Anglo-Saxons, Norse, and the Celts...

I'm currently reading a book called "The Real Middle Earth", by Brian Bates. I've now discovered that Tolkien's fictional Middle Earth was based on real historical concepts and beliefs.

I love the Anglo-Saxon and Celt world view, and I'm really getting into it. I didn't realise that there was such a deep and long standing spirituality in the west, of a belief in an interconnected unity (called Wyrd) similar to the Eastern Tao, Chi, etc...

Why do we need to bother with Eastern concepts (apart from giving us an understanding of the similarities, and unity, with other cultures) when there's such a wealth of it in our own culture!

I agree, Gabryel... though I think you hit the nail on the head with your aside... "apart from giving us an understanding of the similarities, and unity, with other cultures"

This is one of the things that fascinates me most, and to me, lends credence to the universal truths that seem to lie (albeit sometimes buried very deeply) at the heart of all paths.

It suits my inquisitive nature to look for similarities in all sources, as it is in these similarities that, I believe, real truth can be found.