To the Celts and many other peoples of the old world, certain
trees held special significance as a fuel for heat, cooking, building materials
and weaponry. In addition to this however, many woods also provided a powerful
spiritual presence. The specific trees varied between different cultures and
geographic locations, but those believed to be "sacred" shared certain traits.
Unusual size, beauty, the wide range of materials they provided, unique physical
characteristics, or simply the power of the tree's spirit could grant it a
central place in the folklore and mythology of a culture. Even our modern
culture finds that certain trees capture our imagination. The mighty oak, the
mystical yew and so many others are reminders of the power that trees have on
our lives.
Trees are living things, filled with the essence and energy
and of the Elementals and Mother Earth with an aura of power which is visible to
those who are in total balance and harmony. The lore which surrounds a
particular tree or wood often reflects the power the old ones sensed and drew
from their presence.
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ALDER This tree was sacred to the Druids. The pith is
easily pushed out of green shoots to make whistles. Several shoots bound
together by cordage, can be trimmed to the desired length for producing the note
you want and used to entice Air elementals. The old superstition of "whistling
up the wind" began with this custom.
APPLE (Domestic) Another
sacred tree to the Druids. It is said that you may cut an apple into three
pieces, then rub the cut side on warts, saying: "Out warts, into apple." Then
bury the pieces and as the apple decays, the warts will disappear. Use apple
cider in any old spells calling for blood or wine. Apple indicates choice, and
is useful for love and healing magic.
ASH A Druid sacred tree.
Druid wands were often made of ash because of its straight grain. Ash wands are
good for healing, general and solar magic. Put fresh ash leaves under your
pillow to stimulate psychic dreams.
BIRCH Known as Lady of the
Woods, Paper Birch and White Birch. Carefully gather strips of the bark at the
New Moon. With red ink, write on a birch strip: "Bring me true love." Burn this
along with a love incense, saying "Goddess of love, God of desire, Bring to me
sweet passion's fire." The specific name of a god/goddess may be added. Or cast
the bark into a stream or other flowing water, saying: "Message of love, I set
you free, to capture a love and return to me."
BLACKTHORN
Blackthorn is a winter tree. Its white flowers are seen even before the leaves
in the spring. It is black barked with vicious thorns and grows in dense
thickets. The wood is used in the cudgel shillelagh and Blasting Stick. Its
thorns are used to pierce waxen images. Blackthorn indicates strong action of
fate or outside influences that must be obeyed.
BROOM Also known
as Scotch Broom or Irish Broom. It can be substituted for furze (gorse) at the
Spring Equinox. The Irish called it the "Physician's power" because of its
diuretic shoots. Sweep your outside ritual areas with it to purify and protect.
Burning the blooms and shoots calms the wind. Be cautious if you plant Broom
however, it will quickly multiply....
CEDAR Also known as the
Tree of Life, Arbor Vitae, Yellow Cedar. Ancient Celts on the mainland used
cedar oil to preserve the heads of enemies taken in battle. To draw Earth energy
and ground yourself, place the palms of your hands against the ends of the
leaves.
ELDER Also known as Ellhorn, Elderberry, Lady Elder.
Sacred to the White Lady and Midsummer Solstice. The Druids used it to both
bless and curse. Standing under an elder tree at Midsummer, like standing in a
Fairy Ring of mushrooms, will help you see the "little people." Elder wands can
be used to drive out evil spirits or thought forms. Music on panpipes or flutes
of elder have the same power as the wand. Remember the words of the Rede. Elder
is the Lady's Tree, burn it not or cursed ye be!
ELM A slightly
fibrous, tan-coloured wood with a slight sheen. Elm is often associated with
Mother and Earth Goddesses, and was said to be the abode of faeries, explaining
Kipling's injunction; "Ailim be the lady's tree; burn it not or cursed ye'll
be". Elm wood is valued for it's resistance to splitting, and the inner bark was
used for cordage and chair caning. Elm adds stability and grounding to a spell.
FIR Fir is a very tall slender tree that grows in mountainous
regions on the upper slopes. Fir cones respond to rain by closing and the sun by
opening. Fir can see over great distance to the far horizon beyond and below.
Fir indicates high views and long sights with clear vision of what is beyond and
yet to come.
FIR (SILVER) Also known as the Birth Tree. The
needles are burned at childbirth to bless and protect the mother and baby.
FURZE Also known as Gorse, Whin. Its golden flowers are
associated with the Spring Equinox. Wood and blooms are burned for protection
and preparation for conflict of any sort.
HAWTHORN Also known as
May Tree and White Thorn. Wands made of this wood are of great power. The
blossoms are highly erotic to men. Hawthorn can be used for protection, love and
marriage spells.
HAZEL Wands made of this wood symbolize white
magick and healing. Forked sticks are used to find water or buried treasure. If
outside and in need of maigckal protection quickly draw a circle around yourself
with a hazel branch. To enlist the aid of plant fairies, string hazelnuts on a
cord and hang up in your house or ritual room. Magically, hazel wood is used to
gain knowledge, wisdom and poetic inspiration.
HOLLY A beautiful
white wood with an almost invisible grain; looks very much like ivory. Holly is
associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and
Christian lore and is important to the Winter Solstice. In Arthurian legend,
Gawain (representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who was
armed with a holly club to represent winter. It is one of the three timbers used
in the construction of chariot wheel shafts. It was used in spear shafts also.
The qualities of a spear shaft are balance and directness, as the spear must be
hefted to be thrown the holly indicates directed balance and vigour to fight if
the cause is just. Holly may be used in spells having to do with sleep or rest,
and to ease the passage of death. A bag of leaves and berries carried by a man
is said to increase his ability to attract women.
JUNIPER Its
berries were used with thyme in Druid and Grove incenses for visions. Juniper
grown by the door discourages thieves. The mature berries can be strung and hung
in the house to attract love.
MISTLETOE Also known as Birdlime,
All Heal and Golden Bough. It was the most sacred tree of the Druids, and ruled
the Winter Solstice. The berries are poisonous! Bunches of mistletoe can be hung
as an all-purpose protective herb. The berries are used in love incenses.
OAK Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture
that has encountered the tree, but it was held in particular esteem by the Celts
because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak was the "King of
Trees" in a grove. Magick wands were made of its wood. Oak galls, known as
Serpent Eggs, were used in magickal charms. Acorns gathered at night held the
greatest fertility powers. The Druids and Priestesses listened to the rustling
oak leaves and the wrens in the trees for divinatory messages. Burning oak
leaves purifies the atmosphere. It can be used in spells for protection,
strength, success and stability; the different varieties will lend their own
special 'flavour' to the magic.
PINE The Pine tree is an
evergreen, its old title was "the sweetest of woods." It was known to the Druids
as one of the seven chieftain trees of the Irish. Mix the dried needles with
equal parts of juniper and cedar and burn to purify the home and ritual area.
The cones and nuts can be carried as a fertility charm. A good magickal
cleansing and stimulating bath is made by placing pine needles in a loose-woven
bag and running bath water over it. To purify and sanctify an outdoor ritual
area, brush the ground with a pine branch.
ROWAN Also known as
Mountain Ash, Witchwood and Sorb Apple has long known as an aid and protection
against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes on. Rowan
spays and crosses were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection.
Its lovely red berries feed the birds in winter. The berries have a tiny
pentagram on them and are especially poisonous. The pentagram is the ancient
symbol of protection. The Rowan tree indicates protection and control of the
senses from enchantment and beguiling. The Rowan was sacred to the Druids and
the Goddess Brigit. It is a very magical tree used for wands, rods, amulets and
spells. A forked Rowan branch can help find water. Wands are for knowledge,
locating metal and general divination.
WILLOW Also known as White
Willow, Tree of Enchantment and Witches' Asprin. Once of the seven sacred trees
of the Irish, a Druid sacred Tree. The willow is a Moon tree sacred to the White
Lady, Its groves were considered so magickal that priests, priestesses and all
types of artisans sat among these trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills
and prophecies. For a wish to be granted, ask permission of the willow,
explaining your desire. Select a pliable shoot and tie a loose knot in it while
expressing what you want. When the wish is fulfilled. return and untie the knot.
Remember to thank the willow and leave a gift.
YEW Also known as
English Yew and European Yew. Another important tree to the Winter Solstice and
the deities of death and rebirth. It is a beautifully smooth, gold-coloured wood
with a wavy grain. The Irish used it to make dagger handles, bows and wine
barrels. The wood or leaves were laid on graves as a reminder to the departed
spirit that death was only a pause in life before rebirth. All parts of the tree
are poisonous except the fleshy covering of the berry, and its medicinal uses
include a recently discovered treatment for cancer. The yew may be the
oldest-lived tree in the world. Ancient yews can be found in churchyards all
over Britain, where they often pre-date even the oldest churches. There are some
convincing arguments for it being the original 'World-tree' of Scandinavian
mythology. The Yew may be used to enhance magical and psychic abilities, and to
induce visions.
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