BOOK REVIEW - Under an Expanse of Oaks, A Druid's Journey
Mike
2009 Dreamz Works, LLC. ISBN: 978-9825331-5-2 122 Pages
Paperback $12.95 www.dreamz-works.com (also available as Kindle for
$4.99)
This short book is a story of one individual’s growth in one neo-Pagan
religion. Rev. Smith has not restricted his studies to one particular
branch of Druidism, however. He has studied with the Order of Bards,
Ovates and Druids (OBOD), the Ancient Order of Druids in America
(AODA), Ar nDraiocht Fein: A Druid Fellowship (ADF), and the Henge of
Keltria – each of which offers its own perception of Druidic
practices. Without a doubt this has resulted in a uniquely personal
understanding of Druidism.
Sometimes it seems as if I spend an inordinate amount of time and
space nit picking about editorial errors in the books I review, and I
have been taken to task more than once by authors and publishers
because of it. I’m sorry, but for several reasons I will continue to
do that in my reviews. The major reasons are two-fold. One is
personal and the other is professional. First, I am personally a big
fan of using our language properly. Homophones may “sound” alike, but
THERE is a big difference in how THEY’RE used and in THEIR meanings
(if you get my drift). Second, it is very difficult to convince
someone to take your information seriously if words are missing,
letters are dropped out of words, or just plain wrong words are used
(e.g., “or” for “of”, “you” for “your”, “affect” for “effect”, etc.)
This book is potentially too valuable as a record of personal
knowledge to affect this type of sloppiness to detract from it.
Obviously, since it is in print, revisions will be difficult, but
future editions would benefit from an unbiased proof-reading (are
there still proofreaders plying their trade, or has print on demand
killed the profession off?).
Rev. Smith differs in one very important aspect from my understanding
of Celtic/Druidic magical workings. He works with the four classical
elements (which may simply be a matter of personal preference, but if
so it should be identified as such in the text) whereas most Celts saw
the universe as divided into triplicities not quadricities. I would
therefore be surprised if the same did not hold true for their
perceptions of the magical world (this is a matter of personal
perception and opinion, as I have found no sources which predate the
Christianization and ceremonialization of magic in Celtic lands).
There is very little hard data in this book. It consists primarily of
general information, a few exercises, some meditations, and personal
observations. That is where its strength lies – in the personal-ness
of it. There are dozens of reference works available in print and on-
line. There is a dearth of books which convey how individuals feel
about their beliefs.
Obviously this is a book to be read primarily for enjoyment, not for
instruction. It will offer some starting points for research, but
that is secondary. It is a pleasant little work, and needs no more
excuse than that, in my opinion.
Evergreen
> Under an Expanse of Oaks, a Druid=92s Journey by David P. Smith
> =A9 2009 Dreamz Works, LLC. ISBN: 978-9825331-5-2 122 Pages
> Paperback $12.95 www.dreamz-works.com (also available as Kindle
> for $4.99)
>
> This short book is a story of one individual=92s growth in one
> neo-Pagan religion. Rev. Smith has not restricted his studies
> to one particular branch of Druidism, however. He has studied
> with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD), the Ancient
> Order of Druids in America (AODA), Ar nDraiocht Fein: A Druid
> Fellowship (ADF), and the Henge of Keltria =96 each of which
> offers its own perception of Druidic practices. Without a doubt
> this has resulted in a uniquely personal understanding of
> Druidism.
>
> Sometimes it seems as if I spend an inordinate amount of time
>and space nit picking about editorial errors in the books
>I review, and I have been taken to task more than once by
>authors and publishers because of it. I=92m sorry, but for
>several reasons I will continue to do that in my reviews. The
>major reasons are two-fold. One is personal and the other is
>professional. First, I am personally a big fan of using our
>language properly. Homophones may =93sound=94 alike, but THERE
>is a big difference in how THEY=92RE used and in THEIR meanings
>(if you get my drift). Second, it is very difficult to convince
>someone to take your information seriously if words are missing,
>letters are dropped out of words, or just plain wrong words are
>used (e.g., =93or=94 for =93of=94, =93you=94 for =93your=94,
>=93affect=94 for = =93effect=94, etc.) This book is potentially
>too valuable as a record of personal knowledge to affect this
>type of sloppiness to detract from it. Obviously, since it is
>in print, revisions will be difficult, but future editions
>would benefit from an unbiased proof-reading (are there still
>proofreaders plying their trade, or has print on demand killed
>the profession off?).
>
> Rev. Smith differs in one very important aspect from my
> understanding of Celtic/Druidic magical workings. He works with
> the four classical elements (which may simply be a matter of
> personal preference, but if so it should be identified as such
> in the text) whereas most Celts saw the universe as divided
> into triplicities not quadricities. I would therefore be
> surprised if the same did not hold true for their perceptions
> of the magical world (this is a matter of personal perception
> and opinion, as I have found no sources which predate the
> Christianization and ceremonialization of magic in Celtic
> lands).
>
> There is very little hard data in this book. It consists
> primarily of general information, a few exercises, some
> meditations, and personal observations. That is where its
> strength lies =96 in the personal-ness of it. There are dozens
> of reference works available in print and on- line. There is a
> dearth of books which convey how individuals feel about their
> beliefs.
>
> Obviously this is a book to be read primarily for enjoyment,
> not for instruction. It will offer some starting points for
> research, but that is secondary. It is a pleasant little work,
> and needs no more excuse than that, in my opinion.
The problem with the 'druids' is the same problem that one
encounters with all the 'neo-pagan' psuedo-religions: A real
Druid from the distant past wouldn't recognize anything they
do or think outside of a few misused symbols.
That's what happens when you base a 'religion' on the work
of scholars instead of lessons from a real Druid.
They are around. But like all real magicians they seem to
be just ordinary people unless they choose to reveal their
evolved state to you.
And magick knows no divisions. It's all magick. Witches are
Druids are Shamans... Magicians are simply people who know
how reality really works.
Sid
--
Sidney Lambe
Wiccan Priest and Apprentice Magician
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