Beneath the Boughs - The Wisdom of Trees
Trees are such beautiful creatures, are they not? And wise too. If you listen with a wild ear, if you watch them with wild eyes, they will share their lessons with you.
Sounds awfully romantic, doesn’t it? But as lovely as it sounds, it is also true.
Take a moment to consider trees. Beings anchored to this earth, yet reaching skyward. They sustain us, sucking up the carbon dioxide, and giving us oxygen. They provide shade, shelter, food, homes. They provide us with so much.
I should have liked to have seen the world before man, the world dominated by ancient woodland, the wild woods.
I am an animist, and trees most definitely have spirits. If you spend time outside, you’d do well to spend at least some of it beneath a tree. Feel the roughness of the bark. Look closely and you’ll see markings and grooves that all allude to the tale of that particular tree. Watch as it changes throughout the year. Watch how the early summer sun makes the leaves shine a golden green, or how the wind rushes through the boughs. See the artistry of colour as the trees prepare to shed their leaves, hues of red, brown, green and orange. Notice the beauty and shape of the bare branches in winter.
If it is safe to do so, spend some time alone in meditation beneath a tree. Feel yourself reaching down into the ground and stretching up into the sky. Talk to the tree, sit in silence beneath it. These simple pleasures will not only enhance your magic, your connection to this earth, but will also go a long way in getting to know the spirit of the tree. My genius loci include tree spirits, perhaps yours will too.
Trees in Legend
If you’re not familiar with the tree of life, then I’m sure you have seen it’s image, of a tree with it’s branches reaching skyward, and the roots, spreading out below. This image is a symbol of interconnection of life, is symbolic of the hermetic law ‘as above, so below’.
The axis mundi is the universal world tree. For the Vikings,Yggdrasil was the tree that linked this realm to the upper and lower ones, a theme echoed throughout the history of man. In Haitian Vodou it is the poteau mitan.
The elder tree is a favourite of mine. The elder truly is the witches tree. The spirit of the elder tree is the elder mother, a figure known throughout Europe, and in Lincolnshire, close to my own home town, she is still referred to as ‘the Old Lady’. The Elder Mother is seen as something of a witch figure and said to bring bad luck should anyone cut the tree down.
Elder flowers in the spring, producing beautiful cascades of tiny white flowers. They smell divine, and make the best wine. I like to use the wine for ecstatic ritual, not to get drunk, but a little merry perhaps. I also like to leave it in offering, and of course, enjoy it for it’s beautifully floral taste. I’ll include the recipe at the end, and if you like wine, it’s definitely worth a try.
The silver birch is another tree that is linked to the witch. The ‘Silver Lady or ‘the White Lady of the Woods’ as she is known owing to her silver white bark, is a tree steeped in esoteric significance. It is linked to the moon and also linked to the tarot card The Star, perhaps because of her silver colour. In ancient times, brooms would be fashioned from twigs of birch and used at the new year to beat out the spirits of the past and welcome the new.
Oak is yet another tree steeped in folklore. We’re all familiar with the story of the oak king, and how he represents the light. He battles with the holly king, who represents the darker months. The oak is of particular importance in Druidry, whose rites were traditionally held in groves of oak. The tree symbolises strength and steadfastness. My own favourite legend of the mighty oak though, as a Notts lass, is the major oak in Sherwood forest, a twenty minute drive from my home. You may well know it as the home of Robin Hood. Whether you believe in the stories of the outlaw or not, the major oak is indeed real and a sight to behold, more enchanting than the myths that surround it.
The hazel tree is one I help people identify on the foraging walks I lead in my town as the nuts are delicious. It is also steeped in magickal lore too and is associated with wisdom. The Celtic story tells us that nine hazel trees grew around a sacred pool. Their nuts fell into the waters and were eaten by salmon who were then bestowed with wisdom. The story goes if you count the spots on a salmon, it tells how many nuts they ate.
There is elm, linked to the underworld in both Greek and Celtic lore, though the Celtic stories specifically link it to the fae. Rowan, otherwise known as mountain ash, is connected to the fae too and is said to protect from witchcraft. The yew is associated with death and is a common graveyard tree in the UK.
Every tree will have it’s own stories, myths and legends,and these tales can tell us about the uses of such trees. Discover what grows where you live and learn of their stories. But trees offer more than stories. They give us so much and food and drink are important gifts they bestow upon us.
Elderflower wine is easy to make. Simply collect the flowers, a bagful will give you plenty to make a demijohn of wine. Slowly simmer the flowers in a pan of water for an hour or so, and leave to cool. Alternatively, leave the flowers in the water overnight. I never really bother being too precise in my wine making! Strain the flowers from the liquid, then put the liquid on a low heat, slowly adding a kilo of sugar or honey, stirring until dissolved. Add another litre of water ( you’ll want a two or three litres of end product), pour into the demijohn, and add yeast (in a snatch I have used the yeast from my cupboard, though you can buy brewers yeast if you wish. In my own opinion, I couldn’t taste the difference between the two). You’ll want an airlock to allow the gases to escape, and leave until it has stopped bubbling. This can take weeks! When it has stopped fermenting, syphon the liquid into another container, and allow to settle for a day or two before bottling.
Wine can also be made from the elderberries in late summer and early autumn. Instead of the flowers, put the berries into a pan and only just cover with water, and heat gently. The idea is you want to extract as much of the juice as possible. Use a fork or spoon to press the berries as they are heating. All the other steps are virtually the same.
I also like to make an elixir with the elderberries. They are so full of nutrients, that elderberry elixir can be used to keep you healthy in the colder months. Extract the juice, and mix with the same amount of honey. Place in the fridge and take a tablespoon every morning to keep colds and coughs at bay.
Jellies and jams can be made from both hawthorn and rowan jellies, as can rosehips, not to mention the more obvious foodstuffs like fruit and nuts,that trees offer. Foraging can be a great way of connecting with nature, of forging links and building respect with the land and the spirits that reside there. Truly trees are such magickal things and as we find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, let the soothing balm of nature go some way to offering solace and comfort.
EMMA KATHRYN
My name is Emma Kathryn, my path is a mixture of traditional European witchcraft, vodou and obeah, a mixture representing my heritage. I live in the sticks with my family where I read tarot, practice witchcraft and drink copious amounts of coffee.
You can follow Emma on Facebook.