---
product_id: 12236778
title: "Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman"
brand: "john matthewscaitlin matthews"
price: "€ 44.68"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.de/products/12236778-taliesin-the-last-celtic-shaman
store_origin: DE
region: Germany
---

# Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman

**Brand:** john matthewscaitlin matthews
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- **What is this?** Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman by john matthewscaitlin matthews
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Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Dispelling the Myths
  

*by J***N on Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2013*

In my studies with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, I have come across the story of of Gwion and the cauldron many times. In case you have not, let me summarize: the goddess Ceridwen calls upon an old man and a young boy, Morda and Gwion respectively, to tend a simmering cauldron for exactly one year. The old man and the boy are admonished to never taste of the mixture inside the cauldron, for it contains Awen, the mystical essence of inspiration, and Ceridwen intends to give the tincture to her unfortunate looking son Afaggdu, that he might have great wisdom in spite of his great ugliness. Right before the brew is ready, the cauldron bubbles over and three drops splash onto Gwion’s thumb which he promptly puts in his mouth, unconsciously imbibing the Awen. Gwion then flees from Ceridwen’s fury and, with his new wisdom and clarity, is able to shape shift but Ceridwen pursues him relentlessly, changing shape as soon as Gwion is able to manage it. Finally, Gwion turns himself into a grain of wheat and Ceridwen turns herself into a hen, pecking the grain that is Gwion, swallowing him and then incubating him in her womb for nine months before he is finally expelled again into the world. Ceridwen wraps him in a leather sack and casts him into the sea, where he spends another nine months in the metaphorical womb of the planet bouncing around in the sea waves inside the leather bag. Finally, the bag is caught in the salmon weir of Elffin, who upon opening the bag and finding a beautiful baby boy inside with a radiant brow, declared that his name be Taliesin. Thus came to be not only one of the greatest bards in history but also, as John Matthews puts it, the last Celtic shaman.Matthews does a superb job of fully categorizing and explicating the different ways in which Taliesin, in his many manifestations, has touched the world. Drawing upon a dizzying amount of source texts, all relevant known myths and legends surrounding the figure of Taliesin have been consulted by Matthews who weaves together this scholarly text with an easy-to-read narrative.Of particular interest to me was the attention paid to the connection between the archetype of Cernunnos, the Horned God, and the figure of Taliesin. Rather than viewing the Cernunnos archetype through the limited lens of the hunter, Matthews explains that, “…he (Cernunnos) would have been more generally recognised, among the Celts of Britain, Ireland and Gaul, as a shaman, a walker between the worlds, who in varying degrees became the tribe’s remembrancer, their physician, and their poet.” (Matthews, 38) Matthews clearly defines shamansim and really helps the lay reader to get a better sense of Taliesin’s poem and their mythic purpose. To illustrate this point, take a look at this excerpt from the Taliesin poem Defence of the Chair:“…I possess three chairs of harmonious accordanceand I will chant until the judgment.I was at the combat of Goddeu with Lleu and Gwydionwho changed the elementary forms of trees and grasses.I was with Bran in Ireland,I saw the death of Morddwyd Tyllon, [i.e. 'The Pierced Thigh']I assisted in the bardic contestbetween the Irish, those deathly distillers of men!” (Matthews, 295)With the barb at the Irish aside, it’s clear that Taliesin would not be able to be with “Bran in Ireland” and to have witnessed “the combat of Goddeu with Lleu and Gwydion” in the same lifetime, insinuating that Taliesin, as a shaman, has been able to travel to the Otherworld and access these experiences through the shamanic spirit journey, a point that Matthews makes early on in the text. (Matthews, 39-40) A literal reading of any type of mythic poetry, but especially these texts associated with Taliesin, makes for a confusing and muddled experience; however, if one is able to sift through the allusions with a guide like Matthews, the poems take on an effervescent life of their own and offer their deep wisdom to the reader.Part One of the book is the back-story and analysis behind Part Two which is comprised mainly of the poems of Taliesin Pen Beirdd. Instead of just taking his word for it, Matthews invites the reader to look at selections of the raw source material, translated obviously, throughout Part One which I found particularly helpful when trying to keep the various Irish, Welsh and British folk tales and the references and cross-references contained throughout separated mentally.I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Taliesin or Celtic studies in general. It’s a great read!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    An important if difficult work
  

*by S***  on Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2006*

This is a complete study of all the poems attributed to the bard, Taliesin, and reveals the depth and wisdom of the poetry.  It is well researched and meticulously translated and stands next to Fire in the Head by Tom Cowan as being important for modern practitioners of Celtic Shamanism.  It is, however, a circuitous and difficult read, as all the Matthews works tend to be, and requires the reader to "stick to it" to work your way through.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Celtic Shamanism?
  

*by A***S on Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2007*

A lot of people will tell you that there is no such thing as Celtic shamanism, however, moving beyond the labels this book will give you a good look at what a "Celtic shaman's" practice could be like.Even if you do not buy that theory the translations of Taliesin's poems in this book are well worth the effort of buying and reading this book.

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*Product available on Desertcart Germany*
*Store origin: DE*
*Last updated: 2026-01-29*