Lora O'Brien

Ive been a fan of Lora O'Brien's work for a while now: in particular her willingness to share her spiritual and magical growth, her changing experience and journey towards a better understanding of our culture and heritage.
Her work is filled with practical advice and shared experience, and while I personally dont aspire to priesthood, her setting out of objectives and her sincere approach to this vocation are both interesting and engaging.
A must for those drawn to priesthood in an irish show more spiritual context and also of general.interest even if not. show less

Lora is very honest about who she is and what she does (a refreshing change). The book in written in a conversational style, which I like, so you feel like you are sitting down and chatting with her around the hearth.

The book starts off with the basics - defining Wicca and witchcraft and also giving pronounciations for every Irish term with a glossary of meanings. Great to have from an Irish (even if she admits she's not the best) speaker.

The next section gives information on the various show more figures which feature in Irish mythology. Lora gives some great information here, but does point out it is only a start.

Lora then gives information about Irish tradition, then there is a section on historical witch trials and what is know of them and the characters involved.

Then she gives information how she personally connected with the land and its spirit and offers suggestions on how others might go about it.

All throughout, she specifies the need to connect the deities of your chosen path on their own turf and by learning about them from as many sources as possible. To this end, Lora provides an extensive bibliography and many varied resources.

This book is something all beginners who wish to follow Irish traditions should follow. Its a great book, well edited and logical in its format. There are some wonderful pencil drawings to illustrate each section as well.

I like it and will be keeping it, even if it is not the path I am following. I certain will be recommending it to those who wish to connect to Ireland and its spirit. show less

Made me think. made me think a lot.

Just before I finished this, in a bit of a rush because a borrower wants it, Lora gave it away to her mailing list so now I can go through it at a more leisurely pace, and this one needs me to read it at a leisurely pace, the first run through is useful to get a feel for the book but it does need more interaction.