Garden Witch's Herbal

by Ellen Dugan

  On a lighter note, it was thought that if you gently tap your knuckles on the trunk of the tree three times, it would ward off bad luck: “Knock on wood.” The faeries are also linked to this tree, and you should feel their presence if you meditate under a willow tree on Beltane eve. An old charm is to stand under a willow’s weeping branches and gaze up at the full moon. Make an unselfish wish, and then gently tie a loose knot in the supple branch of the willow tree. Breathe upon it, and blow a kiss to the moon. Your request is sure to be granted. Its Irish name is Saille.

  hawthorn

  Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)

  May 13–June 9

  The hawthorn is the second part of the faerie trinity of trees. The hawthorn represents the element of fire and is ruled by the planet Mars. This tree stands for magickal secrets, fertility, and eternal life. The hawthorn also made an appearance in our hedgerow chapter. This tree in its many varieties is a wild and bewitching tree. Some folk names include whitethorn and may. An amulet to protect against fire can be made from the twigs of a hawthorn tree; bind the twigs together with red thread into the shape of a pentagram, then hang up the star in the kitchen with a white ribbon. This will protect against household fires. An early hawthorn goddess was Olwen. Wherever this goddess walked, white flowers would spring up beneath her feet. Because of this, she was called Olwen of the white track, or path.

  It was thought that if you gathered together hawthorn blooms and sat quietly and serenely beneath the tree on any of the following evenings—Beltane Eve, summer solstice, or Samhain—your patience would be rewarded by a visit from the nature spirits and the faeries. The blooms from the hawthorn were fashioned into garlands and swags for celebrations as well as bridal bouquets. Try floating a few hawthorn blossoms on the water, and make a request to the Lord and Lady for fertility and prosperity. The Irish name for the hawthorn is Huathe.

  oak

  Oak (Quercus spp.)

  June 10–July 7

  The oak is the final companion in the faerie trinity of trees, and as you would expect, the oak is compatible with faerie and nature spirit magick. The elemental correspondences for this tree are earth and fire. A sentinel oak is often used as a marker to denote a magickal place. It is a protective and wise tree and one well worth growing on your property. The oak tree has an ancient and knowing spirit. The rustling of oak leaves is thought to be the whispers of the old gods. Meditate on that sound; what do you think they are trying to teach you? As acorns drop down in September, what little nuggets of wisdom do you think may be falling into your life?

  There are many different species of the oak; however, the magickal associations are typically the same. The oak is associated with sky gods and, of course, the Oak King and the Holly King. Many goddesses of fire and fertility have ties to the magickal oak such as the Celtic triple goddess Brigid. The oak is the favored sacred tree in the Druidic tradition. In this magickal tradition, the gods were usually celebrated at the solstices and the equinoxes, and the goddesses were celebrated at the cross-quarter days of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain.

  The oak is associated with the element of fire and the sun. Magickally, the oak and the acorn are worked into charms for fertility and prosperity. The acorn may also be a natural symbol for the God. Work with the oak’s leaves in your spells and charms to encourage valor, truth, and strength. The Irish name for the oak is Duir.

  holly

  Holly (Ilex spp.)

  July 8–August 4

  Both the oak and the holly are symbolized by the summer and winter solstices. The holly is a symbol of the life force. It is a lucky tree to grow at home in your garden, as it is believed to protect the home and its occupants from lightning, negativity, and bad luck. A popular plant with the winter nature spirits, this shrub (or standard tree, depending on the variety) is one to consider adding to your gardens. The male holly was thought to be auspicious for men, while the female holly was a good-luck charm for women.

  How do you tell a male from a female holly? Well, the female holly produces plenty of berries, and the male holly produces small, pale green flowers (for pollination) and only a few berries. Also, if you have a female holly in your yard but there is no male to pollinate it, it will not produce any berries. You will need at least one male to fertilize all your female holly plants. Also, look at the names of the shrubs at the nursery such as ‘China Girl’ or ‘China Boy’.

  Some of the older varieties of the holly feature smooth leaves that are variegated, smooth, and lobed (female) or that are solid colors with prickles (male). The elemental correspondence for the holly is fire, and its planetary influence is Mars. Magickally, the holly is used for protection from angry spirits. The holly features prominently in winter solstice celebrations and is used to decorate Yule logs, wreaths, and midwinter altars. The Irish name for the holly is Tinne.

  hazel

  Hazel (Corylus avellana)

  August 5–September 1

  The hazel is associated with the Celtic star goddess Arianrhod. Arianrhod was thought to have blessed the hazel tree with wisdom, knowledge, beauty, and fertility. Hazel is also a popular choice for hedgerow planting, and it is a tree of wishes, magick, and Witchcraft. Hazel is a popular wood for divining rods. White hazel wands were thought to have been carried by the Druids as a symbol of their authority. Planting a trio of hazel trees on your property was rumored to encourage the faeries to live there. In this miniature grove, all earth magick was thought to be doubly blessed.

  Weather omens were sought by looking at the shells of the hazelnut. If the shells were thin, then a mild winter was predicted. If the shells were thick, then a long, cold winter with many storms was expected. The elemental correspondences for the hazel tree are both air and fire, and its planetary association is Mercury. The nuts, which become ripe in the fall months, are worked into charms for fertility, knowledge, and divination. Try painting a rune for inspiration on a hazelnut, and carry that with you as an amulet or charm.

  If you’d like to protect your home from fire and misfortune, then bundle together a small bunch of hazel twigs on the spring equinox, the sabbat of Ostara. Tie these little twigs together with a white satin ribbon and bless these in the name of Arianrhod. Hang them near your home’s fireplace to ward off chimney fires and accidents in the home.

  Sabbat associations for the hazel tree are Ostara, Beltane, and Mabon. Weaving sprigs of hazel into a chaplet for your hair and wearing this on Beltane eve was thought to grant you good luck for a year and possibly the power of invisibility. Hazel branches cut on Midsummer’s eve are often used for divining rods. The Irish name for the hazel is Coll.

  vine

  Vine (Vitis vinifera)

  September 2–September 29

  The grapevine symbolizes emotions, sensuality, the harvest, and prosperity. Prophecy, truth, and intuition are also associated with the vine. Although there are many varieties of vines, the usual reference in sacred or magickal art and symbolism is the grapevine. Grapes were cultivated by the Egyptians some 6,000 years ago and were most likely introduced into Britain by the Romans. This fruit-bearing plant has the magickal associations of the moon and the element of water. The grapevine also corresponds to the sabbat Mabon, the autumnal equinox.

  The wine god Bacchus/Dionysus is traditionally entwined into the grapevine mythology, as well as a few harvest goddesses such as Ceres/Demeter. In some magickal traditions, the elm tree and the grapevine are looked upon as magickal partners, as elm trees were often planted in the vineyards to help provide shade and to shield the grapes.

  The grapevine wreath is a standard base for many decorative wreaths today. Try using a little magickal creativity and work in the ancient symbolism of the harvest. You could add silk grape leaves and artificial grapes and embellish your prosperity wreath with deep purple ribbons. If you want something less harvest-oriented, you could cover the grapevine wreath with
an assortment of magickal herbs, rosehips, or even dried chili peppers. Either way, it would create a great-smelling, practical magick wreath to hang up in the kitchen. In the Druid’s alphabet, the letter for the vine is M; the Irish name is Muinn.

  ivy

  Ivy (Hedera helix)

  September 30–October 27

  The evergreen ivy is a symbol of the faerie. Ivy represents visions, inner knowledge, and the enigmatic and mystical. The ivy vine may be worked into spells and charms to call in the faeries and for magickal protection, bindings, and to ward off psychic attack.

  Wherever ivy grows or is strewn, it guards against negativity and adversity. There is an old charm that tells a young woman to gather a leaf from the ivy vine and hold it close to her heart to divine who her future husband will be. Here is a more modern spin on that old herbal charm: gather the ivy leaf on the evening of a waxing crescent moon. Tie a small piece of white ribbon in a bow around the ivy stem as you imagine the personality qualities that would make for a good partner (remember not to focus on a specific individual). Face west, and watch the moon for a few moments as it sets. Then repeat this charm three times:

  Ivy leaf, ivy leaf, I love you

  Pray show me now a love so true

  The first young man who speaks to me

  My future husband he shall be.

  Keep the leaf with you until the moon waxes to full, then keep the ribbon as a token of the spell, and return the leaf to nature. The variegated ivy actually symbolizes fidelity, which helps explain its popularity in bridal bouquets.

  According to flower folklore, the solid green-colored ivy denotes friendship and constancy. It was also rumored that ivy was used to decorate fertility wands—so if you’re looking to conceive, you may want to take that into consideration.

  The magickal associations for the vine are the planet Saturn and the element of water. Finally, along with holly, these two magickal plants are traditional herbal symbols for the God and Goddess, with the holly representing the male aspect and the ivy representing the female aspect. The ivy plays a prominent role at Yuletide, as the ivy is classically linked with the holly; think of the line from that Old English carol, “The Holly and the Ivy.” The Irish name for the ivy is Gort.

  reed

  Reed (Phragmites communis)

  October 28–November 24

  Yes, you are correct: the reed is not a tree. However, the reed was an important product for ancient people. Reeds were used for thatching, woven into mats, crafted into pipes, and burned for fuel. During hard times or famine, the reed’s roots and shoots could be eaten. While this may sound incredibly unappetizing to a modern person, if your family was starving, you foraged and gathered whatever you could.

  The magickal associations of the reed are action, strength, and power. Its planetary association is the sun, and since the reed grows along wet banks and in marshes, its elemental association is water.

  There is the story of Pan, who pursued a nymph named Syrinx who was so anxious to get away from him that she turned herself into a reed. Hiding among the other reeds on the riverbank, she was hidden. Since Pan was unable to figure out which reed was his beloved, he cut several reeds and fashioned them into a musical pipe—the panpipe that he carried with him always.

  According to old flower folklore, the reed symbolized music and complaisance. It also carries the message “You have bewitched me with your song.” (Well, I guess we can stop wondering how the reed earned its magickal association.) The deities associated with the reed are Pan, Taliesin, Osiris, Isis, and Horus. At this dark time of Samhain, the reed represents the mysteries of mortality and is also a symbol of royalty. The royal connection comes about from an ancient tradition that tells how a sacred king often held a scepter crafted out of reeds. When the king died, the scepter of reeds was broken. The Irish name for the reed is Ngetal.

  elder

  Elder (Sambucus canadensis)

  November 25–December 23

  An extremely old and powerful magickal tree, elder is a member of the honeysuckle family. This popular hedgerow tree also made an appearance in our last chapter and has the astrological correspondence of Venus and the elemental association of water. The elderberry, as it is also called, is sacred to many goddesses, many of whom are aspects of the Crone. Leave this tree to grow happily in nature, for it is believed to be a benevolent tree that is zealously guarded by the faeries and the Goddess.

  If you plant an elderberry tree in the yard, you will invite the elves, nature spirits, and the faeries into your life. However, give the tree its own wild little corner of your property if you want the tree to flourish. This is a faerie tree, and they like their space. The elderberry tree is rightly thought to have a strong feminine spirit, which may explain its strong connection to Witchcraft. Folktales warn never to burn the wood of the elder tree—“Burn it not or cursed you’ll be”—or to even bring elder flowers into the house. According to German folklore, bringing a leafy elder branch into your house was thought to invite ghosts. Conversely, in Scotland, the elder branches were hung over doors and windows inside the home to keep evil spirits away.

  The creamy white flowers of the elderberry tree have been used in bridal bouquets for centuries. These flat heads of star-shaped flowers are arranged in clusters of blooms. They have a pleasant musky scent, and in the language of flowers, they signify both kindness and compassion. During the summer months while the tree is in bloom, it is thought that if you gently gather elderberry blossoms and breathe in the scent on Midsummer’s Eve, then you will be visited by or receive a vision of the faeries. If you should discover this tree while on a ramble, or nature walk, then be kind to the tree, and greet it with respect and affection. The Irish name for the elder tree is Ruis.

  Mystical, Magickal Trees

  I am a willow of the wilderness,

  loving the wind that bent me. All my hurts

  my garden spade can heal. A woodland walk,

  a quest of river-grapes, a mocking thrush,

  a wild-rose, or rock-loving columbine,

  salve my worst wounds.

  ralph waldo emerson

  With the elder, we finish our Celtic calendar of trees. The elder has an extensive magickal history, so it was featured in the previous hedgerow chapter as well. Overall, the elder tree is a symbol of both endings and beginnings, so it’s very appropriate to close up both this tree year calendar and the chapter with this tree.

  The elder reminds us that the magick of trees continues throughout all of the four bewitching seasons. It’s simply up to us to absorb the green wisdom inherent in all of nature and then to discover and work wisely with these natural enchantments ourselves.

  In the spring, you can tap into all that burgeoning energy and expansion. Use this season and your tree magick as an opportunity for new growth. What wonderful things could you bring to blossom? During the summer, you can revel in the lush foliage and the abundant and thriving fertility energy that is found all around us, for as nature flourishes, sets its fruits, and grows strong and true, so, too, will you.

  As the autumn rolls in and the leaves begin to lose their green mask of chlorophyll, the hidden colors of the reds, browns, oranges, and yellows begin to show in the leaves. During nature’s big, colorful autumn show, you have the opportunity to work tree magick with the energies of change, bounty, and the harvest. Reap what you have sown, and be thankful for all your blessings.

  Finally, when winter holds the land, look to the evergreens—pine, cedar, spruce, and the holly—for proof that life does indeed go on. Even while nature is resting, it is also gaining strength for the next season. Use the winter months and the quiet and strong magick of the evergreens to gain a deeper understanding of nature and the power of all of her cycles and seasons.

  The trees can truly teach us about the cycles of the earth; they have much wisdom to share. It’s up to us
as green magickal practitioners to stop, to look, and to carefully listen. Most importantly, we have to be receptive and allow ourselves to learn.

  Tree Spirits

  That thou, light winged Dryad of the trees,

  In some melodious plot

  Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,

  Singest of summer in full-throated ease.

  john keats

  If you’d like to take your study of trees and green magick a bit further, you can learn to work with the spirits of the trees, the dryads. To begin, you need an open heart and a questing mind. Then take a walk, and find yourself a nice, healthy, established tree. You are going to want to choose a tree that has some character and some age.

  Walk up to the tree and get a feel for its energy and its presence. Then splay your fingers wide, and lay both hands gently upon the trunk of the tree. Close your eyes, and let your mind open to the sensations of the tree. Now, you may “see” images or you may simply feel emotions. If you sense a sort of heartbeat within the tree, don’t be alarmed. That is simply the sap, or life’s blood, of the tree rushing throughout and circulating through all the branches and leaves.

  You should be aware that the tree is not a shell holding the dryad within. The tree and the tree’s spirit—its dryad—grow together. There is a symbiotic relationship between a dryad and its tree. While the tree is young, the tree spirit is thought to flit about and move around the tree and to visit (for lack of a better term) its neighbors in the wood or garden. But as the tree grows and ages, the dryad develops as well. Once the tree reaches maturity, it raises its vibrations, and the dryad is thought to move deeper within the spirit of the tree, becoming stronger and more substantial and eventually merging with the tree so that they are one.