Ellen Evert Hopman is a Master Herbalist and lay Homeopath who holds an
M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling. She is Vice President of The Henge Of
Keltria, an international Druid Fellowship and a professional member of
the American Herbalist's Guild.
She is the author of
A Druid's Herbal For The Sacred Earth Year
ISBN 0-89281-501-9
published by Destiny Books, One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767 USA
Distributed in the UK by Deep Books
Tree Medicine, Tree Magic
ISBN 0-9193445-55-7
published by Phoenix Publishers, Portal Way, POB 10, Custer, WA, 98240,
USA
Distributed in the UK by Deep Books
People of The Earth - The New Pagans Speak Out
ISBN 0-89281-559-0
Published by Destiny Books, One Park Street, Rochester, VT, 05767 USA
Distributed in the UK by Deep Books
see archive for excerpts from these books
and of the videos Gifts From the Healing Earth Vol. 1 and Pagans
(Both from EFP Services, and New Leaf ).
She has released three audio tapes: The Druid Path: Herbs And Festivals,
Celtic Gods and Goddesses, and The Herbal And Magical Powers Of Trees from
Creative Seminars, West Hurley, New York. She has been a teacher of Herbalism
since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990.
WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE FROM ELLEN EVERT HOPMAN M.ED.
Tree Medicine, Tree Magic
Generally a week end workshop. Friday night I do a slide show of some common
North American trees illustrating their medicinal and magical properties.
Saturday morning we learn a traditional Druid tree meditation and learn
to listen to the trees. Saturday afternoon we gather tree medicines such
as leaves, pine needles, flowers, barks, etc. Sunday we prepare medicines
from the ingredients we have gathered and each student presents an oral
report on the ethnobotanical and medicinal uses of one tree.
A shorter version of the workshop involves a slide show and talk followed
by a Ogham making project involving self hardening clay. Each student leaves
with an Ogham divination kit. Materials fee; $10.00 per each ten students.
Materials needed ( per student )
2 clean glass jelly jars with lids
1 quart olive oil
Herb books
bags for collecting, shears
Introduction To the Druid Spiritual Path
Also a weekend workshop. Friday night I present a slide show entitled Ancient
Irish Sacred Sites which includes a view of Newgrange, the 3,500 B.C. solstice
site in the Boyne Valley of Ireland, stone circles, holy wells, Brighid's
fire at Kildare, several dolmens and important cairns such as the cairn
of Queen Maeve at Sligo, the Druidic center at Uisnach, the Turoe Stone
and the Aran Islands.
Early Christian settlements such as Glendaloch and Clonmacnoise are discussed
as is a re-constructed model of an Iron-age lake village with it's
thatched huts, gardens, working areas and crafts.
On Saturday we spend the day learning the standard Druid Tree Meditation
and the Keltrian Druid ritual form. On Sunday everyone dresses in their
finest and we adjourn to the woods to perform a Druid ritual ( open to the
public, workshop participants function as clergy ).
Workshop participants may elect to become dedicates of the Keltrian Druid
Tradition.
Materials Needed
Sponsor will supply 3 cast iron cauldrons ( for water, earth, and incense),
two goblets/chalices, Mead or other spirits, and water. The rite traditionally
takes place in the presence of an oak tree and with a fire nearby.
Who Were The Druids?
A lecture exploring the roots of Druidism, its origins in the ancient proto-Indo-European
homeland of the Ukraine, its full blossoming in the Celtic cultures of Europe,
its demise and rebirth in the 17th century Romantic Celtic revival period
of England and France, and its establishment in the United States as a vibrant
neo-Pagan religion of the present.
Ancient Irish Sacred Sites
A slide show and talk covering the dolmens, cairns, holy wells, early Christian
churches and monastic communities, Iron Age villages, the Winter
Solstice temple called " Newgrange," stone circles, carved standing
stones, Ogham stones, etc. The talk generally lasts about 1 1/2 hours and
is
followed by a book signing.
Ancient British Sacred Sites
A slide show and talk covering the South Eastern portion of Scotland with
its carved Pictish stones, the major English monuments such as Stonehenge,
Avebury, Silbury Hill, some Arthurian sites such as Tintagel, Glastonbury
( Avalon ), and Camelot, and the mysterious and wonderful Cornish sacred
sites of the Michael/Mary Brighid/Lugh ley line. The talk lasts about two
hours and is followed by a book signing.
Flower Essence Counseling
Again a Friday night slide show of flowers used in this counseling technique.
On Saturday morning we gather flowers and prepare essences ( weather
permitting ). Saturday afternoon we learn some basic counseling techniques
and practice on each other. Spiritual affirmations are a vital part of
this healing modality.
Materials needed
Sponsor will provide a few crystal bowls and a bottle of natural brandy
students will bring 2 or 3 clean glass jelly jars with lids
Medicinal Herbs
A Friday night slide show of some common medicinals found in North America.
Saturday morning and afternoon we spend roaming the countryside looking
at trees and herbs and identifying them. Sunday we make simple preparations
such as tinctures and salves and poultices. Students bring herb books and
other data bases from which they prepare a report to present to the class.
Materials needed;
4 clean glass jelly jars with lids
1 quart olive oil
1 pint vodka
Herb books
collecting bags or baskets, shears
The Druidic Wheel Of The Year
A lecture on the eight Celtic festivals of the Sacred Earth Year, Solstices,
Equinoxes and Cross Quarters ( Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasad) with
their attendant Deities and herbal and agricultural associations.
This workshop typically lasts about two hours and is usually followed by
a book signing and a question and answer period.
Celtic Gods and Goddesses
An evening lecture describing some of the major Celtic Deities, their appearance,
attributes, spheres of influence, and archetypal powers. As true polytheists
the ancient Celts had different Deities to cover different
areas of life; childbirth, crafts, music and poetry, healing, warfare, holy
wells, and fire are just some of their domains. Important for our own
culture and times is the gender balanced aspect of these Gods and Goddesses,
reflecting a time when men and women enjoyed relatively equal status.
This workshop lasts about two hours and can include a short ritual to h=onor
the Gods.
Introduction to Homeopathy
An introductory lecture on the history of Homeopathy. What is it? How was
it developed? A look at some common Homeopathic first aid remedies followed
by a slide show of plants used in Homeopathic medicines. This is a one day
workshop.
The Metamorphic Technique
A Hands on massage technique developed out of reflexology by Robert St.John.
This is a 4-5 hour workshop that covers the theory after which students
take turns working on each others heads, feet and hands. The book Metamorphic
Technique, Principle and Practices is available from Element Books and will
provide an excellent introduction to how this technique sets free the healing
processes of the Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Introduction To Chinese Five Element Theory
A two hour workshop that covers the five elements with their associated
times of year, tastes, emotions, body parts, smells, colors, and tones of
voice. This theory can be applied to herbal case taking as well as to counseling
and psychology, analysis of communities and groups, historical epochs, and
spiritual paths.
The workshop can be expanded to a day long class that covers facial diagnosis
and the diagnosis of warts, lines, pimples and the tongue. A poster
is available for $15.00 that shows the facial types.
Introduction To Herbal Healing And Self Care
A five month intensive offered one weekend a month. Covers Western herbal
Materia Medica, formula making, case taking, Chinese Five Element Theory,
Homeopathic First Aid, Flower Essence Counseling, plant identification,
ethnobotany, and hands on herbal techniques such as poultices, tinctures,
salves etc. Over 400 pages of handouts are included with the course. A certificate
of completion is offered at the end. Cost is $100.00 per weekend plus a
$25.00 xeroxing fee. Sponsor attends for free and must cover transportation
costs, advertising, and provide room and board for each weekend. Students
are expected to attend every class
and a minimum of 15 students is required.
The proceeds from this class are not split 50/50 as in the other classes
and arrangements must be made on a case by case basis.
Bardic Poetry Workshop
This is a weekend poetry class. On Saturday and Sunday students hike out
into the forest and meditate on the elements of earth, fire, water, and
air, as well as the sacred animals, the sacred plants and the sacred human
beings. After each meditation a poem is presented to the group. Both days
are spent fasting, water is permitted and a light supper such as soup
or a salad is taken at night. ( Caffeine addicts will want to take a cup
of coffee or tea in the morning to prevent headaches, they may also want
to take along willow bark or aspirin ). At the end of the workshop a group
poem is created and if possible presented to an audience.
Celtic Goddesses
A weekend workshop. The Celtic Goddesses cover many spheres; warrioress
, mistress of crafts, healer, mother, shape shifter, sorceress, river spirit,
guardian of the land, dryad, huntress, and lover are just some of their
aspects.
Participants will use poetry, guided meditation, drawing and music to enliven
a particular Goddess archetype which they feel called to explore. The basics
of Druid ritual form will be taught and the experience will culminate in
a formal Druid ceremony honoring the Goddesses we have worked with.
Participants should bring ritual or celebratory robes, musical instruments,
tools and materials of their chosen craft if they have one, notebooks, blankets
to sit on out of doors, and offerings for the Goddesses (flowers, fruit,
songs, poetry, etc.)
Transportation costs and advertising are covered by the sponsor. Ellen
has an extensive mailing list that covers many areas of the U.S. which she
will make available on disk
( IBM; Lotus 1,2,3 or Comma delimited)
Ellen gets $ 300.00 per day or $ 600.00 per weekend or half of what is taken
in,
WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
Sponsor provides food and sleeping arrangements for Ellen.
Ellen Evert Hopman has presented at many venues in Europe and the USA.
She has participated in numerous radio and television programs including
the Gary Null show in New York. She presents a weekly "herb report"
for WRSI radio, out of Greenfield, MA. She has been a contributing author
to many New Age and Pagan journals.
Ellen Evert Hopman M.Ed.
PO Box 219
Amherst, MA 01004
( 413 ) 323 4494
email: Saille333@AOL.com
Archive Library
The Druid Grove