A Druid's Web Log – March Coming in like a Lion 2019

This past fall was a disappointing one for acorns. With the lack of food, squirrels, blue jays and crows have all but disappeared. I miss the crows especially, because they always seemed like messengers from the Otherworld. And there was one coal black squirrel whom I regarded as a personal Spirit guide. But nature hangs on and this morning I woke up to what I thought was the sound of voices. I was thinking that someone had broken into the house (the cat sometimes opens the kitchen door in the middle of the night) or maybe it was a gang of Faeries come to visit.

I got up and padded to the window for a look. There was a small mob of turkeys gathered in front of the house, scratching in the snow and digging for seeds. I automatically began counting (I always do this – we don’t have magpies here in New England so I usually count crows), one for sorrow – two for mirth – three for a wedding – four for a birth – five for silver – six for gold – seven for a story – never to be told! Seven male turkeys with long beards were in my front yard, no doubt they were the old men and magicians of their tribe. They cleaned up the detritus of the bird feeder and swiftly moved into the forest. I suspect this year will be a “mast year” , one where the trees drop acorns in their millions. I sure hope so!

I just gave a talk at the University of Massachusetts where I showed the mystified agriculture students a jar full of processed acorns. I make acorn cakes every year. You can find recipes and processing instructions in Secret Medicines from Your Garden; find the book in the usual places or order a signed copy from me.

I am still doing radio shows and podcasts for the book that came out in the fall of 2018. Here is a podcast where I talk about Witches and Druids and the book THE REAL WITCHES OF NEW ENGLAND. You can order a signed copy from me via PayPal or find it in the usual places.
Meanwhile, my next book, THE SACRED HERBS OF SAMHAIN, will be out in August and is already available for pre-order here.
Here is a brief description of the work;
A practical guide to using the sacred herbs of Samhain for healing, divination, purification, protection, magic, and as tools for contacting the Spirits

Explores the identification, harvest, and safe practical and ritual use of more than 70 plants and trees sacred to the Celtic festival of Samhain, the origin of Halloween
Details the most effective plants for protection from the mischief of Fairies, herbs for releasing the Dead, and visionary plants for divination and shamanic work
Provides instructions and suggestions for a traditional Dumb Supper, offerings to the Land Spirits, Samhain rites, and recipes for the sacred foods of Samhain

*Reminder! You can order signed copies of all my books (with a personal note) from Willow’s Grove Shop via PayPal*

UPCOMING CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

March 23-24, 2019
The Magickal Marketplace and Psychic Faire
Nashua, NH
Ellen will speak on:
Herbal and Spiritual Aspects of Trees and Herbs of New England – Weeds You Can Use.
Courtyard Marriott Nashua, 2200 Southwood Drive
Nashua, New Hampshire 03063
Directions
Saturday, March 30
Tintagels Gate Presents:
505 Main Street in Athol MA, 01331
Please call 978-830-4611 or 508-612-6335 to RSVP/reserve your space
Scottish Fairy Lore with Ellen Evert Hopman
3-5PM, $30 per person
Book Signing immediately after the workshop
Who are the Good Neighbors and how do they live? What kinds of offerings are suitable to them? Learn the basics of polite contact with the Sidhe Realm (the Fairy Realm). Make a wee charm and take home a stone. Ellen Evert Hopman is the author of SCOTTISH HERBS AND FAIRY LORE and has worked with the Sidhe in America, Scotland and Ireland.
“It has been said that the Fairies were once proud angels who rebelled, demanding their own kingdom. They stepped out of heaven and fell to earth and ever since have dwelt underground. There are different sorts of Fairies, the “good” ones, or at least the ones that are kindly disposed to the human race, are called “Gude Wichts” or “The Seely Court”. Those that are less well disposed to humanity are known as “Wicked Wichts” or “The Unseely Court”. The “good” Fairies help humans in the house and barn. The “wicked” ones are always ready to inflict injury on mortals.” (From Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore, Pendraig Publishing Inc.)
Hopman is the author of a number of books and has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990. She is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and has presented on Druidism, herbal lore, tree lore, Paganism and magic at conferences, festivals, and events in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and in the United States.
May 17/18/19
The Awareness Shop – 180 Main St. New Paltz NY
12561 exit 18 off I-87
845 255 5756 cell 845 598 8444
Ellen Evert Hopman comes to visit The Awareness Shop in May 2019
- Ancient British Sacred Sites Friday, May 17, 2019 6 PM – 9 PM
  The Awareness Shop – 180 Main St. New Paltz NY
  A slide show and talk covering the South Eastern portion of Scotland with its carved Pictish stones, the major English monuments such as Stonehenge, Avebury, Silbury Hill, some Arthurian sites such as Tintagel, Glastonbury (Avalon), and Camelot, and the mysterious and wonderful Cornish sacred sites of the Michael/Mary Brighid/Lugh ley line. The talk lasts about two hours and is followed by a book signing. $30 per person. $10 Non Refundable Deposit is required as class size is limited.
- Celtic Tree Medicine and Lore Saturday, May 18, 2019 11am-5pm
  The Awareness Shop – 180 Main St. New Paltz NY
  Tree Divination Using the Ancient Celtic Ogham Alphabet
  The Irish Ogham tree alphabet pre-dates the Latin alphabet. Instead of letters like A-B-C-D the alphabet uses tree names like Birch, Rowan, Elder, Oak, etc. Each letter of the alphabet is couched in symbolism and lore. Ellen Evert Hopman is the author of A DRUID’S HERBAL OF SACRED TREE MEDICINE, TREE MEDICINE TREE MAGIC and other volumes that explore ancient Celtic tree lore and tree herbalism.
  In this workshop you will learn a Druid tree meditation with live trees, the basics of the Ogham letters and the spiritual, medicinal and cultural lore around them, make a small divination deck, and practice using the trees to do readings for yourself and others. The class involves work outside in nature so wear good shoes and be prepared for the weather. $125 for the day – $25 Non Refundable Deposit required – class space is limited. Full day workshop 11am—5pm bag lunch included for those with no dietary restrictions.
- The Nine Principles of Celtic Spirituality Sunday, May 19, 2019 11am-1pm
  The Awareness Shop – 180 Main St. New Paltz NY
  What are the basic principles of Celtic Spirituality? How do these principles apply to Celtic Christianity and Celtic Paganism? How is Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism different from more modern paths such as Wicca? In this class we will examine evidence from the historical Celts and their traditional practices, poetry, Celtic triads and aphorisms, and Brehon Law. $50 per person, $10 Non Refundable Deposit to hold your space.
- Cosmology of the Ancient Celts Sunday, May 19, 2019 2-4pm
  The Awareness Shop – 180 Main St. New Paltz NY
  Two Seasons, Three Worlds, Four Treasures, Five Directions: The Pillars of Druidism. $50 per person. $10 Non Refundable Deposit to reserve your space. 845-255-5756.
  An exploration of the basic Cosmology of the ancient Celts and the most important symbols of Celtic and Druidic sacred mythology and religion. Learn why Celtic tales included recurring symbols such as magical swords, chalices, stones, water and fire. Discover the religion that was practiced by King Arthur and the Celts before the Christian missionaries arrived.

To register for any or all of these amazing gatherings at The Awareness Shop – 180 Main St. New Paltz NY, please call 845 255 5756 – be prepared to leave a non-refundable deposit and your contact details.

August 22-25, Camp Cedarcrest , Orange CT
Harvest Gathering
Event page on Facebook
Camp Cedarcrest
886 Mapledale Rd, Orange, Connecticut 06477
Get tickets
Ellen will speak on the following topics;
Intro to Druid Spiritual Path
Pillars of Druidism
Communicating with Trees
Study Herbalism with Ellen Evert Hopman, Herbalist AHG
A Six Month Intensive in Western Mass
October 13 – April 2019
Intro to Herbalism and Self Care
Two Saturdays a month, 1-5 PM near Amherst, MA
Western Materia Medica, Chinese 5 Element Theory,
Flower Essence Counseling, Formula making, Hands on Herbalism,
Ethnobotany, Herb walks, Homeopathic First Aid, Live case taking and more.