Spirits of the Sacred Grove: The World of a Druid Priestess [Paperback]

Emma Orr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 1998

Modern Druidry is a fast-growing spiritual tradition. Far from being wrapped in a veil of secrecy, it is celebrated openly, in the sunlight of a meadow or a shady forest glade. This is a very personal journey through the seasons with a modern female Druid, which reveals Druidry as an accessible and compelling spiritual path that offers great potential for healing and self-empowerment.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Thorsons (November 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0722535961
• ISBN-13: 978-0722535967
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Druidism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, heartfelt work., August 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirits of the Sacred Grove: The World of a Druid Priestess (Paperback)

As I see it, there is one very serious problem with the neo-Pagan movement: we are so focused on the mysticism inherent in our Way that the true mystics among us are often lost in the sea of poseurs. While I believe that we all partake of the mystic experience from time to time, there is in my mind a great difference between the average Joe like me and the "everyday mystic;" that is to say those who seem to actively live in a state of mystical awareness. Christian literature is rife with examples of these folk: Meister Eckhart and Hildegard of Bingen are among the better known, but former Dominican Matthew Fox and the late Thomas Merton also come to mind as relatively contemporary examples. And let us not forget the late Mother Theresa.

Whether Ms. Restall Orr is an "everyday mystic" or not is best left up to the individual reader to decide. For my part, I feel she is either an authentic Pagan mystic, or an extremely accomplished impostor. But I tend to lean toward the former, because even the best poseur is ultimately incapable of counterfeiting the true passion that I find mirrored in Emma's work.

Her antecedents aside, I found this work to be very inspiring, even though I am Wiccan, and not a Druid. Still, I am captivated by the depth of feeling, understanding and devotion that Emma expresses in her work. She is, in my mind, a mystic trying diligently to describe the nature and quality of her experience of the Divine, in the context of her Pagan beliefs. I strongly feel that the Pagan community could benefit immensely from more works of this type, expressing the heart of our faith, and fewer "how to" manuals.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I agree with the previous reviewer, October 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Spirits of the Sacred Grove: The World of a Druid Priestess (Paperback)

First and Foremost, this book is not a text book. It is a very personal account of life through the eyes and experience of a highly intellignet, talented and very special druid priestess, who is not "flaky" by any means and who has been practising and living her craft for most of her life - certainly more than 10 years. This book transports you to Emma's world - a truly magical place which most of us can only dream of glimpsing. This book is real and inspiring, Emma's language is pure poetry and I feel sad for anybody who cannot see the beauty and passion in her words and who cannot be truly inspired by them. Druidry is the quest for Awen, divine inspiration ... it is not about new age magical practices.

If you are a pagan, buy this book. If you are not a pagan, buy this book!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reality of the Shamanic/Druidic experience, May 16, 2003

By 

Jill Bredal (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirits of the Sacred Grove: The World of a Druid Priestess (Paperback)

Thank Goodness this isn't another "how-to" roast apples at Samhain or "how to" read a ritual poem straight from the book--there are countless examples of those. Instead, this is written straight from the experience of a Druid master...several days or events in her life, and does not tell the reader what to think or how to be. Discovering how Emma sees and connects with the world is moving, real and extrordinary. This is one of my five-must-haves in my own collection.

If you are stuck entirely in your mind, or have a problem with non-ordinary reality, however, this won't be for you, because Emma sees and speaks with tree spirits daily. She is deeply connected to her grove and may call forth Pan. Not just 'pretending,' mind you! It is truly revealing of a person who lives communion with nature, not just one who goes through the motions in costume, which is such a refreshing break from the posing that goes on in nature-religions-culture. This book is invaluable to those practicing shamanism, and/or communicating with spirits of nature. But first, you have to believe.