Lammas

Customer Reviews:

Get the whole series.......2007-05-07

Each Llewellen book has a cool introduction about the history of the holiday. I recommend all the sabbat books in this series - - they have a lot more information than in any individual sabbat book.

A Nice Overview of the Lammas/Lughnasa Holiday.......2005-07-13

This is another of the books in the Sabat Series that has been carefully crafted by Llewellyn. Anna Franklin, an English author and witch, teams up with English artist Paul Mason to give us a book on the history and folklore of the holiday of Lammas or Lughnasa.

It seems right to have an English author give us the background of the holiday of Lammas, or Lughnasa, celebrated on August 1. It is indeed a very English/Irish holiday in origins. But, again, in reviewing the bibliography, along side some very noteworthy historical references are references to the author's own works and works done by other Llewellyn authors. However, in the case of this book, the historical references are noteworthy, and there are a few classic English/Irish authors, both historians and pagan, that stand out in the crowd, like Nigel Pennick and Daithi O'hOgain to name a couple. So, for this installment in the series, it appears to be better researched than previous volumes and it shows in the reading. It also does not have much of that "pagan spin" that dominates the series. The history of this holiday is not as "threatening" as others are perceived, so the heavy handed "pagan spin" was not necessary with this book, and it makes for a better read.

The history/customs/lore section is fascinating. The inclusion of many English/Irish festivals held at this time of year sheds light on the origins of this holiday. While some of the conclusions drawn might be strictly on the part of the author, it is easy for the reader to see the background of this holiday as being one of a harvest festival, and we can see how bread and berries have a major impact and are key to this holiday. There are some tidbits from other areas around the world focusing on other Deities, but it is very clear this is a Northern European celebration and this is the main focus of the book.

The discussions on Lugh, for whom this holiday is named, shed some light on this well known Celtic Deity. Ms. Franklin presents us with several stories of this Hero, from the Welsh and Irish. She also provides a "reconstruction" section, going over some customs and associating legends with these. She does bring out the harvest association with Lugh, and her historical references seem to agree with this.

The book is dotted with endnotes for the person wanting to do further research. The historical section of this book is probably the beefiest of all the books in this series so far and it is a credit to Ms. Franklin. The book is also well illustrated by Paul Mason, from the cover art to the black and white illustrations that pepper the pages of the book. The illustrations for the corn maiden, while lovely, are not all that exact, however, and would leave one scratching their head as to how to actually make one of the dolls illustrated. They are more for styles rather than instruction. It would have been nice to have a step by step instruction. But, that's a personal preference, I suppose.

The Celebrating part of the book is classic Llewellyn material: crafts, cooking, and spells. There is a section on Goddesses. One can see the association of the Harvest aspect of these Goddesses. In the magic section, the first spell a healing focusing on Osiris and Egyptian magic. It progresses into Irish/Celtic spells from there. There is a nice little section on "Ash Divination" where you read the images from the ashes of a bonfire. The table of correspondences that follows is fascinating. An interesting form of Divination if you are so inclined.

There is also a nice section on incense. Again, there is the inclusion of incense for Deities other Lugh or Celtic/Irish. Paul Mason also contributes with a section on Dyes.

There is a section on games. We then progress to "Warrior Magic" which seems appropriate as Lugh was a warrior, and the games thing does infer competition. Symbols, face painting and mask making all are part of the magics and traditions. An interesting addition which also includes warrior spirits and totems.

There is the mandatory cookbook section that is found in all these books. What is being pagan if it does not include food? While breads are the focus here, the recipes all appear to be very English in nature, a refreshing change of pace for these books. From fish to toffee, there are some yummy recipes here. The measures are in US, Imperial and Metric, so no matter where you live it will be easy for you to follow. Try the soda bread. I thought I remembered my grandmother adding bacon to her Colcannon, but I figure it's an area thing, and folks make it according to their family recipe. The basic recipe is offered here.

There are also rituals offered here. There is a group ritual and one from her own group "The Grove of the Silver Wheel", being Druidic in nature and again for a group. It would have been nice to have a ritual that a solitary could have performed on their own, but Ms. Franklin's focus is group and we are given two rituals for group practice.

There are several appendices. There is a "calendar" running from July 15th through August 25th offering day to day celebrations of Deities, festivals and ancient events.

The "Names of Festivals" area gives us the ancient Irish names. What would have been helpful here is a phonetic pronunciation of the names.

There are some correspondences for colors, plants, symbols and the usual God/Goddess section with associations. Also some songs and chants but no music included. This is followed by the Glossary and the Selected Bibliography and index.

Overall, this is a nice addition to the Sabat Series, offering an English view of the first of our Harvest Holidays. This is a well put together overview of the holiday, including some information on other aspects of the Harvest. It is easy to read, has some interesting history that appears to be well researched. This is, of course, focused on the beginner or the curious who would like to get a feeling for the holiday, and it achieves a well rounded view of the myths, lore and practices of modern day pagans. It's a nice addition to your library. boudica

Another good book although not as good as Mabon or others.......2003-11-27

Like the other Llewellyn books, this one is a great introduction to this particular Sabbat. It starts out with some history of Lammas, and then goes on to comparing similar festivals across cultures. The story of Lugh is a chapter in itself. Then there are all sorts of neat crafts (Lughnasa Magic) to make. Spells and such are throughout a few chapters. There's a section on Bird Auspices and another on totems - I don't agree with all the "meanings" but its a start. Jamie Sams and her medicine cards are better. There are some nice hand drawings throughout the book. This book is good and I'm glad to have it - would buy it again but I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because I would have liked more of the history, more of the goddess discussion, more of the connection to mother earth and the symbolism of the season.

Golden corn, silver blade, here the sacrifice is made...*.......2003-03-17

First of all, please ignore the review below that proclaims this book to be "Pagan Lite". This reviewer has cut-and-pasted that review, verbatim, under all of the books in the Sabbat Series. Given that I've read several of them which don't fit the "Lite" description, I am surmising that the reviewer read maybe one of the books and made a generalization about all of them. Bear in mind that they are written by different authors, with varying degrees of knowledge and writing skills.

Anna Franklin and Paul Mason do a great job here with the fragmentary material they have to work with. Lammas/Lughnasad is possibly the most obscure of the Wiccan holidays, both because little survives about it and because the sometimes uncomfortable theme of sacrifice is present in it. The authors piece together what information remains to us about the deity for whom Lughnasad is named--Irish Lugh, Welsh Llew--and about the ways they were honored. Since this isn't a huge body of information, they supplement it with material about other sacrificial gods whose rites occurred around this time of year, such as Odin, Adonis, and Dionysos. They add in some of Robert Graves's evocative speculations about sacrificial kings, and together all this stuff will give you a good starting point for your Lammas rituals.

There are also recipes, incenses, spells, dyes, etc. Additionally, there is a large section on warrior magic, since Lugh was a warrior and Lughnasad is often considered a time to honor these fierce energies. This section almost could have been another book, dealing with things such as totem animals.

The book concludes with several rituals for the season, each with a different cultural slant (Druidic, Norse, general Wiccan, etc.) The rituals are relatively simple as written, which I like, since it means I can use them as a framework and flesh them out with my own writing and ideas.

Overall, a valuable book about an obscure holiday.

*--A chant I made up.

A strong addition to the "Sabbat" series by Llewellyn.......2002-08-04

When discussing the sabbats, most pagan and wiccan books reserve only a few paragraphs to the various cellebrations, and most specific titles devote most of their time to Yule or Samhain/Hallowe'en. Lammas often gets a paragraph or two at best, and no real descriptive text giving you even a starting point on cellebrating the sabbat. Having taken a timid step toward the Sabbat series of books by Llewellyn with "Yule," and "Hallowe'en," I snapped up a copy of "Lammas" in time for my celebration in August, and read it cover to cover.

Much like Morrison's worldly take in "Yule," Franklin and Mason have penned a book that is a blend of various pagan and celtic folklore and world harvest celebrations. From Lugh to fashioning corn maidens, to specific Lughnasa magics, and rounding it all up with a cookbook perfect for any first harvest spread, the book was quite full of ways to craft a more serious Lammas cellebration, and had just the right mix of inspiration and lore to make it more than a glorified arts and crafts book for your New Age shelf. I cannot say enough about the folklore aspect of this book: there is so much here that helps bring a real focus to your Lammas cellebration.

Definitely more useful and in depth than Ravenwolf's "Hallowe'en" (the weakest of the series so far), "Lammas" will find a welcome home in the hands of beginner and more experienced pagans and wiccans alike.

'Nathan

Tales of Murder and Mystery: The Shrouded Walls April's Grave The Devil on Lammas Night

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Tales of Murder and Mystery; ...

Tales of Murder and Mystery: The Shrouded Walls April's Grave The Devil on Lammas Night
Susan Howatch
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Book Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0751537969

Book Description

The Shrouded Walls: When her parents die in a car accident, Marianne loses her home and all her worldly goods. She faces life as a governess, until she meets Axel Branson. A lonely house in the Kent Marshes is now her home. But distrust of her husband and fear of the house seem to roll in as steadily as the sea mist...

April's Grave: Three years after they parted, Karen and Neville decide to resume their life together, returning to the isolated Highland croft where April, Karen's sister, had shattered their marriage. Since then, the selfish and beautiful April has vanished…

The Devil on Lammas Night: When Tristan Poole moved to a remote Welsh seaside village, what was he planning? Nicola Morrison suspects foul play, particularly when sudden illnesses, accidents, and death shatter the peace…

Customer Reviews:

Tales of Murder and Mystery; ..........2007-10-11

Susan Howatch is one of my favorite authors, and I find it impossible to find fault with any of her novels. This trilogy of short novels is suspensefully plotted and employs the usual elegance of diction I expect from this author. Nevertheless, and perhaps it is due to their brevity, I did not enjoy these novels quite as much as, say, the Church of England series, or the longer works of romantic suspense.

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Simply the Best Fiction I've Ever Read
Tears for Lammas Night
Beautiful novel
More Than Fiction
Spectacular!

Lammas Night
Katherine Kurtz
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345295161
Release Date: 1983-11-12

Book Description

What Magic Can Stop Adolf Hitler -- History's Most Evil Black Magician?

Modern War

The year is 1940. Hitler's Germany is about to employ the secret arts of evil witchcraft to destroy England. What can stop them?

Ancient Weapon

It is the mission of John Graham, colonel in British Intelligence, to stop the onslaught of evil with an extraordinary strategy that defies all the rules of twentieth-century warfare: Unite the different witches' covens throughout England, drawing upon powers that reach back through dark centuries, in a ritual of awesome sacrifice on the first night of August, the magical

Lammas Night

Customer Reviews:

Simply the Best Fiction I've Ever Read.......2006-04-10

And I suspect that not all of it is fiction. Never cared for any of "The Adept" books and was startled to find myself so very moved by this. The setting, the terminology, the pace of the story are all exceptional.

Tears for Lammas Night.......2006-03-19

I just finished Lammas Night. Like the Adept series, I couldn't put it down. This book at the end is a real tear jerker. However the abiding love between the characters more than makes up for the ending. I highly reccomend this book. I just wish she would write more about John Graham. He is a character with a lot of depth.

Beautiful novel.......2005-12-31

I agree with most of the reviews of Lammas Night. I, too, read it at least once a year, despite its ending which can have me melancholy for hours after. But the one thing that stands out clearly, for me anyway, is - this is a novel about a deep and abiding friendship. Hence my sadness toward the end. Such is the talent of the author that I find myself wishing it would end differently each time I re-read it.

More Than Fiction.......2005-10-25

Some readers of Ms. Kurtz's works will know the name of the author, Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki. Her mother and father had an association with an occult group during WWII and had somewhat to do with events similar to those portrayed in the book. Katherine Kurtz was given her mother's diary and papers by Dolores. Katherine returned them to her, along with the galley proof of the book, saying, "You'll need a box of tissues handy when you read this."
And you, the reader, may well do so also. While a fictional book, there are strong, true esoteric underpinnings to the story. That is why it works so well, resonates so well, reads so well. Having spoken with both Dolores and Katherine about this book, I will say it is indeed, 'more than fiction'. Which, of course, makes it all the more delicious. I re-read it about once a year.
Find this book.

Spectacular!.......2002-02-09

LAMMAS NIGHT is one of the most original and interesting treatments of World War Two-era fiction ever to be penned. Like many another reader, I came across Sir John Cathal Graham while reading the ADEPT series, and wondered why he didn't rate his own series. I still wonder why he is the central character in only this one book, because Gray Graham is fascinating and complex, far more multidimensional than the too-well-turned-out Sir Adam Sinclair, and capable of so much more literary development. This is one of my favorite books.

Kurtz's writing is crisp, detailed, fast-paced, informative and even educational without being dry. The book could serve as a primer on practices of the Old Religion, which it portrays in a sensitive and sympathetic light. LAMMAS NIGHT includes a spirited discussion of reincarnation theories and comparative religion, written with subtlety and creativity. There are no lectures in the book, just presentations fitting seamlessly into the telling of the tale. There are no magical pyrotechnics here, just psychological drama, good taut storytelling, a compelling plot, and a sense of historical place and time that is undeniably alluring. Hardly the stuff of "Sword and Sorcery" or "fantasy," writing, this novel could easily be classed with Ludlum, LeCarre, Forsyth, and Follett as an espionage thriller par excellence. This may be Ms. Kurtz's finest book.

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Witchfire at Lammas
Robert Neill
Manufacturer: Arrow Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0099195607

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The Waiting Sands and The Devil on Lammas Night
Susan Howatch
Manufacturer: New York: Stein and Day Publishers, 1970
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Howatch, Susan | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000NXMJKS

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Caulked full of the occult....

Magnetic devil

Wonderful read!

Hauntingly sexy

The Devil on Lammas Night
Susan Howatch
Manufacturer: Time Warner Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Howatch, Susan | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0751533920

Customer Reviews:

Caulked full of the occult...........2007-07-27

Even though the book is categorized as gothic genre, in reality it is a work of fiction which totally revolves around witchcraft -- imitative magic with waxen images, pentagrams, Sator formulas, covens, black mass, clairvoyants, animal sacrifices, incantations, possessed animals (attendant demons). Only because a reading group had chosen this book did I persevere and finish. This book was my first Susan Howatch; will probably be my last.

Magnetic devil.......2005-01-03

This is a one-of-a-kind book. The story is just so fantastic and well told. Tristan Poole is not your average idea of a devil personified. He seems more like a pop star cum beatnik. Fans of Susan Howatch will be pleasantly surprised at how different this book is from her usual style. Unputdownable!

Wonderful read!.......2003-03-04

This book that is guaranteed to keep you spellbound.

Hauntingly sexy.......2000-08-28

Here's an example of how an author can take a genre like gothic horror/romance and come up with a book that breaks some rules and shocks the reader. The identity of the person in the book who is able to break the spell of the man who believes (or is) the Devil is very shocking indeed.

This book was very entertaining and the sexual innuendos are unusual in this genre of books in which the heroine is usually a virgin who saves herself somehow, despite the male romantic figure's efforts to save her.

"The Devil on Lammas Night" was a titilating read, making one wonder about the power of suggestion.

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The Shrouded Walls, The Dark Shore, The Waiting Sands, April's Grave, The Devil on Lammas Night
Susan Howatch
Manufacturer: Avenel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Howatch, Susan | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000CNQD9C

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Fascinating

Transforming Suffering: Reflections on Finding Peace in Troubled Times by His Holiness the Dalai Lamma, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Thomas Keating, Joseph Goldstein, Thubten Chodro
Donald W. Mitchell , and James Wiseman
Manufacturer: Image
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Gethsemani Encounter: A Dialogue on the Spiritual Life by Buddhist and Christian Monastics

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Minding Spirituality (Relational Perspectives Book Series)

Sacred Therapy: Jewish Spiritual Teachings on Emotional Healing and Inner Wholeness

ASIN: 0385507828
Release Date: 2003-08-19

Book Description

From the hearts and minds of some of today’s great spiritual masters comes advice on maintaining spiritual awareness and finding peace in troubled times.
In April 2002, several of the world’s most influential Buddhist and Christian monks, nuns, and lay practitioners gathered at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky to ponder contemporary life’s most difficult questions. The results of this great encounter are brought together in Transforming Suffering. These personal reflections from those who have spent their lives seeking to understand suffering and to provide spiritual guidance, inspiration, and support to those in trouble explore a wide range of difficult subjects, from the social, economic, military, and political turmoil we face today to enduring human concerns—the harmful affects of anger, hatred, and other negative emotions, the need to embrace compassion in our daily lives, the problems of aging and sickness, the loss of loved ones, facing our own mortality, and other similar personal and relational issues. His Holiness Pope John Paul II contributes his thoughts on the meaning of suffering, while His Holiness the Dalai Lama discusses the transformation of suffering. Conference participants include Thomas Keating, Joseph Goldstein, Thubten Chodron, Robert Aitken, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, Mary Margaret Funk, John Daido Loori, Father Columba Stewart, and Geshe Lhundub Sopa.
As they share their experiences and the principles of their traditions, the participants demonstrate the different ways we can transform suffering for the healing of our world and ourselves.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating.......2004-03-07

This book takes a look at an interreligious conference that was recently held in 2002 at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky (a place most popularly known as the monastery Thomas Merton belonged to). There was a list of extremely well known religious leaders present there: Pope John Paul II, H.H. the Dalai Lama, Thomas Keating, Joseph Goldstein, Thubten Chodron, Robert Aitken, John Daido Loori, Fr. Columba Stewart, Geshe Lhundab Sopa, among countless others.

The core topic on the table here was human suffering, and many members gave fascinating talks on this very hard pressing issue. There were a plethora of questions being asked at this discussion, with a number of eye-opening insights from Christian and Buddhist religious groups across the globe. Issues which affect us all in these modern times: How to deal with violence? How to deal with anger? What can all our religious orders contribute to helping with the reality of human suffering?

Customer Reviews:

An idea that failed........2004-11-29

Mercedes Lackey wrote a poem (a not-very-good one) about a wizard who settles in a village where the previous wizard has died. She begins to sense his presence in the house where he lived (and she lives now). In the end, she is faced with a choice of laying his soul, or bringing him back to life.

The conceit of this book is to have several authors use this theme as a jumping off point for their stories. It's an intriguing idea, but it doesn't work. The primary reason for this is, I think, that rather than use the story as inspiration, the authors simply put flesh on its bones. They don't use their own creative powers (assuming they have any) to make something unique and different of it. As a result, it's all much of a muchness and ultimately boring.

The other difficulty I had with it is the same difficulty that I have with much current fantasy writing. Many writers of this kind think that putting together a hash of various mythologies along with invented names that have no linguistic similarities are all you need. It's all very unsatisfying.

Having been introduced to fantasy via masters such as Lord Dunsany and Arthur Machen, I have no patience for this sort of thing.

Unbelievable! If you celebrate seasons, you need this book!.......2003-08-18

This book is amazing. The reviewer above who was disappointed in an anthology obviously never looked at the contents to see what she was buying. This is one of the best pieces of fantasy I have ever read. Each author puts their own spin on a basic premise designed by Mercedes Lackey. Some of the authors I recognized, some I didn't. A brief introduction of each author would have been helpful, but didn't detract from the story. If anyone figures out why the pig story is in there, please let me know. Also,the last entry could have been left out and the book would have had a better ending. I hope this comes out in a collector's edition someday because it's going on the shelf next to Shakespear, Homer, and Chaucer as a commentary on the human condition. This is a must-have for anyone who likes to read through the ancient seasons of the year!

Tribute to Lackey.......2002-05-30

THe local high school had a "tribute to Elvis" which wasn't bad as school concerts go - but I would be unhappy had I bought the tape believing it was bonafide Presley.

I felt the same about this book. Big type saying MERCEDES LACKEY and obvious fantasy - great, picked it up for airplane reading, and was annoyed to find Lackey had written only the verses it was based on. ANd I have never been an admirer of her verses.

It was a bit like being a high school teacher and having to read the efforts of a whole class told to write an essay on one topic. I would want to get paid to do that!

Well..........2002-04-11

I think that as a short story, Lackey could have done this very,very well. The story of Lammas Night is interesting, but an entire BOOK based simply on retellings of the original story with so-called "twists"? No, thank you. A wiser idea would have been to write a book of short stories of the "and-THEN-what-happened" of other ballads.

Short Stories themed by Lammas Night.......2002-03-24

Interesting set of short stories based around the Lammas Night premise. Anchored by Mercedes Lackey and with contributions from many people

The Lammas Feast (A Roger the Chapman Medieval Mystery)

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Roger at his best

The Lammas Feast (A Roger the Chapman Medieval Mystery)
Kate Sedley
Manufacturer: First World Publication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 072785867X

Customer Reviews:

Roger at his best.......2004-06-18

I am a die-hard fan. I love Roger and his world. This book is one of the truely great Roger the Chapman novels as the plot is well twisted, and I did not find myself, as I sometimes do (i.e.Nine Men Dancing)--wishing Roger would figure this one out, and get on with his life.
But then again Roger's life is interesting, and that is what keeps me reading.

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