Garden Witch's Herbal

by Ellen Dugan

  Chapter 6

  Magick and Folklore

  of Trees

  To dwellers in a wood, almost every species

  of tree has its voice as well as its feature.

  thomas hardy,

  under the greenwood tree

  It is hard to imagine herbalism and green magick without a discussion of magickal trees. The Old Ones worshipped in forests under the trees. In these early temples, the people felt that communion with their gods was only possible in the wild

  places in areas away from other people. The land itself held a magickal importance. These natural, sacred spots were called nemetons.

  Both the ancient Greeks and the Celts worshiped in sacred groves called nemetoi. These spaces were identified as clearings open to the sky and were reserved in the woodland and considered to be magickal places, held in awe by the people. Goddesses such as Nemetona and Arnemetia were the deities of these sacred groves.

  The word nemeton means a circular clearing in the woods or a mystical, mysterious sanctuary. This was an in-between place; sometimes a spring or stream rolled within or close by the grove. The groves could consist of many types of magickal trees, or perhaps it was a stand of all the same species. Some of the trees in the groves were probably rowan, birch, elm, ash, and oak.

  It is believed that these natural groves attracted nature spirits and local land devas to them. You can select your favorite place in nature as your personal nemeton—a secluded spot in a secret area of your garden, beneath a favorite tree, or alongside a natural body of water. Ageless elemental powers reside in the woodlands, and they are hidden in the urban areas as well. While they are tougher to find in the cities and urban areas, their magickal powers are more fierce there. Why? Trees must be tough to survive and to thrive in an urban area. Those who search for these energies will indeed come into contact with them in any place in nature—in the park, under a tree growing along the sidewalk, or in a natural woodland. Remember that when you embrace nature and all of her sacred places, nature then gives you the chance to heal and to reconnect. It makes us feel happier, and our green magick becomes revitalized. Then, finally, our spiritual connection to the Old Ones and to nature is reestablished.

  The Groves:

  Closer Than You Think

  The groves were God’s first temples.

  william cullen bryant

  What exactly do I mean by a sacred grove? The Latin word for sacred gives us the word sanctuary—a word describing not only a sacred site but also a place of shelter and protection. A grove is defined as a small wood or a lush green niche found within a woodland or a great forest. A grove may be discovered alongside natural bodies of water, at the borders of creeks and streams. A grove may even be created within your own backyard—a personal sanctuary of sorts. This can be anywhere you like, tucked under older trees and between tall shrubs or sheltered within a modern hedgerow. By allowing a little corner of your property to grow somewhat wild, you can create a secret, sacred garden for yourself and the animals and birds. In other words, a sacred grove.

  Now, some folks are happy enough just standing back and looking at the trees in the yard, the park, or the forest. They might breathe deeply and look around in awe at the natural beauty that surrounds them and sit for a while to read or meditate or eat their lunch. Later, when they leave, they usually feel lighter and happier. Other people may find peace and contentment strolling along a shady, secluded, leafy garden path. They might be inspired or relaxed by the natural loveliness that they encounter, but other than enjoying the scenery, what do you suppose they really learn?

  Many of the great naturalists of our time—Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Muir, and even Theodore Roosevelt—believed that the forests and woodlands were sacred places that beneficially influenced the spirit. Why do you suppose that herbs, flowers, and trees have such a soothing, uplifting, and cheerful influence on us? Maybe it is because they so completely change the natural ambiance that surrounds them. Take an hour out of your hectic life and blow off some steam by strolling around the local park. Toss a blanket on the grass in the backyard and watch the sunlight filter down through the leaves. Try walking among the local trees and quietly talking to them, and see what lessons they may have for you. I imagine that you too will feel lighter and happier if you reconnect to nature. Do you suppose it is possible that plants and nature could be spiritual and magickal filters? You bet they are.

  The average person usually lacks the desire to look closer at the secret places of nature where the far greater mysteries lie. As green magick practitioners and Witches, we more than anyone will need to look a bit deeper at nature, listen a little harder to the flora and fauna, and pay attention to all of our senses while we are outdoors. For those practitioners who want to explore their green spirituality further and who want to expand their magickal abilities to the advanced or to an adept level, they can begin this process by acknowledging the very spiritual side of the natural world. Look to the trees.

  Tree Wisdom

  I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could learn what it had to teach …

  henry david thoreau

  A tree can, in fact, be a tangible manifestation for the old Craft adage, “As above, so below.” The tree may be considered a sort of magickal bridge between heaven and earth, as it is rooted to the earth but reaches for the sky. Throughout history, trees have been considered sacred and honored because they were the tallest and most lasting of all living organisms. Trees have embellished and blessed homes and gardens with their beauty, structure, and shelter. Trees have provided us with bark and foliage that yield various dyes to add color to cloth and produce flavoring for food or herbal medicines for the sick. Trees interact dynamically with the environment, as they produce oxygen for the planet and provide both food and shelter for wildlife as well as humans.

  In the woods and forests, a naturally occurring circle of trees was considered a primitive and sacred grove. Stands of elms and oaks and junipers were protected and cherished. These natural groves were sacred and holy places where people could gather and pay homage to the old gods of forest and stream. Indeed, even the trees’ leaves and blooming branches were and are used to celebrate the holidays, observe the changing seasons, and decorate religious altars.

  The old folk healers, the herbalists, and the wise women and men were the first to discover and utilize the potent magick of the trees. Deep in the forests and alongside springs and streams, they gathered their barks, berries, herbs, and plants and worked their wonders. Some herbal trees and plants were encouraged to grow on the healer’s property. These early gardens contained plants for medicine and plants for magick. The common folk did not dare to disturb these gardens, for only the wise ones knew for certain which plants brought comfort and healing and which plants could bring about suffering and death.

  Tree magick is a sensory type of enchantment that is available to you all year long. See the pristine blooms of the rowan and hawthorn declare joy and wonder as the earth renews herself each spring. Listen for the wisdom in the quiet rustle of ash leaves on a warm summer evening. During the fall months, you can catch a glimpse of a tree’s humor as acorns drop down upon you, full and ripe, from the branches of old sentinel oaks brushed with a brilliant fall color. During the winter, it is the trees who remind us that life does indeed go on, for the holly, pine, and spruce are still luxuriously green and fragrant.

  The old wise ones are whispering to us even now. Are you listening? It only takes an open mind and an accepting heart to hear them. As we delve deeper into the folklore, myth, and magick of the natural world, the greatest tools that a Witch can possess is an open heart and an open mind. The imagination can be a wonderful gift from the mind, and your instincts are an endowment from the old gods to your heart.

  Take a walk in the park or the wood
s. Get to know the trees growing close to your home. While you are taking note of the various species of trees, be sure to look up at those beautiful leaves, gaze at the landscape around you, and cast all of your senses outward. Green magick and witchery surrounds you at all times, and its natural energies are present each and every day of the year. And here is a prime example of that year-long wonder: the trees and plants of the Celtic year.

  The Calendar of Celtic Trees

  Of all the trees that grow so fair,

  Old England to adorn,

  Greater are none beneath the sun,

  Than oak, and ash, and thorn.

  rudyard kipling

  The following herbal trees and plants marked out the thirteen months, or moons, of the old Celtic year. A few of these magickal trees were also featured in our hedgerow chapter as well. A few of the “trees” of the year are not trees at all—such as the ivy, the vine, and the reed.

  Each of the following trees or plants is listed along with its approximate calendar dates. The tree’s botanical name, folklore, deity associations, and magickal information will follow. At the end of the information is the Celtic/Irish name, or the associated Ogham for the featured plant. There are magickal information and ideas for each plant, so you can try your hand at conjuring up some green magick of your very own design. See how much of this green, leafy magick you can add into your life and your craft.

  birch

  Birch (Betula spp.)

  December 24–January 20

  The birch tree symbolizes the rebirth of the sun at the winter solstice. The beautiful white bark of the birch makes it a very popular wood for Yule logs. This tree symbolizes new beginnings. The goddess Arianrhod was petitioned for her aid in childbirth and initiations by way of the birch tree. In Norse mythology, Thor, Frigga, and Freya were all linked to the birch tree as well.

  In olden times, hanging birch branches inside of your home was thought to protect you from infertility, the evil eye, and lightning. The silver birch, a popular wood for a woman’s ceremonial broomstick, is sometimes called the “lady of the woods.” This is a feminine tree and one of enchantments. The elementary association for the birch tree is water, and the planetary ruler is Venus. In some traditions, the birch is linked with a Maiden Goddess such as Eostre. This Anglo-Saxon goddess was celebrated as the birch leaves grew from her time of the Spring Equinox until Beltane.

  The birch is associated with faerie magick and Beltane, for the trees were popularly used as Maypoles. In addition, the birch has been linked with the sabbats of Samhain and Lughnasadh, the final and the first harvest festivals, respectively. In some northern countries, the leafing out of the birch tree signals the start of the agricultural year, but in truth, the magickal birch is venerated practically year-round. The Irish name for the birch is Beith.

  rowan

  Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)

  January 21–February 17

  The rowan is also known as mountain ash and is a sacred tree for all earth religions. Some old folk names for the rowan are quickbeam and quicken. A rowan growing near a stone circle was believed to be especially protective and powerful. Rowan tree day is celebrated on May 3. The Celtic goddess Brigid was associated with the rowan tree, which makes sense, as the sabbat Imbolc/Candlemas (also known as Brigid’s Day) is celebrated during this Celtic month on February 2. Brigid, a triple goddess of fire, smithcraft, and poetry, is still a wildly popular goddess with modern Witches.

  All parts of the rowan are utilized in magick: the leaves, blooms, twigs, and berries. The berries are especially sought after by songbirds. In the garden, the rowan, or mountain ash, is a small tree that has four-season interest, from the springtime blooms to the lush green summer foliage. In the fall, it shows off golden scarlet leaves and finally produces red berries for the birds in the winter.

  The rowan has the planetary association of the sun and the elementary correspondence of fire. As a tree of old magick, and considering its protective qualities, the fire association seems appropriate. Groves of rowans were preserved and protected as visionary sanctuaries. The rowan/mountain ash is a Druid’s tree and one of the holy trees of the ancient Celtic forests. It is rumored that the faeries may adopt a solitary rowan tree, taking it over as a home and a sort of magickal safe house. Any earth magick can be enhanced by working beneath a rowan tree or by fashioning a wand out of a fallen branch. Other associated sabbats include Lughnasadh, Beltane, and Midsummer. The Irish name for the rowan is Luis.

  ash

  Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

  February 18–March 17

  The ash is part of the faerie trinity of trees (the oak, ash, and thorn). The ash is rumored to be a tree of enchantment and is a very suitable wood for a wand or staff, as it is a strong, supple wood. In Norse mythology, the ash plays a significant role. The sacred ash tree Yggdrasil was the divine frame that supported the entire world. It was a tree of life and also a popular tree with the faeries. It is thought that if you make a heartfelt request for healing and protection and tie a strand of your own hair onto the branch of an ash tree, the faeries will grant your request. This tree is associated with Woden, Thor, Neptune/Poseidon, and the Greek goddess Nemesis, who was thought to carry an ash branch as a symbol of divine justice.

  The ash is associated with the element of water, and its planetary ruler is the sun. Carrying ash twigs fashioned together in a solar cross was thought to protect you from accidents on the water. (If you own a boat, perhaps you could tuck the amulet somewhere inside of the boat.) The element of water relates to emotions and psychic gifts. If you place an ash leaf beneath your pillow, it is said to encourage psychic abilities and cause prophetic dreams.

  The leaves of the ash tree may be used as an offering while you cast a circle. As you call each quarter, scatter a handful of ash leaves to the winds. By doing this, you tap into the vast elemental powers of the trees and the earth. Wands made from ash wood are used for healing, prosperity, and protection. Displaying a staff made out of ash at the entrance of your home, perhaps hung over the inside front door, wards the home from negativity and theft.

  Also, placing an ash leaf at each of the four corners of your home was thought to help protect your home from unwanted astral visitors and manipulative magick. It also denotes a magickal safe house. Its Irish name is Nuin.

  alder

  Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

  March 18–April 14

  The alder tree is reported to be popular with the undines and water spirits. A tree native to Europe, the alder is an unusual tree in that it is the only broadleaf tree that bears cones. The alder is often linked to the willow, as they are both water-loving trees and were thought to bless pools and springs by growing nearby. The alder is associated with beginnings, birth, and healing. It has links to mystical white faerie horses and to the unicorn. An alder was also a way to gain access to the faerie lands.

  An old alder spell was to place a leaf in each shoe when traveling. This was thought to cause the faeries to bless you while on your journey. Try casting alder leaves at each quarter of your circle on the eve of the Spring Equinox, or the festival of Ostara, if you care to try to communicate with the faeries. Please remember to thank the nature spirits when you have finished your ritual, and leave them a small token such as a crystal point or a small, plain cake (in other words, a cookie). In the Italian tradition, the alder is associated with spring fire festivals.

  Alder’s further correlations with the element of fire may seem contrary, and they are a little intense. In old Ireland, it was believed that if you purposely cut down an alder, it would cause your house to burn down. The alder has links to the god Bran, a beloved Pagan god whose totem animal was the raven. The raven is a bird of wisdom whose appearance often signifies change.

  The alder is ruled by the planet Venus. It is also associated with the autumnal equinox and the sabbat of Samhain. The element of water
is associated with the western direction as well as the season of autumn, as the west is the direction of the setting sun, the waning year, and the direction of the Summerland. The Irish name for the alder tree is Fearn.

  willow

  Willow (Salix spp.)

  April 15–May 12

  A willow is a tree of the element of water and is ruled by the moon. It is incorporated into lunar magick, prophecy, healing, and women’s mysteries. The wood of the willow makes a powerful healing wand for a woman. There are many goddesses associated with the willow tree such as Hecate, Lilith, Persephone, Morgana, and Cerridwen. The sorceress Circe was thought to have cared for a cemetery planted with the willow and dedicated to Hecate. Hecate, the only Titan who kept her powers after Zeus took over, was a willow and dark moon goddess. This three-faced goddess guarded the crossroads, and it was believed that when dogs howled at night, they were answering Hecate’s call. Hecate is a powerful deity to call upon, for she rules the earth, the sky, and the sea—all three magickal realms. The willow tree, Hecate’s tree, has been a popular tree for magick and enchantments for centuries.

  The strongest times of the year for working willow tree magick would be at the full moons and the sabbats of Beltane and Samhain, those two nights when the veil between the physical world and the spirit world is the thinnest. Working with willow leaves or burning them on a bonfire at Samhain was thought to call spirits forth. While this is an intriguing notion, be sure that you are working within a cast circle and that you actually know how to send a spirit back to the other side before you try this. (If you’re not sure, then leave this type of magick alone.) Remember who is associated with the willow, after all; if you work with Hecate carelessly, you’ll get more than your fingers slapped. Consider yourself warned.