Award Winning Book Back in Print
Primordial Traditions, the
recipient of the $10,000 Ashton Wylie
Award for Literary Excellence, is finally back in print after a long
hiatus. Originally a free quarterly periodical dealing with spiritual and
metaphysical philosophy, Primordial
Traditions was reprinted in book format in 2009, and received the award for
its potential to unite the different Traditions of the world by postulating a
core under-lying philosophy.
Unfortunately
the original plans for the book were waylaid by a year long sequence of large
earthquakes in the author’s country of residence. Following this, the original
plans for the book became untenable and the author, Gwendolyn Taunton,
relocated and the series halted.
In 2014, Primordial Traditions is back in a
second edition, with new and revised content. Now writing under her real name
instead of the previous non de plume, Gwendolyn Taunton has assembled and
impressive book of over four hundred pages with an excellent design and
research.
With subject
matter as diverse as religious philosophy, Middle Eastern Mysticism, rites of Ancient
Greece and Rome, Norse Berserkers, Tantra, and altered states of consciousness
in yoga, Primordial Traditions covers
an extremely diverse range of topics, some of which are clearly intended to be
aimed at an audience of highly educated readers. This is tempered however, by some
less intense and more relaxing articles on Celtic & Viking history, Mayan
astrology, and even some dealing with law and finance. These articles, though
not as hefty, are equally fascinating and add to the quality of the volume by
virtue of their unique topics.
After sitting
down and reading the book cover to cover, it’s easy to see how such a
philosophical approach to religion could benefit humanity by teaching a
sensible, moderate, and logical approach to faith that ends religious conflicts
and prevents dogma and fundamentalism from damaging spiritual movements. All in
all, Gwendolyn Taunton’s greatest achievement here is perhaps a philosophical
victory rather than a literary one, because this is a concept I could easily
see changing not only the way religion and spirituality are conceived, but also
the very nature of the concept itself. By reading and spreading the philosophy of
the Primordial Tradition, I already feel secure that this book will make the
world a better, happier, and safer place.
Books by Gwendolyn Taunton - HERE
About the author
Gwendolyn Taunton is a previous recipient of the Ashton Wylie Award for Literary Excellence. She has edited and written a number of works, including Primordial Traditions, Melpomene (an anthology of poetry and prose), Kratos: the Hellenic Tradition, and Mimir: The Journal of North European Tradition. Other works written under the pseudonym 'Gwendolyn Toynton' include Northern Traditions and Mythos: The Myths and Tales of H.P. Lovecraft & Robert E. Howard. Over the years Gwendolyn has also written for other publications, including New Dawn Magazine.
Gwendolyn Taunton also holds a BA (Hons) in Religious Studies and has a strong interest in all spiritual matters and philosophy. Gwendolyn is also a graphic designer and she has a interest in the arts and the humanities. Gwendolyn Taunton is devoted to restoring the cultural values which should be at the core of our civilization and upholds the right for all indigenous peoples to preserve their cultural heritage. She is also firmly committed to the preservation of the natural environment and animal welfare.
Contact Name: John Thorne
Email Address: info@numenbooks.com.au
Company Location: Victoria, Australia
Website: www.numenbooks.com.au
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