Uniquely Celtic - The Soul and the Spirit


Book Description

"Uniquely Celtic: The Soul and the Spirit"" is the second book from Frank Rafters. On this occasion however, the author changes tack, focusing predominantly on players who were somewhat overshadowed by other legends in their eras at Parkhead. Included is one of the longest pieces ever penned on the life of Willie Fernie (with help from his family), the tales of numerous talented players, faithful supporters, and much more. In all, this book aims to give the reader a greater insight into the stories of some of the individuals who have helped to make Celtic Football Club so very special."




The Soul's Slow Ripening


Book Description

What does God want for your life? Christine Valters Paintner, bestselling Catholic author and online abbess for Abbey of the Arts, uses reflections, stories, guided activities, prayer experiences, and a variety of creative arts to help you patiently and attentively listen to God’s invitation. Everyone wants to understand God’s will for their lives. Christine Valters Paintner shares one of the most ancient paths to understanding from her study of monasticism and immersion into Celtic spirituality while living in Ireland. The Celtic way, which Paintner distills into twelve practices, offers discernment that focuses on the environment rather than the intellectual focus present in other forms of discernment. It allows for what Paintner calls the “soul’s slow ripening,” coming into the fullness of our own sweetness before we pluck the fruit. Each chapter begins with a story of a particular Irish saint—some well-known like Patrick or Brigid, others less so, such as Ita and Ciaran—and then introduces a helpful practice for discernment that the saint’s life illustrates. Paintner explores the call of dreams, the importance of thresholds, the practice of peregrination (wandering for the love of God), walking the rounds, learning by heart, soul friends, blessing each moment, and the wisdom of the landscape and the seasons. Readers are invited to explore these concepts through photography and writing. She invites us to contemplative walks with specific themes along with poetic writing prompts for expression. As you explore an alternate way of discerning a spiritual path—one which honors the moment-by-moment invitations and the soul’s seasonal rhythms—you will discover that this book will help you become more aligned with creativity and wholeness.




Listening for the Heartbeat of God


Book Description

An overview of Celtic spirituality and its implications for us today.




From Despair to Delirium


Book Description

This book began as a series of blog posts, each post based on the most recent Carlisle United match. It charts the club's decline in the 2021-2022 season to a point in February 2022 when the club found itself in the League Two relegation zone. The return of Carlisle-born former manager Paul Simpson saw the club embark on a dramatic revival which resulted in Carlisle United comfortably avoiding relegation. The author was present at many of those games that ensured the team's climb to safety. Following retirement in July 2022, the author was in a position to buy season tickets for himself and his son, meaning that they were able to attend about 75% of the club's games in the 2022-2023 season, clocking up well over 7,000 miles in the process. in addition to the physical journey, It was a remarkable metaphorical journey for the club. Mild expectation grew into optimism, grew into ambition, grew into expectation, before the remarkable denouement that saw Carlisle win an unlikely promotion to League One in the most dramatic fashion, via a penalty shoot-out in the play-off final at Wembley. This book recounts that two-season journey blow-by-blow, each post written within two or three days of the relevant game and not revised with the benefit of hindsight. It is an essential read for any supporter of Carlisle United, but will also resonate with any supporter of a lower-league football club who has endured years (sometimes decades) of disappointment, despair and frustration before achieving that brief, but precious, moment in the sun.




Anam Cara


Book Description

"Anam Cara is a rare synthesis of philosophy, poetry, and spirituality. This work will have a powerful and life-transforming experience for those who read it." —Deepak Chopra John O'Donohue, poet, philosopher, and scholar, guides you through the spiritual landscape of the Irish imagination. In Anam Cara, Gaelic for "soul friend," the ancient teachings, stories, and blessings of Celtic wisdom provide such profound insights on the universal themes of friendship, solitude, love, and death as: Light is generous The human heart is never completely born Love as ancient recognition The body is the angel of the soul Solitude is luminous Beauty likes neglected places The passionate heart never ages To be natural is to be holy Silence is the sister of the divine Death as an invitation to freedom




Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants


Book Description

"Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" is the first book from Frank Rafters. In it, the author chooses his greatest ever Celtic team (1888-1960) and, in doing so, tells of some of the greatest figures in the Football Club's remarkable history. The life story of the gentleman, who was until recently Celtic's oldest surviving ex-player (William Boland - who first saw Celtic in the 1930's), is also exclusively featured. Additionally, there are a plethora of tales from away days in Europe, Celts living around the world, and some of the author's personal experiences to be enjoyed, as well as much more.




Soul Friendship


Book Description

A soul friend is someone further along the journey of life who commits to helping another discover his or her true self and path through life. Each chapter of this book includes practical exercises and suggestions for further study.




Celtic Journeys


Book Description

The Ireland of myth and legend, still to be sensed and appreciated in the modern world, is the focus of this new and different travel guide. It contains not only the usual tips on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there, but also plentiful details about dozens of memorable and mystical sites, from New Grange to Staigue to Skellig Michael to Aran, and beyond. The traveler in search of wider experience of this ancient verdant land will find fascinating information about archaeology, geography, comparative religion, and local customs, as well as highlights from lively Irish literature and haunting Celtic music. Complete with maps, illustrations, and photographs, Celtic Journeys is a practical, easy-to-use treasure for those planning a trip to Ireland and for anyone interested in the world of the ancient Celts and its significance today. Book jacket.




The Peacock's Tail Feathers (Reading the Bible the Celtic Way)


Book Description

Learn how the ancient Christian Celts read the Bible-and discover new ways to understand the sacred Scriptures today. The Celts' perspectives on the Bible were far less literal than many modern viewpoints, and yet at the same time, they treasured even deeper layers of meaning than are familiar to most twenty-first century readers. For the Celts, Scripture was a wondrous treasure trove of metaphor and meaning, stories and symbols, all pointing to the loving Mystery that weaves through all Reality. "At certain points while reading this book, I could just nod my head, seeing in print things that I have felt deeply but had never put into words. At other points I was stopped in my tracks, reading something that seemed so simple, yet so profound. There were times I had to stop and re-read the same paragraph several times, not because it was too difficult to understand, but because there was so much packed into just a few sentences." -Steve Robinson, Wolf Mountain Books "A very good introduction to how the Celtic followers of Jesus read and saw the Bible. I highly recommend it. Ken's writing style is really easy to follow-which is saying a lot for such a vast and complex topic." -Jack Gillespie, Celtic priest in the Lindisfarne Community




Celtic Christian Spirituality


Book Description

The Celtic Christians beheld the world around them and perceived the divine life of God as upholding every aspect of the material universe. Their prayers and poems, their liturgies and theological interpretations give Christians a sense of faith that is confident in a merciful and infinitely creative, healing God.




Recent Books