ABSTRACT
Celtic spirituality is a term that is often used with little acknowledgment of how imprecise a description it actually is. The history of the Celts is important because, as Sheldrake points out: Spiritual traditions do not exist on some ideal plane above and beyond history. The Celts' awareness of the divine presence in all things has been described as being similar to an experience with Buddhist mindfulness, moving beyond the physical to an embrace of the spiritual world. Despite declining rates of affiliation with organised religions in the West, and a continuing mainstream preoccupation with the accumulation of money and prestige, along with the power to purchase and consume, many people are searching for alternatives to this fast-paced, individually-focused lifestyle. Social workers need to become more informed about the spiritual and religious practices of the people and communities with whom they work, realising that practices change over time and can be unique in various local contexts.
