{"id":20893,"date":"2019-11-01T01:10:49","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T01:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=20893"},"modified":"2019-10-30T21:41:45","modified_gmt":"2019-10-30T21:41:45","slug":"book-review-the-sacred-herbs-of-samhain-plants-to-contact-the-spirits-of-the-dead-by-ellen-evert-hopman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2019\/11\/01\/book-review-the-sacred-herbs-of-samhain-plants-to-contact-the-spirits-of-the-dead-by-ellen-evert-hopman\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review \u2013 The Sacred Herbs of Samhain: Plants to Contact the Spirits of the Dead by Ellen Evert Hopman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Book Review <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

The Sacred Herbs of Samhain: Plants to Contact the Spirits of the Dead <\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

by Ellen Evert Hopman<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

216 pages<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

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What a perfect time of the year to review this book!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ellen Evert Hopman has written a very concise book on herbs to use in and around Samhain, and, most likely, at other time of the year, when one wishes to communicate with their ancestors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It begins with a very basic herbal primer – how to know if your herbs are of good quality, how to make salves, tinctures, poultices and more, all things that herbalists know. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Part I is “Herbs of the Spirits and the Dead and How to Use Them at Samhain”. This is broken down into “Herbs for Protection from and Communication with Spirits and Fairies”, “Herbs of Purification”, “Visionary Herbs and Herbs of Divin<\/span>a<\/span>tion” and “Herbs to Communicate with, Release and Honor the Dead”.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Each section is further broken down into specific herbs, a little about them, what they are good for. There are prayers and chants, and there are plenty of recipes for food, salves, and creams, among others. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The book is filled with beautiful full color illustrations of each herb listed. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Part II is “Herbs, Food and Traditions”. This includes even more wonderful recipes, as if we could ever have enough! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is a section on The Dumb Supper, what it is, what it means, it’s history and traditions, and how to conduct a proper one.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There is also a Samhain ritual and a small chapter on the Goddess.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I really love this book and as a budding herbalist, this book will hold a place o<\/span>f<\/span> honor on my herbal bookshelf.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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