Robert John Stewart's Biography(Books)(Photos)

Robert John (R J) Stewart was born in Edinburgh, Scotland.
His father came from a Gaelic speaking family originally

revealing the true historical origins of tarot. This
publication has remained in print and selling from 1986 to

from the Western Highlands. His mother was Welsh, from a
Welsh speaking family from the Gower Peninsula in South

the present day, and has been translated into Japanese,
French, Italian, and German.

Wales, with a tradition of singing and playing the Welsh
triple-harp. He is known today as a composer, author, and

From the 1980s onwards R J also advised on, wrote for, and

teacher, with 40 books in publication, translated into many
languages worldwide. He is widely experienced in theater,

appeared in, a number of television documentary films on
magic, mythology, and history. These include four BBC films

film, and television, and is a skilled performer and
presenter.

directed by Ann Paul, Earth Magic, about contemporary
magical and pagan practices in Britain; From Hungary with

In 1996 r. j. was admitted to the USA as "resident alien

of extraordinary ability", a category awarded only to
immigrants of outstanding achievement in the arts or

historical documentary based upon Royal Family photograph
collections from the 19th century. R J also appears (heavily

disguised) in Crusades, originally broadcast by the BBC and
the History Channel in 1997: he wrote cittern music and

lyrics, and performed the role of minstrel, for this
documentary series by award winning director Alan Ereira. He

From the late 1960's to the 1980's (as Bob Stewart) he

was also featured in the popular ITV series Desperately
Seeking Something which explored various spiritual paths

worked with traditional British folk music, medieval music,
and his own compositions, playing guitar, cittern, and the

worldwide.

unique 70- stringed psaltery. During this period he made
several albums of Celtic and original music, and wrote music

Teaching, workshops, and performing, to the present day.

for theater and media. In 1974 he wrote and recorded theme
music for The Hobbit (Decca Records) read by Nicol

From 1988 to the present day R J Stewart has taught
workshops and classes in the UK and USA. These include work

Williamson.

with Celtic and classical mythological traditions, the Faery
and Underworld traditions, music and consciousness, and a

In theater R J wrote music and songs for several major
productions in England, and co-founded a theater company,

unique original ongoing program of transforming awareness
and spiritual vision, called Inner Temple Traditions. In

The Avon Touring Co. During the late 1970's and early 1980's
he composed and recorded original music for film and

1993 he co-wrote his last Celtic book, Celtic Bards, Celtic
Druids, (Published by Cassell, Blandford Press) with harper

television, including working on major feature films, Joseph
Andrews directed by Tony Richardson, and The Dark Crystal,

and storyteller Robin Williamson (founder of The Incredible
String Band). Today R J focuses on innovative material,

directed by Jim Henson. He also composed and recorded
original music for a number of BBC radio dramas, and for

developed out of the foundations of tradition, and continues
to write fiction and non-fiction books.

documentary feature films for the BBC and for ITV. Through
these films his music has been heard all over the world, and

In 2000 r j started performing on more musical events and

various artists have recorded his original instrumental
pieces and songs. Between 1975 and 1983 r j worked with

tours, including a tour in the USA with Finbar Furey, and
recording a new CD, Aran, with Finbar, featuring original

several well known Irish musicians, making an album of
original music with Finbar Furey, and working with Van

music for uilleann pipes, psaltery, flute, and other
instruments. In 2001 RJ recorded Ballad Magic, a live

Morrison, writing and producing Van's recording of the
ancient Irish epic, the Cuchullainn saga. The basis for this

presentation and concert, exploring and singing ancient
magical ballads from British, Irish, and American

production was one of R J’s books on Irish mythology,
Cuchullainn, published by Firebird book.

Appalachian tradition. At present he is working on a new CD
of original songs, to be released in the Spring of 2003.

From 1980 r j gradually reduced his commitment to concert

The Miracle Tree

touring, to spend more time as a writer and teacher. Between
1980 and 1996 he wrote a series of books on Celtic

In February 2003 rj’s new book on the Tree of Life will
be published by New Page, USA: The Miracle Tree:

mythology, two books on music and consciousness, edited two
editions of historical texts from the 16th and 17th

demystifying Qabalah. Offering a revolutionary and highly
practical direct approach to working with the Tree of Life,

centuries, and published many original stories in
anthologies, and in his own books. R J’s books have been

this book is unlike any other on the subject. RJ approaches
Qabalah not through literary lists and attributes, but by

translated into French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian,
Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, and Czechoslovakian. A full

intense practical forms, whereby anyone can experience the
Tree of Life direct.

list of publications, recordings and other works are
featured on this site.

Faery Healing

R J Stewart's series of books on the Underworld and Faery

Later in 2003 a further new book, Faery Healing will be
published by Muse Press, USA. This book on the spiritual

traditions (which he has restored and presented to the
public almost single-handed over the last 20 years) have

insights and methods associated with the ancient faery
tradition includes a CD of original music and guided

encouraged many people worldwide to work with these
ancestral land-oriented spiritual paths.

visualization. The book is based on 10 years of workshop
teaching and practical experience of the faery and spirit

From 1980 to 1988 r j worked extensively with the Merlin

healing arts that emerge from the old faery tradition, into
contemporary practice.

tradition, writing two original and influential books
translating and exploring genuine medieval Merlin texts.

Magical Arts

These have remained in print for over a decade (now
published in one volume as Merlin: the Prophetic Vision and

Mystic Life, by Penguin Arkana). He also created the
best-selling Merlin Tarot, (Harper Collins) comprising a

additional new material in both books, to be published by
Thoth Publications, UK. These titles have been out of print

substantial book and a deck of cards (painted by Miranda
Gray) showing visions from ancient Merlin texts, and

for several years, and much in demand.