Today as I write it is May 19 and the hawthorns on the mountain haven’t even begun to bud. That means it isn’t even Beltaine yet! Apparently my publishing schedule is right in sync with the weather. A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine was supposed to be out around May 1. Now it won’t be out until June 9! but the good news is it can be pre-ordered (just go to the publications section of my website which takes you to Amazon.com). Fans of the book Tree MedicineTree Magic (now out of print) will appreciate the new book which covers the trees of the ancient Irish Ogham alphabet in detail, with herbal, spiritual and magical uses.
It has been a hectic time, I have a new job and a book signing every single weekend through June! (but no new book!) Happily Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey has been getting nice reviews.
Also I just got back from the Florida Pagan Gathering where I met some very nice folks, led a Druid ritual and did some talks. I want to recommend a fabulous band from Australia called SPIRAL DANCE. They dedicated a song to me called “The Oak” at the Florida gathering. I plan to use that song in rituals. Find them online here.
All blessings of a happy and peaceful summer!
Ellen

* Please note: due to the crashing economy I cancelled the tour. We figured out it would have cost about $5,000.00 per person and it just didn’t seem reasonable at this time! *
This month plans are starting to come together for a Druid Sacred Sites Tour in May of 2009. We have been invited to celebrate Beltaine at the Long Man near a 3,000 year old yew forest. Tim Prevett is an expert guide to Wales and archeological sites who will lead us. We will visit Stonehenge, Avebury, West Kennet Long Barrow, Silbury Hill, Angelsey and other ancient sites in Wales, Iona and Mull in Scotland and other places. The focus will be contact with the ancestors and spiritual pilgrimage. Accomodations will be simple and we will rent a bus. For further details please write to me and put Druid Sacred Sites Tour in the subject line.
I am pleased to announce that the Whiteoak Druids are co-sponsoring another interfaith peace effort:

Focus on Iran

As part of a national physician tour, to help bridge the gap between Iran and the United States and offer the opportunity for a civilian diplomatic forum,
Dr. Shahriar Khateri & Dr. Mohammad Soroush,
Founders of The Iranian Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support, will be speaking at:
106 Seelye Hall, Smith College, Northampton MA
Sunday, April 27
1 PM to 3 PM.
Drs. Khateri and Soroush will be joined by two Iranian survivors of chemical weapons to heighten public awareness of the devastation of weapons of mass destruction and to remind us that we must work to abolish them and prevent war.
Sponsored by Pioneer Valley Physicians for Social Responsibility, Pioneer Valley Coalition to Prevent War On Iran, Smith Student Alliance for Middle East Peace.
Cosponsors: Arise, Coalition for Immigrant & Worker Rights, Granby/South Hadley Committee for Peace & Justice, Group Against Torture in Sudan, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Middle East Peace Coalition of Western Massachusetts, Mothers Against War, New England Peace Pagoda, Northampton Friends Peace and Justice Witness Committee, Order of the White Oak Druids, Peace & Social Concerns Committee of Mt. Toby Friends, SAGE, Sisters of St. Joseph’s Justice & Social Concerns Committee of Springfield, Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, The Grace Church Peace Fellowship, Traprock Peace Center, U.S. Save Article 9 Coalition, Veteran’s Education Project, Western Mass AFSC, Western Massachusetts Chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America, Western Mass Code Pink, Western Mass Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Project, Western Mass Darfur Coalition.
All blessings of the opening flowers and the clear spring light!
Ellen

This month Druids worldwide are focused on two major issues; a human rights case from Saudi Arabia involving a woman sentenced to death for “Witchcraft” and the continuation of the Battle for Tara. Everyone who reads this can help. Here is the first action alert:

URGENT ACTION NEEDED to Halt A Woman’s Execution for ‘Witchcraft’

Please urge the US Senate to call for the immediate pardon and release of Falwah Faliz, a Saudi Arabian woman who has been sentenced to death by beheading for the alleged crime of “witchcraft.”   As Human Rights Watch has declared, the conviction of Fawza Falih  is a travesty of justice.

Read and sign petition to save Fawza Falih’s life.
Further information on the case is available at:

• CNN Reports Saudi Witch Case
• HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH  Saudi Arabia: Fawza Falih’s Case Reveals Deep Flaws in Saudi Justice System
• Read the letter from Human Rights Watch to King Abdullah
• BBC News Pleas for condemned Saudi ‘witch’

Please contact your own Senators immediately on this issue. Ask them to contact the State Department, the Saudi embassy and King Abdullah and send a message from the US government on her behalf, to spare her life and free her from jail.

Follow this link to find your representative by entering your Zip Code.

And the Battle for Tara is heating up. Here is just a sample of recent press reports;

From Save Tara campaigners:
A statement on behalf of the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp Muireann Ní Bhrolchláin 087-9249510
(For direct contacts see phone numbers below)

Statement on behalf of the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp 21st century souterrain

The Protectors at Rath Lugh have planned a Direct Action method used for the first time on protest sites in Ireland. They have dug a tunnel under the route of the M3 directly in front of the Rath Lugh promontory fort in the Gabhra Valley, Co Meath in Ireland.

The Protectors intend to occupy this tunnel and seal themselves inside indefinitely to prevent construction traffic from passing overhead. They are laying their very lives on the line to protect and preserve Tara? ‘²s landscape from the destruction wrought by their own Government.

The Protectors said: ? ‘³We want to draw attention to the continued erosion of the esker by passing construction traffic, hence damaging the base and foundation of the Rath.? ‘´

This is a continuation of their non-violent direct action. The tunnel acts like a souterrain giving the occupant protection and making it very difficult for the enemy to enter.

Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp
For further information ring Derek on 086-845 9279 or Lou on 086-3600478

Link to the video of events 5-6 March at Rath Lugh, Lismullin, Co Meath

Irish Times-8 March 200
‘M3 motorway protesters claim to have entered tunnel under road’
By Harry McGee

CAMPAIGNERS AGAINST the M3 motorway claim they have stepped up their campaign by occupying a tunnel they say they have secretly dug under the proposed route that passes through the Tara Valley in Co Meath. A group calling itself the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp last night said protesters are already occupying the tunnel and were capable of sealing themselves in. They said that construction traffic passing over the tunnel would leave it vulnerable to collapse.
Derek Berrill, a spokesman for the group which is affiliated to the Save Tara campaign, said the passageway was located in front of the Rath Luth promontory fort in the Gabhra Valley.

“It has been occupied since March 6th. We have moved in because we are never too sure when they plan the next move against us,” said Mr Berrill. He said that work had commenced on the tunnel in secret in August 2007. He would not specify its exact size. “I can say the tunnel is big, although I am not in a position to give the diameter,” said Mr Berrill. “It goes directly down and then goes halfway under the route itself, crossing about halfway across [the width of the proposed] motorway.”

The protesters say they intend to occupy the tunnel indefinitely to prevent construction traffic from passing overhead. They say they also want to draw attention to what they say is continued erosion of the landscape from construction traffic. Mr Berrill said they were “absolutely certain” that the tunnel itself
would not cause damage. Michael Egan of the National Roads Authority said there was no independent verification as yet that any tunnel had been built. Entering a caveat that protesters have claimed actions in the past that did not materialise, Mr Egan said that if a tunnel had been dug then the contractor, and if necessary the Garda S? ¦íoch? ¦ána, would have to deal  with the situation.

“They have no right to be on that property. They are trespassing above and below the ground,” he said. The Department of Environment said it had no reason to believe that any activity close to Rath Lugh was endangering or damaging the monument. Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s spokesman said that issues
surrounding the construction of the road were matters for the Department of Transport and the authority.

The spokesman said that Mr Gormley yesterday signed a permanent protection order for the Rath Lugh promontory fort – until now it has been protected by a temporary order. This order, he said, was a coincidence unrelated to yesterday’s development.
He added that the department was unaware as to the existence of a tunnel for more go to savetara.com or Indymedia Ireland

How YOU can help Tara:

• On Saint Patrick’s Day (or any day of the year!), why not make a call to the Irish Embassy in New York (212) 319-2555 and another to the Irish Tourist Board in New York (212) 418-0800 and tell them how you feel about Tara and the road. (People in other parts of the world can do the same by looking up the Irish Embassy where they happen to be).

I called the embassy about six months ago and the woman I spoke with didn’t seem to have a clue what I was prattling on about. Perhaps by now they will have some idea.

A short readable history of archaeology and history of Tara – from the expert Dr Edel Bhreathnach.

All blessings of the Spring Equinox and a very happy “Bring Back The Snakes Day” (March 17) !

Ellen

The reviews for my new novel have started coming in and I am pleased to say that so far all have been positive (a big relief since this my first attempt at fiction!). Here is a nicely written one from Michael Gleason:

Priestess of the Forest by Ellen Evert Hopman © 2008 Llewellyn EAN 978-0-7387-1262-8 408 pages Includes Glossary $18.95 (U.S.) $21.95 (Canada)

There have been numerous Pagan-themed novels in the past decade, but not many written primarily about Druids, by someone familiar with Druidic philosophy. The author did one thing I really appreciated – she put the glossary and short character identifications in the front of the book where they can make an impression BEFORE you begin reading the story.

This is more than a compelling, easy to read story. Ms. Hopman has scattered throughout it Druidic practices she has learned during her decades as a member of a modern Druidic order in the United States. She has a feel for the lives and existence of the Pagan people of Celtic lands at a time of great turmoil and transition – the time of the invasion of Christianity into the British Isles.

There are rituals and invocation; beliefs and lore; and attitudes which have the ring of authenticity about them. Are they true representations of Druidic life and thought at this time in history? No one can know for sure, due to the lack of primary sources available, but I suspect that if they aren’t they are close.

The story is believable, even if the conclusion is a foregone certainty. The only questions which remains unanswered until the end is WHO will be left alive to endure the inexorable changes.

There are some unexpectedly sympathetic characters (Father Per comes to mind), and some unexpected betrayals. There are also sterling examples of the type of behavior expected from a Druid (or any Pagan priest/ess, for that matter).

I can (and do) recommend this book, which serves as both an entertaining novel and an introductory work on Druidic beliefs, to everyone. If all you want is a good story, you will find that. If you are looking for information on Druidic beliefs (as espoused by the Celtic Reconstructionist movement), you will find that as well. The important thing is to find this book and bring it home.

Peacework continues…

Here is a press release/announcement for a February 20 interfaith peace event in Western Massachusetts. I am proud to say that the Order of the Whiteoak – World Druid Council is an official sponsor (see below). It is heartening that Druids are willing and able to take a public stand on the ethics of pre-emptive war.

Preventing War on Iran

A Town Meeting with Representative Richard Neal
Wednesday February 20 7:00 pm
American Legion Post 271
162 Russell St. (Rte 9)
Hadley, MA
Background statements from:
Michael Klare
Prof. of Peace and World Security Studies, Hampshire College,
Ira Helfand Physicians for Social Responsibility,
Tyler Boudreauformer Marine Captain in Iraq,
Norma Akamatsu, Pioneer Valley Coalition to Prevent War on Iran.

Time will be available for audience questions to Congressman Neal.
Congressman John Olver may be attending; Senators Kerry and Kennedy also have been invited.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Sponsors:
American Friends Service Committee,
Arise for Social Justice,
Bob Feuer for Congress,
enviro show – wxoj,
Faculty for Israeli Palestinian,
Peace 5 Colleges,
First Churches Peace and Justice Committee,
Flyby News,
Food for Thought Books,
Haydenville Congregational Church Peace & Justice Steering Committee,
Iraqi Children’s Art Project, Middle East Peace Coalition,
Mount Toby Friends Peace and Social Concerns Committee,
Northampton Committee to Stop the War in Iraq,
Northampton Friends Meeting,
Northampton Friends Meeting Peace and Social Justice Witness Committee,
Physicians for Social Responsibility,
Pioneer Valley Coalition Against Secrecy and Torture,
Pride and Joy,
Progressive Democrats of America/Northampton Chapter,
SAGE,
Sisters of St. Joseph,
Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst,
Social Workers for Peace and Justice,
The New England Peace Pagoda,
**The Order of the Whiteoak – World Druid Council**,
Veteran’s for Peace-Chapter 95,
West Springfield Citizens for Peace, Western Mass Code Pink,
Western Mass Iraq Moratorium Coalition,
Western Massachusetts Immigrant Workers Rights Coalition,
WMass Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice, Women’s Congress for
Peace.

Information:
Email, 413-584-8975

Statement from Tyler Boudreau, former Marine Captain and Iraq veteran;

Saturday, February 9, 2008
The Moral Divide (More on the Iran Meeting)
I recently had an interesting conversation.

It all started in a room filled with people who were united in their deep
concern for the welfare of returning veterans. Many people spoke. Veterans
spoke. Stories were told. Hearts were poured out.

But suddenly, amidst all this good will, a rift spread across the room. A
difference of opinion emerged. How to best serve a returning veteran? It was
not so easy a question as we might have guessed.

The cause of the rift?

Peace.

Imagine that. Peace, as the catalyst of confrontation.

But it was.

A crowd of very decent, well-meaning people sat in the middle and said, “We
want to care for our veterans. We also want to talk about peace.”

Battle lines were hastily drawn. On one side, were three men affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. On the other side, the veterans.

“Oh no, no,” the VA men said. “You cannot speak of peace. If you ever want to build rapport with veterans, you cannot utter a word about peace!” They went on to explain that veterans view peace-activists as the enemy. “If they so much as hear that word-peace-they will turn tail and run the other way. And you’ll have lost them forever.”

These were the experts. They knew veterans. They carried that weight with them.

Then the veterans in the room responded. They said, “Um, yes but we’re not all opposed to talking about peace. In fact, given our troubles with war, we rather enjoy the discussion.”

Now there is truth, of course, in the suggestion that many veterans do feel a certain hostility from the peace movement-even those veterans who have been disquieted by their own experiences in war. But my feeling, as an Iraq War veteran, is that they tend to be threatened mostly by the rhetoric that is leveled directly against the actions they took in war. Veterans are not inherently opposed to peaceful days, and most, I think would be perfectly receptive to a discussion of diplomacy vs. military action in future
situations.

And so the debate went back and forth, the moral divide opened, and the well-meaning people in the middle began to slip down into it. They looked to
the left at the few passionate veterans in the room, and then they looked to the right at the men from the VA who said they’d worked with and heard the stories from thousands of veterans.

“Trust us,” they said. “We know what we’re talking about.”

You could see the struggle ensue before your eyes. You could feel it.

In the end, the well-meaning people in the middle grabbed hold of a rope called neutrality.

And there they hung, murmuring, “We do not want to upset our veterans, so we
will not talk about peace. We will not talk about politics. We will not talk about stopping the war in Iraq. We will not talk about preventing a war in Iran. We will not talk about anything.”

The cause for war had won.

The interesting conversation came after all this.

I was disturbed by what I’d heard those VA men say. But I was not entirely
surprised. One man was a psychiatrist. He explained the psychological dimensions of PTSD. Another was a chaplain. He explained the spiritual dimensions of PTSD. But by virtue of their jobs and the hands that fed them, they could not delve too deeply into the moral questions of policy.

This is where I became most incensed.

“Because war with Iran is not yet a policy,” I said to my friend who was also at the meeting. “There are no troops on the ground to support or not to support. There are no units in contact. There is no mission to believe in or to doubt. This is a great burden off our shoulders and clears the table for
the possibility of diplomacy. This is the time to talk about it. This is the time to talk about non-violence, before the violence begins, before the troops are sent, and before we have another polarizing war which we cannot speak of critically without offending somebody.”

What was so extraordinary about this particular episode was that the painstaking neutrality embraced by all these well-meaning people to spare the feelings of the veterans had effectively trumped their own instincts to speak for peace. They were silenced. They silenced themselves, not only about the present war, but about future ones as well.

My friend and I agreed, we’d witnessed a surprising phenomenon. And we realized that the effort to prevent future wars might be effectively impeded through its manipulation.

If, for example, Iran was pressed upon the American people not as a war of its own, but merely as an extension of the same war on terror already taking place in Iraq, then so much the more difficult it would be to oppose for
those people desperately wishing to show support for the troops.

I am grateful that the members of the American Legion Post 271 in Hadley
have not allowed this rationale to prevent them from graciously inviting Congressman Neal and his constituents into their hall to discuss the situation in Iran.

It was a noble thing to do, and I’m pleased that it was veterans who did it.

The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. on February 20, and all are invited. This indeed is a great opportunity for our community. It is what representative democracy is all about. I am anxious to participate in and listen to the exchange of ideas.

As for those who remain silently dangling from the rope of neutrality, and those who cannot find space in their hearts for peace, I must sadly let them go and make my own strongest bond with the future

The news this month is that I have been busily editing the follow up to A Druids Herbal – For the Sacred Earth Year. The new book comes out in May, 2008 and it is called A Druids Herbal – of Sacred Tree Medicine. Here are some recent interviews that were just published.
This one focuses on my life at the moment:

• PDF
• ZIP

This one focuses on Oak trees:

• Oak’s Magical History: Sacred to the Ancients, Still Loved Today for It’s Strength
• Vitality at Any Age: Essences and Aging

All blessings of the wintry winds to everyone who reads this!
Ellen