After a record breaking warm December here in New England, things are finally cooling down here on the mountain. The last Full Moon was so warm that the animals thought it was spring. I saw a deer (sadly hit by a car) on the road, and a fox. A friend told me she went outside to admire her Christmas lights and something that sounded like a wolf was howling in the nearby forest.
We didn’t have our first snow and ice storm until a few days after Christmas, which is strange and unnatural for New England. As a consequence of the same storm my brother and his wife barely escaped the tornados in Texas and the South East is drowning in record levels of water, as is Scotland. The arctic will be 50 degrees warmer than usual this week, its already warmer than it has been in 120,000 years – I have to admit that I am scared by all this. James Lovelock, the famous inventor of the Gaia hypothesis which states that the Earth is a self-regulating system, predicts that climate catastrophe within the next twenty years is now inevitable. Here in the USA we can barely tolerate the idea of a few desperate Syrian refugees coming to our shores. Soon the human tide looking for food, water and shelter will number in the millions. What will we do then?
Bernie Sanders will be visiting Western Mass on January 2 and I plan to hear him speak. He is currently the only candidate with the wisdom to list climate change as a dire problem. He has my vote.
Some upcoming local events in January

I will be doing a talk on “Animal Spirit Medicines” and selling my salves and books at Indigo Massage and Healing Center, 45 Main Street, Florence, MA on Saturday, January 16. They are holding a Crystal Fair from 11-5. In the center of town, located just behind the Cumberland Farms with a free parking lot. Look for the big Blue Sign that says YOGA!
Tree Herbalism
I will be doing a series on tree herbalism and Celtic tree lore at THE BOUTIQUE in Northampton
2-4 PM January 24, February 21 and March 13 (all are Sundays)
Learn the herbal uses and Celtic lore of seven trees at each session in a very warm and relaxed space on a cold winter’s afternoon!
Celtic Tree Lore
Over three months you will learn the medicinal and spiritual properties of the twenty trees of the Irish pre-Roman Ogham alphabet. Includes a pronunciation guide, handouts, and for those who want to, a deck of tree cards that can be used for divination.
Each week we will cover seven trees and share traditional tales and Celtic medicine and lore of the trees (while sipping tea and eating cookies!)
A small voluntary donation is appreciated to cover costs.

BOOK NEWS

Legacy of Druids

I have two new books coming out that are already available for pre-order. I just received my first copies of A LEGACY OF DRUIDS
The book has its own Facebook page
And can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.com US or Amazon.com UK
Secret Medicines from Your Garden

The second book is SECRET MEDICINES FROM YOUR GARDEN which is also available for pre-order!
Secret Medicines from Your Garden
Plants for Healing, Spirituality, and Magic
Ellen Evert Hopman
Coming Spring 2016
A guided exploration of herbal lore and healing plants found in yards, forests, meadows, and hedgerows
• Draws on traditional knowledge and remedies from around the world, including Native American, Celtic, and Egyptian traditions
• Provides simple recipes to safely make herbal remedies from local plants and honey for first aid, immune support, and treatment of common ailments
• Reveals the “triangle” formula-making system of William LeSassier
• Explains how to work with plant spirits, herbal astrology, and Animal Spirit Medicine
Weaving together ancient wisdom, mystical folklore, and modern plant research, master herbalist Ellen Evert Hopman explores the many uses of flowers, trees, common weeds, and ornamental plants for food, medicine, spiritual growth, and magical rituals. She reveals the herbal lore surrounding each plant, drawing on traditional knowledge and remedies from around the world, including Native American, Celtic, and Egyptian traditions. She includes recipes throughout so you can make medicines from wild and domesticated plants easily found in yards, forests, meadows, and hedgerows, and she discusses what to plant to ensure you have leaves, berries, and flowers all year.
The author reveals how to quickly intuit an unknown plant’s properties using the signatures of plants—universal indications and contraindications based on the form, color, and location of a plant. She includes an in-depth section on honey and Bee Medicine, allowing you to appreciate the labors of these plant-dependent insects. Exploring the magical role of herbs in ancient ritual, Hopman provides recipes for Egyptian temple incense and their sacred medicine known as “Kyphi” or “Kaphet,” used to purify the body, banish insomnia, and promote vivid dreaming. She explores shamanic Plant Spirit and Animal Spirit Medicine as well as herbal astrology. She also explains the “triangle” formula-making system of her herbal mentor William LeSassier to help you develop custom herbal remedies tailored to a person’s unique strengths and weaknesses.
Showing how to easily incorporate wild plants into your life to receive their healing benefits throughout the seasons, Hopman reveals the power of the bounty that Mother Nature has provided right at our doorstep.
Ellen Evert Hopman has been a teacher of herbalism since 1983 and is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. A Druidic initiate since 1984, she is a founding member of The Order of the White Oak, an Arch Druidess of the Druid Clan of Dana, and a member of the Grey Council of Mages and Sages. The author of several books, including A Druid’s Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year, she lives in Massachusetts.
Healing Arts Press
ISBN 978-1-62055-557-6
Spring 2016

I wish you all a warm, safe, prosperous and joyful New Year!
Below you will find the usual last Moonth’s gleanings from the media.
*Reminder* you can always purchase signed books from this website and get a *personal note* from the author! (me)