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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.
List of contents
Introduction
Part One
The Ogham Tree Alphabet
Birch-Beith
Rowan-Luis
Alder-Fearn
Willow-Saille
Ash-Nion
Hawthorn-Huath
Oak-Dair
Holly-Tinne
Hazel-Coll
Apple-Quert
Vine-Muin
Ivy-Gort
Reed-Ngetal
Blackthorn-Straif
Elder-Ruis
Silver Fir-Ailm
Furze-Onn
Heather-Úr
Aspen-Edad
Yew-Idad
Part Two
The Druidic Arts
Druid Magic
Magical Tools of the Druids
The Magical Arts of the Forest Druids--A Practical Guide
Celebrate the Celtic Fire Festivals
Ogham Divination
Divinatory Meanings
Appendices
Selected Gaelic Pronunciation Guide
Pronunciation Guide for the Word Oghams
Notes
Bibliography
About the Author
Index
About the author
Ellen Evert Hopman has been a teacher of herbalism since 1983 and is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. A member of the Grey Council of Mages and Sages and a former professor at the Grey School of Wizardry, she has presented at schools and workshops across the United States and Europe. A Druidic initiate since 1984, she is the current Archdruid of Tribe of the Oak (
Tuatha na Dara), an international Druid Order, a founding member of The Order of the White Oak (
Ord Na Darach Gile), a Bard of the Gorsedd of Caer Abiri, and a Druidess of the Druid Clan of Dana. A former vice president of The Henge of Keltria, she is the author of
The Sacred Herbs of Spring;
The Sacred Herbs of Samhain;
Secret Medicines from Your Garden;
The Real Witches of New England;
Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore;
A Druid's Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine;
A Druid’s Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year;
Walking the World in Wonder – a Children’s Herbal;
Being a Pagan;
Tree Medicine, Tree Magic; and the Druid trilogy of novels:
Priestess of the Forest,
The Druid Isle and
Priestess of the Fire Temple. She lives in Massachusetts.
Summary
An in-depth look at the history, herbal uses, and spiritual aspects of the sacred trees in the ancient Celtic Ogham Tree Alphabet.
Additional text
"Hopman is an incredible resource for all of us seeking to take our health, medicine, and spirituality into our own hands. A Druid's Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine deserves a place on the shelf next to her other guides of magical and medicinal love."
