of a Roman settlement at the side of Silbury has been interpreted by Dr Bob Bewley of English Heritage as evidence of Romano-British pilgrims 'drawn in the wake of their prehistoric forebears' to worship at Europe's tallest prehistoric monument.
These Romano-British pilgrims would have been familiar with Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. Roman deities were often merged with native counterparts – so did the Romano-British also use this Neolithic moat-hill 'divine image' to celebrate their harvest rites?
In this booklet Michael Dames reveals intriguing parallels between Ceres and seeing Silbury as a Neolithic godddess. The Classical myth cycle of Ceres also fits well with the seasonal aspects of the Silbury goddess as revealed in Michael Dames' book The Avebury Cycle. Does this mean Romano-British offerings at the nearby Neolithic long barrow at West Kennet are associated with Ceres' annual loss of her daughter, Proserpina, to the winter Underworld? Furthermore, only 350 yards from Silbury is a spring known as Swallowhead, the birthplace of the River Kennet. Such a site would be ideal for revering the Roman Tellus Mater or 'Mother Earth'.
Roman Silbury and the Harvest Goddess provides persuasive evidence that the Romans recognised and renewed the significance of Silbury and the Avebury 'cycle' of monuments. This also suggests that the Silbury goddess may have been worshipped at the start of each prehistoric harvest from 2500 BC onwards.
ISBN 978-1-905646-06-7. 2007
A5 (210 x 148 mm), 20 + ii pages, 27 b&w photos; 30 line drawings, stapled booklet.
£5.95
SPECIAL OFFER! £2.95 when ordered with any other Heart of Albion title over £5.00
NEW!
HORN DANCE OR STAG NIGHT?
Folklore and myth in the age of blogs
Why is a stag night or an office in-joke as good an example of folklore as morris dancing or a fairy tale? Why does the rhetoric of eco-politics seem like the recycling of myths dating back well over 2,000 years? How often have American presidents imitated Hollywood action movies? How do the mass media successfully construct the 'deep structures' of modern society?
Apart from a few people in universities studying folklore or mythology these questions may seem strange. In this booklet Bob Trubshaw suggests that, far from being strange, folklore and mythology at least as understood by academics are key to understanding the processes by which we create our all-encompassing 'social reality'.
At a time when Western 'social reality' is increasingly contrived by the vested interests of global commerce, and shaped by the media magnates within that cartel, the folkloric transmission of ideas via emails, blogs and personal Web pages has increasing importance. The ability to consciously recognise the way myths or, more accurately, 'mythic fragments' are used by the media is also key to understanding how 'spin' attempts to delude us all.
This short booklet does not claim to offer a detailed understanding of the construction of social reality. Instead it suggests some fruitful directions for further thinking. The result is both enlightening and empowering.
Bob Trubshaw has written numerous books, booklets and articles, including several books on folklore and mythology. He founded Heart of Albion eighteen years ago.
'A fascinating and thought-provoking read.' Mike Howard The Cauldron
ISBN 976-1-905646-05-0. 2007
A5 (210 x 148 mm), 26 + ii pages, stapled booklet.
£5.95
SPECIAL OFFER! £2.95 when ordered with any other Heart of Albion title over £5.00
Download Horn Dance or Stag Night? for FREE (330k PDF)
NEW!
HOWLS OF IMAGINATION
Wolves of England
Wolves have been despised and persecuted by humans for centuries. They were eradicated completely in England by about 1509 and in Scotland and Ireland in the mid-eighteenth century. Yet superstitions and folklore continue to fuel a fear of wolves in modern day Britain – even though many of these popular beliefs are inaccurate. In Howls of Imagination Dr Paul Williams describes how these beliefs have arisen, and contrasts them with known information about wolves and the relatively rare number of wolf attacks on humans.
Why did Christian allegories give wolves a 'bad press'? How did popular literature breed a hybrid lore by mixing legends about real wolves with myths about werewolves? Have children really been reared by wolves? And, above all, should we afraid of 'the big bad wolf' or simply consign such ideas to the scrap bin of erroneous stereotypes? Howls of Imagination reveals how folklore and myth can create and sustain misleading ideas while simultaneously offering a more factual understanding of this iconic animal of the wilderness.
Dr Paul Williams completed a PhD thesis on wolves in folklore in 2004 at Sheffield University. His short fiction and poetry has been published in magazines and anthologies such as Focus and Roadworks.
Howls of Imagination is a superb study of the fact, the fiction, the legend, and the mythology surrounding that most mysterious of creatures: the wolf.
[...] Howls of Imagination was probably one of my most enjoyable reads of this year so far; and I can say for certain that in this concise-yet-packed [107]-page book, the author has revealed a wealth of hidden knowledge on this majestic beast, dispelled some myths, answered a lot of questions, and offered a rich body of data that is diverse, eye-opening, mysterious and magical in equal measures.
From Nick Redfern's online review
ISBN 978-1-872883-98-4. 2007
245 x 175 mm, 107 + vi pages, 10 b&w photos, 2 line drawings, paperback.
£12.95
NEW!
PHANTOM BLACK DOGS IN LATIN AMERICA
Phantom black dogs are a surprisingly frequent aspect of Latin American folklore. They are called by widely differing names, although often known simply as the Perro Negro, the Black Dog. Almost always considered either an incarnation of the Devil or a shape-changing sorcerer, such Black Dogs are invariably regarded as evil. However this rich tradition of phantom black dogs in Latin America has not been available in English until now.
Although phantom black dogs have until now been thought of as a British or north European phenomenon, they exist across the entire length and breadth of the Americas. Much has been written upon the presumed European origin of the legend but such ideas do not explain how a highland Maya girl can meet a typical shape-changing black dog at a Guatemalan crossroads. Phantom Black Dogs in Latin America reveals that these apparitions, much like poltergeists, are a global phenomenon. In this short work Simon Burchell raises some profound questions about paranormal experiences and the origins of the folklore which supposedly 'explains' them.
Simon Burchell's interests include fortean phenomena, folklore and an overriding passion for archaeology. He spent three years living in the highlands of western Guatemala, travelling widely in the region, and has dreams of some day returning for good.
'Lively, erudite and stimulating' Paul Screeton Folklore Frontiers
'This is a concise, fascinating and well-written book... Highly recommended' Merry Meet
'What a treat! ... [a] future folklore classic... ' White Dragon
See also Nick Redfern's online review
ISBN 978-1-905646-01-2. 2007
A5 (210 x 148 mm), 38 + vi pages, 5 line drawings by Ian Brown, stapled booklet.
£5.95
NEW! Free download of Simon Burchell's update to Phantom Black Dogs in Latin America:
Phantom Black Dogs in Prehispanic Mexico
THE PRINCESS WHO ATE PEOPLE
The psychology of Celtic myths
Childhood, adolescence, courtship and death. Personal identity and madness. These are the key themes of many myths in traditional Celtic literatures. Although written many centuries ago, their narratives still reflect and define our essential humanity.
Many Celtic tales of exile and loss anticipate modem dilemmas of alienation but offer ways of understanding such difficulties without pathologising them. Individuals are seen in their social context and, in contrast, madness is identified with loneliness and isolation. The traditional stories describe how appropriate narratives help restore integrity and identity. These life-cycle narratives and concepts of identity are more complex and less fixed than psychoanalytic narratives which, by comparison, seem contrived or impoverished.
Psychotherapy assists people to construct a narrative which makes sense of their lives. However psychoanalysis too often relies on outdated and limited assumptions. By learning from the poets who created the Celtic myths, therapists can help their patients develop more appropriate personal narratives.
However this is not a book written only for psychotherapists. The stories considered here speak to all of us. McMahon helps us to fully understand these life cycle narratives and thereby helps us to understand ourselves. We need these myths now more than ever before.
Brendan McMahon is a practising psychotherapist in Derbyshire who has written many articles and papers on therapy and Celtic myth. He is also a poet and university teacher.
'I loved this book, with no reservations. I loved the discussion, the focus on myth and the author's ability to look at Freud in particular with a critical eye.'
Geoff Brennan Mental Health
ISBN 978 1872 883 885. 2006.
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 102 + viii pages, 5 specially commissioned illustrations from Ian Brown, paperback
£9.95
NEW REDUCED PRICE!
TALIESIN'S TRAVELS
A demi-god at large
Taliesin's Travels brings fresh significance to one of Britain's best-loved tales.
For over a thousand years the impish Taliesin has enthralled and enlightened people. As a farmer's son, he is grounded in the land. Yet, because his mother is the goddess Nature, he can travel, free as a demi-god, throughout time and space.
Thanks to his intimate contact with spirits of place, sun and underworld, Taliesin reveals and portrays the interconnecting, ever-transforming essence of life. His often painful and sometimes ludicrous adventures engage with creation in its entirety. Transcending history, he invites us to see our own millennium as a cyclical, mythic journey so that, like him, each individual comes to identify with the whole of creation.
With a keen sense of enjoyment, Michael Dames provides a deep and imaginative account of the tales and poetry associated with Taliesin. Prehistoric, Romano-British and Christian aspects of Taliesin's persona are brought together in a magical synthesis.
Michael Dames is well-known for his pioneering studies of the myths and legends of the British Isles. His previous books include The Silbury Treasure, The Avebury Cycle, Mythic Ireland and Merlin and Wales.
Taliesin's Travels offers 'a mind-gripping itinerary, full of tales and stories, wonderful folk and demi-folk, strange events and scenery we can still merge ourselves into. All very evocative.'
'... yet another real gem of a book form Heart of Albion... hugely enjoyable... '
'Highly recommended'
ISBN 978 1872 883 892. 2006.
Francis Cameron Pentacle
Jerry Bird Merry Meet
Michael Howard The Cauldron
245 x 175 mm, 244 + viii pages, 174 b&w photos and 90 drawings, paperback.
NEW REDUCED PRICE! £14.95
MYSTERY BIG CATS
In the past twenty years every county in Britain, from Caithness to Cornwall, has had recurrent sightings of 'big cats' described as being like pumas or panthers. These anomalous big cats sightings are now running at an estimated 1,200 a year.
Farmers, gamekeepers, ornithologists, policemen and even parents on the school run have all been thrilled – or terrified – to see what they assume is a big cat escaped from a zoo. Yet these big cats are neither escapees from zoos nor, as this book conclusively argues, the descendants of pets released into the countryside by their owners in 1976 when the Dangerous Wild Animals Act made it too expensive to keep big cats.
The questions therefore remain, what are they and where have they come from? With the orthodox explanations overturned, Merrily Harpur searches for clues in the cultures of other times and places. She discovers our mystery felines have been with us for longer than we imagine, and throws unexpected light on the way Western civilisation looks at the world.
Mystery Big Cats is the first serious and comprehensive book on the subject. From the drama of eyewitnesses' verbatim accounts to the excitement of new perspectives and insights into a strange and often terrifying experience – it gets to grips with what is now the commonest encounter with the unknown in Britain.
Merrily Harpur is a cartoonist and writer. She has published three books: The Nightmares of Dream Topping, Unheard of Ambridge and Pig Overboard. She divides her time between Dorset and Ireland, where she founded the Strokestown International Poetry Festival. More information at www.harpur.org
'... this is a great book, a rare, ready-made fortean classic. 9/10'
John Michell Fortean Times
Merrily Harpur '... leads the reader on an unusual, intriguing and often amusing journey.'
Penelope Bennett The Oldie
'Highly recommended'
Michael Howard The Cauldron
'This book leaves the reader in no doubt that ABCs are real enough, but what is real? The scope of the inquiry here is learned, exhaustive and entertaining, non-academic and easily digestible [...] Brilliantly evoked, enchantingly explained.'
Paul Screeton Folklore Frontiers
'This is a publication that is all things: informative, insightful, thought-provoking, and written by someone who has a keen appreciation, awareness and knowledge of her subject matter. [...] This is a truly excellent piece of work that does not shy away from controversy... '
From Nick Redfern's online review
ISBN 978 1872 883 922. 2006.
245 x 175 mm, 242 + viii pages, 55 b&w photographs, paperback
£16.95
THE ENCHANTED LAND
Myths and Legends of Britain's Landscape
Revised, fully illustrated edition
Britain's landscape is overlain by a magic carpet of folklore and folktales, myths and legends. Enchantment and legend still lurk in places as diverse as hills and mountains, rivers and streams, caves and hollows, springs and wells, cliffs and coasts, pools and lakes, and rocks and stones.
The dramatic stories woven around these places tell of sleeping knights, beheaded saints, giants, dragons and monsters, ghosts, King Arthur, mermaids, witches, hidden treasure, drowned towns, giant missiles, mysterious footprints, visits to Fairyland, underground passages, human sacrifices, and much more.
The 'Places to Visit' section locates and describes in detail more than 50 sites.
This revised edition is fully illustrated, with around 130 photographs and illustrations.
Janet and Colin Bord live in North Wales, where they run the Fortean Picture Library. They have written more than 20 books since their first successful joint venture, Mysterious Britain in 1972.
From reviews of the first edition:
'Janet's own enthusiasm for a number of the sites is conveyed vividly and lends credibility to the notion that Britain is still an enchanted land.' Mercian Mysteries
ISBN 978 1872 883 915. 2006.
245 x 175 mm, 187 + vi pages, 112 b&w photographs, 17 drawings, paperback
£14.95
A BESTIARY OF BRASS
From antelopes to wyverns, with over fifty species in between, A Bestiary of Brass looks the animals, birds, insects, fish even shellfish which have been depicted on medieval memorial brasses in Britain. Some are native, others such as elephants and panthers were exotic, while dragons and unicorns were as mythical then as they are today.
At the time they were engraved these creatures evoked a wide range of folklore and legends. This rich symbolism is brought to life by the author. But enigmas remain why would anyone want to be associated with a fox when they were more noted for cunning and slyness, or a hedgehog, or even a whelk? We also find out about the lives of the people commemorated and share the author's detailed knowledge of their heraldic emblems. Practical advice is provided to help make brass rubbings and to learn more about these memorials.
The illustrations show a wide range of the memorials, with detailed views of the creatures they incorporate. A Bestiary of Brass will appeal to anyone interested in folklore, art and medieval history. Above all, these masterpieces of craftsmanship reveal that our deep fascination with animals was shared by our ancestors many hundreds of years ago.
'This is a beautifully produced volume... ' Paul Cockerham Journal of Church Monuments
ISBN 978 1872 883 908. 2006.
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 227 + x pages, 308 b&w drawings and photographs, paperback.
£12.95
CROSSING THE LINE
Trespassing on railway weirdness
This is a book about railways such as has never been told before. Wonders and blunders, supernatural experiences, ritual customs, and a wealth of weird tales that sound as if they might be true. But surely they aren't? Or are they?
A lifelong interest in both trains and folklore, a willingness to sit sharing a pint or three with fellow enthusiasts, plus the practiced ear of a professional journalist. All these have given Paul Screeton the unique ability to collect and write about this wonderful web of weirdness and ever-evolving lore.
Crossing the Line provides a wealth of tales to make even the delays on a train journey enjoyable. Then take an active role in keeping these tales alive by recounting the more perturbing ones to fellow passengers or unsuspecting 'gricers'...
Curiosity about railway folklore has created chapters ranging from ghosts and fairies to prophecy and inspiration; commuters' trials; crimes by the Krays, Great Train Robbery and mythical 'Maniac on the Platform'; legends surrounding locos and the strategic steam reserve; fortean phenomena; trainspotters and pedants; traditional folklore ad contemporary legends.
The result is entertaining and erudite, broad and iconoclastic, scholarly but frequently nicely naughty. The range is stunningly eclectic and the style easy, evocative and witty.
As Hunter S. Thompson liked saying, 'buy the ticket, take the ride.'
Paul Screeton is a prolific writer and editor. He re-founded The Ley Hunter magazine in 1969 and in 1974 wrote Quicksilver Heritage, a pioneering overview of 'earth mysteries'. He currently edits Folklore Frontiers which he founded in 1985. For many years Paul combined working for the Hartlepool Mail with his interest in railways, contemporary folklore and local pubs.
'... a surprisingly good book, weird but rather wonderful.' Mike Amos Northern Echo
'... a truly fascinating book for everyone, not just railway enthusiasts.' D.J. Tyrer The Supplement
'A book for people who didn't know they liked railway books. 8/10'
Fortean Times
'lively, wide-ranging, well-delivered and idiosyncratic in the most positive sense – well worth the price of the ticket.'
Mick Goss Folklore Frontiers
ISBN 978-1-872883-96-0. 2006.
245 x 175 mm, 210 + vi pages, 13 b&w photos, 3 line drawings, paperback.
£14.95
CURES AND CURSES
Ritual and cult at holy wells
Understanding the mysteries of sacred springs
Why are some wells said to be miraculously created by saints?
Why are the rituals associated with them sometimes about divination
or cursing? What evidence is there for the water curing illnesses?
Do the wells have guardians? If so, are they humans, fairies, or even
dragons? Is there treasure hidden there? What should be left there –
rags, pins, coins, pebbles or even votive offerings?
Until recently the answers had been almost entirely forgotten.
However a revival of interest in holy wells started in 1985 with the
publication of Janet and Colin Bord's book Sacred Waters and in
recent years research has gathered pace. In this entirely new book Janet
brings together the latest understanding of such lore as 75 topic-by-
topic descriptions, including their links to pre-Christian practices.
There is also a list of 25 recommended wells to visit. The 135
illustrations include historic photographs of wells and rituals.
Cures and Curses provides an enticing overview for those looking for an introduction to holy wells and a source of reliable but little-
known information for those already seduced by the allure of sacred springs.
Janet Bord lives in North Wales, where she and her husband Colin run the Fortean Picture Library. They have written more than 20 books on folklore and mysteries since their first successful joint venture, Mysterious Britain (1972).
The book contains not only a plethora of illustrations, but also a very full bibliography, referring to many unusual items. But Janet Bords style is blessedly unacademic. All in all, like the authors other books, this is a synthesis of imagination, poetry and scholarship, a must-have-read for all interested in the ancient traditions of these islands. Peter Costello Irish Catholic
'Charming and comprehensive dip into well folklore' Richard Alexander Fortean Times
'... an invaluable book.' Carl Merry Facts and Fiction
'Highly recommended.' Michael Howard The Cauldron
'A wealth of material has been gathered here, and it has been well digested before being compiled into this book. It is a very useful reference book for those of us who are interested in the water element in general and in wells in particular. I found it both inspirational and interesting [...] an excellent book'
This is an excellent book, consisting of seventy-five short essays (in alphabetical order) discussing different aspects of Holy Wells, from Ampullae to Witches, looking at topics such as Dragons, Healing, and Rituals along the way. It is satisfyingly well researched and easy to use - many of the essays are cross-referenced, full details are provided of sources and there is a good index. It is well illustrated, too, with photos and drawings on most pages.
ISBN 978-1-872883-953. 2006.
The Druid Network's online review
The essays explore both historical and current day responses to wells, considering how they have changed. Clouties, or rags, are, for example, are now more frequently left at wells as compared to twenty years ago. Nowadays, people are less likely to leave pieces of fabric ripped from their clothing, but do still tend to leave clothes or coins or (increasingly, it seems) other items. Our purpose in leaving these items has shifted as well- the author suggesting that whereas in the past it arose from a desire to seek a cure for an ailment, it has changed into the making of an offering to the spirit of the place. We may no longer hope that holy wells will cure our problems, but do wish to respond to the atmosphere and energy of the wells with honour and respect.
The author does not just cite beliefs about wells uncritically, being unafraid to say when there is no evidence for stories about a particular well. She argues, for example, that there is no real evidence that Holy Wells predated the Romans coming to Britain.
A wealth of material has been gathered here, and it has been well digested before being compiled into this book. It is a very useful reference book for those of us who are interested in the water element in general and in wells in particular. I found it both inspirational and interesting. The author well conveys her enthusiasm and love for wells. The book's format means that it can be just dipped into and read in small self-contained chunks.
The final section of the book lists twenty-five Holy Wells that the author recommends visiting in England and Wales - here each is accompanied by a photo. The addition of a map would have been an added bonus. I have felt stimulated to visit some of those which are closer to me very soon.
Hawthorn on Amazon.co.uk
245 x 175 mm, 191+ viii, 100 b&w photographs, 35 line drawings, paperback.
£14.95
OVER NINE FORESTS
Folk beliefs and practices from Lithuania to the Urals
Until recent centuries there were no real frontiers between the countries we think of today as the Baltic states, eastern Finland, Karelia and western Russia. Instead there were tribal lands, and the tribes themselves were still shifting in the search for a perfect place to dwell. The folk beliefs and practices of this immense region have both aspects in common and local variations.
Over Nine Forests is an innovative survey based on K.M. Koppana's extensive research and practical experience. Each chapter explains such aspects as star lore; beliefs associated with stones and trees; the symbolism of food and clothing; seasonal customs; and the practices associated with death.
K.M. Koppana has previously written Snake Fat and Knotted Threads: An introduction to Finnish traditional healing magic.
'This is a brilliant little book! It packs a huge amount of information into barely 100 pages.' Andrew Riley Northern Earth
ISBN 978-1-872883-977. 2006
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 119 + x pages, 30 b&w photographs, 26 line drawings, 1 map, paperback.
£9.95
SACRED PLACES
Prehistory and popular imagination
Sacred Places asks why certain types of prehistoric places are thought of as sacred, and explores how the physical presence of such sacred sites is less important than what these places signify. So this is not another guide book to sacred places but instead provides a unique and thought-provoking guide to the mental worlds the mindscapes in which we have created the idea of prehistoric sacred places.
Recurring throughout this book is the idea that we continually create and re-create our ideas about the past, about landscapes, and the places within those landscapes that we regard as sacred. For example, although such concepts as 'nature', 'landscape', 'countryside', 'rural' and the contrast between profane and sacred are all part of our everyday thinking, in this book Bob Trubshaw shows they are all modern cultural constructions which act as the 'unseen' foundations on which we construct more complex myths about places.
Key chapters look at how earth mysteries, modern paganism and other alternative approaches to sacred places developed in recent decades, and also outline the recent dramatic changes within academic archaeology. Is there now a 'middle way' between academic and alternative approaches which recognises that what we know about the past is far less significant than what we believe about the past?
Bob Trubshaw has been actively involved with academic and alternative approaches to archaeology for most of the last twenty years. In 1996 he founded At the Edge magazine to popularise new interpretations of past and place.
'Sacred Places... is a very valuable addition to the small body of thoughtful work on the spiritual landscapes of Great Britain and therefore recommended reading.'
Nigel Pennick Silver Wheel
'One of the best books in the field I have ever read.'
D J Tyrer Monomyth Supplement read more of this review
'Altogether a very worthwhile book with some genuinely original insights...'
Jerry Bird Merry Meet
'I recommend it to anyone interested in archaeology, popular culture, contemporary mythology or "alternative archaeology".' 8/10
Richard Alexander Fortean Times
'This finely-constructed and very informative text is for all Pagans who give time and space to positively thinking about our relationships with the sacredness of our prehistoric landscapes.'
Five pentacles
Francis Cameron Pentacle
'Highly recommended.'
Michael Howard The Cauldron
See Richard Alexander's online review of Sacred Places
ISBN 978 1872 883 670. 2005.
245 x 175 mm, 203 + xiv pages, 43 b&w illustrations and 7 line drawings, paperback
£16.95
FOOTPRINTS IN STONE
The significance of foot- and hand-prints and other imprints
left by early men, giants, heroes, devils, saints, animals,
ghosts, witches, fairies and monsters
Shortlisted for the Folklore Society Katharine Briggs Award 2005
From the earliest humans to the present day, there has always been a compulsion to 'leave one's mark': early cave art includes thousands of hand outlines, while many churches in Britain have foot outlines inscribed in lead and stone. These two extremes span almost 30,000 years during which time all kinds of persons, real and legendary, have left visible traces of themselves. But 30,000 years ago seems almost recent, when compared with the finding of some (admittedly controversial) fossilized human footprints in rocks apparently contemporary with dinosaur footprints that are tens of millions of years old.
Most of the footprints – and hand-prints, knee-prints, and impressions of other body parts – are clearly not real, having allegedly been impressed into rocks around the world by such high-profile figures as the Buddha, Vishnu, Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary, as well as a vast panoply of saints, whose footprint traces and associated stories occupy two chapters. Their horses also left hoof-prints, and other animals are represented too. Not surprisingly, the ubiquitous Devil has a whole chapter to himself – but giants, villains and heroes, such as King Arthur, also feature strongly. Witches, fairies, ghosts and assorted spirits have made their mark: there are many modern instances of phantom hand- and foot-prints, the latter often bloodstained and indelible. Modern mysterious footprints are rarely graven in stone, but are rather more ephemeral, being left on the earth by monsters such as Bigfoot, or aliens who have briefly stepped out of their spacecraft. All these tales, old and new, may have some deeper meaning, and there is a chapter on the significance of footprints, as revealed in customs and folklore.
Hundreds of imprints are described in this book, which concludes with location details for more than 100 imprint sites all around the world.
'[This] is a tremendous source-book, which... also has plenty of stories, full bibliographies, and many wise comments on issues of interpretation. It is an engrossing read, and the photographs are marvellous.'
Daithi O hOgain Folklore
'A delightful exploration of a truly mysterious subject. 9 out of 10'
Bob Rickard Fortean Times
'... a very interesting read, well-researched, well-written and lavishly illustrated and I have really enjoyed reading it!'
A.J. Veldmeijer www.PalArch.nl
'Fascinating stuff and highly recommended.'
Mike Howard The Cauldron
'... a good and wide-ranging first step into investigating the significance of the foot imprint.'
John Billingsley Northern Earth
ISBN 978 1872 883 731. 2004.
245 x 175 mm, 263 + x pages, 112 b&w photos, 26 line drawings, paperback.
£14.95
SNAKE FAT AND KNOTTED THREADS
An introduction to traditional Finnish healing magic
What did the Finnish cunning man carry in his magic pouch? How does one learn the language of the ravens?
What is the Origin of the Cat? How do you attract a partner at Midsummer?
These and much more are to be found in Snake Fat and Knotted Threads.
Snake Fat and Knotted Threads provides a unique resource about traditional Finnish healing magic and spells, folk customs and myths.
All this detailed information is based on the author's research and practical experience.
Reviews of the new edition of Snake Fat and Knotted Threads:
'Snake Fat and Knotted Threads is a rare and interesting book written by a woman who truly cares about the folk tradition of her own country. [...] In a world of 'Get Witch Quick' books and overcomplicated traditions, Koppana is refreshing... '
Elswyth (on Wyrdways discussion list)
'This is a revised and expanded version of a book first published in Finland in 1990... It provides an insight into the practices of cunning men and women, healers and shamans in a part of the world little known to us in Great Britain. We learn of spells and the magical and healing uses of various substances, herbal, animal and other. The ancient divinities are looked at, and the lives of certain healers are looked at. There is significantly more about women's magic and healing than in the original edition. The contrasts and similarities between Finnish and British practices are fascinating.'
Daniel Cohen Wood and Water
Snake Fat and Knotted Threads '... is a study of the tietaja or cunning folk who used such items as human skulls, graveyard dirt and hangmen's nooses in their magical work. They invoked both the old Finnish gods and Christian deities. This is a highly recommended study of a bygone era of magical belief that in modern Finland has been sadly usurped by New Age therapists and neo-pagan Goddess worship.'
Michael Howard The Cauldron
',.. This is an invaluable insight into Finnish folk magic and folk healing customs. ... There is a lot packed into this small volume. Highly recommended.'
Tabitha Mara Silver Wheel
1st UK edition (revised from Finnish edition)
ISBN 978 1872 883 656. 2003.
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 83 + x pages, 13 b&w photos, 2 line drawings, paperback.
£7.95
MASTERWORKS
The arts and crafts of traditional buildings in northern Europe
Masterworks is about the traditions of arts and crafts in northern Europe, taking as a starting point the use of timber in building. Timber frame buildings have been constructed over a long period of time over a large territory, mostly northern and north-west Europe. Various regional and local styles have come into being.
Timber buildings display a rich diversity of techniques, forms and patterns developed by generations of master craftsmen working with local materials under similar limitations. The 'arts and crafts' used in the construction of these buildings acknowledge and celebrate the knowledge, traditions, abilities and spiritual understanding of how to work effectively with natural materials. They are living traditions that remain relevant today.
Masterworks is a celebration of this arts and crafts ethos that is present in the traditional buildings of northern Europe.
ISBN 978 1872 883 632. 2002.
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 163 viii pages, 23 b&w photos, 15 line drawings paperback.
£9.95
ON SACRED MOUNTAINS
'an important spiritual document' The Guardian
'Such narrow, narrow confines we live in. Every so often, one of us primates escapes these dimensions, as Martin Goodman did. All we can do is rattle the bars and look after him as he runs into the hills. We wait for his letters home.' The Los Angeles Times
Martin J. Goodman continues his hard-nosed approach to spiritual phenomena. He doesn't discount them; he tests them with his life! After his internationally acclaimed books I Was Carlos Castaneda and In Search of the Divine Mother, astonishing perspectives on the psychedelic shamanism of the Amazon and the guru / devotee relationship, comes this most powerful and daring of adventures.
What is a sacred mountain? Study them all we like, the only way of knowing them is to measure their effects in our own lives. Starting at Mount Ararat, moving to Ireland, passing through the sacred heights of India and Sri Lanka, Martin was then called to the mountain ranges of the American South West. At the highest point of Texas he received a revelation of great promise for the survival of humanity. His journey is a compelling story of intimate encounters, sexual transformation, astounding landscapes, and raw mountain energy. The writing is of a rare quality that turns each experience into our own.
On Sacred Mountains will appeal to those interested in travel, and adds a deep spiritual experience to the travelogue. On Sacred Mountains will also interest the 'spiritual searcher', especially those who expect their guides to do more than write from the comfort of their retreats.
Tune your life to higher powers - open this book and hear the mountains speak.
ISBN 978 1872 883 588. 2002.
Demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 138 pages, paperback.
£9.95
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A RAIL FAN
As a boy at the start of the twentieth century, Jim Hamilton grew up in the heyday of railways. By the age of three he was in love with steam locomotives. He enthusiastically compared the different competing rail companies that flourished around his home in Nottingham: the Great Central, Great Northern, North Western and his favourite because its engines were painted red – the Midland. His interest was greatly aided and abetted by The Railway Magazine, which rapidly became his preferred reading.
Holidays in his father's native Scotland soon added the Caledonian line to his store of knowledge. Then boarding school in Yorkshire meant travelling on the trains of the 'cold, unfriendly' North Western line. In a sometimes turbulent working life Jim ensured that either holidays or the job gave him occasion for extensive travel by train throughout Britain. But not only Britain: as a soldier in both World Wars he made the most of the opportunity to study trains in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. He also made several trips to Denmark and became enchanted with the country – but not its trains!
The author of several railway books, Jim Hamilton brings a wide-ranging knowledge of railways and an exceptional memory to his story. He recounts his varied life in a lively style that intrigues and entertains. His autobiography is augmented by his son John Hamilton, in an introduction which covers Jim's life when not on a train, and by 57 photographs of relevant locomotives, key places and family members. The author's detailed recollections of locomotives and their specifications when steam ruled the rails brings life to a subject often dismissed as 'train spotting'.
ISBN 978 1872 883 839. 2005.
245 x 175 mm, 232 + xviii pages, 56 b&w photographs plus colour frontispiece, paperback.
£16.95
HOW TO WRITE AND PUBLISH LOCAL AND FAMILY HISTORY SUCCESSFULLY
How to Write and Publish Local and Family History Successfully guides even complete novices through all the stages needed to produce and promote books, booklets, magazines, CD-ROMs and Web sites on local and family history. For those who are not novices the information will also act as a checklist for producing professional-looking publications.
Topics include:
It all adds up to 280 large format (245 x 175 mm) pages of advice, references, useful addresses, tips and hints.
All the information is based on Bob Trubshaw's fifteen years of experience publishing local and family history books, booklets, magazines, CD-ROMs and Web sites. In the last 15 years he has written and self-published 16 books and booklets; compiled and published two local history CD-ROMs; edited and published over 60 books, booklets and electronic publications for other authors; and edited nearly 50 issues of quarterly and annual magazines.
This book supersedes the well-received 1999 book How to Write and Publish Local History.
'This should be on the desk of all carrying out local research, so that they know what to do with it once it has been written up.'
Aubrey Stevenson Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society Newsletter
'Here's a book that satisfies a real need, magnificently. [...] a well-organised guide, using simple language [...] I have often fielded phone calls from would-be authors and publishers and wished that I could recommend just one book capable of answering all their queries. Now I can.'
Peter Watson Family Tree Magazine
'For any would-be publisher of a family history this book would be invaluable.'
Monica Mukherji Family History Monthly
'An invaluable work which deserves to be bought by any local or family historian who shares his research and opinions with others.'
Robert Howard Local History Magazine
Reviews of How to Write and Publish Local History
ISBN 978 1872 883 595. 2005.
245 x 175 mm, 262 + xviii pages, 32 b&w illustrations, paperback
£16.95
One of Heart of Albion's
best selling titles
A USER-FRIENDLY DICTIONARY OF OLD ENGLISH
5th edition with Old English reader
One of Heart of Albion's best selling titles has now got bigger and better!
This dictionary contains some 3,500 of the commonest words in Old English. Beginners will be able to translate simple passages of prose and verse from the rich variety of Old English texts. Advanced students will find it a rapid reference aid.
Words are listed by order of the consonants they contain, rather than by the usual strict alphabetical order of all letters in the word. The variation in Old English in stressed vowels at different times and in different dialects, plus many variants of spellings, can make it tricky to look up words in conventional Old English dictionaries as you are repeatedly referred to another entry. This problem is largely eliminated here and the user should find this dictionary offers an easy and speedy way to locate Old English words.
For the fifth edition the Introduction has been fully revised and a selection of representative Old English texts included. These will start you on the path of appreciating a very special literature and the way the language works.
ISBN 978 1872 883 854. 2005.
A5, 108 + viii pages, paperback.
SPECIAL OFFER! Usually £9.95 but only £7.95 if ordered as a result of visiting this on-line site (quote 'on-line offer' when ordering).
MEET THE DRAGON
An introduction to Beowulf's adversary
An erudite yet readable insight into the history of dragons, culminating in a detailed discussion of their roles in Old English literature.
'A top-notch effort, excellent value and a damned good read.' Talking Stick
'In the natural human order of things, all our attention as readers focuses on those heroes (Beowulf, Sigurðr, St George) whose fortune it is to fight and overcome the repulsive, reptilian foes of mankind we call 'dragons'. The Dragonslayer is a central character in many mythic systems while the fight against the insuperable foe is the crowning glory and bitterest defeat of Beowulf's distinguished career. But what about the dragon? Where does the idea of the dragon come from - given that the creature has no objective reality - and what is its meaning? Why was the business of dragon-slaying the first test that Sigurðr faced, and the final one which Beowulf (and, implicitly, no-one else) could overcome?
'In this neat volume, Bill Griffiths sets out to find answers to the many questions surrounding this richly symbolic creature. In doing so he brings in such matters as human revulsion at the idea of being eaten alive (the fate of anirnals caught in the coils of the larger serpents) and the relationship between the dragon and the dead - particularly the grave-mound dwelling, treasure-guarding dragons of heroic verse. Bill also discusses the Christian notion of the dragon as one of the beastly manifestations of Satan, and correlates the various concepts underlying the Anglo-Saxon draca to try to bring out the reptile's meaning within the culture (with particular reference to Beowulf, of course).'
Steve Pollington Wiðowinde
ISBN 978 1872 883 434. 1996. A5, 47 pages, illustrated, card covers.
£2.95
YMIR'S FLESH
North European creation mythologies
In isolation the pre-Christian north European creation myths appear fragmented and confused, but a thematic cohesion is apparent when they are taken as a whole and compared to their counterparts in Vedic India, ancient Greece and Rome, medieval Ireland, ancient and medieval Iran, and so on. From this arises a wider significance that would not otherwise be apparent.
This wider significance includes the recognition of a distinctive social structure, formally defined in the institutions, myths and religion. The myths of creation have a pivotal r le in the construction of this system. A vast and complex mythical scenario describes the spontaneous generation and subsequent dismemberment of a primal humanoid being and the manufacture of the features of the cosmos from parts of his body.
As a system, it is nearly all-encompassing: it gives form and meaning to the social structure, both the human and the divine; to the features and phenomena that constitute the physical world and its surroundings; to the sacrifices and observances involved in nearly all the major religious themes; to the beliefs underlying the early stirrings of science and medicine; and to the theory and practice of magic.
The first stirrings of Western rationalism were founded on the poetry of these creation myths, thanks largely to the reiteration of archaic principles in the works of Plato and Aristotle. Like the Big Bang so dear to modern astrophysics, the north European cosmological myths have echoes that can still be detected today.
Ymir's Flesh gathers together the distorted fragments of this mythology and provides an original and inspiring insight into the complex inter-weaving of mythological themes.
Reviews of Ymir's Flesh:
'Alby writes in a clear way about a complex subject, injecting an occasional glimpse of humour. For anyone interested in Germanic mythology, Indo-European culture and shamanism this book is an essential addition to your reading lists.' White Dragon
'Fascinating seems too simple a word to describe this book; yet it is, and partly because it has a style that makes the content easy to read - no small achievement with densely interwoven material like this. Northern Earth
'The scope of research and analysis in the book would at first appear to beckon an extremely dense read, however the style and verve of the text does much to enliven the highly involved subject matter.' 3rd Stone
'Alby Stone write in clear and concise English, with a minimum of jargon and an occasional twinkle of humour.' Withowinde
'This is a major study of mythic themes in Northern European paganism and it is highly recommended.' The Cauldron
'[a] marvellous book with its panoply of reflections . . . ' Talking Stick
ISBN 978 1872 883 458. 1997, A5, 240 pages including index, full-page illustrations by David Taylor, paperback.
£12.95
THE QUESTING BEAST AND OTHER COSMIC DISMEMBERMENTS
Starting with the thirteenth-century Arthurian legend of Perlesvaus, the scope extends to pagan Celtic sacrificial rites and echoes of the ancient myths of cosmic creation.
ISBN 978 1872 883 236. 1993, A5, card covers, 36 pages, full-page Celtic illustrations by Simon Rouse.
£2.95
CRETE RECLAIMED
A feminist exploration of Bronze Age Crete
Between about 3000 and 1400 BC one of the world’s great civilizations
flourished on the island of Crete. The distinctive characteristic of this
civilization was that it was dominated by an elite of women.
From the Foreword by Rodney Castleden, author of Minoans: Life in
Bronze Age Crete and The Knossos Labyrinth -
'At a time in the West when the long-suffered, traditional role of
women in society as subjugated subordinates has been challenged and
the bars of gender-bias have been severely shaken and cracked, it
is particularly useful to look back at this other society, that of
Bronze Age Crete, and see just what sort of civilization was built
upon 'feminine' values.'
'Susan Evasdaughter bravely reconstructs that older principle, seeing
it as the foundation stone of a golden age in ancient Europe, and
she writes of it with a rare passion. There is a wealth of fine detail
in her book about the everyday lives of the people of ancient Crete.
This is a book not just for the academics, but for visitors to Crete
and for those interested in ancient religions.'
'Susan Evasdaughter's Crete Reclaimed is a painstaking work of careful
reconstruction. We are presented with an incredibly rich evocation
of life on ancient Crete, and many different aspects of its culture.
All the evidence for a matrilineal and matriarchal society is assembled
and offered in a powerful and overwhelmingly convincing statement
about the role of women in ancient societies.'
Reviews of Crete Reclaimed:
'... I found the book exceedingly well researched, covering archaeology, contemporary accounts and mythology, placing Crete within the wider context of the ancient world...' Wood and Water
'An explicitly engendered reading of this particular archaeological record.' Antiquity
'The book is nicely illustrated, well researched and packed with information about ancient Crete.' The Cauldron
'Susan Evasdaughter's analysis is very full, and the validity of exposition compelling.... All in all, this is a valuable contribution to the study of ancient rites and religion.' 3rd Stone
ISBN 978 1872 883 441. 1996, A5, 243 pages including index, 75 original line drawings, paperback.
£9.95
See also Explore Books series
- Explore Vampires
- Explore Alchemy
- Explore Dragons
- Explore Hinduism
- Explore Phantom Black Dogs
- Explore Fairy Traditions
- Explore Shamanism
- Explore Green Men
- Explore Mythology
- Explore Folklore
and also Alternative Albion imprint
- Flying Saucerers – The social history of UFOlogy
- Stonehenge – Celebration and subversion
- The Myths of Reality