I loved this book:
Ghosts of the Lost Forest. To share the soul journey with a contemporary 21st century young man so naive and sheltered and watch him find his way is a privilege. He is Steven Cooper and he searches. There is a thing about forests rightly captured in this book in that they have a spirit and life all their own--that which extends beyond botany. As the woods suffer the ax or chainsaw, those spirits remain and seek out humans. Humans are notoriously head blind so building a relationship takes some magic, at least that's what I would call it. This forest ghost is in the Arden woods of Warwickshire. You may not know it as the inspiration for Shakespeare's woodland scenes but it was. Stretching across 4 or 5 counties in the 16th century, the remains are still magic as they settle into pockets and single sentinels left standing in our times, smaller but no less powerful as Steven will attest. I certainly won't enter the woods with my ears closed again.
I have to admit, there were plenty of times when I wanted to say to Steven, “Oh come here. I’ll explain that!” But Stephen has to find his own way, and so do his friends at the Pagan Moot. A Moot, by the way, is a meeting of eclectic pagans, most often in a pub, that gather for conversation, company and to plan the next ritual or sunrise greeting. And they might have a drink or two. I wish we had them here in the States. I went to a few in the UK and found them a great way to connect.
Ghosts of the Lost Forest will encourage you to seek more connection in your inner being as well as for a little help from your friends. None of us have to be alone. Truely.
I digress. Nimue Brown has captured the essence of the spiritual search of human and of the forest. I will caution you though, direct contact from spirits can be unsettling at first. You could end up riding a boar through the woods.
This is a highly recommended read.
I quite enjoyed this one, too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it!