Review: The Druid Network
It’s a good-looking book of nearly 250 pages. The text is easy to read there are small but relevant monochrome photographs throughout. Marty identifies as a Druid graduate of OBOD and provides a professional healing and workshop service.
I am generally cautious about the offering of medical advice in lay books. I’m happy to say right from the start that both the book and Marty’s own website are heavily peppered with caveats and warnings about administering substances without proper knowledge and or guidance. The plants and trees we build relationships with can take offence or lash out just as easily as humans if we approach them inappropriately.
The author explains this is a book based on an experiential journey, which opened their perception to a Reiki-like energy they were able to work with. The explanations wander into Sanskrit philosophies, and chakras map part of the process. This feels in line with some of the Philip Carr Gomm blend of OBOD Druidry with eastern mysticism. There is a story here of how one can approach the unseen ‘verse with an open mind and find direction and worth in contemplation.
The bulk of the book is dedicated to the Ogam trees. Marty has not skimped on his research, and each tree is given a full spread of explanatory and inspirational text. Each one begins with a small mono colour photograph of the tree and a list of aspects with which to differentiate the tree – name, type, connected element, gender, month etc.
The tree sections expand to include a decent description of the tree and its habitat, life cycle and uses. These uses expand into spiritual and medicinal uses. There is a folklore part and guides on how the tree might be used in meditation. The Ogam style for the tree is of course given in sketch form. Overall, each tree has several pages of well written text.
The book builds one the tree lore with a section on actual healing practices, and how to interpret the various messages and feelings that are fed back to the healer. And finally finishes with some case studies which are useful and interesting in the context of the book. This is presented as a beginner’s guide, which is it. I feel however that it is a worthwhile read for anyone, and the lessons that result will depend on your familiarity with the subject.
Review: October 2021 Touchstone OBOD by Amanda Glynn
Thomas, aside from his creative talents, has a long and varied experience of healing and a great love of trees. This method of tree healing is a masterful amalgamation of the systems that he has obviously worked deeply with over the years and offers tree-lovers a wonderfully well-thought-out way to connect with them and enjoy their healing powers. It is also easy to read and oozes with Thomas’s evident enthusiasm.
Although it is aimed primarily at beginners, it would definitely be of interest to anyone interested in bringing their knowledge of trees and healing together and brings the Ogam centre stage as the key to connection. There are echoes of Thomas’s experience with shamanic methods, energy healing and of course his study with OBOD, and it is very interesting to see these elements come together in this truly original system of healing.
The explanations are clear and straightforward, and still allow for personal choices to be made by the reader, so that creative flow is encouraged and supported by relevant information. All areas are covered comprehensively so that even someone only interested in making a more extensive relationship with trees would be catered for, whereas with more intense study, the reader could become proficient in self-healing, healing of others and healing of the planet…. wherever the path takes them.
It was fascinating for me to see how Thomas’s meditations and contemplations have opened out a whole area of possibility regarding the Ogam, and I’m sure that engaging with this method would really be helpful to anyone wanting to ground their theoretical knowledge in something tangible. It feels as though the trees are taking a further step towards us humans.
In summary I can only say that I really enjoyed this book, and it was beautiful to see how Thomas wove together his personal experience and intention to heal with his Ogam wisdom to create a practical way of working with the powers of the trees.