For centuries, Celtic communities lived by the rhythms of the land—planting, tending, harvesting, and resting in tune with nature. This course explores how those seasonal practices can enrich modern life. Drawing from Crafting the Wheel of the Year by Deb Bowen and Claire Gelder, we examine the eight Celtic festivals, their agrarian roots, and how they inspire creativity, ritual, and a deeper connection to the natural world today.
Deb Bowen is co-author of Crafting the Wheel of the Year and A Good Friend for Bad Times: Helping Others through Grief. Her essays, creative nonfiction, and poetry appear in Salvation South, County Lines Literary Journal, and Encore Magazine. A retired associate director of UNCW’s School of Social Work, she writes about nature-based beliefs, environmental issues, social justice, and place.