Further Reading

For a report on pollen studies that track the sudden disappearance of yew in the early Christian period, see:

Molloy, K., and M. O’Connell. 2007. “Fresh insights into long-term environmental change on the Aran Islands based on palaeo-ecological investigations of lake sediments from Inis Oírr.” Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 59:1–17.

For a discussion of trees in relation to late Iron Age ritual sites, see:

Newman, Connor, Michael O’Connell, Mary Dillon, and Karen Molloy. 2007. “Interpretation of charcoal and pollen data relating to a late Iron Age ritual site in eastern Ireland: a holistic approach.” Published online 26 April 2006. Vegetation History and Archaeobotony 16:349–365.

For a further understanding of Druid magic, Ogham, and the spiritual and herbal uses of trees in the Celtic context, see:

Hopman, Ellen Evert. A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 2008.

For an overview of early Christian monastic life, see:

Campbell, Ewan. Saints and Sea Kings. Edinburgh: Canongate Books, 1999.

Broun, Dauvit, and Owen Clancy Thomas, eds. Spes Scotorum: Hope of Scots—Saint Columba, Iona and Scotland. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1999.

For an overview of the ancient Brehon Laws, see:

Kelly, Fergus. A Guide to Early Irish Law. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1991.

———. Early Irish Farming. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1997.

———. Bechbretha—An Old Irish Law-Tract on Bee-Keeping. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1983.

For an account of poetic training, the poetic grades, and laws pertaining to poets, see:

Breatnach, Liam, ed. Uraichecht Na Riar. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1987.

For an example of a king-making ritual and the rules of good governance pertaining to ancient Irish kings, see:

Kelly, Fergus. Audacht Morainn. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976.

For background on the ritual use of intoxicating drinks from the La Téne to the Viking Age, see:

Enright, Michael J. The Lady with a Mead Cup. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1996.

The Chakras

Information on the chakra systems is in part from class notes to Sri Yantra workshops given by Donald Michael Kraig and from Introduction to the Chakras, a class for the Grey School of Wizardry, by Donata Ahern, MSW, www.greyschool.com, as well as a lifetime of my own experience with various gurus and spiritual teachers.

Historical Resources

Chadwick, Nora. The Celts. Middlesex: Penguin, 1985.

Cunliffe, Barry. The Celtic World: An Illustrated History of the Celtic Race, Their Culture, Customs and Legends. New York: Greenwich House, 1986.

Green, Miranda. The World of the Druids. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997.

Lincoln, Bruce. Death, War and Sacrifice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991.

Rees, Alwyn, and Brinley Rees. Celtic Heritage, Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1994.

Ross, Anne. Pagan Celtic Britain, Studies in Iconography and Tradition. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1967 (reprinted 1994).

Sjoestedt, Marie-Louise. Gods and Heroes of the Ancient Celts. New York: Dover Publications, 2000.

Wells, Peter. Beyond Celts, Germans, and Scythians: Archaeology and Identity in Iron Age Europe. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 2002.

Aids to Creating Druid Rituals

Bord, Janet, and Colin Bord. Earth Rites: Fertility Practices in Pre-Industrial Britain. London: Granada Publishing Limited, 1983.

———. Sacred Waters. London: Paladin Grafton Books, 1986.

Carmichael, Alexander. Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations. Edinburgh: Floris Books, 1992.

Cross, Tom Peete, and Clark Harris Slover. Ancient Irish Tales. Totowa, NJ: Barnes and Noble Books, 1988 (reprint of the 1936 edition).

Hopman, Ellen Evert. A Druid’s Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 1995.

———. A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 2008.

Kondratiev, Alexei. Celtic Rituals: An Authentic Guide to Ancient Celtic Spirituality. Scotland: New Celtic Publishing, 1999.

Information on Druids, Druid Orders, and Druid Training:

The Order of the Whiteoak (Ord na Darach Gile):
www.whiteoakdruids.org

Ellen Evert Hopman’s website:
www.elleneverthopman.com