Trees

by Heidi Smith 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...

by Jean Maloof From Teaching the Trees: Lessons from the Forest by Joan Maloof ~ a beautifully written and beautifully produced book. Read the first chapter here, which is reprinted by the permission of the University of Georgia Press, then buy the book! For more information on the book visit...

by Maria Ede-Weaving 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.~ Hope Edelman ~ Motherless Daughters Along the roadside of the ornamental Rhinefield Drive in the...

by Steward of the Woods Druids love trees…right? For many of us, a deep spiritual connection to trees forms the basis for our Druid practice and the answer is yes, we love trees! During our training and spiritual practice, we seek trees and forests with which to make connection.One Saturday...

by Stephanie Adams It is no wonder why authors have written about forests being enchanted, bewitching, and magical. Natural herbs are rich and plentiful resources that both precede and supersede all forms of modern day medicines. Flowers are naturally beautiful forms of life that invoke, inspire, and often heal us....

by Claire Patterson Valente A few days ago Neu and I went out on one of our frequent visits to the forest that borders Prainha, it is such a tranquil place and at dawn or dusk the chorus of bird song is truly wonderful to experience. We were on the...

by Fiona Ware Furze – Onn Ulex Europaeus, Ulex Galli, Ulex Minor I am the blaze on every hill. After the bleakness of winter, furze clothes the hillsides and heaths with a welcome blanket of headily scented yellow flowers. It is one of the first flowering plants of the spring,...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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....

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...