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The Sacred Woods and the Lore of Trees
ALDER (Alnus spp.)
This tree is a water lover. The oily water-resistant wood has been used
extensively for underwater foundations and pilings in Venice and
elsewhere. It is used in dairy vessels and the branches in making
whistles. It is associated with Bran, as He used His body as a bridge to
span dangerous waters. It is used in the construction of bridges. Bran's
Head was oracular. Alder indicates protection and oracular powers.
APPLE (Malus spp.)
A dense, fine-grained, rosy-coloured wood with a slightly sweet smell.
The Apple is the earliest cultivated tree. It is associated with choice.
At Somerset, an auction was held for single acre plots on two pieces of
common land. Plots were marked and matching marks made on the fruit. The
apples were then placed in a bag and commoners were allocated land by
the distribution of the fruit. All the acres of land were similar, as
many times today choices must be made between similar and equally
attractive things. Regardless, the choice must be made. In Norse myth,
Idunna was the keeper of the 'apples of immortality' which kept the Gods
young. The 'fruit-bearing tree' referred to by Tacitus in his description
of Norse runic divination may have been the apple. Apple indicates
choice, and is useful for love and healing magic.
ASH (Fraxinus spp.)
A strong, straight-grained wood; sometimes has 'olive' streaks or
stripes in the grain. The European variety (fraxinus excelcior) was
referred to in the Eddas as the species of Yggdrasil - the 'World-Tree".
The first man, named Ask, was created from an ash log. Ash was commonly
used to make spears because of its 'springiness' and straight grain. In
North America, strips of black ash were split along the grain to make
splints for baskets and hoops. It is used in weaver's beams. Women would
weave cloth and intermingling threads together in a tight pattern as the
microcosm and the macrocosm are united. Ash can be used in spells
requiring focus and strength of purpose, and indicates the linking of
the inner and outer worlds.
BEECH (Fagus spp.)
Beech wood is closely grained, very easy to work giving a smooth even
surface. At one time Beech tablets were used as writing surfaces because
of the above mentioned qualities. Beech and book have the same word
origins. Beech is concerned with ancient knowledge as revealed in old
objects, places and writings. Beech indicates guidance from the past to
gain insight which protects and provides a solid base upon which all
relies.
BIRCH (Betula spp.)
A lovely pale, fine-grained wood. Long associated with fertility and
healing magic, birch twigs were used to bestow fertility on cattle and
newlyweds, and children's cradles were made from its wood. Birch is one
of the first trees to grow on bare soil and thus it births the entire
forest. Criminals were at one time birched to drive out evil influences
on them, to renew them for the new year. Birch was associated with Thor,
probably in recognition of his role as an agricultural and fertility
deity. Birch is an incredibly useful tree - nearly every part of it is
edible, and its sap was an important source of sugar to Native
Americans and early settlers. The inner bark provides a pain reliever
and the leaves are used to treat arthritis. It's bark was used for
everything from paper to canoe hulls, and axe handles were also made
from Birch. Birch is most useful for fertility and healing spells.
BLACKTHORN (Prunus spinosa)
Blackthorn is a winter tree. The sloe, its fruits ripen and sweeten only
after the nip of the frost. 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.
ELDER (Sambucus spp.)
The Latin name Sambucus is derived from a Greek word for a wind
instrument made from elder. The pith can easily be removed from the
small branches to make a flute. Elder regrows damaged branches with ease
and can root rapidly from any part. A tea for purifying the blood can be
made from the flowers and wine from the fruit, but in general the tree
is poisonous. In Norse mythology, the Goddess Freya chose the black
elder as her home. In medieval times it was the abode of witches and it
was considered dangerous to sleep under its branches or to cut it down.
Sticks of Elder were used as magical horses by Witches. Elder indicates
the end in the beginning and the beginning in the end. Life in Death and
Death in Life.
ELM (Ulmus spp.)
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 (Abies spp.)
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.
HAWTHORN (Crataegus oxyacantha)
A light, hard, apple-like wood. Hawthorn usually doesn't grow much
bigger than a shrub, and is popular in England as a hedge plant. The
wood from the Hawthorn provides the hottest fire known. Its leaves and
blossoms are used to create a tea to aid with anxiety, appetite loss and
poor circulation. The Greeks and Romans saw the hawthorn as symbolic of
hope and marriage, but in medieval Europe it was associated with
witchcraft and considered to be unlucky. This seeming contradiction is
to be expected from a tree with such beautiful blossoms and such
deadly-looking thorns. Hawthorn can be used for protection, love and
marriage spells.
HAZEL (Corylus avallania)
Hazel is another food tree. In Celtic tradition, the Salmon of Knowledge
is said to eat the 9 nuts of poetic wisdom dropped into its sacred pool
from the hazel tree growing beside it. Each nut eaten by the salmon
becomes a spot on its skin. The Hazel tree provided shade, protection
and baskets. In Europe and North America, hazel is commonly used for
'water-witching' - the art of finding water with a forked stick.
Magically, hazel wood is used to gain knowledge, wisdom and poetic
inspiration.
HOLLY (Ilex aquifolium)
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. 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.
LARCH (Larix europaea)
A light softwood, very similar to spruce. Larch is one of the few
conifers which sheds its needles in the winter. It is closely related to
the North American tamarack (larix laricina). The larch plays an
important role in Sami (Lapp) and Siberian mythology where it takes the
place of the ash as the World-tree. Their shamans use larch wood to rim
their ceremonial drums. The smoke from burning larch is said to ward off
evil spirits. Larch may be used for protection and to induce visions.
MAPLE (Acer spp.)
A very hard, pale, fine-grained wood. Although the sugar maple has the
highest sugar content in its sap, all maple species can be tapped to
make syrup and sugar, making them a vital resource to early North
American settlers. In north-eastern North America, the annual
'sugaring-off' usually coincides with the vernal equinox, making it one
of the first signs of spring. Maple can bring success and abundance.
OAK (Quercus spp.)
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
A strong, straight-grained, slightly porous wood with a slight reddish
hue. Its energy is a bit lighter and more 'firey' than the other oaks.
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Darker and denser than red oak. It's strength and density have led to
its being used in barrel-making and shipbuilding. Useful for spells
requiring strength and solidity.
Brown (English) Oak (Quercus robur)
A richly-coloured dark brown wood. 'Bog oak' is brown oak which has
fallen into a peat bog and been preserved there for hundreds of years
until it begins to have the consistancy of coal. Brown oak has a very
earthy feel, and is useful for grounding.
Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has
encountered the tree, but it was held in particular esteem by the Norse
and Celts because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak
is frequently associated with Gods of thunder and lightening such as
Zeus, Thor, and the Lithuanian God Perkunas. This association may be due
to the oak's habit of being hit by lightening during storms. Specific
oak trees have also been associated with the 'Wild Hunt', which is led
by Herne in England and by Wodin in Germany. In general, oak can be used
in spells for protection, strength, success and stability; the different
varieties will lend their own special 'flavour' to the magic.
PINE (Pinus spp.)
The Pine tree is an evergreen, its old title was "the sweetest of
woods". Its needles are a valuable source of vitamin C and can loosen a
tight chest. The scent of Pine is useful in the alleviation of guilt.
The Bach's flower remedies lists it for dealing with feelings of guilt.
Pine indicates issues of guilt within you.
POPLAR (Populus spp.)
The White Poplar flourishes beside rivers, in marshes and in other
watery areas. The pith is star shaped. The upper leaves are green, the
underside is silver. The wood was used in the making of shields. Leaves
move with every puff of wind. It is commonly referred to as the talking,
whispering and quivering tree. The Anglo-Saxon rune poem seems to refer
to the poplar as being associated with the rune berkano. Heracles wore a
crown of poplar leaves when he retrieved Cerberus from Hades, and the
upper surface of the leaves was thus darkened from Hades' smokey fumes.
In Christian lore, the quaking poplar (aspen) was used to construct
Christ's cross, and the leaves of the tree quiver when they remember
this fact. The Poplar's ability to resist and to shield, its association
with speech, language and the Winds indicates an ability to endure and
conquer.
ROWAN (Sorbus aucuparia)
The Rowan tree (also called Mountain Ash) is long known for aid and
protection against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve
Runes on. It was also used in the art of metal divining. 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. The pentagram is the ancient symbol of protection.
The Rowan tree indicates protection and control of the senses from
enchantment and beguiling.
WILLOW (Salix babylonica)
The willow is another water loving tree. Willow bark contains Salicin
which is used in the treatment of rheumatic fever and various damp
diseases. Her catkins, which appear in early spring before her leaves,
attract bees to start the cycle of pollination. In western tradition it
is a symbol of mourning and unlucky love. The Latin name for the weeping
willow refers to the psalm in which the Hebrews mourn their captivity in
Babylon by the willows. Willow indicates cycles, rhythms and the ebb and
flux.
YEW (Taxus baccata)
A beautifully smooth, gold-coloured wood with a wavy grain. 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. Long
associated with magic, death, rebirth and the runes, 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 arguements for it being the original
'World-tree' of Scandinavian mythology. In Europe, yew wood was used for
making bows, while on the northwest coast of North America, the Pacific
yew Taxus brevifolia is used by the Haida and other tribes for making
masks and boxes. Yew may be used to enhance magical and psychic
abilities, and to induce visions.
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