Finding Elen: The Quest for Elen of the Ways

by Caroline Wise

This is a remarkable quest for the elusive deer goddess led by Caroline Wise with contributions from Caitlin Matthews, Andrew Collins and others. With its rich harvest of words and ideas, it brings the figure of Elen into focus more than ever before. And what a dazzling figure she is; part goddess, part dream, part saint, a green lady and a water nymph, primordial mother and patroness of deer, and guardian of the Old Straight Tracks and solar alignments. Her name is remembered even in healing plants. If this book does nothing more (and it will surely do much more) it will encourage people to dig deeper into the loam of tradition to follow the footsteps of the divine Elen of the Ways. Elen is as real as the roads named after her, as solid as the ancient paths that carry her presence and story across vast tracts of Britain and the European continent and beyond. What an intriguing and exhilarating journey it is.

Genres: Mythology, Folklore, Paganism, Nonfiction, Magick, Spirituality

215 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2015

Reviews

[Jim Wallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this book a 4 star rating mainly because it really is the definitive resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this little known figure from early pagan belief systems.
This book collates writings from probably all the people who have researched the prehistoric goddess Elen, and makes all of that knowledge available in one volume.
I was particularly interested to read of all of the various cultures whose folk stories added pieces to the puzzle of who Elen was and what her origins were. It is quite clear from the evidence presented that she has been with us for tens of thousands of years, and her paths and tracks can be followed through this book right up to recent times when her story became blended into the stories of Saint Helen and the holy wells that are still a focal point for neo-pagan rituals.
I'll never look at swans in flight, deer tracks, or even the stars in the sky in quite the same way again.

[Helen W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly loved this book and it opened me up (to myself) in ways that I am still exploring as I feel I have been on the path of Elen all my life without even knowing who she was. Wonderfully multi-faceted and such insight into the essence of divine femininity, this book has become an essential companion to the multi-layered metaphorical journeying through the landscapes of my life (subject of much of my writing...) and the literal landscape of the British Isles that is already my heart's passion and one of my primary preoccupations. Completing this book (which tied together so many of the threads I was already exploring, such as the Cygnus connection) feels like the beginning of something, not an ending and I find I am now discerning an Elen presence almost everywhere I go whilst newly realising how she was really there walking with me, as me, all along.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like a lot of this book was reaching/stretching to make connections where maybe there was only coincidence or actually totally unrelated things. It was an interesting look at the many pathways to Elen and the many possibly threads of her story and experiences with her, as well as connections between times, landscapes, and traditions.

[Susan Lynx · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Quest for Elen of the Ways is a collection of articles about the evidence for a very ancient "Mother of All Life" going back to the Paleolithic era, whose animal forms were Deer, Reindeer, Cow. It is remarkable for combining research with reconstruction, driven by visions and dreams of the Deer Goddess that several of the authors experienced in their own lives. Because of the ancient nature of the topic, it is impossible to be 100% conclusive. But I highly recommend the book. It offers a tantalizing glimpse into ancient roots of the Goddess.

Flaws in the book include many typos and grammatical errors. Still worth reading.

[Bekki Shining Bearheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a few books available about Elen, deer goddess of the British Isles. This is the most complete, and collects essays by Caitlin Matthews and others as well as material by Caroline Wise.

I really don't want to say too much about the book - part of the charm is in discovering it for yourself- but if you are interested in British paganism or if the tribe of Deer calls to you , this is a must-read.

[Melynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any anthology some of the essays were better than others. Some seemed to be a stretch to tie to Elen. I didn’t feel like I learned much more about Elen than when I started.

[Maranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review posted on my blog. https://whiteroseofavalon.life/2023/1...

[Angelique McGowan]

repetitive