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Many of the herbal and magical practices of the Scots are echoed in traditional Norwegian folk medicine and magic. This is a valuable resource book not only for the serious folklorist, but also for a wider audience interested in a deeper look at rural Scottish practices. Ms. Hopman has done an amazing amount of research, and her Scottish herbalism section is far more detailed than I've seen elsewhere. A "must have" for the northern European folklorist's library. Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D., author of "The Hammer of the Smith" and "The Divine Thunderbolt: Missile of the Gods".
Through her books, Ellen Evert Hopman lifts the veil between worlds of the present and the past. She guides the reader on a fascinating journey to our ancient Celtic history, simultaneously restoring lost knowledge and entertaining the reader. Be prepared to be educated and delighted. Wendy Farley, Clan McKleod
The first things is WOW! Ellen Hopman has given us a volume that belongs in Harry Potter's library. This wonderful collection of enchantments, faery lore and herbal potions, is presented by a practicing herbalist and (I suspect) magician. It is a useful manual of magic, an unusual tourist guide to Scotland, certainly a delightful read, and at the very least, a comprehensive and thoroughly footnoted collection of folk lore for humorless librarians and scholars. Matthew Wood MS (Scottish School of Herbal Medicine) Registered Herbalist (American Herbalists Guild)
Every now and again, a book emerges from the waves of occult and magical authorship that delves into the deep and ancestral waters of old magic! This book is one of those rare occasions. From the lore of herbs to the blessing of stones; from avioding the elf-blast to healing through Faerie blessing - Ellen guides the reader through ancient groves of oral lore to discover a power and spirit that connects the reader to the oldest of magics, the earth and her elements. I am confident that the Scottish Ancestral Wise Ones, are renewed through this book and the old ways live once again! Orion Foxwood, Traditional Witch Elder, Conjurer in Southern Root-Doctoring and Faery Seer (www.orionfoxwood.com), author of "The Faery Teachings" (R.J. Stewart Books) and "The Tree of Enchantment" (Weiser Books).
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Ellen Evert Hopman is a Master Herbalist and lay Homeopath who holds an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling.
Ellen Evert Hopman is the author of a growing number of books. Her newest offering is The Secret Medicines in Your Kitchen (mPowr Publishing, London, October, 2012) a book that teaches the uses of foods and spices already in your home, for health and well being.
Her most recent herbal is Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore (Pendraig Publishing, 2011), a study of the folk magic and healing plants of the Highlands and islands of Scotland.
Her first novel, Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey (Llewellyn, February 2008), was an exciting new project for her, combining a heart-warming fictional romance with practical Druid rites, prayers and rituals. The sequel is called The Druid Isle (Llewellyn, April 2010). The third book in the series is Priestess of the Fire Temple: A Druid's Tale (Llewellyn, March of 2012). All three books are designed to illuminate the Druid path for seekers of Celtic wisdom.
Her latest book on tree medicine and tree lore is A Druid's Herbal for Sacred Tree Medicine (Inner Traditions - Bear and Company, June 2008).
Other books include Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches Today (Destiny Books, 2001), People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out (Inner Traditions, 1995), Walking the World in Wonder - A Children's Herbal (Healing Arts Press, 2000), A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year (Destiny Books, 1994) , and Tree Medicine -Tree Magic (Phoenix Publishing, Inc.,1992, currently out of print).
Hopman is a founding member of The Order of the White Oak (Ord Na Darach Gile, www.whiteoakdruids.org) and its former Co-Chief, a Bard of the Gorsedd of Caer Abiri, and a Druidess of the Druid Clan of Dana. She was Vice President of The Henge of Keltria, an international Druid Fellowship, for nine years and has also been at times a member of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and of ADF, A Druid Fellowship.
She is the co-creator of the Virtual Shrine of the Goddess Brighid (http://shrineofbrighid.com/)
Hopman has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990. She is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. Hopman is a member of the Grey Council of Mages and Sages and has been a professor at the Grey School of Wizardry.
Hopman has presented on Druidism, herbal lore, tree lore, Paganism, and magic at conferences, festivals, and events in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States. She has participated in numerous radio and television programs including National Public Radio's "Vox Pop" and the Gary Null show in New York. She presented a weekly "herb report" for WRSI radio out of Greenfield, MA for over a year and was a featured subject in a documentary about Druids on A&E Television's "The Unexplained" (Sacred Societies, February 1999).
She has also released video tapes and DVDs on the subjects covered in her books through Sawmill River Productions. See clips at: http://vimeo.com/user2687064/videos Purchase the DVDs for $20.00 plus $4.00 from Ellen at POB 219, Amherst, MA 01004
She has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990 and has co-lead tours to Celtic and Neolithic sites in Europe. She was the founder of The New England Druid Summit, a yearly gathering of Druids in New England.
She has been on the staff of Keltria: Journal of Druidism and Celtic Magick and has been a contributing author to many New Age and Pagan journals.
Visit www.elleneverthopman.com to read Ellen's monthly blog.
Praise for Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore;
Many of the herbal and magical practices of the Scots are echoed in traditional Norwegian folk medicine and magic. This is a valuable resource book not only for the serious folklorist, but also for a wider audience interested in a deeper look at rural Scottish practices. Ms. Hopman has done an amazing amount of research, and her Scottish herbalism section is far more detailed than I've seen elsewhere. A "must have" for the northern European folklorist's library. Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D., author of "The Hammer of the Smith" and "The Divine Thunderbolt: Missile of the Gods".
Through her books, Ellen Evert Hopman lifts the veil between worlds of the present and the past. She guides the reader on a fascinating journey to our ancient Celtic history, simultaneously restoring lost knowledge and entertaining the reader. Be prepared to be educated and delighted. Wendy Farley, Clan McKleod
"The first things is WOW! Ellen Hopman has given us a volume that belongs in Harry Potter's library. This wonderful collection of enchantments, faery lore and herbal potions, is presented by a practicing herbalist and (I suspect) magician. It is a useful manual of magic, an unusual tourist guide to Scotland, certainly a delightful read, and at the very least, a comprehensive and thoroughly footnoted collection of folk lore for humorless librarians and scholars." Matthew Wood MS (Scottish School of Herbal Medicine) Registered Herbalist (American Herbalists Guild)
Every now and again, a book emerges from the waves of occult and magical authorship that delves into the deep and ancestral waters of old magic! This book is one of those rare occasions. From the lore of herbs to the blessing of stones; from avioding the elf-blast to healing through Faerie blessing - Ellen guides the reader through ancient groves of oral lore to discover a power and spirit that connects the reader to the oldest of magics, the earth and her elements. I am confident that the Scottish Ancestral Wise Ones, are renewed through this book and the old ways live once again! Orion Foxwood
Ellen Evert Hopman takes us deep into a world where folk magic and herbal medicine are part and parcel of a daily life guided by the cycles of the sun and the moon and the land. She strikes a perfect balance, combining rigorous scholarship, deep understanding of the Scottish worldview, and clear and accessible writing with just the right measure of the mystical and poetic. At once a rich and detailed study of traditional Scottish ways and a practical manual for bringing healing and magic into your own life. A truly masterful work. Sean Donahue, Traditional Herbalist http://www.brighidswellherbs.com
Like a wee bairn sitting on grandma's lap absorbing legend, lore and instruction from the talk around the hearth, you will learn from and delight in this richly accomplished book. Take a sip or a long draught, you will be nourished deeply. Susn S. Weed author of the Wise Woman Herbal series.
Woven into this well-researched and beautifully presented book is a magical thread. This thread forms a path and this path winds its way into the very marrow of the old and forgotten ways of Scotland. Throughout these pages Ellen lavishes the reader with a body of knowledge that she means to be used in direct participation with Nature. The message is clear: The old Wisdom endures and is more vital to us than ever before. Michael Dunning - Scottish shaman, writer, artist and teacher.
A recent review of A Druids Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine;
SageWoman BBI Media, Inc. www.witchesandpagans.com
As a practicing herbalist, I am always on the lookout for books rich with herbal lore. The problem is that most books are either medicinal or magical, and when they're both, the information therein is not always especially helpful. Enter Ellen Evert Hopman, whose book, however, is a thorough and complete look at both. Hopman is not only an herbalist but a Druid priestess, as well and she obviously has a keen intuitive sense of tree medicine that she couples this with Druid lore (as well as Native American lore). Sacred Tree Medicine traces through the Druid Ogham Tree alphabet, giving the symbolic, liturgical, poetic, medicinal, and spiritual aspects of each sacred tree.
Though there is focus on herb lore, the Goddess is given plenty of attention, too. Hopman teaches her reader how each sacred tree assists in spiritual practice and which face of the Goddess it represents. I had the most fun taking this book to the forests by my home, identifying trees and sampling their offerings. The book closes with a section on the Druidic arts including magic, tools, festivals, and divinations. This gives the reader the opportunity to put her newfound knowledge of trees and magic to practical use.
Hopman is an incredible resource for all of us seeking to take our health, medicine, and spirituality into our own hands. Sacred Tree Medicine deserves a place on the shelf next to her other guides of magical and medicinal lore.
After reading the five reviews available at the time of my purchase, I was so ready for this book to arrive. I was hoping (as the description and some reviews had led me to believe) that this would be an engaging and enlightening read that "guided (me) on a fascinating journey". In fairness, this book is informative. Lots and lots and lots of information. Which has been fairly well organized into sections which include:
Introduction - Ancient Roots; The Druids; The Old Gods; Lore of the Elements; Stones, Bones, and Talismans; Holy Days and Holidays; Life Passages; Divination Practices; A Highland Herbal; Fishing Magic, Boats, and the Lore of the Sea; Farming, Fertility, and Harvest Customs; Domestic Life; Sacred Birds and Animals; Magical Practices; Elves, Spirits, Witches and Monsters; The Fairies; Conclusion, Appendix (pronunciation guide); Bibliography; and Index
All jam-packed into 308 pages. I so very much wanted to love this book - but it is D-R-Y. If you have read The Golden Bough by Frazer you will have a basic idea of what I'm writing about. One bit of information. Then another bit of information (usually related, sometimes just a new direction taken). Then another tidbit of information. Obviously, at only 308 pages and so many different topics covered, the information presented can only be an overview. Unfortunately most of this overview is of previously published material which has been tidied up a bit and organized. FYI: There are actually topics mentioned in other reviews that I didn't find in my book (which usually screams to me that the authors well-intentioned friends wrote overly enthusiastic reviews).
Don't get me wrong, there is some good stuff in here. Most of it has been published elsewhere and some of it seems rather biased and incorrect with other sources. I just wish that there was a "look inside this book before you buy it" feature before I purchased mine. It's frustrating when you are expecting some great stories, a guide through some unknown territory, a new perspective - but what you receive are short snippets, bare-bones paragraphs, and lists. I would recommend this book to someone who wanted a very basic overview of a whole range of topics and who may not have much of a foundation in the information presented. I pushed myself through to the end and it makes a nice jumping off point for further research, but I wish it wasn't so D-R-Y.
P.S. I would guesstimate that only 10% of the book actually deals with Fairy Lore (so disappointing) and the section on Scottish Herbs is only 69 pages long. PLEASE, if you are going to work with the herbs mentioned (topically, or internally), please include an additional herbal resource before beginning.
This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 10/13/11.
Ellen Evert Hopman's latest book is called "Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore". This title really doesn't do the book justice, however I suspect Pendraig Publishing would have found the title "Absolutely Every Damn Thing EVER about Scotland" to be a hard title to live up to. Of course, they would be wrong. The book starts with "A Note to My Readers" that says, "This book contains folklore, magic, and traditional practices from all areas of Scotland; from the Highlands and Lowlands to the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland." This was my first clue that the always thorough Hopman was going to working overtime sharing everything Scottish.
Right now I sit at my keyboard overwhelmed by the breadth of information "Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore" imparted. Where on earth to begin? I guess we should start at the beginning. To help give readers a sense of context Hopman starts with what she calls "A Thumbnail Ancient History". In an easy to follow, compact form, she manages to share with readers the Picts, the Celts, Hadrian's Wall, the influence of the Vikings, the arrival of Anglo culture, the Battle of Nechtansmere, and more. From there it flows smoothly into discussing the rest of traditional Scotland. I hate to do this, but it will really give you guys a great idea of how all encompassing "Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore" truly is, here is the "Table of Contents".
The Druids, The Old Gods, Lore of the Elements (which includes information about water, fire, and earth magic), Stones, Bones, and Talismans, Holy Days and Holiday (with recipes for the holidays!), Life Passages (such as marriage, childbirth, and death), Divination Practices, A Highland Herbal (where you'll find those Scottish herbs from the title of the book), Fishing Magic, Boats, and the Lore of the Sea, Farming, Fertility, and Harvest Customs, Domestic Life (like food and whisky), Sacred Birds and Animals, Magical Practices (which features rituals, healing and protective magic, curses, and more), Elves, Spirits, Witches, and Monsters, and The Fairies.
I know, right? Whew! Hopman does an excellent job propelling the reader through a diverse range of topics in 272 pages, which includes an appendix of a pronunciation guide and the bibliography. What's even better is that the book is thoroughly indexed! When you have that much information you're going to want to refer back to the text for specifics from time to time, and thankfully, unlikely many books, "Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore" has 36 pages of index which means you will definitely find what you're looking for!
Ellen Evert Hopman provides a definitive book on the traditional Scottish lifestyle. As Hopman offers in the conclusion to "Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore", "As people's lives become once more agriculturally based, folk will look to the old ways for inspiration as they seek to honor the Land Sprits and the seasons. It is for these future generations that I offer this book, in hopes that they will tend the Earth and Her creatures, the seen and the unseen, with loving care."
This book enthralled me, reinforced things of which I was aware, and very pleasantly surprised me with much information that, to me, was completely new.
Much here on the history and folklore of Scotland, the lore of the sidhe-folk, and indispensable information on the uses of herbs. Ms. Hopman has adroitly imparated to the reader much that is of historical and magickal importance. Whether you are looking for hitherto unknown uses of a particular plant, or wish to know why fairy folk avoid iron, or want to know why bones play a part in magick - it's in here. Should you be curious as to why the history of this mist-shrouded Northern land affects the present, or should you desire to know how the old Gods influenced their adherents in the storied past and continue to do so to thhis very day - it's in here too.
You will probably read this on a quiet evening with a warm drink convenient to hand and a notebook and pen at your elbow so that as you comfortably feed your mind and soul, you can mark down things of particular interest for future experimentation and use, or do additional historical research at your leisure. It's that rich, and it's that complex. Too, it's that genty entertaining to learn things that many of us have not had much opportunity to glean from other sources.
I've very much enjoyed this book and if your heart yearns to earlier times and older Gods, if you want practical data which will serve you in good stead, look no further. This is a book for you!
