My Upcoming Book -- The Silver Branch and the Otherworld

My new book, The Silver Branch and the Otherworld, has gone to press and will be officially released on my birthday, July 16! The book weaves together myth, magic, history, science, and my own direct experience in an exploration of what it means to connect with the living intelligences of plants and fungi for healing and transformation.

The book is already available for pre-order and I also hope to have a few early copies for sale at the Good Medicine Confluence in Durango, CO, the week before its release (I just need to scrounge up the money to be able to have them on hand!) And if you are a podcaster or journalist who is interested in interviewing me about the book, drop me a note and I will gladly put you in touch with my publisher.

I’ve been deeply moved and honored by the comments I have received from respected friends and colleagues who read the manuscript:

“Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue lives as well as dreams this quest-full story that his books and classes tell—intensely, tragically, joyously, and epically. The Silver Branch and the Otherworld serves as a portal into the expressive magic of what is the real and true world, a path leading the reader toward self-understanding and personalized purpose as well as to the profound healings and revelations of the plants found there. It is my pleasure to encourage his continuing sharings, songs of determination, and hopes for you as you enter into the chiaroscuro light of enchanted forests and Druid’s groves.”

— Jesse Wolf Hardin, artist and author of Fungi Medica and The Herbalist

“When I first step into the forest, my cathedral, I am overwhelmed by the quiet and the awareness that ‘much silence has a mighty roar.’ And when I read Seán’s poetic vision, breathing life into the wisdom of our plant and fungal allies, I am reminded of a connection that vibrates so deeply, so powerfully, that I am moved to tears, joy, and wonderment all at the same time.”

— Robert Dale Rogers, herbalist and author of Medicinal Lichens: Indigenous Wisdom and Modern Pharmacology

“There has always been a gentleness and deep embodiment in Seán’s writing. Like a forest laughing or a stone singing, every part of this book will speak to you in a voice not just heard, but also felt—and this is how we best come to learn what is true.”

— Rhyd Wildermuth, Druid and author of Being Pagan: A Guide to Re-Enchant Your Life

“Seán speaks to the heart of those of us in the Irish diaspora who long to connect with ancestral wisdom even as we seek to root into the land we now call home. Weaving myth and scientific knowledge, poetry and a palpable sense of reverence, The Silver Branch and the Otherworld invites you to come home to yourself, your spiritual lineage, and your own wild kin.”

— Marisa Goudy, host of KnotWork Storytelling and author of The Sovereignty Knot

“This book is an antidote to the long loneliness of the human species. In a world out of balance, it serves as a balm to the agitated spirit and offers a map for navigating the territory of changes the Earth and all members of the ecological community are currently experiencing. The Silver Branch and the Otherworld is a much-needed guide and manifesto of hope for navigating these troubling times through the power of story. It reminds us of our deeply rooted connections to the Green world and the world of myth and legend, reaffirming that we are not alone.”

— Julie McIntyre, Earth ceremonialist, director of the Center for Earth Relations, and author of Sex and the Intelligence of the Heart

“A deeply nourishing well of Celtic wisdom, herbal and arboreal knowledge, ritual, and respectful kinship with nature and her medicines. Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue has composed an instructive and beautiful book that will be savored and treasured.”

— Shonagh Home, author of Love and Spirit Medicine

“Not just an important contribution to herbal medicine, but a significant contribution to Irish literature itself.”

— Matthew Wood, herbalist and author of A Shamanic Herbal

“Herbalist and poet Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue weaves together the enchantment of Celtic and personal history, emotions, physiology, herbal wisdom, and therapeutic insights with profound interpretations. You’ll learn from his favorite authors as well as the herbs, trees, fungi, and friends imparted through his unique sensory experiences. Encounters with animals, the moon and stars, the glowing sun, and the elements flow through the pages of this book like a wild stream. This becomes a visceral adventure filled with original insights, meditations, and rituals designed to reconnect us to a nature-based life. The Silver Branch and the Otherworld invites readers to breathe deeply and reengage with our world.”

— Margi Flint, RH, HM, author of The Practicing Herbalist