The magic of trees part 1

The Magic and Lore of trees Part 1

 Ten woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's insight.  
 Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

In most cultures trees are sacred with lore and deities associated with them. Vikings associated Thor , Nut is sometimes associated in Ancient Egypt.it was Silvanus in Ancient Rome. The list goes on. The tree has always been a symbol of magic, majesty and life.

Many cultures and religions of the world share the concept of the Tree of Life. 

The World Tree, Cosmic Tree or Tree of Life is an archetype that appeared all over the world, from Native America to Siberia and aboriginal Australia. One of the oldest recorded accounts of the World Tree is of Babylonian origin and stems from about 3000 - 4000 BC. This tree stood at the centre of the universe, which was thought to be at the mouth of the river Euphrates. The details of the archetype varied depending on the culture it inhabited. 

The Tree of life influenced much of the Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Nordic traditions, as well as those in South Eastern Europe and Asia. In many pre-Christian religions across the world not just yews but many other trees have been connected with the journey to the underworld, with the gate of death and the soul's transition from this life to the next.

Let’s look at some of the most important and revered trees in religion and culture, especially in the Western World.

Ash was known as the 'Tree of Rebirth and Healing'. 

The main ash tree deities are Yggdrasil, the world tree in Norse mythology; the Meliae, Greek nymphs of ash trees; and Askafroa, a spirit of the ash tree in Scandinavian folklore. Other figures associated with ash trees include the magician-god Gwyddion and the trickster god Lugh from Celtic myth. 

In Scandinavian mythology the ash tree was known as yggdrasil, the ‘Tree of the World’ as the giant ash tree that linked and sheltered all the worlds. It was also known as 'The Tree of Rebirth and Healing' and to come into contact with it meant regeneration or rebirth. 

In Britain, ash was also regarded as a healing tree. In Hampshire, magic rituals would take place where a naked child was passed through the split trunk of an ash tree as a cure for broken or weak limbs. It was said that if the parts stayed together the child was cured, but if the gap remained, the ritual would not be effective.

In British folklore, the ash tree was believed to possess a variety of protective and healing attributes, particularly concerning children's health. It is associated with Advanced Magic, Broom Making, Fairies, Justice, Protection, Wand Making

• Newborns were often given a teaspoon of ash sap.
  
• Sick children, especially those with ruptures or weak limbs, would be passed naked through a split in an ash tree or sapling as a means of healing.
  
• This split was typically created for the ceremony and then bound together afterward, allowing it to heal in tandem with the child

Some folklore suggested a deep connection between the well-being of the tree and the individual, indicating that harm to the tree could impact the healed person's life. As a result, people naturally became protective of “their” ash tree.

In Norse lore, Odin hung from Yggdrasil, the World Tree, for nine days and nights so that he might be granted wisdom. Yggdrasil was an ash tree, and since the time of Odin's ordeal, the ash has often been associated with divination and knowledge. It is eternally green, and lives in the middle of Asgard.

The Celtic tree month of Ash, or Nion, falls from February 18 to March 17. It's a good time for magical workings related to the inner self.

To Native American communities, the Ash tree was a source of both medicinal remedies and a catalyst for fostering unity and spiritual connection. It underscored the deep respect these cultures had for nature's balance and its integral role in healing practices.

In Asia, the Ash tree is admired for its enduring qualities and is often associated with wisdom and the cycle of life and death, signifying a profound bond between humanity and the cosmos.

Blackthorn has long been considered a magical tree. In Celtic mythology, it was considered to be a home to fairies.

It has been referred to as a witch’s tree and anyone carrying a walking stick made from blackthorn wood was suspected of being a witch. A blackthorn staff was thought to be effective for warding off evil spirits.

Protection and strength 

• Warding off evil: Hanging a blackthorn branch over a doorway was thought to protect against evil spirits. Walking sticks made from blackthorn were also believed to possess this protective power. 
  
  
  
• Strength through adversity: The wood, often needing to pass through danger to become loyal, symbolizes resilience and the strength gained from hardship. 
  
  
  
  
  

Witchcraft and darker magic 

• Witch's tree: Due to its sharp, dangerous thorns, blackthorn is sometimes called the "witch's tree".  It is associated with the Morrigan and Samhain.
  
• Sympathetic magic: In some folklore, witches would use thorns to prick wax poppets to cause harm to enemies. 
  
• Wands and staffs: Blackthorn wood was famously used to craft powerful wands and staffs, notes Woodland Trust and thehazeltree.co.uk. 
  
  

Other magical and symbolic meanings 

• Fairies: In Celtic and Irish folklore, it was sometimes considered a home for guardian fairies called Lunantishee, who protected the tree, notes thehazeltree.co.uk. 
• Transformation and initiation: It is linked to underworld initiation and transforming through challenges, notes OBOD and blackthornandstone.com. 
  
• Purification: It is believed to purify negative energy and help in dealing with issues on a karmic level. 
  

Elder was once regarded as the most magically powerful of plants. It is associated with Venus, death and regeneration and judgement.

Blessings, Fairy Communication, Feminine Power, Graceful Shifts and Transitions, Healing, Intuition, Magic, Music, Protection

The folklore surrounding elder is wide and often conflicting. It was thought that if you burned elder wood you would see the devil but if you planted one by your house it would keep the devil at bay. Apparently, it could charm away warts and vermin. It is associated with prosperity, protection and healing.

In Denmark the tree was associated with magic. A dryad called the Elder Tree Mother was supposed to live in its branches. If you wanted to cut the tree to make furniture from its wood, the Elder Tree Mother must be asked permission first. If she wasn't, you ran the risk that she'd follow and haunt you.

Elder's habit of growing on wasteland, rubbish tips, and cemeteries has earned it both respect and dislike. In the Middle Ages, it was claimed to be the tree on which Judas hung himself.

The Oak is most famous and wonderful of ancient trees. 

Healing, finances, longevity, strength, the God Pan, Janus, Hecate , Diana and The Green Man. It is also associated with the Summer Solstice.

Oak was associated with the gods of thunder as oak was often split by lightning. 

Oak has a long history of folklore throughout Europe and was sacred to many people, including the ancient Greeks, the Norse and the Celts.

It is associated with Zeus.

Oak's association with the gods of thunder may have come from the phenomenon that oaks are often split by lightning being the tallest trees standing in the landscape.

More recently oak was the sacred wood burnt by the druids for their mid-summer sacrifice. In fact the word 'druid' means 'oak man'.

Folklore told that the following saying about its leaves emerging would predict the weather for the summer.

If the oak before the ash,
Then we’ll only have a splash.
If the ash before the oak,
Then we’ll surely have a soak.

In modern history, tradition has it that Charles II hid in an oak tree at Boscobel when pursued by the Roundheads. Since then, children wear oak leaves on 29 May to commemorate Royal Oak Day (now known as Oak Apple Day).

Caution : at certain times of the year Oak is poisonous. Never eat the acorns or the leaves!

The Hawthorn is associated with Beltane and the virgin blood due to its small white blossoms having red marks on them. The Queen of the May wears a crown made of the Hawthorn branches and flowers but these must not be picked before Beltane.

Correspondence: Embracing What Is, Fairy Communication, Heart Healing, Protection from Vampires, Weddings, Wishes

Hawthorn has more connections with ancient beliefs and traditions than almost any other tree. 

Hawthorn was a powerful supernatural force for good or evil and has been associated with sacrifice and protection. It is also associated with love and fairies.

It's the only British plant to be named after the month in which it flowers. The appearance of its blossom was the herald of the end of winter and the beginning of summer and the saying ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May is out’ almost certainly refers to the opening of the flowers, not the end of the month.

The hawthorn was thought to be the ancestor of the maypole and was the source of May Day garlands and the May Queen was often crowned with May blossom. The rhyme ‘here we go gathering nuts in May’ referred to the collection of knots (not in fact ‘nuts’) of may blossom.

Superstitions about the flowers, especially about the terrible consequences of bringing them indoors, are widespread.

In Ireland, solitary hawthorn bushes were considered homes to faeries, and cutting one down was believed to provoke the wrath of these vengeful spirits. The tree, leaves , flowers and berries all have symbolic, magical and healing properties too.

Rowan was considered to be sacred with the power to ward off evil spirits. It is also associated with Protection, strength, magick, 

Divination, Hearth Goddess Energy, Love Goddess Energy and Travel. It is associated with Candlemass and  Imbolc . Brigid and Thor.

Rowan has many associations with magic and witches. One of its English names is witchwood and its old Celtic name is fid na ndruad which means wizard's tree.

In Ireland it was planted near houses to protect against spirits, especially of the dead. In Wales rowan trees were often planted in churchyards. In Scotland there was a strong taboo against cutting down a rowan.

The wood was seen as the most protective part and was used for stirring milk (to prevent it curdling), as a pocket charm against rheumatism, and made into divining rods. The protective power is thought to come from the bright red berries, as red was thought to be the best colour for fighting evil.

There was an ancient practice of hanging sprigs of rowan above doors and stables to keep away evil spirits. An old German folk tale says that if you carry a leaf or a bit of wood from the rowan, it will protect you from harm.

In Norse mythology, the rowan plays a significant role; legend has it that it once saved the life of Thor, the god of thunder. When Thor found himself being swept away by a rushing river in the Underworld, a rowan bough bent over the water, allowing him to grab hold and pull himself to safety.

Druids were known to utilise the bark and berries of the rowan for dyeing garments used in lunar ceremonies. 

In British folklore, the rowan is celebrated for its protective qualities, which are believed to ward off witchcraft and enchantments. Its distinctive physical features may have contributed to this reputation. Each berry showcases a small five-pointed star, or pentagram, opposite its stem, an ancient symbol associated with protection. Additionally, the vibrant red colour of the berries has long been linked to safeguarding against magic, reinforcing the rowan's image as a defender, particularly during autumn when the berries are at their brightest.

Birch 

The Divine Feminine, Healing Depression and Anxiety, Renewal and New Growth

It is associated with Freya , Brigid and Thor as well as Venus. It is also associated with the first shoots of life after Winter  Solstice has passed.

Silver birch is important spiritually in many religions both historically and today.

It is known by the druids as the Goddess Tree and the Lady of the Woods and is associated with light, new beginnings, love and fertility. It was a tree of enchantment with the power to protect against evil spirits and the evil eye.

In medieval Britain, a bundle of birch twigs was carried by the local magistrate on his way to court as a symbol of his authority and as a means of correction. The use of the birch as a punishment probably originates in the need to drive out evil spirits.

Yew

Death, Rebirth, Eternity, Hallowed Ground, Longevity, Shamanic Visions

Yew has been associated with death and immortality as well as altered states of consciousness possibly due to its toxicity. It is associated with Hecate, Persephone, Artimis, Astarte and Odin as well as the Winter Solstice.

There has been a long association of yew trees in churchyards and there are at least 500 churchyards in England that have yew trees that are older than the building itself.

It is not known why there is this link but there are many theories, from yews being planted over the graves of plague victims to protect and purify the dead, to the more mundane in that yews could be planted in churchyards as it was one of the only places that cattle did not have access and therefore would not be poisoned by eating the leaves.

Yew trees are taken as symbols of immortality in many traditions but are also seen as omens of doom. For many centuries it was the custom for yew branches to be carried on Palm Sunday and at funerals. In Ireland, it was said that yew was ‘the coffin of the vine’ as wine barrels were made of yew staves.

CAUTION: YEW IS VERY TOXIC INCLUDING TO ANIMALS LIKE CATS

Alder

Air Element, Connection with the Otherworld, Environmental and Land Healing, Invisibility and Concealment, Masculinity, Physical Healing, Protection . It is associated with Apollo, Odin and King Arthur.

Alder is often found growing along rivers and streams, and its association with swamps, mystery, and secrecy in mythology is not surprising.

In Irish legend, Deirdre of the Sorrows escaped the wrath of King Conchobhar mac Nessa by eloping with Naoise, the son of Usna. They fled to Alba (Scotland) and sought refuge in the alder woods of Glen Etibhe. There, they eventually settled.

The green dye derived from alder flowers continues the theme of concealment, as it was used to colour and camouflage the garments of outlaws like Robin Hood and the clothes of faeries, helping to hide them from human eyes.

Alder wood, known for its resistance to rot in wet conditions and its ability to become almost as hard as stone when submerged, has a rich historical significance. This characteristic has been utilized since the Bronze Age, particularly in constructing crannogs—wooden strongholds on Scottish lochs built on piles of alder trunks.

Such uses of alder wood persisted into the Industrial Revolution, where it was favoured for making lock gates and other canal structures. Much of Venice is supported by piles made of alder.

Hazel

Divination, protection, reconciliation, wisdom, strength. Communication, Immortality, Dowsing, Magic, Wisdom.

It is associated with Diana, Hermes and Artemis.

Hazel wood has long been cherished for crafting staffs, used in ritual Druidic practices, medieval self-defence, and as favoured companions for pilgrims, shepherds' crooks, and everyday walking sticks.

 An ancient tale recounts that nine hazel trees grew around a sacred pool, dropping nuts into the water for salmon (a fish revered by Druids) to eat and thereby absorb wisdom. The number of bright spots on the salmon indicated how many nuts it had consumed.

Holly

What winter would there be in Europe without the Holly tree.

Protection, truth, love, sacrifice, re-birth .

Energy, Fairies, Positivity, Protection, Victory

Associated with Lugh and Tannis even though it’s most known for Winter when its berries are on the trees.

The lore surrounding Holly extends beyond mere Yuletide traditions. Like many native trees, Holly was believed to possess protective properties. Taboos against completely cutting down a holly tree led many to leave them undisturbed in hedges during trimming. An esoteric belief suggested that this practice obstructed witches, who were thought to navigate the tops of hedges. Additionally, farmers utilized the distinctive evergreen shapes of Holly to establish sightlines during winter ploughing.

Traditionally, holly trees were planted close to homes to protect against lightning strikes. In European mythology, Holly is linked to thunder gods like Thor and Taranis

The Druids often conducted their worship and rituals within oak groves. The term "Druid" may originate from a Celtic word that translates to "knower of the oak tree." Mistletoe considered the most powerful and magical plant by the Druids, commonly grew on oak trees. Its presence was thought to indicate divine intervention, often associated with a lightning strike.

It is bad luck to pick Holly before the berries have turned red and you should not take variegated Holly into your home or indeed any Holly until the start of Yule.

All willows were seen as trees of celebration in biblical times but this has changed over time and now willows are often associated with sadness and mourning.

Classical poems often refer to willow in this way and it is repeated in art with Ophelia drowning herself near a willow. It is suggested that the bitter taste of willow gave it this association. In English folklore, a willow tree is believed to be quite sinister, capable of uprooting itself and stalking travellers.

In northern areas, willow branches are used instead of palm branches to celebrate Palm Sunday.

The Tree of Enchantment and Witcheries

Corresponds to  Beltane, Hecate,, Persephone and Cerridwen . Willow trees are known to thrive in wet areas, and their deep connection to water is reflected in various folklore. The Moon often features prominently in these stories, with its phases believed to influence water flows. In Scotland, there was a belief that cutting down willows during the waning Moon would reduce the wood quality.

It is associated with Enchantment, healing, moon magick, protection, the Underworld

Rural communities recognised the therapeutic qualities of willow early on. They made infusions from the bark to remedy colds and fevers and used it to alleviate inflammation, such as rheumatism.

In part 2 we will continue our look at the importance of trees in religion, magic and folklore.

Tree lore from other countries 

BANYAN, PEEPAL OR BODHI TREE

The banyan or bodhi tree is significant for two major religions in Asia and especially India where it is the national tree. Both Buddhism and Hinduism revere it for different reasons. It’s not surprising this tree is universally sacred. Its looks and size are mythic and behaviour sounds almost like science fiction. It is a Fig tree and it’s an epiphyte, which means it is a plant that grows on another plant.

 A mature tree looks magnificent and primal. It can spread by sending aerial roots down from its branches. When the aerial roots touch the ground they can ground themselves and develop into stems. Many myths and stories are associated with these trees. Some still believe spirits live in these gothic trees. The tiniest movement of air can stir the leaves so when no other tree’s leaves are moving the banyan’s leaves still move adding to its spooky reputation.

It is thought that the Buddha became enlightened under a Bodhi tree and so it is revered by Buddhists. Hindus have multiple associations of the Banyan tree with various gods. It features in much folklore, ancient and more recent. It is said that Vishnu, one of the religion’s major deities was born under one.

THE MAORI POHUTUKAWA TREE AND CAPE REINGA

One of New Zealand’s best known trees is a single ancient Pohutukawa tree. At the northern tip of the North Island, where the land meets the sea it precariously clings to the rocks at what looks like the edge of the worl

Te Rerenga Wairua (leaping-off place of spirits to the underworld), or Cape Reinga is one of the most sacred spots for the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, a place of connection to all those who’ve gone before. Considered to be the gateway to the underworld, the spirits of the dead begin their journey by leaping off the headland and sliding down the roots of the 800-year-old tree into the sea below and using the Te Ara Wairua, the 'Spirits' pathway' onwards to their traditional homeland of Hawaiki. They turn briefly at the Three Kings Islands for one last look back towards the land, then continue on their journey.