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Shaman Pathways - Trees of the Goddess: A New Way of Working With the Ogham
Shaman, artist and author Elen Sentier writes, "I was first taught the trees of the goddess as a child. The old ones from the village would tell us about the tree, how it lives, what creatures it lives with, its whole environment. They would tell us stories then we would go to the tree and sit with it, listen to what it had to show and tell us. Later, we would ask it for a piece of its wood to make its spirit- home. These were rituals but all so natural and normal they were just a part of life and living for me as I grew up. TREES OF THE GODDESS will help you find your way of doing this."
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2014
35 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Elen Sentier
29 books36 followersI write magic, mystery, murder & (sometimes steamy) romance.
All my life I’ve followed the deer trods of Elen of the Ways. My mother's mother was a witch from the Isle of Man and my father was a cunning man from Lancashire. I grew up in an ancient village on the edge of Exmoor where the church is dedicated to the goddess Iwerydd and my aunt owned her sacred well. My parents and the elder folk in the village taught the ways of the awenydd, the old native shamanism of Britain.
I live in the back of beyond with two cats and a host of wildlife where I write novels and I teach the ways of old ways of the awenydd that I grew up with. I read massively and am now converted to Kindle as well as having bookcases full of the lovely old paper stuff. Whenever I can I get out into the wild places.
All my life I’ve followed the deer trods of Elen of the Ways. My mother's mother was a witch from the Isle of Man and my father was a cunning man from Lancashire. I grew up in an ancient village on the edge of Exmoor where the church is dedicated to the goddess Iwerydd and my aunt owned her sacred well. My parents and the elder folk in the village taught the ways of the awenydd, the old native shamanism of Britain.
I live in the back of beyond with two cats and a host of wildlife where I write novels and I teach the ways of old ways of the awenydd that I grew up with. I read massively and am now converted to Kindle as well as having bookcases full of the lovely old paper stuff. Whenever I can I get out into the wild places.
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April 17, 2021If you've ever wanted to investigate Celtic tree lore or it's connection to the Ogham alphabet in modern paganism, then you already know the literature is immense and you may wonder where to start. Elen Sentier's Trees of the Goddess is an excellent introduction which draws from many of the more common sources and uses them in the most straightforward and traditional manner. She explains the names, traits, uses, and lore of the trees of Celtic mythology and explains their relationship to the Ogham alphabet. It's a short book which stands well alone for those with a casual interest, but it also makes a good introduction for those looking to go deeper. All of the usual sources are here: Robert Graves' White Goddess, Frazer's Golden Bough, Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain, the works of W.B. Yeats and more. I can't suggest this book enough for readers who are new to the subject.
June 23, 2019
Very useful book with good info!
February 9, 2017
Brought me back
This book brought me back to my love of nature, tree spirits, trees energies, that I had long forgotten from when I was a child. Trees and woods have always been friendly places to be for me. Thank you, this book guided me back like a memory long forgotten.
This book brought me back to my love of nature, tree spirits, trees energies, that I had long forgotten from when I was a child. Trees and woods have always been friendly places to be for me. Thank you, this book guided me back like a memory long forgotten.
July 17, 2014
My own approach to tree lore and the Ogham is entirely traditional so I found Elen Sentier's book a fascinating look into an entirely different approach to the subject. Elen weaves together the older material with a wide array of modern material, including insight's from Robert Graves' book the White Goddess, moon lore, metal associations, and spiritual concepts. She also includes a lot of tree and plant lore and some different deity related material. She covers the 20 Ogham by breaking them up into the 12 months of the year, each month with a chapter which contains 1 or 2 Ogham. Towards the end she also discusses mistletoe and how to connect to the energies of the trees and plants as well as how to make your own Ogham staves. Ultimately this book is not about the academic history of the Ogham or the historic beliefs and practices associated with them, but is about the author's vision of the living symbols of the trees and how they can be connected to and worked with today.
June 24, 2019
This was quite difficult to read. A lot of words are stated twice in one sentence and the grammar and word order is jarring.
The author refers to older relatives with esoteric interests; this doesn't indicate a direct link to, or authority on, the distant past, as the New Age movement has origins as far back as the Victorian era. It is also unclear which of her points are based on family teachings and which are her ideas, which would hace been interesting to know.
A fantasy of Celtic myth seems to have such a strong hold on people that many will contort themselves to cram it in to their work, or claim it 'intuitively', rather than build up from what we do know archaeologically and from historical sources . We seem to be near the point where Celtic Revivalism is eating itself, and becoming a sort of amorpheous porridge which only refers to its own footnotes.
The nature and folklore inserts are an enjoyable read, and lyrically written in a friendly and accessible way. I liked the natural history associations, especially the natural properties of the plants. The separately labelled concepts are creative and interesting suggestions as to apply these to creative spiritual work, using the physical properties as jumping-off points. I also liked the pieces of historical info.
There are some random bits that have no apparent historical or folkloric link. Some classic folk stories are mentioned only in passing, but advice to 'look it up in Google' misses the point of buying a book and these days tends to be a given.
There is also an issue with image quality, with a lot of jagged edges on the illustrations.
I do appreciate Celtic folklore is a difficult choice as little of it remains, and that to create a structure means something more must be worked in.
If it was described as a fantasia on tree-myth it would be great; it's the assumption of authority that is inappropriate. Sentier says at the end that 'no one really knows' the origins of Ogham, which is true, but also puts Graves on a level with scholars- the assumption being one guess is as good as another. There is a defensiveness against critique that appears quite closed-minded at its worst.
Sentier says the final 5 line riddle of the Song of Amergin is a 'watchword' for different Ogham/ trees. This is a big stretch- especially since the Ogham have more than 5 types.
Quite a lot of this refers back to Robert Graves- the translation is credited to him, and most likely the interpretation too. To be fair to the writer he was regarded as an authority on Celtic myth by reviewers and literary readers (but not by scholars who devoted their lives to studying the subject). As his writing style and language skills were decent, people credited his dodgy interpretations too.
For example, with Amergin Graves rearranged the lines, added new lines entirely and altered the number of staves, even inventing lines, manipulating lines to describe his fictionalized calendar, ignoring the few known Celtic holy days and calendar structure. At this point it is difficult to know why the term Celtic is used at all, as he desired something very different.
There's a lot of statements about what the Celts believed which are not documented; perhaps Neo-Celtic or New Age Celtic-Inspired would be a more illuminating term. Historically there is now doubt as to whether the Celts ever existed as a distinct group. Obviously there is no actual link between the Celts and the much later belief in planetary correspondences, and it's odd to compare an invented term to Navajo myth, giving an unfortunate impression that all cultures are a soup of equivalents.
Using the term Shaman for English/Irish work is also contradictory. 'Other' traditions are drafted in a lot to plug gaps. This New Age tendency shows an odd lack of respect for the culture and at its worst erases it. A shaman is central to a specific society and defined as such by them; a new age western shaman is self-claimed and is not the first port of call for locals in need of help.
I admit to believing esoteric work is still subject to laws of coherent internal structure, and strongly prefer either folkloric history or inspiring imaginative works which are very clear about the element of invention. Therefore I am not the target audience for this book and find it somewhat difficult to review on its own terms. This one falls somewhat awkwardly between the two. It is difficult to 'take off' from unsound ground; I think the problem is that the intuitive is mixed with historical fact, with some inaccuracy and forced associations; this makes the imaginative side sometimes feel in bad faith despite its lyricism.
It is still an interesting read, even if you don't agree with it. I feel it works best as a book-of-days-like exploration of qualities you could choose and apply in your own work, with some visualisation exercises, rather than a whole system.
The author has a love for trees, folklore and living things which comes through in the work. In this age it is certainly an important thing to learn to befriend and respect natural things, without exploitation . I thought her sympathetic ideas on the myth of Blodeuedd was a fair one, with a sense of the complex undertones of folk tales. Finally, I feel her suggestion that this process is *fun* bears much more weight than the silly references to 'kenning' processes and cunning-folk- it's good for you to play with your imagination, and rediscover the 'serious' or 'deep' play that was so absorbing as a child.
The author refers to older relatives with esoteric interests; this doesn't indicate a direct link to, or authority on, the distant past, as the New Age movement has origins as far back as the Victorian era. It is also unclear which of her points are based on family teachings and which are her ideas, which would hace been interesting to know.
A fantasy of Celtic myth seems to have such a strong hold on people that many will contort themselves to cram it in to their work, or claim it 'intuitively', rather than build up from what we do know archaeologically and from historical sources . We seem to be near the point where Celtic Revivalism is eating itself, and becoming a sort of amorpheous porridge which only refers to its own footnotes.
The nature and folklore inserts are an enjoyable read, and lyrically written in a friendly and accessible way. I liked the natural history associations, especially the natural properties of the plants. The separately labelled concepts are creative and interesting suggestions as to apply these to creative spiritual work, using the physical properties as jumping-off points. I also liked the pieces of historical info.
There are some random bits that have no apparent historical or folkloric link. Some classic folk stories are mentioned only in passing, but advice to 'look it up in Google' misses the point of buying a book and these days tends to be a given.
There is also an issue with image quality, with a lot of jagged edges on the illustrations.
I do appreciate Celtic folklore is a difficult choice as little of it remains, and that to create a structure means something more must be worked in.
If it was described as a fantasia on tree-myth it would be great; it's the assumption of authority that is inappropriate. Sentier says at the end that 'no one really knows' the origins of Ogham, which is true, but also puts Graves on a level with scholars- the assumption being one guess is as good as another. There is a defensiveness against critique that appears quite closed-minded at its worst.
Sentier says the final 5 line riddle of the Song of Amergin is a 'watchword' for different Ogham/ trees. This is a big stretch- especially since the Ogham have more than 5 types.
Quite a lot of this refers back to Robert Graves- the translation is credited to him, and most likely the interpretation too. To be fair to the writer he was regarded as an authority on Celtic myth by reviewers and literary readers (but not by scholars who devoted their lives to studying the subject). As his writing style and language skills were decent, people credited his dodgy interpretations too.
For example, with Amergin Graves rearranged the lines, added new lines entirely and altered the number of staves, even inventing lines, manipulating lines to describe his fictionalized calendar, ignoring the few known Celtic holy days and calendar structure. At this point it is difficult to know why the term Celtic is used at all, as he desired something very different.
There's a lot of statements about what the Celts believed which are not documented; perhaps Neo-Celtic or New Age Celtic-Inspired would be a more illuminating term. Historically there is now doubt as to whether the Celts ever existed as a distinct group. Obviously there is no actual link between the Celts and the much later belief in planetary correspondences, and it's odd to compare an invented term to Navajo myth, giving an unfortunate impression that all cultures are a soup of equivalents.
Using the term Shaman for English/Irish work is also contradictory. 'Other' traditions are drafted in a lot to plug gaps. This New Age tendency shows an odd lack of respect for the culture and at its worst erases it. A shaman is central to a specific society and defined as such by them; a new age western shaman is self-claimed and is not the first port of call for locals in need of help.
I admit to believing esoteric work is still subject to laws of coherent internal structure, and strongly prefer either folkloric history or inspiring imaginative works which are very clear about the element of invention. Therefore I am not the target audience for this book and find it somewhat difficult to review on its own terms. This one falls somewhat awkwardly between the two. It is difficult to 'take off' from unsound ground; I think the problem is that the intuitive is mixed with historical fact, with some inaccuracy and forced associations; this makes the imaginative side sometimes feel in bad faith despite its lyricism.
It is still an interesting read, even if you don't agree with it. I feel it works best as a book-of-days-like exploration of qualities you could choose and apply in your own work, with some visualisation exercises, rather than a whole system.
The author has a love for trees, folklore and living things which comes through in the work. In this age it is certainly an important thing to learn to befriend and respect natural things, without exploitation . I thought her sympathetic ideas on the myth of Blodeuedd was a fair one, with a sense of the complex undertones of folk tales. Finally, I feel her suggestion that this process is *fun* bears much more weight than the silly references to 'kenning' processes and cunning-folk- it's good for you to play with your imagination, and rediscover the 'serious' or 'deep' play that was so absorbing as a child.
June 14, 2019
Solid, quick read
This was a solid, practical, and quick little book on the ogham. It doesn't do anything too new, but by the same token it is still a great read with tried and true wisdom and practices featured in its body.
This was a solid, practical, and quick little book on the ogham. It doesn't do anything too new, but by the same token it is still a great read with tried and true wisdom and practices featured in its body.
March 30, 2018
Beautiful introduction to the sacred trees.
Easy to read and quick. Description and folklore given for each tree, full of insight and information with exercises too.
Easy to read and quick. Description and folklore given for each tree, full of insight and information with exercises too.
May 16, 2020
Good introduction to ogham.
October 4, 2020
Interesting and educational
I enjoyed this book, but need to go back through it and make notes.
It teaches you all about Trees and their spirits
I enjoyed this book, but need to go back through it and make notes.
It teaches you all about Trees and their spirits
February 28, 2021
A short book packed with information. If you want a quick introduction to the world of nature spirits this is it.
May 7, 2015
Trees of the Goddess by Elen Sentier is a beautiful and connected work enlightening readers to the messages of Ogham. I thoroughly enjoyed the magic the author tapped into when presenting simple but meaning interpretations of each Ogham. If you are looking for new ways to approach Ogham or are looking for a way to reconnect, this is the book for you!
The book is organized by month. Which is really my biggest problem with the book. If you are new to Ogham it can be tricky to remember which symbol goes with which month. That adds a little time to the process when using the book as a reference point. Those more familiar with Ogham, though, will likely not be impacted by this.
Each tree has it's own section. It starts with some quick points like Concept, Watch words, what letter it represents in English, and the Time for the tree. Then it includes a graphic of the symbol for the tree. Each tree also gets a wonderful description of how it appears and grows in nature. I was really impressed with the detail that is given for each tree. Learning about the natural properties allow readers to become more familiar with identifying, using, and understanding the tree for themselves rather than just memorizing a meaning. The concept (or meaning, message, ect) given for each tree is sweet and simple. The author doesn't waste readers' time with long explanations or convoluted stories. Some trees also feature other information about the myths, history, or other associated symbols. It's an impressive amount of information presented in an accessible manner.
Beyond having difficulty finding the tree I was looking for, I really appreciated using this book as a resource while using Ogham for divination. I connected with the author's concepts a lot. The concept words also seem to stick in my head much better than some other resources I've used in the past. It's been a fabulous addition to my Ogham study. Sometimes, I did wish that all the trees were as flushed out as the four or five that had lots of stories and descriptions.
I think the author did a wonderful job presenting the Ogham. I also ADORED the artwork the author has done on her website. Check it out!
The book is organized by month. Which is really my biggest problem with the book. If you are new to Ogham it can be tricky to remember which symbol goes with which month. That adds a little time to the process when using the book as a reference point. Those more familiar with Ogham, though, will likely not be impacted by this.
Each tree has it's own section. It starts with some quick points like Concept, Watch words, what letter it represents in English, and the Time for the tree. Then it includes a graphic of the symbol for the tree. Each tree also gets a wonderful description of how it appears and grows in nature. I was really impressed with the detail that is given for each tree. Learning about the natural properties allow readers to become more familiar with identifying, using, and understanding the tree for themselves rather than just memorizing a meaning. The concept (or meaning, message, ect) given for each tree is sweet and simple. The author doesn't waste readers' time with long explanations or convoluted stories. Some trees also feature other information about the myths, history, or other associated symbols. It's an impressive amount of information presented in an accessible manner.
Beyond having difficulty finding the tree I was looking for, I really appreciated using this book as a resource while using Ogham for divination. I connected with the author's concepts a lot. The concept words also seem to stick in my head much better than some other resources I've used in the past. It's been a fabulous addition to my Ogham study. Sometimes, I did wish that all the trees were as flushed out as the four or five that had lots of stories and descriptions.
I think the author did a wonderful job presenting the Ogham. I also ADORED the artwork the author has done on her website. Check it out!
March 31, 2015
Trees of the Goddess is a great little book, in only 101 pages Elen Sentier manages to introduce the main concepts of Ogham, the Celtic tree alphabet, and its application within the British Shamanic Tradition.
The book provides a primer for tree magic, and provides an explanation of the cycles of the sun and moon before covering the Ogham alphabet and ending with a series of deceptively straight forward sounding exercises and rituals.
As someone only vaguely aware of Ogham and aware of it only in the context of archaeological inscriptions, it was truly absorbing to find out more about the deeper more esoteric side of this alphabet. The book sets out the 13 months of the year, alongside the Ogham symbol and the corresponding British tree. A wealth of practical information such as etymology, history, identifying features of each tree, medicinal uses and folk-lore is complemented by thoughtful reflections on the deeper concepts at play within this tradition.
The influence of Robert Graves 'The White Goddess' is evident and where the author deviates from traditional she clearly indicates it and explains her reasoning. The author seems well aware of the academic debate about the origins and usage of Ogham and while acknowledging this debate, keeps wisely to her own path.
The writing style is fluid and engaging with occasional joyful bursts of very earthy wisdom. All together I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For a very small book, clearly designed as an introduction to the subject, I felt that it packed in a lot of useful information. I can imagine dipping into this book again and again. It certainly made me want to dig deeper into this area of study.
The book provides a primer for tree magic, and provides an explanation of the cycles of the sun and moon before covering the Ogham alphabet and ending with a series of deceptively straight forward sounding exercises and rituals.
As someone only vaguely aware of Ogham and aware of it only in the context of archaeological inscriptions, it was truly absorbing to find out more about the deeper more esoteric side of this alphabet. The book sets out the 13 months of the year, alongside the Ogham symbol and the corresponding British tree. A wealth of practical information such as etymology, history, identifying features of each tree, medicinal uses and folk-lore is complemented by thoughtful reflections on the deeper concepts at play within this tradition.
The influence of Robert Graves 'The White Goddess' is evident and where the author deviates from traditional she clearly indicates it and explains her reasoning. The author seems well aware of the academic debate about the origins and usage of Ogham and while acknowledging this debate, keeps wisely to her own path.
The writing style is fluid and engaging with occasional joyful bursts of very earthy wisdom. All together I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For a very small book, clearly designed as an introduction to the subject, I felt that it packed in a lot of useful information. I can imagine dipping into this book again and again. It certainly made me want to dig deeper into this area of study.
February 20, 2015
I received a copy in exchange for a fair review. I am quite happy to add it to my bookshelf. This little treasure begins with the 13 month tree cycle. I have hunted for years for a good book that actually delves in to all of the aspects of each month. Here you find information on the associated tree, the time of year, a lovely set of watchwords, planet, metal, and a concept. Although the chapters aren't very long, this is no quick and simple overview. The chapters get surprisingly in depth and will get you thinking with the watchwords & concept.
The second part is all about working with the trees. It's a short section, but plenty of information including making your own set of Ogham Staves. Trees of the Goddess is only about a hundred pages long, but there is so much great knowledge in here. I would absolutely recommend this gem is you are interested in the Tree Calendar. It's a wonderful addition to my library.
The second part is all about working with the trees. It's a short section, but plenty of information including making your own set of Ogham Staves. Trees of the Goddess is only about a hundred pages long, but there is so much great knowledge in here. I would absolutely recommend this gem is you are interested in the Tree Calendar. It's a wonderful addition to my library.
April 8, 2015
Trees of the Goddess is a book which covers ground already well trodden but Elen Sentier approached the subject with a unique and clear voice sharing well researched information and folk law with equal vigor. Each month is identified with it's: tree, watchwords, metal, planet, time and corresponding Ogham letter.
The book presents the information in such a way as to satisfy the quest for knowledge but also gives a good platform should you wish to explore further your connection to a particular tree or letter with chapters on working with trees and making your own Ogham Staves.
Overall a very worthwhile read and addition to the series.
The book presents the information in such a way as to satisfy the quest for knowledge but also gives a good platform should you wish to explore further your connection to a particular tree or letter with chapters on working with trees and making your own Ogham Staves.
Overall a very worthwhile read and addition to the series.
July 14, 2014
Trees of the Goddess presents the Ogham Tree Alphabet in a new and exciting way, clearly linking the wheel of the year to the trees. Even if you already know the Ogham you will find something new in this easily readable book. If you are studying the Ogham as part of a spiritual course this is a very necessary companion. Elen also presents simple techniques for getting in touch with the tree spirits and making Ogham staves and all in less than 100 pages. Another triumph for the Shaman pathways series and Elen herself
October 21, 2015
The author has a lovely framework for considering the Ogham in a more inclusive, fuller light. As the Elder Futhark is unique and complete magickal system, Ms. Sentier's perspective extends the understanding and usage of the Ogham.
November 12, 2016
Superb. Elen, infuses modern day lore of the trees with folk lore from the ancients. I now want to read more of her books, go out foraging and connect with my local magical forest!
July 19, 2019
4.75 stars
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews