Book Review-The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies by Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue

Book Review

The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies 

By Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue

Publisher: Bear & Company 

265 page paperback

Release Date: July 16th, 2024

The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies is a book filled with the wisdom of O’Donoghue’s Irish Celtic ancestry, weaving the use of entheogens like Mushrooms and Cannabis into a cohesive, animistic practice infused with witchcraft. The Silver Branch and the Otherworld starts off by covering basic theory and philosophy of O’Donoghue’s practices, even giving Wheel of the Year Rituals for the 4 Sabbats of Beltaine, Lughnassád, Samhain and Imbolc. O’Donoghue then moves the reader into the forest, giving a modest herbal, featuring plants, trees, and fungi and their potential uses and dangers in medicinal, spiritual and entheogenic uses. I particularly appreciated the author’s candid approach to psilocybin as an entheogen, mentioning experiences and preferences based off of those experiences, devoting an entire chapter to the many uses and abilities of psilocybin.

I decided to review this book because of my affinity for forests, entheogenic spiritual practices, and herbalism. I found O’Donoghue’s knowledge on herbalism, Celtic magical, spiritual and philosophical beliefs to be built on solid ground, either from ancestral practices, research, or experience. As stated before, I appreciated O’Donoghue’s knowledge of psilocybin and other fungi, such as amanita muscaria, which was likely a commonly ingested fungi throughout Europe in ancient times. Giving tips, scientific research and data, as well as the wisdom of those who have gone before, The Silver Branch and the Otherworld is a great primer for those seeking to work with psilocybin and other common entheogenic plants such as Cannabis for spiritual purposes. Apart from a concise yet thorough section on each plant, possible health cautions, as well as ecological considerations are given as well, something that I’m seeing a lot more of in herbals, and which was needed.

I have no criticisms of this wonderful book, as even those following a non-Celtic path will find wisdom and bits of knowledge easily applied to any path within its pages. Because of this, I give The Silver Branch and the Otherworld: Forest Magic with Plant and Fungi Allies by Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue a 5 out of 5. It’s an excellent book and gives the spiritual components to working with these plants, while giving basic health and safety information as well should you choose to ingest these plants.

About the Author:

Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue is a clinical herbalist, writer and teacher, weaving together traditional Western herbalism with modern science. He is a columnist for Plant Healer Magazine and the founder of Otherworld Well Hedge School. He lives in western Maine.

 

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Author Bio:

Hello there! I’m the Modern Merlin, and I’ve been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for 15 years, worshipping and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place. I practice Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism and Ceremonial Magick, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. I study and practice Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. I give readings and spiritual services on my Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!