Birch (Beith) - Lady of the Woods

Birch (Beith) - Lady of the Woods

Birch (Beith) is the 1st tree of the ogham - celtic tree calendar, 24th December - 20th January - also known as the Lady of the Woods, and seen as a portal to the Otherworld. 

Ruling planet - Venus

Abilities - Healing.  New starts and beginnings.  Mysteries of the young Goddess. 

Deities - Frigga, Frya, Arianrhod, Eostre

Elements - Air and water

Medicinal properties - birch is good for treating skin conditions, and as an insect repellent.   It can be used to prevent stones in the kidneys and bladder.    The sap is a natural shampoo, and an infusion of young leaves is used for treating dysentery and urinary infections.  Birch bark is a is a diuretic, antiseptic and a tonic, it contains an anaesthetic which cause nerve endings to lose sensation, making it a great pain reliever.

Magical properties - It is the most fairy like of all our trees, especially when moonlit....and as it is white it was seen as pure, so birch was used to ward off evil spirits, banish fears and build courage.  It is also associated with beauty and tolerance.  A birch besom broom is traditionally used to brush out the old year, the morning after the Winter Solstice.  Babies baskets were often made out of birch, to keep evil spirits away from the helpless babes.  It is the traditional Yule log and Beltane fires were often started using birch twigs, it was also used as a living maypole.  In Wales it was customary for a man to give the woman he loved a garland made of birch, if she felt the same, she would give him a similar garland.

Moon - Waning Crescent 4%

Yoga - Tadasana, Surya Naramaskara,  Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana, Baddhakonasana & Matsyendrasana.

Card Message -Nine of Pentacles (sensation/the senses, body)
Receiving an unearned income. No longer needing to work for a living.  Luxuries, hobbies and pleasures.  You may be keen to succeed - both materially and spiritually.  Affirming your values.  Enjoying the benefits of a successful and full life on your own.  A productive, active and settled life, in which you are self assured and spiritually aware.

24th December - The celtic tree month of Beith begins/ Christmas Eve

Gratitude - Nature

The Tree Mother

What is a Tree Mother ?

 The “Tree Mothers” or “Mother Trees” are female tree spirits much older and wiser than their younger counterparts, and have become known as matriarchal trees with a plethora of important spiritual wisdom to offer those eager to learn.
Tree mothers can be extremely intense to work with, ranging from the emotion of motherly comfort to the challenge of spiritual development and growth. The specific knowledge gleaned from such a tree depends on the species and the age through which the tree has lived, which can often span many centuries.
Tree mothers tend to be found in very old or mature trees, often in an ancient wood, and sometimes even in groups. The aura and spirit of the tree will feel much older and wiser than other trees.

I found this rather interesting info on the link below

Read more at Suite101: What are Tree Spirits?: Working With the Faeries and Spirits Associated with Trees | Suite101.com http://louise-heyden.suite101.com/what-are-tree-spirits-a128026#ixzz1fsnOpV1z


The reason I have decided to blog about this tonight is that there is a huge Ash tree not far from where I live, which feels like it could be a Tree Mother.  Before it was lopped 2 years back, it stood nearly 30 metres and had an amazing spread, but because it was so close to houses it had to be made safe - thankfully now its growing back.

Its a beautiful tree and very striking, with a large slit like opening down the trunk, very much resembling a woman's vagina (another reason why it makes me think of a Tree Mother).

The ruling planet for the Ash tree is the sun, its a tree that links the inner and outer worlds, it is a tree of quick intellect, clarity and 'Aquarian Age' energy.  It stands supreme above all other trees, being 'The World Tree' a symbol of universality which spreads it limbs over every land and links humans, gods and the dead.  It it the tree that Odin hung himself from to receive great illumination in the form of runes, and so became known as Askr Yggdrasill, Odin's Magical Steed.  Odin's spear, Gungnir, was made from Ash, which he used to stir up trouble in the world. 
Ash is known for its speed over land and water, hence it was a favourite for making arrows.
Although Ash is ruled by the sun it still responds to the subtlety of the more feminine water element.  The Ash is an interpreter and aligner of energies and it is the 5th of the sacred trees of the Ogham.

I spent some time with this particular tree earlier in the year, when the surrounding bushes had died back enough that I could get close enough to touch.  I had a very simple visual from doing so.......
I started seeing green rings that were spinning and then spiraling.  They started from the centre of my vision, and moved in an outwards motion, to left and right.  This then formed the spiraling horns on a Ram's head.
According to the Druid Oracle cards the Ram is associated with an acheivement of a breakthrough, rootedness, stability and the ability to overcome and succeed.

This is now a very special tree for me and one that I will keep visiting.......always listening and learning   x

Moon - Waxing Gibbous 80%

Yoga - Sun Salutation, Warriors 1, 2 & 3, Hare, Pigeon & Child

Card Message - Three of Swords

Heartache, True Growth, Wisdom from Suffering

Suffering can lead to greater wisdom.  Heartache, out of which can come healing and emotional maturity.  The potential for true growth and transformation, we can learn and grow from conflicts and difficulties, rathre than feel victimized by them.

On This Day - Egyptian Day

Space 1995 Jupiter Galileo spacecraft
December 7th, 1995 : The unmanned Galileo spacecraft arrives at the planet Jupiter on it's mission to study the planet and its moons. It had been launched on October 18, 1989 6 years earlier by the Space Shuttle Atlantis.     

Blessed Guardians of the Forests

I have long been a fan of trees and the Oak has always had  a special place in my heart.  They grow fantastically big, their form takes on all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes.  They are home to many, many species and because of their size and longevity they play an important role in the forest ecosystem.  Their wood has been used for millenia for building timber framed houses, ships, furniture and wine casks.  Many of the oldest Oaks are pollarded trees, this was carried out to encourage large branches to grow for timber. There are over 400 species of Oak worldwide, though only 25 are native to Europe, they are mature trees at 75, but can live to 1000.  In short they are fantastic trees!!

Man has long recognised the importance of the Oak and has formed a certain relationship and reverance towards it. Oaks are known for there secondary spurt of new growth which happens in August, this growth is called 'Lammas growth', as it falls within the Celtic sabbat of Lammas.  It has featured in myths and legends, worshipped, had gods associated with it and been used as a source of power and magic.  The Druids associated it with the sky and thunder gods, and the goddesses of fire and fertility.  The Oak spirits and dryads are often seen as wisened old characters.

The Druids of old created a system to encode their wisdom - The Tree Ogham.  The Oak is the 7th tree in the ogham and its attributed with powers of inner strength, stamina, tenacity and is also seen as a doorway to inner spirituality.  It provides the strength to push through old layers of self belief and forward to new understandings and provides the support to keep going, even when its hard going.  Oak has long been used for healing too,  bruised Oak leaves can be applied to unbroken skin to ease inflammation, Oak bark, leaves and acorns make a  very good astringent tonic and a decoction of ground Oak bark or leaves makes an excellent foot bath for weary feet, it also helps them to find the right pathway in life.  If you sit with an Oak, place your hands on its trunk or stand barefoot on its roots you can tap into it's strength and healing power - I know I've tried.

There are many notable old Oaks around our countryside, many of which have become landmarks.
I met with an old Oak today in fact, it had the thickest trunk that I've ever seen, at least 5ft in diameter.  It was dead in some places and growing strong in others.  Strangely I had walked that way many times, but had not seen it before, even though it was not far from the path.  It was like meeting a sage, there was an air of knowledge and inner power all around.  Its not too difficult to grasp that concept when you think of the part they play within our world.


Blessed Guardians of the Forests

Moon - Waning Gibbous 81%

Yoga - Mountain, Cossack, Lunge, Cat, Tree, Extended Side Stretch, Forward Bend

Card Message - Insights, Strategy and Research