As I tentatively take steps to get back into exploring my spirituality, I find that I am being drawn more and more towards Celtic traditions and beliefs. As a Briton, I feel connected to the lore and traditions of the Ancient Celts hailing from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England and even Gaul.
Trees were sacred to the Ancient Celts. They were used for a multitude of tasks and activities, from providing shelter from the elements, for food and for day to day living such as dyes, medicines etc.
The Celts associated each month of the year with a particular tree and this is known as the Celtic Tree Ogham, in which the Celts assigned a letter and symbol to each of the trees. The Ogham is still used today by Celtic practitioners and some Druids as a form of divination. I have always had a strong reverence for trees and so this is something I want to explore further.
So, what trees were especially sacred to the Ancient Celts?
January
The water-loving
Alder, known as 'fearn' to the Celts, is the tree associated with the month of January. The Alder symbolises emotional strength, stamina and spiritual protection. The wood of the Alder tree is very strong and was therefore used for building foundations and boats. It is from this that the Alder has become associated with the idea of overcoming obstacles and building bridges between people. At its essence, the Alder is a tree of communication and protection.
February
February's tree is the
Willow, known as 'saille'. The Willow Tree is seen as feminine and is closely linked with the Moon and lunar cycles. The Celts held women in very high esteem and they often had powerful roles in society, such as prophets, priestesses and warriors. The Willow symbolises spiritual balance and fertility and its wood is often used to make magickal tools, such as wands, staffs and runes.
March
The tree the Celts associated with the month of March is the
Ash tree, referred to as 'nuin'. The Ash tree represents the cosmic world tree; the connection between all things and all life. The Ash is also a representation of the link between the Underworld, the Otherworld and the Mundane (our) worlds and represents the connection between the macrocosm and microcosm. The Ash is a perfect representation of the pagan belief of 'as above, so below'.
Along with Hawthorn and Oak, the Ash makes up part of the faery triad; Oak, Ash and Thorn. It is said that when these three trees grow together, a gateway to the faery realm is close by.
April
April's tree is the
Hawthorn or 'huathe'. As part of the faery triad, this is another very magickal tree. Lore advises that if a ring of mushrooms or toadstools grow around a Hawthorn tree, this is a sure sign of faery activity.
The Hawthorn was particularly sacred to the Celts and any Celt found felling a Hawthorn was put to death. It is very protective and its protection is still invoked today when surrounding a garden with Hawthorn bushes. The Hawthorn is a symbol of chastity and the concept of keeping oneself to oneself.
Wiccans sometimes refer to the Willow as 'The Goddess Tree' owing to the Hawthorn's white blossom which appears early April and blossoms fully in May (a traditional name for the Hawthorn is 'May Blossom'). The Hawthorn tree is especially sacred to the Welsh Sun goddess, Olwen.
May
The picture of England, the
Oak tree or 'duir', is associated with the month of May. The Oak is seen as a representation of great strength, survival and the power to overcome adversity. Again, it is a very magickal tree and forms the final branch in the faery triad. The Vikings held the Oak tree sacred to Thor as it was so often struck by lightning.
Due to its incredible strength, Oak was used (and continues to be used to some extent) to build ships, foundations and thick doors for medieval castles, it is because of this connection the Oak tree has also become known as the King of the Woods.
The Oak magically represents the door between the worlds and thus is frequently used as a medium for divination tools. The Oak tree is a true symbol of determination, strength and leadership.
June
Holly, (tinne), is the tree the Celts associated with the month of June. This may seem odd until you consider the story of the battle between the Oak and Holly Kings which take place at the Summer and Winter Equinoxes. From this perspective, the Holly has become known as 'best in fight' and it was once believed that to carry a sprig of Holly into battle would result in victory. Whenever you are facing adversity, you may want to invoke the victorious nature of Holly and carry a sprig with you. You can also protect your home using Holly by planting Holly bushes either side of your door.
July
The
Hazel tree, known as 'coll' by the Celts is July's tree and was revered as a tree of intuition and is thus closely associated with divination. Some believe that the eating of hazelnuts will bring about prophetic visions, so including hazelnut products when doing any divinatory work may be useful. This is one of the reasons Hazel is so often used for magickal tools such as wands, etc. In essence, the Hazel is known as a tree of wisdom and inspiration. It's country name is 'poet's tree' and it is believed that communing with the Hazel's dryad can enhance creativity and self-expression.
August
The
Vine(muin) is associated with the month of August. The vine is strongly linked with joy and euphoria and traditionally, wine was drunk to enhance divinations and vision quests. The vine is considered to release a seer's psychic powers. The Celts also associated the vine with the darkness of the Underworld and so accordingly, the vine is linked with darker goddesses such as Mabd, the Morrigan, Hecate and Persephone.
September
Ivy or 'gort' is September's association. It is a very protective plant and its protection is invoked by growing it up the side of a building. In times gone by, people would bring an ivy plant into the home during the darker months to symbolise keeping 'greens' in the cupboard and to protect the family from starvation and malnutrition. Ivy is a very hardy plant and is very difficult to get rid of once it has taken hold, it is from this aspect that Ivy has become known as a symbol of resilience. It's a great plant to have around your ritual area or sacred space as the plant helps us to connect with our higher self and teaches us to listen to our inner voice.
October
Sacred to the Goddess in her Crone aspect, the Elder (ruis) is the tree associated with the month of October. Since October is the month of Samhain, the Celtic new year, the Elder tree is very much connected to the concepts of death and rebirth, endings and new beginnings. Remember what the Witches' Rede tells us?
Elder is the Lady's tree, burn it not, or cursed you'll be.
November
The
Birch, also known as 'beith', is November's tree. It is a tree of grace and longevity. Wiccans sometimes call a Silver Birch 'Lady of the Woods' and its wood is often used for tools such as maypoles and Yule logs etc. The Birch is considered to be a tree of cleansing and healing and so is often used to make broomsticks. Birch twigs can be carried by couples to aid fertility. The tree teaches us to have faith in ourselves, to be open to new projects and to be wise enough to know when we need to make a clean sweep. We can seek the help of the Birch dryad when we need to make a fresh start.
December
December's tree is the
Rowan or 'luis', a tree believed to protect against witchcraft and enchantments. The Vikings referred to the Rowan as 'runa', which means 'Charm Tree' and they held it sacred to both Odin and Thor.
If you look inside a rowan berry, you will see that it makes the pattern of a pentagram or five-pointed star, a symbol of the Goddess. Carrying a sprig of Rowan is believed to protect you from harm and you can protect your home too, by hanging a sprig of Rowan above your door. It is also believed that a walking stick made from Rowan wood is a great protector when walking at night and a Rowan staff is particularly powerful. To find a Rowan growing in and near a stone circle is considered to be very lucky and if one grows on a ley line, it is believed to be protected by Dragon power and is sacred to the Dragon realm.
