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Ritual
The author shares her insights into bringing the sacred into everyday life, detailing rituals designed to celebrate a marriage, welcome a new child, cope with grief, give thanks for mealtime blessings, and more. Original.
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2000
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About the author
Emma Restall Orr
15Ìýbooks67Ìýfollowers[from Wikipedia] -- Emma Restall Orr is a British neo-druid, animist, priest, poet and author. She worked for the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids in the early 1990s, becoming an Ovate tutor. In 1993 she became joint chief of the British Druid Order (BDO) staying until 2002. Together with the Order founder Philip Shallcrass, she developed the BDO into one of the largest and most influential of its time. Feeling the system of Orders too limiting, in 2002 she created The Druid Network, which was officially launched at Imbolc 2003.
Since the late 1990s she has organized the largest annual gatherings of Druids and those interested in Druidry, first at The Awen Camp with Philip Shallcrass, then since 2001 The Druid Camp with Mark Graham. In 2004 she founded Honouring the Ancient Dead. Since 2004, she has been involved with PEBBLE (The Public Bodies Liaison Committee for British Paganisms) encouraging positive and productive interaction between modern British Pagan groups and British government departments, and other institutions.
Over the course of her life in Druidry she has been on numerous television and radio programmes in Britain and around the world, featured and quoted in the print media and on the internet.
She is daughter of Robin Restall, renowned ornithologist, writer and artist. Her brother is Matthew Restall, history professor and writer.
Since the late 1990s she has organized the largest annual gatherings of Druids and those interested in Druidry, first at The Awen Camp with Philip Shallcrass, then since 2001 The Druid Camp with Mark Graham. In 2004 she founded Honouring the Ancient Dead. Since 2004, she has been involved with PEBBLE (The Public Bodies Liaison Committee for British Paganisms) encouraging positive and productive interaction between modern British Pagan groups and British government departments, and other institutions.
Over the course of her life in Druidry she has been on numerous television and radio programmes in Britain and around the world, featured and quoted in the print media and on the internet.
She is daughter of Robin Restall, renowned ornithologist, writer and artist. Her brother is Matthew Restall, history professor and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 20, 2020
3.5. This is a book of Druidry. Interesting. I like the way Emma Restall Orr encompasses the natural world in her guide, with many images from nature, using lovely language. I like the idea of honouring the spirits of place.
“Shifting our point of perception to see the living energy of every creature, of every aspect of creation, transforms our world and the way we respond to it. The animistic view, which teaches us of the life force and allows the life force to teach us, acknowledges everything as being essentially of spirit.�
And I like this from page 18 Paganism and Tolerance, �... As in any tradition that accepts the reality of many gods, Druidry is an inclusive and eclectic spirituality which does not seek to dismiss any other tradition.�
The author discusses Awen � sacred inspiration. Awen is a Welsh word I’m familiar with, and can be interpreted as the energy that passes between artist and muse.
“Shifting our point of perception to see the living energy of every creature, of every aspect of creation, transforms our world and the way we respond to it. The animistic view, which teaches us of the life force and allows the life force to teach us, acknowledges everything as being essentially of spirit.�
And I like this from page 18 Paganism and Tolerance, �... As in any tradition that accepts the reality of many gods, Druidry is an inclusive and eclectic spirituality which does not seek to dismiss any other tradition.�
The author discusses Awen � sacred inspiration. Awen is a Welsh word I’m familiar with, and can be interpreted as the energy that passes between artist and muse.
June 11, 2022
A very good, practical guide to ritual in the druid tradition. I didn't agree with the author on every point, but the style is invitational and poetic, and there's a lot of encouragement to be creative and find what works for you. It's peppered with examples of how rituals can work in different contexts.
December 5, 2012
Early impressions: Pretty language, but not enough grounding examples to illustrate what she meant... just lots of pretty words wandering off into the air. I often find myself going, "wait, what exactly are we talking about, here?"
I was disappointed by the immature and superior slam on entheogenics that was thrown in, early on. I don't like Joint Chiefs of entire Druid Orders being ignorant of the historical and ongoing contributions of entheogenics to mysticism and spirituality. It's ignorant to have such a flippant attitude about it. I remember long ago, when I used to say the same sorts of things. *smh* Of course one doesn't HAVE to use them to get where one is going, but it's hardly a crutch. It's one tool of many. One I haven't used, myself, but let's have a bit of anthropological & holistic perspective, shall we, Wise Ones?
I really relate to the spiritual parts and the lyrical prose, but the conveyance of the practical aspects of the topic are kind of sloppy; sometimes I even roll my eyes at inconsistencies. Some aspects didn't sit right with me. I suppose BDO just isn't my flavor of Druidry. I'd surely celebrate with them, though, and count them as friends. I could use more friends with a more or less shared worldview.
After reading the example rituals: It offered up inspiring & beautiful rituals for the wheel of the year and rites of passage. I may need to buy this book just to have those handy. There are many books that offer similar content, but I did like the particular associations/interpretations/earthy theatricality in this one.
Cranky reactions to insufficiencies aside, I found it valuable enough to want to have it as a reference, and I respect Emma Restall Orr's talents, insights, and the offering of her knowledge. I'm thankful, and glad I came across this book.
I was disappointed by the immature and superior slam on entheogenics that was thrown in, early on. I don't like Joint Chiefs of entire Druid Orders being ignorant of the historical and ongoing contributions of entheogenics to mysticism and spirituality. It's ignorant to have such a flippant attitude about it. I remember long ago, when I used to say the same sorts of things. *smh* Of course one doesn't HAVE to use them to get where one is going, but it's hardly a crutch. It's one tool of many. One I haven't used, myself, but let's have a bit of anthropological & holistic perspective, shall we, Wise Ones?
I really relate to the spiritual parts and the lyrical prose, but the conveyance of the practical aspects of the topic are kind of sloppy; sometimes I even roll my eyes at inconsistencies. Some aspects didn't sit right with me. I suppose BDO just isn't my flavor of Druidry. I'd surely celebrate with them, though, and count them as friends. I could use more friends with a more or less shared worldview.
After reading the example rituals: It offered up inspiring & beautiful rituals for the wheel of the year and rites of passage. I may need to buy this book just to have those handy. There are many books that offer similar content, but I did like the particular associations/interpretations/earthy theatricality in this one.
Cranky reactions to insufficiencies aside, I found it valuable enough to want to have it as a reference, and I respect Emma Restall Orr's talents, insights, and the offering of her knowledge. I'm thankful, and glad I came across this book.
April 6, 2015
"Ritual is the fine art of taking a break...It is the practice of reminding ourselves of the value and power of living. It is that moment in which we stop, and looking around, understand that life is sacred."
Not a step-by-step how-to guide. Rather, it is a description of what ritual is, why to perform ritual, and general guidelines on how to design a ritual for the particular event/place/people involved. I found the explanation of the different components of rituals, what each component is for, different variations on those components, and how they work together was enlightening.
A great deal of the beginning of the book is spent clarifying the author's views on spirituality and sacredness. She explained the druidic concept of awen in a way that was new to me. A lot to take in and think about. Definitely a book to add to the collection, to reread and study.
I particularly liked her animist view of communicating "spirit to spirit". Even if you only think of spirit metaphorically, I think it is an interesting way to see and connect with the natural world (including other people).
"Acknowledging the sacred, honoring the spirit with wonder and respect, we begin to form a relationship, be it with mountain, a tree, the moon, or another human, slowly understanding the power of our own spirit as our perception of the spirit before us heightens and clarifies."
Not a step-by-step how-to guide. Rather, it is a description of what ritual is, why to perform ritual, and general guidelines on how to design a ritual for the particular event/place/people involved. I found the explanation of the different components of rituals, what each component is for, different variations on those components, and how they work together was enlightening.
A great deal of the beginning of the book is spent clarifying the author's views on spirituality and sacredness. She explained the druidic concept of awen in a way that was new to me. A lot to take in and think about. Definitely a book to add to the collection, to reread and study.
I particularly liked her animist view of communicating "spirit to spirit". Even if you only think of spirit metaphorically, I think it is an interesting way to see and connect with the natural world (including other people).
"Acknowledging the sacred, honoring the spirit with wonder and respect, we begin to form a relationship, be it with mountain, a tree, the moon, or another human, slowly understanding the power of our own spirit as our perception of the spirit before us heightens and clarifies."
January 2, 2011
Written by someone who is a founder of the New Druidic movement, I guess I expected more than recycled new-age, hippie, flower-power type stuff. I learned little that was new to me, but I guess this would be a good starting point for someone that needed an introduction to ritual. I much prefer books by John & Caitlin Matthews, though.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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