Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey
Review of a new novel by Ellen Evert Hopman By Christopher Blackwell

I had the good fortune to get a copy of a new fictionized history novel by Ellen Hopman. This historical novel was possible through her research and her innate knowledge of herbal lore, Druidic rites, prayers and invocations.

Set in 3rd century Ireland, in the time of the High King and the beginning influx of Christianity, we are told the story from the perspective of Druid priestess and healer Ethne. For five years she has been in a stone hut in the middle of the forest, far from the court of the High King of Ireland, as a healer to those who come to her for aid. She is both well-suited to and content with her life and work.

When a warrior is brought to her for care, his long slow healing signals the beginning of change in her life that will soon send her into the middle of the politics and growing conflict of the High Kings Court and within the Druids themselves. There is conflict of love and duty, political conflict and war, and the developing religious conflict with the new Christian religion.

As it is told through her eyes, we find a story woven through with rites, prayers, and invocations that will give the reader a feeling for the Druid way of looking at life, healing, death, and magic. For those not familiar with Celtic terms and names there are two glossaries to help pronunciation.

This is a fast moving story that quickly drew me in the Druidic world of Ireland. These are an independent people who have conflicting agendas. It is a world of both change and the attempt to save the ancient knowledge and wisdom.

As the writer is a Master Herbalist and Druid Priestess of over 20 years, she is able to draw on her own personal knowledge and gives a good feel of the religion.

To learn more about Celts, their history, stories, and beliefs, or about Druidism today, there is a further readings section in the back with more sources of information.

This book can be pre-ordered through both amazon.con and barnsandnoble.com or through your local bookstore.

Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey by Ellen Hopman
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Pub. Date: February 28, 2008
ISBN-13: 9780738712628
360pp Paperback

Ellen Evert Hopman is a writer and cowriter on several other books of the modern Pagans and Druid world. She also has done several videos on the subjects she has written about in her books. They can be bought through the same sources as her new book.

Upcoming book by Ellen Evert Hopman

A Druid's Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine, by Ellen Evert Hopman
Publisher: Destiny Books

Pub. date May 26, 2008, can be pre-ordered.
ISBN-13: 978-1594772306
224 pp Paperback

Books written by Ellen Evert Hopman

A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year by Ellen Evert Hopman
Publisher: Inner Traditions International, Limited
Pub. Date: October 1994
ISBN-13: 9780892815012
228pp Paperback

Walking the World in Wonder : A Children's Herbal
by Ellen Evert Evert Hopman, Steven Foster (photgrapher) , Jane Allemann (Illustrator)
Publisher: Inner Traditions International, Limited
Pub. Date: October 2000
ISBN-13: 9780892818785
160pp Paperback

Tree Medicine, Tree Magic
by Ellen Evert Hopman, Diana Green (Illustrator)
Publisher: Phoenix Publishing, Incorporated WA
Pub. Date: March 1992
ISBN-13: 9780919345553
176pp Paperback

Book cowritten by Ellen Hopman:

Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans and Witches Today
by Ellen Evert Evert Hopman, with Lawrence Bond
Publisher: Inner Traditions International, Limited
Pub. Date: November 2001
ISBN-13: 9780892819041
392pp Paperback

See her books, DVDs and audio tapes at
http://www.celticheritage.co.uk/EllenEvertHopman