The Druids used the ancient Ogham Tree Alphabet to work magic and honor the dead, surrounding each letter with medicinal and spiritual lore. Poets and bards created a secret sign language to describe the letters, each of which is named for a tree or a plant. For centuries this language was transmitted only orally in order to protect its secrets.
Combining her extensive herbal knowledge and keen poetic insight, Ellen Evert Hopman delves deeply into the historic allusions and associations of each of the 20 letters of the Ogham Tree Alphabet. She also examines Native American healing methods for possible clues to the way ancient Europeans may have used these trees as healing agents. Druidic spiritual practices, herbal healing remedies, and plant lore are included for each tree in the alphabet as well as how each is used in traditional rituals such as the Celtic Fire Festivals and other celebrations. Hopman also includes a pronunciation guide for the oghams and information on the divinatory meanings associated with each tree.
Priestess of the Forest: A Druid's Journey
Llewellyn Publications
List price $18.95 For only $12.89
In the tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon, Ellen Evert Hopman weaves Druid history and spirituality into an engaging love story. This Bardic teaching tale is set in a fictional third-century Ireland when Christianity is sweeping across the Celtic Isles. During this time of crisis, love blooms between Ethne, a Druid healer, and her patient, a Fennid warrior. Their passionate affair suffers a tragic blow when Ethne is called upon to become the high queen.
Told from the Druid perspective, Hopman recreates the daily life, magical practices, politics, and spiritual lives of the ancient Celts during this historic turning point. Druid holy days, rites, rituals, herbal lore, and more are brought to life in this Celtic fantasy—illuminating Druidic teachings and cultural wisdom.
Introduce children
to
the magic of using herbs for healing, cooking, and nature crafts and
inspire a lifelong interest in the natural world. Designed especially
for children of ALL ages! A hands-on book for children, filled with
fun, easy-to-follow activities. Includes 72 color photographs of herbs
by award-winning photographer and herbalist Steven Foster. Created
especially for children ages five to ten years old, Walking the World
in Wonder covers the medicinal and magical uses of 72 common herbs.
Each herb playfully introduces itself and talks about its habitat and
many uses. With fun, easy-to-follow activities, herbalist Ellen Evert
Hopman teaches children basic herbal skills and invites them to draw
with pokeberry ink, sew a lavender sachet, and dig for Jerusalem
artichoke roots. The book also includes simple recipes that children
can
use, with adult supervision, to treat minor ailments--peppermint tea to
soothe a troubled tummy or horse chestnut salve to heal a scraped knee.
Children gain a sense of self-sufficiency and awe for the earth's
treasures by sprinkling a sandwich with nasturtium flowers, making
strawberry honey, and learning to season food with dill they've
gathered
themselves. Seventy-two full-color photographs by herbalist Steven
Foster enable children, parents, and teachers to identify these herbs
during walks and field trips. Walking the World in Wonder gives
children
a direct and joyous experience of their connection to the natural world
and inspires a lifelong interest in their own health and that of the
planet.
Who are the new Pagans, and what do they stand for? Are
their ancient rituals and beliefs relevant in the 1990's? And why have
their traditions become a spiritual path embraced by so many?
In this new book the authors explore the origins and activities of
modern Paganism, and provide a forum for a variety of Pagan leaders to
share their beliefs and practices.
For the first time we have a comprehensive resource covering many
branches of the modern Pagan movement. The editors present overviews of
various faiths and current issues through interviews with well-known
Pagan writers, artists, teachers, and other visionaries of our times.
Traditions covered include The New Druids, Wicca, the Faery Faith, and
Goddess-centered Paganism. Issues include the law, politics and
persecution, the military, and student activity. Look for your favorite
names such as Isaac Bonewits, Oberon G'Zell, Selena Fox, Starhawk, and
many more. The resource directory lists books and articles, tapes,
magazines, organizations, merchants and services, even electronic
contacts. An essential basic Pagan reference book.
[This review originally appeared in Cauldrons and Broomsticks
and is Copyright 1996 by Elizabeth
Barrette.]
"A remarkable and fascinating blend of botanical medicine, folklore,
and natural magic." - FireHeart Magazine
Opens the eyes and attunes the mind to the magickal lore in
trees. A book of considerable caring and expertise that affirms
our deeper values more openly and in daily life, while also
a book of practical herbal remedies and recipes for a healthy
body, mind, and spirit. An in-depth study of the herbal and
magical properties of our most common trees. It's a book of
considerable caring and expertise - a book to affirm our deeper
values more openly and in daily life, with practical herbal
remedies and recipes for healthy body, mind and spirit. Tree
Medicine, Tree Magic presents both an homage to the deepest
mysteries, and a down-to-earth how-to-do-it herbal.
Rich in tradition and folklore, this complete guide to the
plant lore of the Druids describes the eight major festivals of the
Pagan year and the appropriate herbs and rituals to celebrate these
sacred days, serving as an important resource during the round of the
sacred year.
"A good working knowledge of Western Herbology is a must
for any aspiring Druid today"- from A Druids Herbal
Ellen Evert Hopman presents here a guide to the herbs and
plants used in the Druidic tradition -- their characteristics, uses,
magical correspondences, and much more -- all richly supported with
additional material and carefully organized for maximum accessibility.
Overview: The author begins by introducing the Druids
themselves, including the Ban-drui or woman-druids, as well as the
Bards
and Ovates. She also covers some beliefs and customs of ancient Celtic
cultures. Chapter 2 covers herbal basics, from herbal preparations and
homeopathic remedies to suggested magical uses of herbs and the
festivals of the sacred year. The next chapters feature herbs for
Winter
Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltaine, Summer Solstice, Lugnasad,
and Fall Equinox. Chapter 11 presents scientific evidence concerning
the
herbs of the Druids. Chapter 12 gives astrologic associations for
herbs.
The last chapters present herbs for specific purposes: consecration and
purification, funerals, handfasting, house blessing, and baby
blessing.Then comes the lavish end matter: a pronunciation guide, a
resource guide, a generous bibliography broken down by subject, and not
one but TWO index entries, one each for plants and subjects. You will
have no trouble finding what you need in this book!
Features: Full renditions of two calendar systems appear:
the months of the Coligny Calendar and the Celtic Tree Calendar (also
given as the Ogham Alphabet). For the herbs associated with specific
festivals, each entry lists the common and scientific names followed by
the parts used, herbal uses, homeopathic uses, and magical uses. The
same information appears for Herbs of the Druids, along with a list of
plants whose pollen turned up in core samples from bogs, showing their
presence in mesolithic and neolithic periods. A nice rendition of the
"Song of Amergin" opens the section on Sacred Groves and Circles, and
finally the listing of herbs for specific purposes continues to provide
the same pattern of information as seen previously.
Recommendations: An absolute must for Druids and Ban-drui
(which includes the modern Avalonian path), _A Druid's Herbal_ also
holds significant appeal for herbalists and anyone interested in plant
magic. Accessible to beginners but with plenty of detail for experts,
this book is ideal for all levels of experience. Highly recommended.
[This review originally appeared in Moonlight & Magick. and is Copyright
1998 by Elizabeth
Barrette.]
Click here to view reviews of some of Ellen's work.
Druids Herbal Sacred Tree Medicine
For only $12.89
Walking The World in Wonder: A Children's Herbal
Being a Pagan : Druids,
Wiccans, and Witches Today
Tree Medicine,
Tree Magic
A Druids
Herbal For the Sacred Earth Year
