> From: Ron Hornsby [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>
> Yes, I'd be obliged if you could locate your source
> on the fatal attraction of yew shade. I am particularly
> interested in the Norse connection (living as I do in
> the erstwhile Danelaw). This may be the missing link
> between Greek mythology and English churchyards.
> It could be that the planting of yews was by Danish
> priests and dates from the Danish occupation of Saxon
> churches after the Danes had killed off the Saxon priests,
> settled down in England, and were assimilated.
>
I don't think you need to go quite that far. Irish scribes were
making comparisons with and inserting references to Greek and roman myths in
their materials before the eleventh century, iirc.
> Now that I am reminded of the White Goddess I recall
> that it was something that I meant to read but never got
> around to. I suppose that I was put off by the hostile
> academic reaction to it. When I read what you say about
> his drawing on his *poetic memory* I see now why
> main-stream academic historians were so averse to
> treating it as serious non-fiction. I will read it now
> from a religious perspective.
>
I think the most useful perspective on _The White Goddess_ is to
consider why this work has been so influential on modern religious
movements. Apparently, he has tapped into something that needs addressing in
modern society. But his use of early materials is idiosyncratic and has led
to a great deal of confusion and misconceptions.
Francine Nicholson
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