5* Rating. Fantastic Journey. What a wonderful journey that the author has taken us on, from a pilgrimage to Artio, to studying bear worship around the world, especially Europe. He has such a comfortable writing style, too. Thoroughly enjoyed this. ~ J, Amazon

5* Rating. Bears! This book is a delight for fans of the genus Ursidae. My own meeting with bears is fairly recent, when local Wildlife park (Wildwood, between Canterbury and Herne Bay) offered a home to two Brown Bears who had been rescued from a "canned hunting" outfit in Central Europe. Wildwood later offered a "Meet the Bears" experience and that's where I first met bears face to face. Because these bears had been malnourished for a long time they were never going to grow to their full size and so didn't look so fearsome. Since then Wildwood have taken on the homing of another pair of Brown Bears at their other site. This damnable tablet won't let me finish what I was going to write, but do read the book, it's great. ~ The Tome Raider, Amazon

5* Rating. A great little book with all that you need. What I loved about this little book is that it was so comprehensive. There are many connections to the Celtic bear gods connected here and yet it stays concise. It's exactly what I wanted. Nothing more, nothing less. ~ Tijl Deconynck, Amazon

5* Rating. Lovely Introduction to the Bear Deities! I loved this book. It is easy to read and has a lot of good information. My only wish is that it were longer. I was sad for it to end! I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for more information on the Celtic Bear deities. ~ BearSoul, Amazon

5* Rating. Captivating. This is a beautifully written and magical book; carefully researched and compulsively readable. You will be itching to follow in Andrews’ spiritual footsteps in no time! ~ Miss Lr Mason, Amazon

5* Rating. Beautiful writing. What a wonderful book! I took this book out with me on my walk and couldn’t put it down. Whilst Anderson leads us through the ages we are always reminded of the pagan mantra ‘do no harm’. This is such an important, contemporary message. With Ecological study and real world perspectives the reader is touring through the pages with the string didactic voice that is Anderson’s. ~ Sophie, Amazon

5* Rating. A very concise work. This is a really well written book, I recommend it to anyone interested in Roman or Celtic beliefs. ~ Kevin, Amazon

5* Rating. Packed with information. Really well researched and readable with loads of ideas for deeper learning for the interested reader to pursue, be it rewilding,travel or art all in honour of the Bear Goddess. ~ Dr Sarah Hopkins, Amazon

5* Rating. Firstly let me start by saying that this is one of the most important books written this year – and probably for quite a few years before. Why? Because there is hardly any written material about the Celtic bear gods, or bear worship (arctolatry} AT ALL. Therefore its importance as a written source cannot be overstated. Part of the Moon Books Pagan Portal series of short introductory works, this book fits neatly in the cannon. The author, Andrew Anderson has also written the excellent and very well received Ritual of Writing also available through Moon Books, and one of my ‘Go to’ books when I seek inspiration and journalling advice. When I heard he was writing a book about a subject very close to my heart, I was over the moon with anticipation and excitement. I was not disappointed! Using as much physical evidence as he could find, (ie not much,) Andrew takes us on a very personal pilgrimage of devotion to find the Celtic Bear Gods. I enjoyed his narrative on visiting Bern and seeing the only existing statue of Artio in the museum there, in addition his visits to see the captive bears also in Bern. Following this, Andrew takes the reader on an arctolatry world tour examining many cultures for evidence of bear love – from Finland and the Kalevala to Callisto and Artimis in Greek Mythology. I particularly liked the very interesting and eclectic sources used, including Disney films and star gazing. Throughout the book, Andrew interviews various guests, artists who feature bears in their work, including the Bear Tribe who are responsible for the resurgence of interest in the midwinter Bear Feast in the UK. The section on honouring Artio and Artaois includes information on creating your own rituals and bear feast to honour them, which is an invaluable resource. In conclusion, I being a bear worshipper, find this book both useful and engaging and would recommend everyone should feel the bear love by reading it. ~ Vate pathfollower, Amazon

Andrew Anderson leads us on a pilgrimage into the wild forests of our Ancestors in search of the ancient Bear Gods of the Celts. Through his own perceptive personal experiences with these little known but intriguing deities, we discover that far from being lost in obscurity, they wait to be rediscovered, still holding a deep relevance and meaning for us today. With some fascinating historical and cultural references, plus useful modern resources and tips for ceremony, this fabulous little book is a wonderful introduction and guide to working with Artio and Artaois. ~ Philip Carr-Gomm, author of 'Druid Mysteries', Email

This is a beautiful, thoughtful book for anyone who loves bears and is curious about Bear Gods. It is also an excellent example of how to blend research, historical practices, personal experience and the insights of other modern seekers. Highly recommended. ~ Nimue Brown, author of "Druidry and the Ancestors", Email

"Pagan Portals: Artio and Artaois - A Journey Towards the Celtic Bear Gods" By Andrew Anderson is a beautifully warm and clear guide to a beloved yet lesser known pair of Celtic bear divinities. Well researched and deeply personal, this is an excellent, friendly and far reaching guide on a subject that really needs more exploration…"Pagan Portals: Artio and Artaois" is a gift to all those upon the Celtic paths. ~ Danu Forest, Celtic Scholar and traditional wise-woman is the author of several books including “Gwyn ap Nudd” and “The Druid Shaman” (Moon Books)., Facebook message

"A beautiful personal journey of exploration and discovery. You won't fail to fall in love with the spirit of bear once you have read this book" ~ Rachel Patterson, author of Pagan Portals - Kitchen Witchcraft, Facebook message

If you're looking for some divine exploration that's a little off the beaten path, look no further than Andrew Anderson's book "Pagan Portals: Artio and Artaois - A Journey Towards the Celtic Bear Gods". Though it's short, this book is packed with archaeology, history, comparative mythology, and personal experience that acquaint the reader with the Celtic bear-goddess Artio and her son Artaois. Tying together threads of culture and religion from the Stone Age to the present day, Anderson skillfully connects clues from across Eurasia to flesh out the mythos and meaning of this divine pair. Whether you want to veer off on a new path or simply add another facet to your current spiritual practice, you'll find this book to be a fascinating resource to turn to again and again. ~ Laura Perry, author of Ariadne's Thread, Facebook Message

“Pagan Portals: Artio and Artaios is a superb exploration of bears in myth, legend and the natural world. It looks at ancient traditions and representations of bears in the modern world, including films, fiction and art. It is full of wonderful tales, inspiring interviews, and oodles of information. There’s information about bear festivals, and insights into the wider cultural significance of bears, such as the gay bear scene. The final chapter suggests practical ways to honour the goddess Artio and the god Artaios, including bear feasts. This is a book to curl up and enjoy in winter hibernation, as well as to learn from throughout the Bear Wheel of the Year.” ~ Lucya Starza, author of Pagan Portals - Candle Magic, Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls, Pagan Portals - Guided Visualisations and A Bad Witch, Facebook message

"This book elucidates a little-known and largely forgotten subject - exploring the ancient European links with the bear and also how it connects with Arthurian myth. Well worth reading if you are interested in bears, ancient religion or Celtic culture." ~ Luke Eastwood author of "The Druid's Primer" and "The Journey", Facebook message