In honor of this very magical time of year, I have decided to do a countdown of my top five magical Celtic books! These books go deep into the history and myths of the Celts and Arthurian legends. Each one is well worth reading for anyone interested in magic, myth, and legend (whether for academic study or practical usage). Without further ado here are my top five!
Number 5: Arthur and the Sovereignty of Britain: King and Goddess in the Mabinogion by Caitlin Matthews
~This book is an important read for anyone wanting to learn more about the origins of sovereignty traditions in Celtic culture, and how that influenced Arthurian legends. It is written by a woman who is an expert in ancient Celtic tradition and the Arthuriad! She and her husband have decades of experience with this type of study.
Number 4: Water Witchcraft: Magic and Lore from the Celtic Tradition by Annwn Avalon
~This book does a great job of explaining the importance of that most feminine of elements within the myths and lore of the Celts. It also goes into detail of the different types of watery magic within Celtic and Arthurian traditions! A great choice for anyone interested in the water element.
Number 3: Rhiannon: Divine Queen of the Celtic Britons by Jhenah Telyndru
~This book goes deep into explaining the story of Rhiannon, and is a great starting point for those who are interested in her. It is helpful to beginners as it will help them understand not only her story, but also a deeper analysis of the original tales within The Mabinogion.
Number 2: Avalon Within: A Sacred Journey of Myth, Mystery, and Inner Wisdom by Jhenah Telyndru
~This book is an important resource for those interested in Avalon and the energies associated with that place. This is a great companion on your own inner journey of self discovery, and I love that it focuses on the feminine mysteries!
Number 1: Arthurian Magic: A Practical Guide to the Wisdom of Camelot by John & Caitlin Matthews with Virginia Chandler
~This book is a massive compendium of the knowledge gained by the Matthews’ over decades of study of the Arthuriad! It is absolutely incredible, but not for the beginner to Arthurian and Avalonion mysteries, as it has so much information (it would likely overwhelm a beginner).
Special Mentions: The Mythic Moons of Avalon by Jhenah Telyndru. This is a great continuation and companion to Avalon Within. Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty by Jhenah Telyndru. This is great for anyone particularly interested in learning more about Blodeuwedd.
~I hope you have enjoyed this magical list. Let me know your thoughts, and if any of these are favorite magical tomes of yours also, in the comments below!
White Rose of Avalon 