Celtic Reiki Level 2

8/13/2019 Celtic Reiki Level 2

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Level 2

Distance Course Notes (November 2003)

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Enchanted Earth Holistic Healing Courses www.enchanted-earth.co.uk

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Celtic Reiki Level 2

Celtic Reiki and Manifestation

As we have already seen in Level 1, Celtic Reiki can be used to heal.However, it has many additional uses, one of the most interesting beingmanifestation. The Celts were highly acclaimed for their energetic powers ofhealing, manifestation and deep connection with the natural environment. Inthis section of the course we will be exploring the six Level 2 symbols that youhave been attuned to. They can be used both by yourself and your clients, asa means of working with goals and desires on all levels.

It has been found that the best method of using these Level 2 energies, is tobegin with the first two symbols Nuin and Duir, which connect you to the Reiki

and open doors to higher manifestation and protection energies. Then youcan simply use one symbol or a combination of symbols, in order to manifestyour desired goals.

Another method is to use the symbols in meditation with a fixed idea of whatyou are manifesting and then direct the energies towards your goal. Thesymbols can also be used in treatments, and in conjunction with a wish bookor crystal grid. As the Celtic Reiki system is continually evolving, thetechniques suggested in these manuals are not set in stone and it isrecommended that you work with the symbols creatively, as guided byintuition, or higher wisdom.

When manifesting, it is essential to always work for the highest good of all,remembering not to force your will on other peoples lives as it will bouncestraight back at you. A good example of this is in relationships. For example, itwould be wrong to use Celtic Reiki with the intent of finding love with aspecific person. A much better approach is to use the desire for a wonderfuland special love to fill your life. This means that if the person of your desires isthe perfect partner for you, then they will come, while at the same time if thereis someone special waiting in the wings, you are opening the door to allowthem in.

For manifestation treatments either on yourself or others, channel the first twosymbols at the head area and the other symbol(s) (according to your goals)moving from the head (3-5 minutes) to the heart (3-5 minutes), and finally tothe Hara (situated about 2 inches below the navel) (3-5 minutes). This servesto bring the energy from the universe (thought) to the Earth (physical). Youmay also work as guided.


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Celtic Reiki Second Degree Symbols

The second set of 6 Celtic Reiki symbols are illustrated below:


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Nuin (Nee-Arn) N

Nuin is the Ash Tree and represents the month of March the first month ofspring and new beginnings. This symbol is used for connection, as it showsus the connection between all things and removes separateness.

Use Nuin at the start of any manifestation treatment or practice to connect tothe specific energy required in this form of Reiki. Nuin will connect andprepare you in readiness for the next symbol.

Duir (Doo-r) D

Duir is of the Oak Tree and shows us the fertility of spring as celebrated in thefestival of Beltane. It represents the month of May, the last month of springand the end of the beginning.

Duir is the opener of doors and gateways. It allows those who haveconnected, through to great strength and knowledge of the mysteriescontained in the universe. It also protects and keeps the practitioner and clientsafe from any negative energies during the treatment or practice. It should beused after Nuin.

Duir opens the chakras in turn, starting with the crown and working down tothe base, thus bringing thoughts into the physical.

Oir (U-eh) Th

Oir is the Spindle, of sweetness and delight and is used in Celtic Reiki tomanifest an ideal situation. This could be more prosperity, a better job, or astrengthening of relationships.

Having used the first two symbols, Oir will help to create a contusive energyfor the highest outcome in a physical sense and therefore is best used wheremoney, property, work or people are concerned.

However, always remember to work for the highest good and to remainanonymous where people are concerned. To attempt to force another to dosomething will bounce the energy right back at you!


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Coll (Cull) C

Coll is the Hazel and refers to the heart, emotion and intuition. Use where youwish to manifest emotions and create a new feeling, or underlying feeling todaily living.

If you wish to create Joy, Inner Peace, Love, or any emotion that you feel at aheart level, or if you wish to improve energy, intuition, or balance, then Coll isthe symbol to use.

Coll can also be used to increase the potency of Oir, and the two work verywell together.

Gort (Gort) G

Gort is of the Ivy and refers to the mental. The ivy creates a labyrinth atangle of paths and journeys, some leading you forward, some leading you tonowhere, some leading you round and round. The Gort energy will help you tofind your way through the labyrinth, helping you to stick to the right path.

Gort can help to manifest clarity, improve memory and help you connect tohigher wisdom. It can calm the mind in times of anxiety and allow stillness inmeditation.

You can use Gort, if you wish to manifest anonymously for the higher good i.e. you know you need something, but you are not quite sure what.

Saille (Sarl-Yur) S

Saille is the Willow Tree and refers to the moon and lunar rhythms. It istherefore best used in manifestations of the soul: to improve your ability toconnect to higher levels, to work with guides and angels, or to help you clarifyyour lifes work and discover your purpose.

Saille is the manifestation tool for lightworkers who have been travelling ontheir path for a while and are ready for the next step. It will help you connectto Lemurian and Atlantean energies, to work with ley-lines and Stargateenergy and connect you to the stars.

You can also use Saille in healing for extreme trauma on all levels.

(Symbol descriptions written by Martyn Pentecost).


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Crystals and Reiki

Every crystal possesses a single chemical compound, which gives it ageometric internal structure that directly influences its exterior form. It iscomposed of atoms that have bonded together into regular repeating patterns,

and it is these patterns that create a crystals solid form with flat faces,arranged in a precise geometry known as a crystal lattice. Crystals form overmillions of years within the Earths crust and factors such as temperature,pressure, cooling period and other chemical elements within contact, alldetermine the final structure of the crystal. While each crystal is unique inappearance, the angle between the corresponding plane faces will beidentical in all crystals of the same substance and structure. Hence we areable to group them based on their type, for example: Carnelian, Malachite,Lapis Lazuli, Jasper, Tourmaline, etc.

In the context of crystal healing, this means that the natural vibration ofcrystals is fairly uniform within each crystal type, but differs substantiallybetween one type and the next. As a result of their vibrational energies andcorrespondence with the bodys chakra system, crystals have been usedsince the earliest civilisations for healing purposes.

Crystals work in a variety of ways when combined with Reiki. Not only do theymagnify the potency of the Reiki energy, but they can also alter the frequencyof the energy to match that of the crystal, thereby enabling the practitioner totarget specific areas and conditions. As crystals are able to store largeamounts of Reiki energy, which is gradually released over time, this provides

a constant Reiki supply to the wearer/carrier, or the area where the crystal isdisplayed. In addition, Reiki can be used to cleanse crystals of negative orforeign energies.


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The Master Crystal

The Master crystal, as its name suggests, is of great significance to the Reikipractitioner or master. It serves as a powerful aid in a multitude of ways fromcharging your crystal grid (network), to assisting with distance healing or in-

person treatments, to directing Reiki at objects, situations, personal dreamsand wishes, etc.

Ideally a Reiki master crystal should be wand-shaped and can be of any type,although clear quartz is a popular choice and works exceptionally well. Whenusing crystals they should always feel right. The best crystal for your needswill choose you (rather than the other way around), and will resonate with yourdeepest being. Stories abound of people who have lost expensive crystals, orfound them shattered when they reached home, simply because the crystalwas not right for them. You may have to be patient, but if a crystal is meant foryou, it will always find its way into your hands.

Once you have acquired your master crystal, it needs to be cleansed andcharged with Reiki. Regular smudging with a sage stick is recommended andyou should not permit others to handle your crystal, as it will absorb theirenergy imprint. If another person does touch it, the crystal should always besmudged as soon as possible.


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Chakras and their Corresponding Crystals

Base Chakra (Red stones) Red stimulates, activates and energises.Linked to the ability to use practical skills, movement, motivation, protectionand survival. Puts life-energy to positive use.

Garnet: Speedy energiser, activates other stones nearby, aids depression.

Jasper: Grounding, gently activating, calms biliousness.

Ruby: Works with circulation of subtle anatomy, energising, analgesic.

Tigers Eye: Helps energy flow, grounding, calming, strengthens bones.

Sacral Chakra (Orange stones) As orange is a mix of red and yellow, it

combines both energy and focus. Aids with creativity in all senses. Linked toartistic skills. Assists with shock and trauma, which can block the flow ofenergy within the body.

Carnelian: Warm, gently energising, benefits all healing, infection, fever.

Topaz: Clearing, directs energy, respiratory, de-stress.

Citrine: Stimulates mental focus, digestive, balancing, helps creativity.

Solar Plexus Chakra (Yellow stones) Regulates functioning of nervoussystem. Linked to pancreas and liver. Linked to immune system. Self-esteem,stress, fear and happiness are also linked to this colour.

Tigers Eye: Helps energy flow, grounding, calming, strengthens bones.

Amber: Immunity, self-healing, clears negativity.

Citrine: Stimulates mental focus, digestive, balancing, helps creativity.

Heart Chakra (Green/Pink stones) Green: balances emotions, space,relationships. Personal growth. Pink: more gentle and subtle, bringingemotions and sensitivity together.

Aventurine: Heart balancer, expression of feelings, emotional tranquillity,chance.

Emerald: Helps to find personal direction, make decisions from the heart.

Tourmaline: Protection, self-confidence, tranquil, calming.


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Rose Quartz: Calming, reassuring, assists unexpressed emotions,relationships.

Rhodonite: Self-love, self-worth.

Throat Chakra (Blue /Turquoise stones) Associated with communicationof all types - sight, voice, and hearing - all the senses. Inner communicationsand self-expression.

Aquamarine: Stimulates healing properties at all levels, self-confidence.

Blue Agate: Cooling of emotions, calming, anti-depressing.

Lapis Lazuli: Peaceful, easy expression of thought and mind.

Turquoise: Supportive, protective, strengthens the subtle bodies.

Third Eye Chakra (Indigo stones) Perception, understanding and intuitionare linked to this colour. Also mystery, spiritual insight and connectionbetween mind, body and spirit.

Sapphire: Relaxes and improves the mind, balances all aspects of the self.

Azurite: Frees difficult and longstanding communication barriers, memory.

Lapis Lazuli: Peaceful, easy expression of thought and mind.

Crown Chakra (Violet/White stones) Violet/purple: inspiration,imagination, empathy and sense of service to others. Helps to re-balanceextremes within the systems of the body. White: clarity of mind. Whitecontains all other colours so it symbolises the power to reflect all energies andmay also suggest a coming together. Cleansing and purifying.

Amethyst: Useful all-rounder, good for meditation.

Sugilite: Helps resolve group misunderstandings, helps people fit-in.

Azurite: Frees difficult and longstanding communication barriers, memory.

Clear Quartz: Strengthens and brings coherent energy, harmony.

Moonstone: Clears tension, aids digestion, balances fluids in the body.

Diamond: Increases quality of stones near to it, clarity of mind, dream stone.


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Techniques for Using Reiki and Crystals

Charging a Crystal

When you have selected a crystal corresponding with the results you wish to

achieve, place it in the palm of your passive hand and cover with yourdominant hand, i.e. the one you write with. Concentrate on sending Reiki intothe crystal, and if the energy is required for a particular purpose, keep thisintention strongly in your mind. Depending on the size of the crystal and theamount of Reiki required, this needs to be done for between 5-20 minutes.The charge should last for a week or more, although if you are workingintensely with a specific stone (such as the master crystal of your Reiki Grid),then its advisable to charge it every 2-3 days.

Cleansing a Crystal

Basically this process is identical to the technique for charging a crystalabove. However, when channelling Reiki into the crystal, your intention shouldbe one of cleansing.


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Creating and Using a Celtic Reiki Crystal Grid

With the aid of a crystal Reiki grid you can continue to send Reiki or empowergoals for long periods, provided the grid is charged on a regular basis. Whenin use, the grid actually becomes multidimensional and allows a link to your

higher self and Reiki guides to transmit healing and knowledge.

The grid requires seven crystals, plus your master crystal. While in theory anytype will do, I would recommend using quartz crystal. Before setting up thegrid all the crystals need to be cleansed. There are many different methodsyou can choose from, such as placing the crystals in a bowl with rock or seasalt and pure water, running under a cold tap, leaving outside in the sunlightor moonlight, smudging with sage or any other cleansing incense or herb, etc.When cleansing the energy of crystals other than quartz crystal, you shouldalways check the properties of the stone first, as certain crystals will dissolvein water or fade in sunlight. Once your crystals have been cleansed, they will

need to be charged with Reiki before use.

The grid should be set up in a sacred space where it will not be disturbed.Draw the six manifestation symbols from Celtic Reiki on a sheet of paper in acircle around the central crystal. The other six crystals will be placed over thesymbols facing inwards towards the central crystal, which should hold specialsignificance. Crystal balls, pyramids or clusters have been noted to harnessthe Reiki energy well. Once you have created a configuration that feels right,its advisable to affix the crystals with a small piece of adhesive to prevent anymovement.

Using a picture of yourself alone, write a positive affirmation on the reversethat encompasses all the ideals you wish to attain on your Reiki journey. It isof considerable importance that this is a true statement of your own intent,and not a well known saying or phrase.

In order to know their purpose as part of the grid, the crystals need to becharged with Celtic Reiki. You should Reiki the crystals for about 10 minuteseach, using all six Level 2 symbols whilst tuning in to your individual guidesfor increased purity. Place each individual crystal on its setting within the grid,leaving the centre crystal to the very end. Then charge the master crystal in

exactly the same way as the others.

The master crystal will become an important part of your Reiki life and, asmentioned before, has to be special to you. It forms an integral part of thegrid, being used to both charge it and keep it charged.

In order to charge the grid, you should hold the master crystal in yourdominant hand and point it downward at the central crystal. Start by drawingout triangular sections on the grid, beginning at the centre, moving out to oneof the six crystals, and then across anti-clockwise to the next, and back to thecentre again. Work your way around the grid whilst intoning a mantra-like

affirmation, filling the grid with Light, Love, Peace, and Wisdom, affirming allthe words three times. For example: I charge this grid with Reiki, with Reiki,


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with Reiki, for for for. This should be continued until you feel that thepositive affirmations have filled the grid. Initially you may find it difficult tocreate the rhythm and will perhaps miss a few lines. Dont worry, as speed willcome with practice, and you will quickly find that the mantras assist incontributing a flowing charging motion. It is necessary to carry on charging the

grid every 2-3 days, since crystals possess only a finite power. The more youwork the grid, the greater the results that will be obtained.

Your master crystal will rapidly become a close friend and a wonderfulmeditation tool, enhancing awareness and sensitivity. The results attained willbe very powerful, if the crystal is charged with the Reiki meditation and thenused to activate the grid.

From time to time there may be situations when you are separated from thegrid, but wish to continue using it for empowerment. Provided you have aphotograph of the made-up grid with you, it is possible to activate it with your

master crystal in exactly the same manner as if you were present.

The grid can also be used for the empowering of goals or the healing of anindividual. To do so, you will need to write out exactly what is required of thegrid and place it in the middle, being careful not to disturb the central crystal. Ifyoure using an absent healing book, it should be opened and stood on endinside the grid, so that energy will be sent to all within. Use of the grid requiresresponsibility since it is very powerful and, as always, its important to bemindful of what you ask for since you may just get it!

A series of crystal grids can be set up in one go and placed around your homewith the intention that they are all connected. This achieves a powerful field ofenergy that will protect your living environment and creates a healing, positiveenergy. To charge the network, it is necessary to charge the main grid(master grid) daily, with the simple intention that all the grids are charged.

Celtic Reiki Level 2 Exercises

As before, please memorise all six symbols, their meanings and methods ofuse. You may also wish to meditate and work further on each individual

symbol. Do any specific colours or thoughts come to mind when you use them(and also the Level 1 symbols)?

Please practice all the techniques suggested above and keep a record of yourexperiences with using the symbols in meditation and in manifestationtreatments on both yourself and others. Try to be creative in what you do withthese manifestation symbols and allow yourself to be guided by your intuition.

If you already have suitable crystals (or can easily obtain some), you maywish to set up a crystal grid using Celtic Reiki for healing or manifestationpurposes (either for yourself or others). You may even like to set up a crystal

network around your house comprised of several grids.


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Try to find as many of the Celtic Reiki Level 2 trees as possible in your vicinityand get to know them!

Disclaimer

Please be aware that the information given in this Celtic Reiki course is foreducational purposes only.

Celtic Reiki is a wonderful hands-on method of energy balancing for thepurpose of stress reduction and relaxation, that works in conjunction with anyand all other healthcare practices you may be using. However, it is not meantas a substitute for proper medical diagnosis and treatment provided bylicensed healthcare professionals.

Celtic Reiki practitioners do not diagnose conditions, nor do they performmedical treatments, prescribe substances, or interfere with the treatment of alicensed medical professional.

It is strongly recommended that you contact your physician or healthcarespecialist for any physical or psychological ailment you may have.

Celtic Reiki Level 2 Resources

Recommended articles:

The Oghams: One and Many

http://www.faeryshaman.org/arch/es44arc2.htm

The Tree Ogham as Herbal Ogham

http://www.faeryshaman.org/arch/es52arc2.htm

Herbal Properties of the Tree Oghamhttp://www.faeryshaman.org/arch/es52arc2x.htm

(The following article on Using Trees as Medicine is given for informationpurposes only. We do not recommend it as a substitute for proper medicaldiagnosis and treatment provided by licensed healthcare professionals.Always contact your physician or healthcare specialist for any physical orpsychological ailment you may have).


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To make a tree leaf poultice, use fresh leaves, or dry ones that have been

soaked in enough boiling water to make them soft. Place the leaves in a

blender with just enough water to make a mush. Pour into a glass or ceramic

bowl and then add powdered slippery elm bark, a little at a time, until a pie

dough consistency is achieved. Spread the poultice onto a cotton cloth and

apply to the affected area. Leave on for one hour, and then discard the

poultice material. Repeat daily.

A formentation may be made of the bark or leaf tea by soaking clean

cotton cloth in the tea and then applying it to an affected area. Tree

leaves, bark, and nuts may also be used in healing salves. To make a salve

simply place the plant material in a large non-aluminium pot, and just barely

cover with cold-pressed virgin olive oil. Simmer with a lid for about twenty

minutes.

In a separate pot melt beeswax, and bring to a simmer. After oil mixture

has simmered for twenty minutes add three tablespoons of melted beeswax

for every cup of olive oil used. Stir and then strain into very clean glass

jars. Allow to cool and harden before putting on the lid.

Some tree parts are used to make massage oils or oils for other purposes.

Take the fresh tree parts, and put them in a shallow non-aluminium baking

dish. Cover with a light oil such as almond, cover, and bake in a slow oven

at 110 degrees for several hours until the plant material wilts.

To tincture buds, barks, or roots, place the chopped plant material in a

clean glass jar. Cover with vodka or other alcohol {80 proof or higher},

cover tightly, and allow the tincture to sit for eight days. Shake

occasionally. Add 10% spring water and a teaspoon of vegetable glycerine.

Strain and bottle for later use. Store in cool, dark place. For leaves and

flowers; pack the plant material into a clean glass jar, barely cover with

alcohol, and allow the tincture to extract until the plant material begins to

wilt. Add spring water and vegetable glycerine, and strain and bottle as

above. The dose is about 10 drops, three times a day, taken with water.

Green Etiquette

It is only polite to thank a tree when you have used its parts for medicine.

Make a habit of giving back to the trees. A meal of fertilizer, a drink

during a hot spell, or offering of herbs such as sage or tobacco are always

correct. In ancient European tradition, vervain, honey, or apple cider were

often given. Or a simple prayer was spoken, that the tree and its relations

always have abundant sunshine, pure water to drink, healthy winds, and thecompanionship of birds and other friendly spirits. In this time of global


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warming it is wise to plant trees wherever possible and to nurture living

ones. Trees are cooling. They prevent evaporation of rainwater, hold back

water to prevent floods and erosion, purify stagnant and polluted water,

and maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon in a world increasingly

polluted by greenhouse gases. Ancient tress especially should be honored

and protected.

Some Tree Medicine

Alder: Is a small tree that thrives in damp areas such as wetlands and

riverbanks. It usually has several grayish trunks, and its female catkins

develop into what look like tiny brown pine cones. Alder bark is simmered in

water to make a healing wash for deep wounds. It is astringent and will help

to pull the edges of a wound together. The leaves and bark can be madeinto a tea that will benefit tonsillitis and fever. The leaves are also used in

poultices to dry up breast milk. Alder bark tea can be used as a douche or

for haemorrhoids. Fresh alder sap can be applied to any area to relieve

itching.

Apple: The bark of the root of apple trees is used for fevers. Apples are

rich in magnesium, iron, potassium, and Vitamins C, B and B2. When peeled,

they relieve diarrhoea. Stewed unpeeled apples are a laxative. Eating apples

regularly promotes restful sleep. Baked apples can be applied warm as a

poultice for sore throats and fevers. Apple cider is important in this timeof antibiotics, which destroy the intestinal flora. Raw, unpasteurized apple

cider will restore the correct bacteria to the bowels after a course of

antibiotics. Apples reduce acidity in the stomach and help to clean the liver.

Add garlic and horseradish to apple cider to clear the skin. Use the mixture

as a wash externally and take it internally as a drink.

Ash: Ash is a tall tree whose compound leaves are composed of five to

nine, or seven to eleven leaflets. Its bark is very tightly and regularly

furrowed, and its winged, canoe-paddle-shaped seeds, called keys, hang in

clusters until they are brown and drop off in the fall. The tender new

spring growth of the twig tips and leaves can be simmered to make a

laxative tea that will benefit gout, jaundice, and rheumatism.

Beech: Beech trees have a distinctive, smooth gray bark that resembles

the skin of an elephant. The bark is used as a tea for lung problems,

including tuberculosis. It is also cleansing to the blood, though pregnant

women should avoid it. Beech bark tea makes a good wash for poison ivy.

Beech leaves are used in poultices for burns and for frostbite.


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Birch: Birch trees have thin papery bark that peels easily -- so easily that

birds actually use it to build their nests. It can range in color from chalky

white and reddish brown to golden gray and yellow. The sweet birch {black

birch} and yellow birch both have a nice wintergreen flavor in their twigs

and bark. Birch leaf or twig tea is a laxative, and healing to mouth sores,

kidney and bladder sediments, and gout. The tea also helps rheumatic pains.

Make a strong decoction of the twigs, bark and leaves and add it to the

bath for relief of eczema, psoriasis, and other moist skin eruptions. Modern

medicine has recently confirmed that betulinic acid, formed in birch sap,

has anti-tumor properties that help fight cancer.

Cedar: The northern white cedar is an evergreen with a branched trunk,

conical shape, and flat scalelike leaves. It has reddish brown bark that

hangs in hairy shreds. Another name for the tree is Arborvitae, or "tree of

life," a name given to it by the French explorer Jacques Cartier after itsaved his crew from scurvy. A tea is made from the leaves and twigs, and

is very high in Vitamin C. Among the Algonquin it is considered a sacred

tree, and they will not perform a ceremony without it. Its branches are

used on the floor of sweat lodges, and it is dried and burned as an incense

because it harmonizes the emotions and put one in the proper state of mind

for prayer. The tea of the twigs and branches is simmered until the water

in the pot begins to turn brown. It is then used for fevers, rheumatic

complaints, chest colds and flu.

Elder: Elder trees are quite small. They have clusters of white flowers inspring and black or deep purple berries in fall. They thrive in damp, moist

areas. Elderberries are used to make preserves, pies, and wine. Taken as a

tea, either fresh or dried, the berries benefit the lungs and nourish the

blood. The young leaves of elder are used in salves and poultices for skin

healing. A root bark tea clears congestion, eases headaches, and is used in

poultices for mastitis. A tincture of the flowers lowers fever by promoting

perspiration. Elderflowers water is a traditional remedy for skin blemishes

and sunburn. Cold elderflower tea is placed on the eyes as a soothing

compress for inflammation. Elderflower oil makes a soothing balm for sore

nipples of nursing mothers.

Elm: Slippery elm is a medium-sized tree with grayish bark, usually found

near streams. Unlike the American elm its crown does not droop. It leaves

are also larger than the American elm's with coarsely toothed margins. The

inner bark of the slippery elm, which is sticky and fragrant when fresh, is

used medicinally. Slippery Elm bark is available in dried and powdered forms

from herbalists. It is made into paste with water and then applied as a

poultice to injuries of flesh and bone, on gunshot wounds, ulcers, tumors,

swellings, chilblains, and on the abdomen to draw fever out. Slippery elm isvery high in calcium, and a pudding or tea of the bark can be ingested to


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help speed bone healing. The powdered bark in water makes a jelly that

soothes bowel and urinary problems, sore throats, and diarrhoea. It makes

a perfect substitute milk for babies who are allergic to cow's milk. Try

adding a little lemon and honey for flavor.

Hawthorn: Hawthorn is a small, broad, round, and dense tree with thorns

and edible red fruits. The fall berries and spring new leaves and flowers

make a cardiac tonic that benefits virtually all heart conditions. Be aware,

however: prolonged used does cause the blood pressure to drop. Use it for

a few weeks and then take a week off to prevent a precipitous decrease in

blood pressure. Use caution when combining this herb with other heart

medications to prevent a sudden drop in blood pressure. For maximum

benefit eat fresh raw garlic as you undergo a hawthorn regime. {Garlic

provides extra cleansing of plaque in the blood vessels}.

Hazel: Is a small tree with small rounded nuts that grow two to four in a

cluster. Hazel twigs are traditionally used by dowsers to find hidden

sources of water. Hazel nuts are said to benefit the kidneys. Huron

herbalists used the bark in poultices for tumors and ulcers. The Iroquois

mixed the nut oil with bear's grease to make mosquito repellent. The

Chippewa used a decoction of hazel root, white oak root, chokecherry bark,

and the heartwood of ironwood for bleeding from the lungs.

Holly: Mountain Holly is a small tree with fine saw-toothed leaves and

large orange berries. The buds were twigs that were used by NativeAmercian herbalists in decoctions and as an external wash for ulcers,

herpetic eruptions, jaundice, fever and diarrhoea. The leaves alone were

used as beverage tea. English holly or European holly is a familiar evergreen

usually seen as decoration at Yuletide. It has spiny, elliptical leaves and

shiny red berries. The leaves can be used as a tea substitute and in

infusions for coughs, colds and flu. Be aware: the berries of all holly

varieties are strongly purgative.

Linden and Basswood: Linden is a large tree found in moist, rich soils near

other hardwoods. It has heart-shaped leaves with toothed margins. The

bark is dark gray, and its fruit is nutlike, downy, and pea-sized. It has

clusters of yellowish-white fragrant flowers in the spring. Basswood, or

American linden, is a close relative. Linden flower tea is a popular beverage

in Europe for nervous headaches and upset digestion, hysteria, nervous

vomiting, and heart palpitations. Linden flower tea can also be added to

baths to calm the nerves. Linden flower honey is prized for medicinal use.

Native American herbalists used the roots and bark of basswood for burns

and the flower tea for epilepsy, headache, spasm, spasmodic cough, and

general pain. The buds were eaten as famine food, and the bark waspounded and added to soups.


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Maple: Maples are large trees with deeply lobed, toothed leaves. The bark

of the younger tress is gray and smooth, on older trees it breaks into

ridges and fissures. Maples have winged seeds that hang in clusters of two.

The Ojibwa and the Cherokee made a decoction of the inner bark or red

maple to use as a wash for sore eyes. The leaves of striped maple, or

moosehead, were used to poultice sore breasts. A decoction of inner bark

of sugar maple was used for diarrhoea. The Penobscot used striped maple

bark in poultices for swollen limbs, and as a tea for kidney infections,

coughs, colds, and bronchitis. Young maple leaves can be made into massage

oil that will be soothing to sore muscles.

Oak: Oaks are large trees with lobed leaves and acorns topped by bowl-

shaped caps. The best oak for internal use is white oak, though all oaks are

valuable as external washes. The tannins in oak bark and leaves are helpful

in pulling the edges of a wound together and are antiseptic and antiviral.White oak bark tea is used for chronic diarrhoea, chronic mucus discharges,

and piles. It makes a nice gargle for sore throats and wash for skin

problems such as poison ivy, burn and wounds. The tea of the leaf of the

bark may be used by women as a douche for vaginitis. Use caution:

prolonged ingestion of oak is potentially harmful.

Pine: All pines are evergreens, with needles that grow in soft, flexible

clusters. Pine trees are revered worldwide as healing agents. Any pine, or

other evergreen such as spruce, larch, and cedar, will have antiseptic

properties useful as a wound wash. The most palatable pine for internal useis the white pine. Its needles and twigs are simmered into a tea that is rich

in Vitamin C. The tea is used for sore throats, coughs, and colds. Chinese

herbalists boil the knot of the wood because of the concentrated resins

found there. Pine baths aid kidney ailments, improve circulation, and are

relaxing to sore muscles. The aroma of pine is soothing to the nerves and

lungs. Pine tea makes a wonderful footbath.

Poplar: Poplars are distinguished by their drooping catkins and rounded

leaves with pointed tips. Balsam poplar was used by Native American

herbalists who scored the bark and applied the resinous gum to toothaches

and swellings. The sticky spring buds were gathered in May and used in

salves for skin problems, sprains, sore muscles, wounds, headaches, tumors,

eczema, bruises, gout, and on the chest for lung ailments and coughs. The

buds were decocted and used internally for phlegm, kidney and bladder

ailments, coughs, scurvy, and rheumatic pains. The root was combined with

the root of white poplar in a decoction to stop premature bleeding in

pregnancy. The warmed juice of white poplar was dropped into sore ears.

Poplar barks are high in salicin, making them useful in treating deep wounds,

gangrene, eczema, cancer, burns, and strong body odor. The inner bark of


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a young poplar tree is edible in the spring and can be simmered into a tea

for liver and kidney ailments.

Rowan, or Mountain Ash: The American mountain ash and the European

mountain ash have identical uses. The former has bunches of orange berries

that look like tiny apples, and the latter one has red ones. Both are small,

sturdy trees with compound leaves of nine to seventeen leaflets. Their

clusters of white flowers, composed of five petals each, appear in spring.

Rowan berries are bitter, astringent, and very high in Vitaman C. They

should be picked just after the first frost when their color has deepened.

The fresh juice of the berries is added to sore throat gargles, and jelly is

made from the berries will treat diarrhoea in adults and children. Rowan

berries are added to ales and cordials. In ancient Scotland, a syrup for

coughs and colds was made from rowan berries, apples, and honey.

Walnut: Walnut trees are tall and have compound, alternative leaflets.

Their spring flowers are drooping green catkins that mature into large,

round nuts covered in green, spongy husks that stain the hands brown when

cut open with a knife. Walnut husks are medicinally active. They are

antifungal and rich in manganese, a skin-healing agent. Gather them when

fresh, and rub directly onto ringworm. The tea of the hull may be used as

a douche for vaginitis. For stubborn old ulcers apply the dried, powdered

leaf, and then poultice with fresh green leaves. Do this for about twenty

days, daily. The leaf tea increases circulation, digestion, and energy. The

fresh bark may be applied to the temples for headache or to teeth torelieve pain. The dried and powdered bark, or pounded fresh bark, can be

applied to wounds to stop swelling and to hasten healing.

Willow: There are more than forty varieties of willow growing in the US.

They are water-loving trees, a good indicator species if youre looking for a

regular water source, either above or below ground. Willows have slender

flexible twigs and long, narrow, simple leaves. In early spring, willows bloom

with golden catkins that mature into small seed capsules in late summer. All

willow barks have salicylic acid, which is a natural form of aspirin. Willow

bark tea treats muscle pain and inflammation, diarrhoea, fever, arthritic

pain, and headache. Used externally it makes a wash for cuts, ulcers, and

poison ivy. Willow bark in teas and capsules is a sedative and eases

insomnia. It reduces the risk of heart disease and may delay cataract

formation.

Reference: 2002 Magickal Almanac

http://groups.msn.com/FullMoonParadise/articles.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=56167&LastModified=4675396343487139651
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Oak - Duir

Quercus

"Choose the Oak of the Sun"

-old Scottish rhyme

Mara Freeman 1996

Of all the trees in Britain and Ireland, the oak is considered king. Famed

for its endurance and longevity, even today it is synonymous with strength

and steadfastness in the popular mind. John Evelyn in his 'Sylva. Or a

Discourse of Forest-Trees", calls it the "pride and glory of the forest",

and in "The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries", Evans-Wenze proclaims that

"the oak is pre-eminently the holy tree of Europe. In the Classical world it

was regarded as the Tree of Life as its deep roots penetrate as deep into

the Underworld as its branches soar to the sky, and it was held sacred toZeus and Jupiter. In Scandinavia the oak was the tree of the Thunder-

God, Thor, as it was to his Finnish counterpart, Jumala.

Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon word, ac, but in Irish the word is

'daur', and in Welsh 'dar' or 'derw', probably cognate with the Greek,

'drus'. Same scholars consider this the origin of the term 'Druid", since

Druids have always been associated with sacred groves, and particularly oak

forests. Dense forests of oak once covered most of Northern Europe in

those days, so it is not surprising to find this tree held most sacred by

people who "live in oak forests, used oak timber for building, oak sticks forfuel, and oak acorns for food and fodder." (1) Combined with the Indo-

European root "wid": to know, "Druid" may have referred to those with

"knowledge of the oak," the "Wise Ones of the Oakwood". The Sanskrit

word, "Duir", gave rise both to the word for oak and the English word

"door", which suggests that this tree stands as an opening into greater

wisdom, perhaps an entryway into the otherworld itself.

We first learn about the oak as sacred to the Druids in the well-known

passage from the writings of Pliny, who lived in Gaul during the 1st century

CE. He writes that the Druids performed all their religious rites in oak-

groves, where they gathered mistletoe from the trees with a golden sickle.

Strabo also describes three Galatian tribes (Celts living in Asia Minor) as

holding their councils at a place called, "Drunemeton", the "oak grove

sanctuary". The 2nd century Maximus of Tyre, describes the Celts as

worshipping Zeus-- probably referring to the Romano-Celtic god of thunder,

Taranis- as a tall oak tree. Elsewhere we learn that the Druids of Gaul ate

acorns as a way of divining the future. Another Roman writer referred to

them as "Dryads" whom he defined as "those who delight in the oaks". (2)


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Early literature gives more evidence of the importance of the oak to pagan

Celts. A great oak was one of the five sacred trees brought to Ireland by

the strange being called Trefuilngid Tre-ochair who appeared suddenly at

Tara on the day Christ was crucified. An emissary from the otherworld, he

bore a branch on which were acorns, apples, nuts and berries which he

shook onto the ground. These wondrous fruits were planted into five

different parts of Ireland, and from them grew five great trees that

oversaw each province until they were blown down-- by the disapproving

winds of the Church?-- in the 7th century. Among these was the great Oak

of Mugna which stood in southern Kildare. This 'bile' or sacred tree was

celebrated in the Edinburgh Dinnsenchas as:

"Mughna's oak-tree without blemish

Whereon were mast and fruit,

Its top was as broad preciselyAs the great plain without"(3)

It was said to bear nine hundred bushels of acorns 3 times a year and red

apples besides, making its Otherworldly origins clear. The moment the last

acorn fell, the first blossom of the year appeared, reminding us of the

perpetual cycle of death and rebirth.

Another godlike personage bearing the insignia of the oak us described in

"The Feast of Bricrui" where three famous warriors including Cuchullain take

turns in guarding the dun of Curoi while he is away. Two of then fail, thenduring Cuchullain's watch, a gigantic warrior attacks the settlement who

hurls great branches of oak at Cuchullain. After a tremendous battle,

Cuchullain defeats him. Later, it becomes apparent that the assailant was

Curoi himself, whose other name is Mac Daire - Son of Oaktree. In the

course of the story, he also challenges Cuchullain to behead him and to be

beheaded himself in return. It is clear that this tale is a forerunner of the

mediaeval poem, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", and the symbolic

beheading of the Oak King links these tales with the well-known ritual

sacrifice of the old king in the oak-grove of the Nemi which forms the

argument of Frazier's "the Golden Bough".

The sacrifice at Nemi took place at Summer Solstice, which brings us to

the battle between the Oak King personifying the waxing year, and the

Holly King, who ruled the waning year. At Midsummer, as the year began its

turn towards the dark again, the Holly was victorious, but at Midwinter,

the Oak King defeated the forces of darkness once again, revealing himself

as a Vegetation God who must die each year so that Life can be renewed.

It is not surprising, then, that images of the Green Man carved in wood and

stone in mediaeval churches most frequently show oak leaves growing out ofhis ears and mouth.


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The Oaks connection with sacrifice is again echoed in the Welsh story,

"Math, son of Mathonwy". The hero Lleu is betrayed and killed, but after

his "death" he turns into an eagle and perches atop a magical oak tree on a

plain (the place where most sacred trees where situated), where he

suffered "nine-score hardships". Lleu's fate reminds us of the famous

sacrifice by Odin of "himself to himself" on the great ash-tree, Yggdrasil.

With this new facet of the oaks symbolism revealed, it is clear that the

oak's reputation as a tree of strength, abundance and endurance depends

on its yearly death and rebirth: unless we align ourselves with the great

cycle of Life "and" Death, there can be no true renewal in Springtime.

The oak held its place of honour in the British landscape long after its

veneration by the early Celts. John Evelyn told how one great oak was held

in such high esteem, that if a bastard was born within its ample shade,

neither mother nor child would incur the usual heavy censure of the churchor magistrate.

Country-people frequented the oak for its curative powers, which in some

places was considered so great that healing could occur simply by walking

around the tree and wishing the ailment to be carried off by the first bird

alighting on its branches. In Cornwall, a nail driven into an oak cured

toothache, while in Wales, rubbing the oak with the palm of your left hand

on Midsummer's Day kept you healthy all year. It gave a special virtue to

other plants that grew upon its trunk or branches, such as the mistletoe

and polypody fern. The herbalist Gerard said, "that which growth on thebodies of olde Okes is preferred before the rest: in steede of this most do

use that which is found under the Okes...." (4).

As we noted above, the oak is especially the tree of thunder gods in other

Northern cultures, and this tradition holds true in Britain also. In Anglo-

Saxon times, Thor was known as Thunor and groves of oak-trees were

dedicated to him in the south and east of England, the village of

Thundersley in Essex originally being one. Like the ash, it is said to "court

the lightning flash": lightning is popularly supposed to strike the oak more

than any other tree. Such trees often survived the blow and flourished

remarkably well, henceforth being known as "lightning oaks." People often

took pieces of these trees to put on their houses for good luck. In

shamanistic cultures, a person who survived being struck by lightning often

became a shaman, for the lightning bolt is seen worldwide as the sudden

spiritual illumination that rends the darkness with a terrifying and

irrevocable transforming force.

Under Christianity, large oaks often became designated as "Holy Oaks",

giving rise to place-names such as Holy Oakes in Leicestershire andCressage in Shropshire, originally Cristesache, or Christ's Oak. Many


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English towns today have areas called "Gospel Oak", harking back to the

time when an oak marked a parish boundary. Every spring at Rogation-tide,

parishioners would circle the boundaries in the ceremony known as 'bearing

the bounds" and assemble to hear the gospel read beneath the tree.

Oak-trees have always been regarded as great protectors and guardians of

the virtuous. When King Charles II was fleeing from Roundheads after the

battle at Worcester, he took refuge in the branches of a great oak, and

after his Restoration on May 29th, 1660, this day -also his birthday - was

henceforth celebrated as "Royal Oak Day", when loyal subjects wore oak-

apples, twigs and leaves in their buttonholes and caps, and decorated their

horses with garlands of oak. The immense popularity of this day points very

clearly to a pagan origin of this custom, probably connected with the rites

of May Day that in many places had been prohibited in the Puritan years

because of its sexual associations. As late as the beginning of the 20thcentury, a Herefordshire resident explained, "The 29th of May was our

real May Day in Bromyard. You'd see maypoles all the way down Sheep

Street decorated with oak boughs and flowers, and people dancing round

them, all wearing oak leaves." (5)

An oak was often the guardian tree of a family, as in the case of the

famous Oak of Errol in Scotland, which was bound up with the good fortune

of the Hay family. A nineteenth century descendant of the family described

how "It was believed that a sprig of the Mistletoe cut by a Hay on

Allhallowmas eve, with a new dirk, and after surrounding the tree threetimes sunwise and pronouncing a certain spell, was a sure charm against the

glamour or witchery, and an infallible guard in the day of battle. A spray,

gathered in the same manner, was placed in the cradle of infants, and

thought to defend them from being changed for elf-bairns by the Fairies.".

(6)

When the root of the oak decayed, then the Hay family would likewise

perish, as the old prophecy attributed to Thomas the Rhymer states:

When the mistletoe bats on Errol's aik,

And that aik stands best,

The Hays shall flourish, and their good grey hawk

Shall not flinch before the blast.

But when the root of the aik decays

And the mistletoe dwines on its withered breast

The grass shall grow on Errol's hearthstone,

And the corbie roup (croak) in the falcon's nest.(7)

Folklorist Ruth L. Tongue tells the Somerset folktale of an oak that helps a

girl escape a cruel king, by sending a bough crashing onto his head. Theking's men come to fell the tree, but meet with a sorry fate:


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Oh they rode in the wood, where the oaken tree stood

To cut down the tree, the oaken tree

Then the tree gave a groan and summoned his own,

For the trees closed about and they never got out

Of the wood, the wonderful wood.(8)

In another tale from the same source, "The Vixen and the Oakmen", the

oak-tree spirits hide a pursued vixen from hunters and hounds, for "they

guard all forest beasts." When the pursuers are gone, the "Oakmen" invite

the vixen to "Wipe your sore paws in our oaktree rainpool", which makes her

pads heal and her torn fur grow again.

In death, too, the powerful presence of the oak as a living being could be

felt: John Aubrey, writing in the 17th century reports: "When an oake is

falling, before it falls it gives a kind of shriekes or groanes that may beheard a mile off, as it were the genus of the oake lamenting. E. Wyld, Esq.

hath heard it severall times. " (9)

A famous mistletoe-bearing oak in Derbyshire had the reputation of being

semi-human as late as the 19th century. If its branches were severed, it

screamed and bled, and spoke with the voice of prophetic doom. Aubrey

also tells of an oak whose mistletoe was cut and sold to some London

apothecaries, all of whom met with horrible misfortunes thereafter: "One

fell Iamb shortly thereafter; soon after each of the others lost an eye,

and he that felled the tree though warned of these misfortunes of theother men, would, notwithstanding, adventure to do it, and shortly

afterwards broke his leg; as if the Hamadryads had resolved to take an

ample revenge for the injury done to their venerable and sacred oak. (10)

The avenging power of the oak was famous, particularly in Somerset where

until recently the oak was regarded with much respect as a tree of

formidable power. It was well-known that oaks resented being cut down, so

people studiously avoided going near a coppice which sprang from the stumps

of the felled trees. Ruth Tongue writes that in 1945 her chauffeur refused

to drive past a grove that had been felled in the Second World War. A

local story also told of Carming family that came to grief because of

disregarding the power of Oak: the Carmer and his oldest son were greedy

and cut down oaks in a nearby coppice, although they had plenty of wood of

their own. The story continues:

"Trees didn't say nothing - which was bad. If they do talk a bit you do get

a warning, but if they'm dead still there's summat bad a-brewing. And zo

t'was. Be danged if gurt oak didn 't drop a limb on can and timber and

farmer and eldest son. Killed they two stark dead outright, but when theyoungest came to rescue the dead the tree rustled fit to deafen he."


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The youngest son was spared because he was always respectful to trees,

being sure to ask the 'great oak by the gate' if he might go past when he

entered the forest, and after he inherited the farm, "trees never followed

'n nor closed about 'n, nor let drop branches." (11)

These days road protesters fight desperately to save these venerable Old

Ones from the bulldozers and other weapons of the war against the Living

Earth. I have a fantasy that, just as in C.S. Lewis's second Narnia

Chronicle, "Prince Caspian", one day the trees themselves will rise up and

march like a summer storm to put an end to those who would replace their

beauty and grandeur with concrete and tarmac. In which case, Oak will no

doubt be the formidable general leading the onslaught.

Foot notes:

1. Sir James Frazer. The Golden Bough 1911-162. Nora K. Chadwick, The Druids 1966

3. Whitley Stokes. The Edinburgh Dinnsenchas. Folk-Lore Col

4. Quoted in Grigson, Geoffrey. The Englishman's Flora. London: Phoenix

House, 1960.

5. Leather, Ella Mary. The Folk-lore of Herefordshire. Hereford: )akeman

& Carver, 1912

6. Porteous, Alexander. Forest Folk-lore, Mythology and Romance. New

York: Gordon Press, 1978

7. lbid.

8. Tongue, Ruth L. Forgotten Folk-tales of the English Counties. London:Routledge & Kegan Paul,1970

9. Quoted in Grigson, ibid.

10. Ibid.

11. Tongue, Ruth L. Somerset Folklore. London: The Folk-lore Society,1965

Mara Freeman 1996

http://druidry.org/obod/trees/oak.html


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Hazel - Coll

Corylus"I went out to the hazelwood,

Because a fire was in my head,"W. B. Yeats

Mara Freeman June 1996

The hazel might be said to be the quintessential Celtic tree because of its

legendary position at the heart of the Otherworld. Here, nine magic hazel-

trees hang over the well of Wisdom and drop their purple nuts into the

water. In some accounts, the hazel-nuts cause bubbles of "mystic

inspiration" to form on the surface of the streams that flow down from the

well; in others, the Salmon of Knowledge and Inspiration eat the nuts and

send the husks floating downstream. Those that eat the nuts (or thesalmon) gain poetic and mantic powers.

Many early Irish tales describe poets and seers as "gaining nuts of

Wisdom", which is most likely a metaphor for such heightened states of

consciousness, although the more literally-minded have argued that this

expression could refer to a potent brew made from hazels that hod

psychotropic effects. As to this theory, there are numerous references to

drinking "hazelmead" in early Irish literature, and many references to

Scottish druids eating hazel-nuts to gain prophetic powers.

The hazel's association with wisdom extends to other cultures of the

ancient world. In Norse mythology it was known as the Tree of Knowledge

and was sacred to Thor, and the Romans held it sacred to Mercury, who,

especially in his Greek form, Hermes, was the personification of

intelligence. Hermes' magic rod may have been made from hazel. The

English word derives from the AngloSaxon haesl which originally signified a

baton of authority.

Hazel woods frequently figure in the sacred landscape. In Ireland, hazel is

coll, and the early triad of gods of the Tuatha D Danaan, MacCuill, (son

of Hazel), MacCecht (Son of the Plough) and MacGrine (Son of the Sun)

supposedly divided the island into three so that the country was said to be

under the plough, the Sun or the hazel, for "these were the things they put

above all other". Tara, the chief seat of the kingship in Ireland was built

near a hazel wood, and the great monastery of Clonord was established in

what must once have been a sacred pagan place known as The Wood of the

White Hazel: Ross-Finnchuill . In Scotland, a hazel grove was calltuin,

(modern Scots Gaelic calltainn) and various places called Calton are

associated with entrances to the Otherworld, one being the famous CaltonHill between Leith and Edinburgh, which was probably still being used for


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magical gatherings in the 17th century. There is even a legend that St.

Joseph of Arimathea built the original abbey of Glastonbury from hurdles of

hazel branches.

The hazel's connection with the Well of Wisdom is visibly recalled by the

tree's frequent presence at holy wells throughout Britain and Ireland,

where pilgrims still continue to festoon its branches with votive offerings in

the form of pieces of cloth. Moreover archeologists have found an early

Celtic shaft-well in Norfolk, England which contains offerings of alms,

placed in layers and embedded in hazel leaves and nuts.

In legend and folklore, the hazel, along with the apple and hawthorn, is a

tree often found at the border between the worlds where magical things

may happen. In the Scots ballad, Hind Etin, the title is the name of a

spirit who guards the hazels of a sacred tree. The May Margret goes tothe wood for nuts, and unwisely gathers his nuts:

She had na p'ud a nut, a nut, A nut but barely ane,

Till up started the Hynde Etin, Says Lady, let thae alone

In the north of England, the hazel-tree guardian was called "Melsh Dick"

and in Yorkshire "Chum-milk Peg". Ancient protectors of the unripe nuts.

As might be expected from their legendary reputation for bestowing

prophetic powers, hazels have been used for divination throughout thecenturies. Druidic wands were made from the wood, and it has always been

the preferred wood 6r water divining and dowsing.

Until quite recently young lovers roasted hazel-nuts over fires at

Hallowe'en, which was also known as "Nut-crack Night." The way they

burnt steadily together or flying apart - foretold course of their

relationship in the coming year. This custom is an example of the connection

between hazels and love, which is very ancient. An old Fenian story tells

how Maer, the wife of one Bersa of Berramain, fell in love with Finn and

tried to seduce him with hazel-nuts from the Well of Segais bound with

love charms. Finn refused to eat them, pronounced them "nuts of ignorance"

rather than nuts of knowledge and buried them a foot deep in the earth.

Country folklore has always linked the nuts with fertility. An old saw

proclaims that a girl who goes nutting on Sunday will meet the Devil and

have a baby before she can wed. This recalls the ballad of Hind Etin, in

which May Margret goes on to become the tree-guardian's wife and

eventually has seven children by him. In 19th century Devon, an old woman

traditionally greeted a new bride with a gift of hazels for fertility in thesame wary that rice or confetti is used today. ln English villages country-


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dwellers associate a prolific show of hazel catkins with the advent of lots of

babies, and as late as the 1950s, the saying, "Plenty of catkins, plenty of

prams" was taken quite seriously.

Hazel was also used widely throughout the centuries for protection against

evil. Finn bore a hazelwood shield that made him invincible in battle. No

harm could penetrate a hurdle fence of hazel around a house or a

breastband of the wood on a horse. A shipmaster wearing a cap into which

hazel had been woven was guaranteed to weather any storm. Cattle driven

through Beltaine and Midsummer bonfires had their backs singed with hazel

rods for protection against disease and the evil eye, and the scorched rods

were used to drive them the rest of the year. In the East of England,

cottagers gathered hazel boughs on Palm Sunday, and placed them in pots

of water around their windows as protection against thunder and lightening

- possibly a sign of Norse influence in that area, the hazels being usedhomeopathically against the bolts of the Thunder-god. A famous legend tells

how the seventh century Saint Mungo was unable to light monastery lamps

on a day when it was his duty to do so at cockcrow, because some

malevolent boys had put out the fire. He walked out of the monastery in

despair, but thought to pluck a hazel switch and when he returned to the

church with it, praying for heavenly aid, a fire sprang forth from the

branch

When evil became synonymous with witchcraft in the public mind, hazel was

widely used for protection against Witches. The Discoverie of Witchcraft(1584) recommends a hazel wand cut "upon the Sabbath daie before rising"

to use as a charm against witches and thieves. The 17th century writer

Thomas Pennant in his "Tours of Wales" described how in Merionethshire,

corpses were buried with hazel-rods to avert the power of witchcraft.

Hazel protected against disease and was a potent magical remedy besides.

ln Ireland, a hazel-nut in a pocket worded off rheumatism or lumbago which

was thought to be caused by "elfshot," and a double-nut prevented

toothache. In the legend of the early Celtic St. Melor, an abbot gathers

hazel-nuts and offers them to the saint. On receiving them, his artificial

hand becomes flesh and blood.

An old charm for curing an adder bite requires a piece of hazelwood in the

shape of a cross to be placed upon the wound, and the following lines

repeated:

"Underneath this hazelin mote,

There's a braggoty worm with a speckled throat,

Nine double is he,

Now from eight double to seven doubleAnd from seven double to six double


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and so on until:

And from one double to no double,

No double hath he"

The magical power of the hazel still lives today whenever a water-diviner

uses hazel-rods to dowse for water. As the rod bends to reveal the water

within the earth, it may be that it is also straining to reconnect with

ancestors, the nine sacred trees at the Well of Wisdom deep within the

memory of the land.

Mara Freeman June 1996

http://druidry.org/obod/trees/hazel.html


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genera, flexible and droopy, although not quite as sweeping as the Weeping

variety.

Her flowers are in the form of catkins 1-to-2 inches in length with yellow,

hairy scales at the end of short, leafy twigs. They appear in the early

Spring and all Willows are the vanguards of that season. The fruit matures

in late Spring to early Summer and is a half-inch long, hairless capsule,

light brown in color.

Being known as the first to arrive and the last to leave, seasonly-speaking,

the hazy yellow appearance is, along with the arrival of the Robin, the first

indication that Spring has arrived. The golden brilliance of the Willow in the

Autumn remains long after Her fellows have shed all their finery.

The notorious habitat of Willows, including the shrub varieties, is the wetsoil of stream banks and valleys near cities. Willow can be and is often

introduced in flat areas prone to flooding as a preventative measure and has

often been utilized to protect river banks from erosion. It is prized as a

shade Tree and for ornamentation due to its eloquent beauty and peaceful

appearance.

Her range is extensive over Europe and North Africa to Central Asia,

naturalized in Southeastern Canada and the Eastern United States.

Its wood, known as osier, and branches have had many historical uses andWillow has been a useful friend to us for centuries. Willow has a long and

rich history and Her uses are many, however, let us first examine Her

history in religious practices and Her relationship to the various deities

throughout time.

In Jerusalem, the worship of Jehovah, the Feast of Tabernacles, was

called the Day of the Willows. Willow branches were carried in

processionals, used to roof the small temporary shelters during the

festivities, the branches were later burned in the Temples.

In Sumer, 4000 BCE, Ishtars predecessor, Belili, was known as the Willow

Mother. In the ancient Greek mythos, Willow is sacred to several

Underworldly Goddesses - Persephone, Circe, Hera and Hecate. Also in

relation to this Tree are the Gods and Goddesses Artemis, Ceres, Mercury

and Belenos. Again in Greek history, the Great Bear, Callisto, was also

called Helice, meaning both that which turns and Willow branch. Helicon was

the mountain home of the Nine Muses who inspire the arts and sciences.

[It may be interesting to note here the connection between the word,Willow, and the terms Wicce, Witchcraft, and wicker. Willow has long been


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associated with Witches and there is also the association of wicker with

Druidry. Since Wicce actually means to bend it is not a far jump to make

the connection between the two.]

Orpheus, the poet, was said to have received his Gift by touching the

Willows in a grove sacred to Persephone. Groves have been used by many

types of artisans to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills and the gift of

prophecy. This Tree is held sacred, also, to Minerva and the ancient Great

Goddess whose bird, the Wryneck, nests only in the Willow. Cranes are also

known to nest here and a grove of Willows with nesting cranes is a symbol

of extremely happy domesticity.

The connotation of the letter S corresponds to the God, Semias, the

master of wisdom and the original keeper of the Cauldron of Knowledge kept

in Murias to the West. This Cauldron was then given to Dagda. The S is areference, too, to Setanta, the childhood, or pre-initiate name of Cu

Chulainn.

According to Druidic mysteries, two scarlet snake eggs were hidden within

the Willow. The Universe was hatched from these two eggs, one containing

the Sun, the other the Earth, relating to both cosmic birth and the birth

of mankind. Traditionally, in Spring rituals, these were replaced by hens

eggs, colored scarlet for the Sun and eaten at Beltane. This act

transferred later to the Christian celebration of Easter.

Primrose and Mistletoe are associated with Saille in connection to Druidic

practice. The Primrose was used in the initiation of the Bard; a draught of

Vervain and Primrose imbibed in order to confer inspiration. Oil of Primrose

was also used to cleanse and purify prior to ritual. Willow is also the more

common host for Mistletoe, with this plant found growing on Willow and

Poplar (a cousin) more often than on the traditional Oak.

The Celtic word Saille itself became the word sally, meaning a sudden

outburst of action, expression or emotion. This word may also suggest an

excursion or a jaunt as well as a retort but it can be used to describe a

more violent action by troops. It is also derived from the Old French word,

saille, meaning to rush out suddenly. These words all reflect the spirit of

undefined potential symbolized by the Willow.

Brigid has Her Fire festival, Imbolc, or Brigantia, during the Willow month.

Even the Seneca of North America seem to have had a lengthy relationship

with this Tree, calling Her, The Whispering One.


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Saille has further connection to the Death Goddesses for the Celts. Morgan

le Fay, Cailleach and the Morrighan are symbolized by Willow. These

Goddesses represent the darker and misunderstood components of the

psyche that require our greater understanding and recognition. The fearful

aspects of the Death Goddesses challenge wisdom and strength, helping to

overcome weaknesses brought about by fear. The transformational and

magickal aspects of the darker aspect of the triplicity - Maiden, Mother,

Crone - provide intuitive wisdom and insight into nature and its workings.

Funerary flints, shaped as Willow leaves, have been found in graves from

the Old Stone Age, demonstrating clearly that Willow has been a part of

our lives for a very, very long time. This Tree has been associated with

death, grief and cemeteries, the leaves themselves symbolizing unrequited

love or the loss of a lover. The leaf has also been worn as a charm to

protect against jealousy.

The uses of osier, are numerous. Willow has long been the predominant

Tree used in basketry, with many varieties being cultivated for the color of

the branches allowing for variety in the baskets themselves. In fact, this

Tree symbolizes handicrafters in general, due in part to its extensive use in

many fine pieces of furniture and baskets.

Many a wattle-and-daub wall contains Willow so it is functional as well as

beautiful. The wood has been used for cabinets, all types of furniture,

barrels and prized for cricket bats. (I knew I could fit in an allusion tobaseball if I tried hard enough!) Due to Her straight limbs, osier is favored

for fence posts.

The popularity of wicker furniture has once again increased and is found in

the home as well as in its traditional capacity as outdoor furniture.

Outdoors it resists water and weather damage as well, due to its watery

origins.

Among its many other uses are ornamental boxes, brooms, charcoal, doors,

fodder and fuel. Willow wood in the home is said to guard against evil and

grown outside will offer protection.

The Seneca, a North American indigenous tribe, has a loving bond with all

Trees, calling them The Standing People. They consider the Willow to be a

source of gentle humility, charm and grace adding elegance as She touches

Her fronds to the Mother Earth, sweeping away fear to nurture peace.

The long-standing uses of Willow in treatment are extensive and myriad.

When scraped, the inner bark - which peels away easily - contains salicylicacid, the active ingredient of aspirin. These scrapings were traditionally


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used to alleviate pain, lower fevers and as an astringent tonic. Throughout

the Isles, Willow was used to relieve rheumatic conditions and gout since

these conditions were widespread and common. Its powers were also used as

a diuretic, a gargle for sore throats and gums, an external wash for sores,

skin problems, wounds and burns.

White Willow was commonly used. Purple Willow has the same general

properties as White and may even be more effective in lowering fevers.

Black Willow has these same properties and can also be used as a sexual

sedative. The Black Willow has also been used to treat gonorrhea, to

relieve ovarian pain and to curb those old nagging nocturnal emissions. Goat,

or Sallow, Willow eases indigestion, whooping cough and catarrh and is used

as an antiseptic for disinfecting bandages.

All varieties of this Tree can be utilized as an eyewash, to clear skin and adecoction of leaves and bark, simmered, can be used to treat dandruff. All

can also be utilized to prevent recurring fevers and as a digestive tonic,

especially for dyspepsia.

If you are interested in using Willow in your herbal practice, the bark is

collected in the Spring. Soak one-to-three teaspoons in one cup of cold

water for two-to-five hours; then simmer lightly for twenty minutes. For

indigestion and as a tonic, take one cup per day, taken by teaspoonfuls. For

skin eruptions and similar complaints, such as bleeding gums and sore

throats, use a stronger solution. A poultice for gangrene and ulcers is madeby simmering the powdered bark in cream. You can also use many mediums

such as olive oil, almond oil and other natural bases in order to utilize this

as an astringent salve.

Willow can additionally be useful in cases of hysteria and nervousness and

as a Quinine substitute (although this is used only when Quinine is

unavailable). Willow can be used to loosen tightness in the chest produced

by pneumonia, whooping cough and other respiratory infections.

In the Bach Flower Remedies, Willow Flower Essence is used as a remedy

for bitterness and resentment. People who are stuck in a position of blaming

others (or circumstances) for their problems, who have an experience of

being a victim or being treated unfairly by life, would benefit from this

essence. (There are many books available on Bach Flower Remedies.)

Magickal uses are extensive. The Besom, the Witches Broom, is

traditionally made from three Trees. The stave is made from Ash, for

protection; Birch twigs are used for the broom itself to expel evil spirits.

The Besom is bound with Willow to honor Hecate.


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Willow branches are said to be the best for divining Water, channelling

Earth energy and to find lost objects.

Saille should be used whenever you wish to strengthen your dreaming Gifts

and to boost your ability to intuit your dreams and confer lucidity when in

the Dreamtime. Willow can confer seer-ship, often through night visions,

scrying ability (especially when using water for viewing) and to restore

balance to an individuals female/male energies. Shavings of the wood, pieces

of bark and whole leaves can be placed in a Dream Pillow or placed in a

small bag, either under your pillow or under the bed itself. This same

package can be used to assuage feelings of powerlessness, an unreasoned

fear of death and panic attacks, and to assist you in nurturing yourself

emotionally. It is suggested that Willow be used in the same way when

experiencing grief and to aid in this healing process.

Willow has been used in the Sacred Pipes and the tobacco blends of many

Native Americans because it is thought that it is most effective in carrying

messages to the Great Spirit. Willow is also planted by Sacred Wells so

that She can help to pull Earth energies into the Water and hold them

there for magickal draughts.

The leaves, bark and wood add energy to any healing magick. Willow bark,

when used in conjunction with sandalwood and during the Waning Moon, can

be most effective in contacting the spirits of ancestors and loved ones.

Although prayer cloths can be tied to any Tree, when asking for a nurturing

love or a release of grief, Willow will serve this purpose best. By the same

token, for a wish to be granted, ask permission of Willow, explaining your

desired goal. Select a pliable shoot or branch and tie it into a loose knot

while expressing your wish, leaving the branchlet on the Tree! When the

wish is fulfilled, return and untie the knot, remembering to thank your

Friend and leaving a Gift of gratitude.

A circlet can be woven of Willow to wear during any of the Spring

celebrations and Lunar rituals. Fresh flowers, or silk if you prefer, can be

inserted in this crown, ribbons be woven throughout the circlet.

Wands made from osier are very effective. First you must, as always, ask

the Tree for permission to cut! Often it is best to visit after a recent

storm to see if there are any fresh falls about. Even when picking up falls,

ask permission and leave a Gift. When cutting, tie the branch as close to

the body of the Tree as possible, massaging the life-force in the branch

back into the trunk. Tighten the tourniquet and then cut. Use wax or tar to

cauterize the cut.


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Peel the bark off of the branch. When fresh this is very easy. Save the

bark for future use in magick or healing or for decorating the wand. Carve,

cut or draw desired symbols while the wood is still fresh and moist. You can

attach stones or crystals to the tip or along the shaft and it is suggested

you use natural materials, such as leather, cotton, silk, linen or jewelry-

quality silver or gold wire. To prevent drying or cracking thoroughly oil the

wand during its curing period; use natural oils - cottonseed, linseed or virgin

olive oil. Dedicate to your use according to your purposes or desires. Roll

and store the wand in a natural fiber cloth - silk, cotton, linen - when not

in use.

In divination, when Saille comes up in a throw (or if you dream of Willow),

it reveals your feminine side which, when combined equally with male

energy, gives balance to life. There may be an indication to pay attention

to your feminine nature, showing a spiritual imbalance or conflict. This maybe the beginning of a period of unfoldment and growth of psychic or

clairvoyant powers and includes the gift of cunning which is, in actuality,

the skillful use of mental powers. There is an indication toward intuition,

imagination and, occasionally, self-deception. Usually the appearance of

Willow means the awakening of dormant abilities and heralds a time of

enchantment. New currents are flowing under the surface; you need the

flexibility to adapt to the coming changes. Remember that the loss of

intuition can create rigidity.

When She comes to you there may be unforeseen dangers to yourself orloved ones, coming in the form of lessons from a yet-unknown person,

probably a woman. The lesson might be difficult or unpleasant but will be of

great benefit and is typical of the Crone aspects of Saille.

It may be time to seek out the hidden forces in your life and the challenge

is the tendency to ignore the unconscious, the anima, forces and feelings

that may remain hidden. You may be asked to use your intuition, your

hunches, instead of logic in order to get a clear view of events.

Yes, Willow seems to be a favored Tree. Her appearance, Her graceful

elegance has always beckoned to us. She gives Her wood for our uses,

contributes medicine for our healing, sends us the Gifts of intuition and

knowledge and assists in the inner workings of magick.

It is true that a sense of friendship, love and joy can be experienced when

standing beneath the canopy of Saille. She speaks to us of a graceful love

with Her branches that sweep away our tears of grief. The entire structure

of this Tree is symbolic of a wellspring. The branches and leaves rise up

like a fountain, pulling up energy from deep within the Earth, bubbling upand over the sides. A casual and effortless peace spreads out from the


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