Book Review
By Christopher Blackwell
A Druid's Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine
by Ellen Evert Hopman
ISBN-13: 978-1-59477-230-6
ISBN: 1-59477-230-4
Quality Paperback
Page Count: 256;
13 b&w illustrations
Publisher: Destiny Books
This is the second book by Ellen Hopman that I have reviewed and this one is loaded with information. This will not be just a one-read book, but a reference that you will come back to again and again.
She provides an in-depth look at the Celtic Tree Ogham, the meaning of each of the letters and the sacred tree associated with each.
Hopman moves on to the herbal uses of each of the sacred trees, making use of American Indian herbal traditions to fill in gaps in our knowledge of Druid herbal knowledge. She then covers the spiritual aspects of each.
That’s just the first 21 chapters.
Hopman has a chapter on the magical arts of Forest Druids. This is a practical guide on how to use the knowledge for magical and spiritual practice, making use of the trees and how to make various kinds of medicine.
She covers in some detail the four Celtic fire festivals, giving a ceremony and even recipes of foods for each. Hopman covers Ogham divination in a final chapter and then gives two appendixes to cover pronunciation of Gaelic words in the book
As I said in the beginning of this article, this will not be a one-read through book, but a book you will return to again and again, making new discoveries each time.
This book can be ordered through both amazon.com and barnsandnoble.com, or through your local bookstore.
About the author:
Ellen Evert Hopman is a Druid Priestess, master herbalist and a lay homeopath who holds a M. Ed. in mental health counseling. She is a founding member and co-chief of the Order of the White Oak (Ord na Darach Gile) www.whiteoakdruids.org, serves on the Grey Council of Mages and Sages, and is a professor of Wortcunning at the Grey School of Wizardry. She is the author of A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year; Being Pagan; Walking the World in Wonder- A Children's Herbal; Tree Medicine-Tree Magic; and Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey. She lives in Massachusetts. Visit her online at: