Works by
Caitlín Matthews
(Writer)
[1952 - ]

Children

• Barefoot Book of Princesses (2008) by Caitlín Matthews, Olwyn Whelan, and Margaret Woflson
  This warm and humorous collection presents much-loved favorites such as "The Princess and the Pea" from Denmark and less familiar figures including "The Mountain Princess" from Persia and "The Horned Snake's Wife" from the Iroquois of North America. Caitlin Matthews's wonderfully dramatic retellings are perfect for reading aloud, while Olwyn Whelan's bright and witty illustrations are a feast in themselves.  Ages 9-12.

• How to Be a Princess (2008) with Bee Willey, Illustrator
  Some girls are born princesses and others become them, but everyone has to start somewhere. With the help of the books narrator, Princess Petal, the reader learns the craft of being a princess, from etiquette and deportment to contacting your fairy godmother, dealing with enchantments, finding a prince and attending balls. Drawing on a wealth of traditional fairytales, this books unique approach has a more practical edge than many rival titles.

• Trick of the Tale: A Collection of Trickster Tales (2008) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews with Tomislav Tomic, Illustrator
  Enter (carefully) the world of the tricksters, those wily creatures who lie their way out of trouble, cheat when they get a chance, and devise elaborate tricks to get what they want —- with delightfully unpredictable results. This truly diverse, elegantly illustrated collection follows such clever characters as Anansi, Coyote, Brer Rabbit, and others who play a role in a multicultural array of storytelling traditions, from African to Inuit to European, Tibetan to Native American to Japanese. Ages 9-12.

• Fireside Stories: Tales for a Winter's Eve (2007) with Helen Cann, Illustrator
  Drawn from countries and cultures around the world, these wonderful wintry stories express the magnificence of the season. From a group of courageous Russian animals to a legend about a bag of warmth that can keep winter away forever, these cozy stories will keep out the winter chill.  Ages 4-8.

• Celtic Memories (2003) with Olwyn Whelan, Illustrator
  Ages 9-12.

• The Blessing Seed: A Creation Myth for the New Millennium (1998) with Alison Dexter, Illustrator
  Ages 9-12.

Fiction

• Celtic Love: Ten Enchanted Stories (2000)
  In ten beautifully written tales of devotion, Celtic Love shares "the one story worth the telling," the one that strikes most nearly to the heart, the one we most with to hear. Evoking the passion and longing of Celtic tradition and history, Caitlín Matthews captures the untamed natures and amorous yearning of these age-old stories. Throughout this collection, the desire of the lover for the beloved is fanned "by restraint, by absence, by whisper or glance, by stolen kiss, by secret embrace, by song, poem, and story."
  
  Matthews recounts stories of love defeated, and love triumphant, in the tongue-in-cheek parable of Mongan and the forgotten British myth of Fflur, the Flower Bride. "The Casket of Memory" travels through worlds and lifetimes in Midir's faithful search for his beloved Etain. The final story, "What Women Most Desire," told by the street-wise faery Ragnell, puts true love to the ultimate test.

Non-fiction

Non-fiction by Caitlín Matthews

• Psychic Shield The Personal Handbook of Psychic Protection (2006)
  From the day-to-day jealousy between friends to the competitiveness of coworkers to natural disasters, people's souls are bombarded by negative energy. In this comprehensive and reassuring book, readers learn how to shield themselves from psychic disruptions and strengthen their spiritual health. Psychic Shield provides simple and commonsense strategies for overcoming negative thinking, dealing with difficult people, becoming attuned to spiritual guidance, and protecting one's inner peace and freedom.

• The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot (2005)
  Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the most renowned artists of his day and, in modern times, his work is recognized worldwide. He is acknowledged as the most prophetic visionary of our era, envisioning and creating blueprints for many ideas and artifacts now taken for granted in the modern world.
  
  The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot is faithful to his vision, drawing upon his notebooks, drawings, and ideas. Lavishly illustrated with his art work, the deck creates a portable notebook containing the macrocosm (Major cards), the greater archetypal world, and the microcosm (Minor cards), the lesser manifest world of everyday. Using Da Vinci's own insights, the accompanying book enables the reader to use the deck to discover fresh ways of looking at personal experience. As Leonardo wrote, "It is an easy thing to make oneself universal."
  
  With interest in Da Vinci at an all time high, The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot will provide fresh insight and perspective to the millions of readers drawn to learn more about this 'secret master' whose art and invention still move us today.

• The Psychic Protection Handbook (2005)

• The Way of The Celtic Tradition (2003)

• King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land (2002)
  The ancient Celtic stories of the Mabinogion have received universal recognition from scholars as both sources of the Arthurian legend and keys to insights into the ancient magic of the Celtic Otherworld. Now renowned Celtic scholar Caitlín Matthews, drawing on a full range of medieval texts and ancient Welsh writings, provides a fully revised and updated reader's guide to these rich and far-reaching tales. 
  
  In King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land, Matthews sheds particular light on Sovereignty, the Goddess of the sacred land of Britain, and the spiritual principle of the Divine Feminine. Clearly revealed are the many alternate forms taken by the Goddess of the Land--including her incarnation as Morgan of Avalon, who plays a dominant role in the Arthurian cycle. Also established are links between the legendary characters of the Mabinogion and their counterparts in other living myths of the Western world. Through the marriage of the Celtic kings to the Goddess of the Land, the sacred contract between political rulership and responsibility for the land's well-being is dramatically revealed. In King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land, Matthews once again articulates definitively the continuing relevance of ancient Celtic thought and belief as illustrated in the powerful myths and legends of ancient Britain.  See also Arthur and the Sovereignty of Britain: King and Goddess in the Mabinogion (1990)

• Mabon and the Guardians of Celtic Britain: Hero Myths in the Mabinogion (2002)
  The authoritative reader's companion to the ancient Celtic myths in the literary masterpiece, the Mabinogion.
   

  • Thoroughly updated edition of Mabon and the Mysteries of Britain (UK)

  • Illuminates the rich archetypal patterns and meanings in the Four Branches of the Welsh Mabinogion.

  According to prophecy, a liberator will come to bring light, truth, and freedom to every generation. His mythic title is Mabon, but his identities are many-including Arthur the King, whose coming we await. So says the mythic Welsh text the Mabinogion, which includes some of the oldest magical stories from British mythology and which has been intriguing and beguiling readers for centuries.
  
  In Mabon and the Guardians of Celtic Britain, Celtic scholar Caitlín Matthews unlocks the encoded meanings of the Mabinogion and establishes it firmly as a precursor to other living myths of the West. From her fascinating study of these stories emerge two of the major figures of the Celtic tradition: the archetypal Mabon, deliverer and liberator of the land, and Modron, his mother, the Great Goddess herself. The initiatory pattern of Britain's inner guardians is revealed through the succession of the Pendragons, as each rises through the ages from boy, hero, and king to the role of Mabon. As descendants of the ancient Celtic oral tradition, the rich themes and archetypal underpinnings of the Mabinogion are stories for all time.

• Celtic Wisdom Sticks: An Ogam Oracle (2001)

• Sophia: Goddess of Wisdom, Bride of God (2001)
  Unfolds a realistic goddess theology based on meticulous scholarship.

• The Celtic Wisdom Tarot with Cards (1999) with Olivia Rayner, Illustrator
  An original tarot based on Celtic spiritual traditions 
   

  • Written by the bestselling author of The Celtic Book of Days

  • Draws upon the ancient oracle traditions of the Celtic druids to create striking visual images 

  • Major and minor arcana cards reflect the druids' belief in the immortal soul and the values that infused daily Celtic life 

  • Honors ancient Celtic tradition in a way that will provide inspiration and direction for modern seekers 

  Divination was an honored art among the Celts, who believed that spirit was present in all things. Caitlin Matthews's The Celtic Wisdom Tarot draws upon the ancient oral traditions of the Celtic druids to create striking visual images that profoundly reflect the druids' deep-rooted belief in the interconnectedness of all things. Immortality of the soul was a tenet of druidic belief and the 22 cards of the major arcana follow the sacred triple spiral of the soul's path through many lifetimes. These cards mirror the mysterious thresholds of the Celtic otherworld where all life is subject to powerful transformations. The minor arcana, on the other hand, is redesigned to depict the rich spiritual values that infused the daily life of the Celts. Battle skills, art, and knowledge--the chief hubs of Celtic life--replace the standard pentacles, wands, cups, and swords. Together the wisdom cards of the major arcana and the folklore-based cards of the minor arcana create a meaningful fusion of deep spiritual truths and the lessons of daily life.
  
  The Celtic Wisdom Tarot provides a portable oracle to help clarify confusing situations and empower readers to take advantage of lifeis opportunities. It honors the ancient traditions of the Celtic peoples in such a way that their truths can still be a rich source of inspiration and direction for modern seekers.

• The Celtic Spirit: Daily Meditations for the Turning Year (1998)
  The ancient Celts and their spiritual mediators, the Druids believed in the communion of all living things and sought harmony between nature and the human soul. Now, with this inspiring book of day-by-day mediations, renowned Celtic scholar CaitlÍn Matthews shows you how to reawaken the power of this age-old spiritual inheritance.
  
  Using poetry, myths, reflections, rituals, and visualizations, Matthews leads you on a yearlong pilgrimage that will help connect the cycles of your soul to the circle of the seasons. From the winter months of Samhain the summer months of Beltant, from mediations on the gifts and blessings of life to the insights and promises of the soul, she enables you to complete your own sacred circuit of the turning year.
  
  Brimming with the legends and lore of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Britain, The Celtic Spirit is a brilliant introduction to the sacred wisdom of the Celtic path--and a potent resource for daily spiritual renewal.

• In Search of Women's Passionate Soul: Revealing the Daimon Lover Within (1997)

• Celtic Devotional (1996, 2004)
  Mirroring the ancient formulaic prayers to the elements found in the Celtic tradition, along with the wondrous invocations and declarations of the bards of the Scottish, Irish and Welsh traditions, Celtic Devotional provides a mystical doorway through which the modern person can re-invest their life with meaning within the twilight times of dusk and dawn.
  
  Celtic spirituality emphasizes the appreciation of nature and all forms of life -- a popular and universally appealing philosophy that, along with other related pagan traditions, is having a renaissance. Beautifully illustrated and designed, this book will appeal to readers searching for ways to practice spirituality, offering blessings, prayers and devotions.

• Singing the Soul Back Home: Shamanism in Daily Life (1995)

• The Celtic Book of the Dead: A Guide for Your Voyage to the Celtic Otherworld (1992, 1999)
  Take a voyage in the company of Celtic heroes to find your life's direction. The Celtic Book of the Dead is your guide to the mystical realms of the Celtic Otherworld, where the fullness of personal potential becomes clear. This is not a morbid journey, but a voyage to islands with plenteous salmon, feasting halls, and pillars of silver rising from the sea. There are challenges too, but each has its lesson for our lives today.
  
  This pack contains everything you need for your voyage:

  • Deck of 42 beautifully illustrated cards

  • Book explaining the background to the Celtic Otherworld and how to use the cards

  • Celtic Cross spread-cloth

• Arthur and the Sovereignty of Britain: King and Goddess in the Mabinogion (1990)
  See also King Arthur and the Goddess of the Land (2002).

• Voices from the Circle: The Heritage of Western Paganism (1990) by Caitlin Matthews; Prudence Jones, ed.

• Voices of the Goddess: A Chorus of Sibyls (1990)

• The Elements of the Celtic Tradition (1989)

• Mabon and the Mysteries of Britain: An Exploration of the Mabinogion (1988)

Non-fiction by Caitlín and John Matthews

• The Arthurian Tarot (2007) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  The Arthurian Tarot Deck uncovers the history, legend, and tradition of the reign of King Arthur and invites you to explore this mysterious period for yourself. This classic deck is now reprinted with enhanced cards and a booklet specially written for this new edition. The Arthurian Tarot Deck depicts characters and themes from the famous Celto-Arthurian legends, along with the four Hallows of the Quest for spiritual wholeness.
   

  • New edition of a classic deck.

  • Stunning artwork by Miranda Gray, a leading MBS artist.

  • Caitlín and John Matthews are Arthurian-legend and tarot experts.

• The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of Fantastic Beings From Myth and Magic (The Element Encyclopedia) (Paperback) (2005) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  The newest entry in the popular Element Encyclopedia series spans the globe and the ages to present a feast of magical beasts, both familiar and rare. Populating this ultimate reference is a host of marvelous creatures, many of which have stirred our imagination since childhood; they come from fairytales and myths, and from beloved writers such as the Brothers Grimm, Lewis Carroll, J.R.R. Tolkien, and J.K Rowling. Each entry delves into folklore and history to reveal such secrets as why dragons guard the weather, how to make mermen laugh, and how a slow lizard cost humans the gift of eternal life. From Chinese dragons to Norwegian sea monsters, banshees to griffins, cherufes to lampaluguas, every fantastic figure gets its due.

• The Encyclopedia of Celtic Myth and Legend: A Definitive Sourcebook of Magic, Vision, and Lore (2004) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  In Encyclopedia of Celtic Myth and Legend, authors John and Caitlin Matthews have compiled one of the most comprehensive collections of Celtic lore ever, drawing from every known source from the Celts' well-known classics, to neglected sources and forgotten archives. Their fresh translations and lucid commentary make this an essential text for students, researchers, and indeed, for anyone who has ever felt drawn to the Celtic spirit.
  
  The tales and poems are arranged thematically in keeping with the bardic traditions from which they come, and transport the reader to the shores of distant lands, populated by heroes and heroines, gods and kings, fairy folk, maidens and magicians. Here the ancient legends unfold, telling of battles and births, voyages and visions, love and longing, wooings and wisdom, dreams and vengeance.
  
  This collection of Celtic lore represents the lifetime's work of two internationally acclaimed writers. It is their hope that it will inspire those who wish to inherit the "bright knowledge"-the glefisa-of the ancestors, that they may illumine their own lives with this wisdom and, in turn, pass it on to their descendants.

• Walkers Between the Worlds: The Western Mysteries from Shaman to Magus (2004) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  A comprehensive overview of the Western perennial tradition--the hermetic tradition and the ancient earth wisdom of shamanic indigenous peoples

  • Provides practical exercises to reawaken mystical awareness and reconnect with the ancient mystery traditions of our ancestors

  • Reveals how earth wisdom and high magic complement one another

  In Walkers Between the Worlds, the authors reveal the development of both these traditions that were never far beneath the surface of Western culture and how they complement each other.
  
  As the orthodox structures of the West appear increasingly hollow and irrelevant, the Western way trod by the shaman and the magus remains vital, with many practical methods for reawakening awareness and reconnecting with the earth. In addition to its in-depth theoretical analysis, Walkers Between the Worlds contains practical

• Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman (2002) by John Matthews with additional material by Caitlín Matthews
  A new translation of the poems of sixth-century Celtic bard and shaman Taliesin that reveals the mysteries of Druidic practices.

  • The first collection of Taliesin's major poetry with commentary by John Matthews, author of more than 40 books on the Celts.

  • Reveals Druidic prophecy, methods of divination, and the rites, rituals, and beliefs that were essential to Celtic spiritual practice.

  • Features Taliesin's works as keys to the Arthurian legends.

  Taliesin, Chief Bard of Britain and Celtic shaman, was a historical figure who lived in Wales during the latter half of the sixth century. Encoded within his work are the ancestral beliefs of the Celtic and pre-Celtic peoples. In addition, his verse is established as a direct precursor to the Arthurian Legends--and Taliesin himself, shaman and shapeshifter, is said to be the direct forebear to Merlin. Though the bard's work is steeped in the rich traditions of druidic practice, few have explored the revelations of his writings--the secret poetic language of the bards, revelatory information about divination, the ancient mysteries of the Druids, and the cosmological rites that were central to Celtic worship.

• The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest (2002) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  This book help readers celebrate in connection with the natural world throughout the year, not just at Christmas, and reclaim ancient traditions for modern usage.

• Hallowquest The Arthurian Tarot Course -- A Tarot Journey Through the Arthurian World (1998) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  Hallowquest takes you on a journey into the magical realm of King Arthur.

• The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas (1998, 2003) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  Brimming with stories, activities, folklore, and recipes, this popular holiday gift book traces the history behind many sacred traditions of the season and provides practical suggestions for celebrating the Winter Solstice as a joyous, life-affirming festival.

• The Western Way Omnibus: Volumes 1 and 2 (1995)by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews

• The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom: A Celtic Shaman's Sourcebook (1994, 2005) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews with Linda Reed and Joss Nizan, Designers and Christopher Down, Illustrator
  The Celtic tradition is a source of inspiration to many seeking to discover their ancestral spiritual heritage. This superb sourcebook contains many new translations of seminal Celtic texts, including stories, poems, and prose pieces, some dating from as far back as the seventh century. Key ingredients in this rich cauldron of ancient lore include sections on: Shamanic Memory, including chapters on:
   

  • The Memory of the Earth, Trees, Animals, and Ancestors

  • Vision Poets, Druids, and Shamanic Guardians

  • Initiations, Shapeshifting, Druids, and Vision Poets

  • The Bright Knowledge, Prophecy and Divination, Healing and Soul Restoration, and Dreams and Visions

  • Otherworldly Journeys, The Journey Quest, and The House of the Sidhe

  These ancient tales are accompanied by detailed commentaries, comprehensive background material, and practical shamanic insights. This wide-ranging sourcebook contains new translations of seminal texts, and is a must-have for any devotee of one the world's richest religious traditions.

• Ladies of the Lake (1992) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  Ladies of the Lake portrays nine of the women in Arthurian legend. These are the Ladies of the Lake in whom the ancient Celtic Goddess is fragmented and reflected.

• British and Irish Mythology: An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend (1991) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews

• The Arthurian Book of Days: The Greatest Legend in the World Retold Throughout the Year (1990) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews

• The Arthurian Tarot (1990) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews
  Steeped in the sheer unequaled magic of the legends, history and traditions of Arthurian Britain, these exceptional cards capture in 78 frames all the wonder and beauty of King Arthur's realm.

• The Western Way: A Practical Guide to the Western Mystery Tradition: The Hermetic Tradition (v2) (1986) by Caitlín Matthews and John Matthews

Other

• King Arthur's Raid on the Underworld: The Oldest Grail Quest (November 10, 2008 release) by Caitlen Matthews and John Matthews with Meg Falconer, Illustrator
  The 9th century Welsh poem “Preiddeu Annfwyn” or “The Raid on the Underworld” ascribed to the 6th century poet and shaman Taliesin, is one of the oldest and most enigmatic documents relating to the mythic hero Arthur that we still possess. Extending to a mere 61 lines, it contains within it vital clues to the Celtic Mystery traditions of this and earlier times. Describing the descent of Arthur and his men on the ship Prydwen into the region of Annwfn (literally, ‘the in-world’ or underworld of Celto-British tradition, or Annwn in modern Welsh) in order to steal the wonder-working cauldron from the Lord of Annwfn, this poem hides many secrets within its shimmering lines. The cauldron is one of the Thlysau or Treasures, hallowed otherworldly objects that are the source of illimitable power. Arthur’s quest for the cauldron of the underworld is a precursor of many more famous quests, while the cauldron itself is the forerunner of the Grail.