Customer Reviews

The Ogham and The Universal Truth Of The Trees- As Above, So Below

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This turned out to be quite a delightful book if approached in the right manner. Many Druid orders place a great emphasis on scholarship and as such this book might be missed, but I believe in a balance of scholarship and intuition, and this book is very much of the intuitive approach. The chapter on the history of the ogham is (perhaps necessarily) slim, but then the book goes into great detail about the ogham and the trees associated with them and how to work with them in your life in a number of ways. The book also has intertwined in the meanings a sort of original creation myth which was quite enjoyable on its own. While the authors sometimes make statements such a statement that the Druids placed great importance on Yule (not true as I know it), read carefully the text will add a lot to your knowledge of the ogham and the trees. We have very few books on the subject of the ogham and we must treasure each one for the information we can glean from it.

I've found this book to be very informative and easy to read. I've
been interested in Ogham for a while, but this is definitely the most
comprehensive and easy to follow work I've found. I also liked the
fact that the authors provide historical information along side their
own interpretations and opinions - something that is often lacking in
this genre.

This book is a must have for anyone interested in the Ogham or
divination in general.

The Ogham and The Universal Truth of the Trees
Deanne Quarrie ~ Bendis "The Blue Roebuck"

What a delight! As one who honors the Sacred Trees in her own spiritual practice, I so enjoyed this book for its direct, user-friendly approach to the sacred study of the Ogham and the Trees.

The Ogham and The Universal Truth of the Trees contains a delightful creation myth, which is woven throughout the book, sharing a heart-warming story of their own creation from our kindred, the sacred trees. Suzanne and Dean have managed to give us a personal glimpse of the Ogham and the Trees not only from lore gathered from traditional sources but they offer a fresh new perspective that has come from years of using and honoring the beloved Trees in their spiritual practice.

This new book has been added to my ever increasing library of the Ogham and I have placed it on my students "must read" list.

If you have any interest in the Ogham or even in the sacredness of the trees, you simply MUST purchase this book. It is wonderfully written, filled with gorgeous allegory and the iconic history of each of the sacred trees. I thought I knew something about the Ogham prior to reading it and was very pleased to come away with a wealth of knowledge that I didn't even realize. Both Dean Montalbano and Suzanne La Cour are brilliant writers and make for a very easy and thoughtful read.

The Ogham and The Universal Truth of the Trees
By Carolee Ross

One of the pitfalls of being a professional writer is that my reading standards are exceedingly high and often, overly critical. Recently, I learned of a book titled "The Ogham and the Universal Truth of the Trees" that is fascinating and truly "reader-friendly."

If you are a lover of ancient history, nature, the mysterious origins of communication and Druidic lore, don't miss this book. While most esoteric books are dry, difficult to comprehend and somewhat pedantic, "The Ogham and the Universal Truth of the Trees" soars above the rest. It is a rare and beautifully written book that combines myth with published fact and a plethora of extensive research with lyrical poetry, both in the written words and in quoted poems.

Authors Suzanne La Cour and Dean Montalbano are well versed in metaphysical matters and the magic of unseen realms. Their love for the subject is noted again and again, as they describe the "door between the Realms" and the individual and collaborative journeys it took to write the book.

The writers begin with definitions and terms, a sort of metaphysical primer, so that readers unfamiliar with many of the terms are given a foundation for the rest of the book. Terms such as "acme," "fifths" and forfedha" are explained with brevity and clarity.

The authors continue by each describing their Oghamic experiences. These are journeys that speak of bliss, beauty and energy and readers cannot help but being drawn in by the authors' retelling of the inspiration for the book. The book was obviously written by two authors with different views, yet the contrast and diversity makes for a fully-developed and interesting text.

Trees are listed by order of the Ogham and phonetic pronunciations are included for those unfamiliar with ancient words. We are introduced to the trees by the lovely expression, "A Clover Laughed," bringing us into the beginnings of time and pre-time. An unforgettable passage by Mr. Montalbano follows:

"Light of thought shimmered around - it swirled and collected into tall vertical clusters. Thousands of unseen, unfelt voices collected and intoned silent melodies as the light took form. When Light-Thought had become Solid-Thought the first of the Great Ones had appeared."

The book continues with the various cycles during which the Trees appeared, from Cycle One, "A Clover Laughed," through many more, such as "A Journey Moonward and "A Vision." The authors lead us through several more cycles concluding with The Final Cycle, "What End is This?"

From the Birch tree (or Beithe) and the Rowan (Luis) through the Oak or (Duir), each tree is described through other known names, magical associations, medicinal/cosmetic use and how they are used in divination. Legends are shared and often, poetry associated with a particular tree is quoted. We learn that the Druids considered the writing of SACRED work - their beliefs, magical practices, etc., profane. They did not use Ogham script for writing because it was considered sacred. It is believed that the "Finger Ogham" was used to communicate secretly when among outsiders.

Lessons in using the Ogham in divination, provided by Mr. Montalbano, are explored and for readers who want further study, an extensive bibliography is included at the end of the book. Throughout, the illustrations of Sandy Starr add to the overall splendor of the book.

Of particular interest are Suzanne LaCour's "additional thoughts" about the Ogham and the trees. It is yet another touch that adds a feeling of sincerity and friendship for the students nourished by the words of the authors. One of my favorite passages occurs when Ms. LaCour describes the ancient Yew she comes upon in Ireland:

"I cannot even begin to describe it. The trunk was fairly pale in color and I could not have gotten my arms around it no matter how hard I tried. The trunk looked like it was made up of vertically placed, incredibly thick ropes (which may have been multiple trunks), the foliage was very dark and the roots were enormous. I don't even know how tall the tree was, I was so impressed by the sheer girth of it and the energy emanating from it. I had never been in the presence of such a Tree as this before."

The writers are gifted teachers who were born to nourish others with the mysterious knowledge of the world not seen with the eyes, but experienced with the heart. The collaborative team of La Cour, who is an expert in "The Realms of Faerie" and Montalbano, who wrote The Myth Cycles, makes for a tome to be treasured. As the authors advise, "Plant a Tree!"