As an American OBOD Ovate, I find the study of Ogham challenging, in part because some of the trees that are so important to me are missing. For the modern druid in a global world, the correspondences must resonate. Determined to add local tree heroes to my Ogham study, I went to my favorite forest…

So one spring morning when I awoke to a ‘true blue dream of a sky,’ I knew right away that this was the day I should visit the ‘leaping greenly spirit of trees’…

Nature often offers metaphors more elegant than any we can manufacture, and Muir Woods is no exception. Redwoods have evolved to turn disaster into opportunity. In these coastal forests, death produces life…

One Saturday in August 2013, a group of eight Druids gathered to visit the trees, not in a wild forest but in a local City Park. Why did we choose a park?

It is no wonder why authors have written about forests being enchanted, bewitching, and magical…

At this time of year there is one tree that shouts out its presence and if you are on a high point, looking down on the forest which stretches green to the horizon, pools of purple or pink blossom stand proud of the canopy: the Pau D’ Arco tree…

Furze is closely associated with the sun god Lugh, the Celtic god of light and genius and with the Spring Equinox, at which time it’s one of the only plants in full flower. However, folklore attaches it to festivals throughout the spring and summer months as a symbol of the power of the sun…

At every summer’s end, the Holly King fought and won a battle with the Oak King for the rulership of the year, and reigned supreme over the dark season…

by Janis Fry It was at the turn of the millennium, on Christmas Day 2002 to be precise, that the  Golden Bough, was discovered growing on an ancient Yew at Defynnog near Brecon in Wales. Several years later in 2017 it still grows on the same tree, like a flame growing larger and brighter with…

by Keith Slater 3 wonders of ancient woodland – Majesty, Mystery and Magic

The majesty of the trees soaring above your head. The mystery of the ageless secrets held.  The magic of a hidden world surrounded by city traffic.

Sheffield still has the reputation of a dirty industrial city. There is still industry, but no longer as…

by H. Catherine Watling You follow the path that winds through the ancient forest, or the marches and uplands beyond, in search of the tree whose wisdom you seek… Is it birch, guide to new beginnings? The faerie rowan? Or willow, tree of moontides and poets? Be silent and listen to the whisperings of aspen.…

2014 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Order. Many members are planting Groves to honour this special time. Here is one planted by James and Janet Howell at their home in Cambridge, New Zealand. To view an update and photos of James and Janet’s labour of love, please click on the link below…

by Allen Meredith  Ancient stories come to us from many parts of the world. We may never discover the origins of some of these stories, one of which tells us that Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden and from that moment on, the human race no longer had ‘dominion over all…

by Mara Freeman Yew – Ioho – TaxusPatriarch of Long-lasting Woods…. In early times, the darkly glorious yew-tree was probably the only evergreen tree in Britain. Both Druids with their belief in reincarnation, and later Christians with their teaching of the resurrection, regarded it as a natural emblem of everlasting life. Its capacity for great age…

by Winter Cymreas Willow – Saille – Salix I am a Hawk on a Cliff Willow is a decidedly aromatic Tree found most often near waterways throughout temperate regions, having quite a history and a long-standing relationship of usefulness – medicinal, magickal and otherwise – with us humans. Within the Ogham, Saille is the lunar month,…

by Siusaidh NicNeill Platanus Look through your list of Holy Trees, the Tree Alphabet or the Oracle – I bet you won’t find a Sycamore there. I always considered them to be weeds. They’d grow on the Moon given half the chance and have taken extremely well to cold acid soils of the North Highlands…

by Gwylim O. Davies Euonymous Europaeus(irish oir – welsh piswydden – ogham OI) The wood of the spindle tree is bright, colourful and was used to make spindles. With this in mind we can see why it came to embody creative inspiration, purification, initiation and blessings. The sister to europos is the arrow wood in…

by Winter Cymreus Rowan – Luis – Sorbus I am a Wide Flood across a Plain Rowan is the second Moon of the Celtic Year of thirteen Moons and is associated with the colours of red and grey and the letter ‘L’. It is the Moon of astral travel and vision, healing and empowerment. Its importance is…

by Susa M. Black Rowan – Luis – Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family)Botanical Name:(Sorbusaucuparia)Folk Names: Mountain Ash, Quicken Tree, Witch TreeGaelic: CaorannIrish :CaorthannCeltic Ogham: LuisOld Celtic: Kair DescriptionRowan is a small deciduous tree, found high up in the mountains; it is sometimes called ‘The Lady of the Mountain’ (Paterson). Although it prefers the heights, it can grow…

by Mara Freeman Oak – Duir – Quercus Choose the Oak of the Sun-old Scottish rhyme 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…

by Gwylim O.Davies English Ivy(Hedera Helix LINN.) The plant is found over the greater part of Europe and Northern and Central Asia, and is said to have been particularly abundant at Nyssa, the fabled home of Bacchus in his youth. There are many varieties, but only two accepted species, i.e. Hedera Helix and the Australian…

by Mara Freeman Hazel – Coll – Corylus I went out to the hazelwood,Because a fire was in my head.W. B. Yeats  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…

by Mara Freeman The Hawthorn – Huathe – Crataegus A hundred years I slept beneath a thornUntil the tree was root and branches of my thought,Until white petals blossomed in my crown. From The Traveller by Kathleen Raine The hawthorn, once known simply as ‘May’, is naturally enough the tree most associated with this month in…

by Mara Freeman Elder – Ruis – Sambucus The elder is a small but bountiful tree, covered with edible fragrant blossoms in summer and juicy purple berries in autumn which country people have used for centuries in jams, jellies, medicinal syrups and wine. Its hollow branches have proved useful for all manner of pipes and bellows;…