Celtic And Medieval Alphabets

Inspired by the calligraphy of the Middle Ages, this treasury of unusual fonts features Gothic typefaces such as Lowenbrau, Kaiser, and Hansa along with the lighter styles of Leipzig, Tory, and Hamburg. 53 fonts.

Meehan's brilliantly creative study of the great Celtic manuscripts underpins this wonderful collection of 16 alphabets. From sixth-century birds to late medieval Celtic dragons, from early Celtic spirals to the latter Tree of Life, more than 400 drawings cover the whole spectrum of Celtic ornament in its most useful form, as well as the fascinating evolution of the letterforms themselves, from Roman to Irish Gothic.

Here the alphabetical systems of the West, including Hebrew, Greek, Runic, Celtic, Medieval, and the Renaissance alphabets of the alchemical tradition are examined in depth. Explains the numerological significance of the various alphabets, andprovides exciting evidence for the widespread influence of Runes.

• Provides a full explanation for each character of the Celtic tree alphabets and their historic variants, including each symbol’s corresponding trees, colors, birds, cryptic codes, and esoteric inner meanings • Explores the use of Celtic tree alphabets in spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art as well as the practice of Ogham cryptography • Explains how, like Norse Runes, each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right and offers the possibility of deep psychic transformation Emanating from the spiritual traditions of Celtic antiquity, Ogham is best known as a “tree alphabet.” It is a symbolic system that encapsulates the archaic skills and wisdom of ancient Ireland and Britain and is important in contemporary Druidry. Studying the Oghams enables us to engage with ancient ways of thinking and gain access to the elemental powers that speak to the inner nature of our being, the wildwood in our hearts. Presenting a wide-ranging exploration of the Ogham tree alphabet, Nigel Pennick explores the traditional lore of the Celtic trees and their relationship to ancient, mythic beings from whom their understanding was legendarily derived. Each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right, embodying a creative power available to all. Pennick provides a full explanation for each of the Ogham letters along with correspondences from historic Irish sources and considers their use in ciphers, spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art. He also discusses ceremonies that assist in reconnecting us with nature and the wilderness, including “Maying” and greenwood marriages and the use of colors and magical binding-knots in the Celtic tradition. Also included is a chapter on the little-known Coelbren y Beirdd, a cryptic system devised for the use of Bards and Druids. This handbook for learning Ogham and Coelbren offers a comprehensive understanding of the ancient Celtic worldview, allowing you to apply their wisdom in modern life.

Inspired by the extravagant calligraphy of Celtic and medieval scribes, this extraordinary resource for artists and craftspeople features 24 striking, royalty-free typefaces — Anglo Text, Colchester Black, Cimbrian, Fenwick, Harrowgate, King's Cross, Malverne, Yonkers, and more. All black-and-white typefaces include capital letters and many appear with lowercase letters and numbers.

Six wonderfully decorative copyright-free alphabets plus a basic alphabet of calligraphic Celtic letters. All designs shown in book appear on the disk.

Spirited history and comprehensive instruction manual covers 13 styles (ca. 4th–15th centuries). Excellent photographs; directions for duplicating medieval techniques with modern tools. "Vastly rewarding and illuminating." — American Artist.