The Cauldron and the Drum: A Journey into Celtic Shamanism

okay to keep it simple and short. For example, you might say, “I ask that this space be made sacred, and that all who enter feel loved, protected, and at ease.”

Envision the object of your intention receiving the blessing of sacredness and purification.

To start, choose a small object in your home. It could be a shoe, a dish, a flower, or anything else within arm's reach. Pretend that you are seeing this object for the first time. Remember that the object's name is just a convention we use for communicating with one another. Take a moment to experience the object beyond its name, as if you are dis

bring consistent, loving attention to everything you are thinking, feeling, and perceiving.

How does your perception change, knowing that this is your only chance to see, feel, and handle this object before it is gone? Do you feel a newfound appreciation for the color and texture of the object, or for its emotional significance? Do you feel that you are literally seeing it more clearly, and with something like greater reverence?

This frustrating lack of information isn't limited to Celtic shamanism. Anyone studying Celtic anything—whether that's music, agriculture, or shamanism—has to rely on what they can glean from the written accounts of other ancient peoples who encountered the Celts. These ancient authors — many of them Roman—were often heavily influenced by Christian

attention you bring to your internal and external experiences. For example, how finely can you pay attention to the sounds of the birds when you're walking in nature? How closely can you track your own emotions as they arise and dissipate? Can you saturate these experiences with love and acceptance as they are happening?

The middle cauldron is also known as the cauldron of vocation. This cauldron helps you identify and carry out your soul's purpose on this earth, even in the face of fears and obstacles. A balanced middle cauldron unlocks your ability to serve others and the planet, whether

Europe, it was only with the arrival of the Roman empire and Christianity that the magic of stones, lakes, and winds was silenced and the art of following your inner authority was forgotten, all replaced by a distant god in the sky and a handful of cloaked men who claimed to be his only true spokesmen.