The Bardic Handbook

the Complete Manual for the 21st Century Bard

by Kevan Manwaring

‘It is beautifully researched, crafted, laid-out and presented. It should be compulsory reading for every bard!’
Claire Hamilton, Tales of the Celtic Bards

This complete manual for the Twenty-First-Century Bard contains all you need to know to start you on the Bardic Path.  Here you will find inspiration and instruction, whether you want to dedicate yourself to the Way of Awen, or simply wish to improve your public-speaking skills and be able to express yourself with confidence. Learn how to enchant an audience with gramarye, through poetry, storytelling and songcraft, and how to use the magic of words to bless, honour, heal and celebrate your identity, community and heritage.

With an easy-to-follow 12 month self-study programme and week-by-week exercises and mini-lessons about bardic lore, this book will lead you along the Way of Awen. For ease of understanding and to invoke inspiration, the book is divided into five parts corresponding to the elements of the Western Magical Tradition: Spirit, Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

An inspiring handbook of creative wisdom, The Bardic Handbook also includes ‘The Dialogue of the Two Sages’ by Robin Williamson (master harper, storyteller, and author of The Craneskin Bag and co-author of Celtic Bards, Celtic Druids) and features a foreword by Emma Restall Orr, author of Druid Priestess, Ritual and Living Druidry:

“…This is why Kevan’sBardic Handbook is such an important publication.  The tradition of the Bard is far too broad for any book to be comprehensive, yet this one is a beautiful wide basket filled with nourishment, with the apples and hazelnuts so abundant in the landscape of our heritage…“It is accessible, easy to read, doesn’t require much education or previous knowledge, and yet still contains moments of history, mythology, philosophy and mysticism, interspersed with the challenge to practical commitment.”

Review by Damh the Bard:
‘Kevan Manwaring will be known to many festival-goers as a fabulous storyteller, poet and Bardic workshop facilitator. He now adds to his ever-growing portfolio a wonderful, and inspiring book that takes the reader through a year long course, guiding them ever closer to the grail of becoming a performing Bard. ... There is magic held within these pages. Crammed full of exercises, tips and methods to enflame the Bardic ‘Fire in the Head’, and bring more ‘Awen’ into our lives. Poetry, storytelling, art, music and lyric writing are all covered – it really is an amazingly comprehensive work. There have been attempts made by other writers over the years to put together books like this, but none have managed to do it with such skill and depth, but what I really like about it is that it is firmly rooted in the ancient Bardic tradition, taking much of its course material from the old stories and poems from the ‘Celtic’ world. Here you feel like you are really following in the footsteps of those old poets, listening for the sound of the harp calling you deeper into the Sacred Grove of the Bards. ... This book is a delight for the experienced and novice alike, and I thoroughly recommend it. In a world where intellect seems so much higher valued than creativity, this book will, I hope, go some way towards restoring a balance, and also help bring the Bardic tradition back to its more hardcore Shamanistic roots.’
 

'Well, if you do, this book is your one-stop shop. Well-researched, inspiring, full of sound advice and entertainingly written by a writer who is himself a very fine bard. I've seen him in performance and he is the real deal, bringing the old myths and legends of our land to vivid life. Here he deals with both the craft of the Celtic bard and the rich historical and spiritual background that lies behind it. These are the bardic arts as understood and practiced by modern Druid bards. In short, what you have here is a practical guide to being a bard by a bard, and a very good one at that. Highly recommended.'

Amazon Review by Greywolf

 

ISBN 0 906 362 67 9 320pp Full Colour  £14.99
Published by Gothic Image Publications
PO Box 2568 Glastonbury Somerset BA6 8XR
Tel: 01458 831 281 http://www.gothicimage.co.uk/

Email: publications@gothicimage.co.uk