Course Four: Rites 187
- b BETH (B) Birch
(Dec. 24-Jan. 20)
One of the earliest trees
to put out new leaves each year,
birch is a symbol of fertility and
new beginnings. Birch brings luck
when planted near the home.
Bundles of birch twigs are used
both for the exorcism of evil spirits
and for the brush of the besom, or
Witch’s broom. - l LUIS (L) Rowan
(Jan. 21-Feb. 17)
Rowan rules the festival of
Imbolg (Feb. 2), representing the
revitalization of the year. It is ex-
cellent for protection and magick.
Rowan is used for magick wands
and for the shaft of the besom. The
leaves and berries may be carried
to increase psychic powers or can
be added to divination incense. - n NION (N) Ash
(Feb. 18-March 17)
Sacred to Poseidon,
God of the Sea, ash is connected
with sea power, prosperity, knowl-
edge, and protection. Yggdrasil, the
Norse World-Tree, was an ash. Ash
leaves under a pillow bring pro-
phetic dreams. Ash burnt at Yule
brings prosperity. Ash is excellent
for besom shafts, healing wands,
and Wizard’s staffs. - FEARN f (F) Alder
(March 18-April 14)
Alder is associated with
water magick, strength, and resur-
rection from the dead. Ruling
Ostara (Spring Equinox), the spi-
ral pattern of the alder bud reflects
the spiral of rebirth. Alder is also
used to diagnose disease by divina-
tion. - s SAILLE
(S) Willow
- z ZTRAIF
(Z) Maple
(April 15-May 12)
Sacred to Hecate, goddess of the
crossroads, and ruled by the Moon,
willow is the tree of Death. When
carried, willow bark provides pro-
tection from nightmares and from
affliction, unfaithful love, and be-
trayal. Willow is used for magick
wands and in binding the brush
twigs to the besom.
Afterlife. Cutting one down was
considered so unlucky that the Tri-
ads of Ireland call for a living sacri-
fice in payment.- m MUIN (M) Vine
(Sept. 2-Sept. 29)
Associated with po-
etic inspiration, ecstasy,
and prophecy, the grapevine is sa-
cred to Dionysos (Bacchus). Some-
times, however, its wine brings on
divine madness, and the grape is
then associated with anger (as in
“the grapes of wrath”). Magickally,
the grapevine is used for fertility
and money spells. - g GORT (G) Ivy
(Sept. 30-Oct. 27)
Also sacred to Dionysos,
ivy is said to prevent drunkenness
and rules over the boar-hunting
month. Because it doesn’t change
throughout the seasons, ivy is as-
sociated with constancy in relation-
ships. Considered female, ivy some-
times represents fertility. Unlucky
inside a house, ivy is very lucky
outside and presages financial prob-
lems if it dies or falls away. - p NGETAL (NG) Reed
(Oct. 28-Nov. 24)
Reed (also known as cane
or feathergrass) is a
single worldwide spe-
cies. It becomes ready for cut-
ting in early November and so rules
the month of the Autumn storms,
particularly those that pound the
shore. Reed was an ancient symbol
of royalty in the Middle East. In
Ireland, reeds were used to thatch
houses; a home was not considered
established until the roof was on. - r RUIS (R) Elder
(Nov. 25-Dec. 22)
Ruling the 13th month
and the Winter Solstice, elder has
long been associated with both
Death and Magick. Irish Witches
rode elder rods as magick steeds. If
hung over doors and windows, el-
der keeps evil out; but if burned, it
invites evil spirits to come in.
2 PEITH (P) Intercalary; no tree
(Dec. 23) “Time outside of Time”Calendar of the Trees by Robert Graves
Offering sweet syrup, maple is
associated with love and money. Maple
wood is excellent for making magickal
jewelry boxes, hope chests, treasure
chests, cabinets, and altars.- h HUATH (H) Thorn
(May 13-June 9)
Hawthorne is the tree of
purification and chastity. Flowering
hawthorne is gathered on Beltaine (May
- to decorate front doors. It is unlucky
to cut down hawthorne bushes, as they
are sacred to the faeries. Faeries may
be seen wherever oak, ash, and thorne
grow together.
- d DUIR (D) Oak
(June 10-July 7)
Associated with most
thunder gods, oak symbolizes the name
principle. It is the tree of endurance
and triumph, and it makes an extremely
powerful healing amulet. Oaks were so
sacred to the Druids that it was con-
sidered an act of sacrilege to mutilate
them. Oak was often used for sacred
fires, such as Yule and Midsummer
bonfires. - t TINN (T) Holly
(July 8-Aug. 4)
Flowering in July, holly is
the tree that rules the wan-
ing half of the year. A masculine tree,
holly is associated with luck in money
as well as protection against lightning,
poison, and evil spirits. Holly leaves
are sometimes used for divination: The
number of berries indicates the sever-
ity of the Winter to come. - c COLL
(C) Hazel
- q QUIRT
(Q) Apple
(Aug. 5-Sept. 1)
Sacred to Hermes (Mercury), hazel is
the tree of Wisdom. Strings of hazel-
nuts bring luck and protection of the
faeries to a home. Forked hazel rods
are used for dowsing (divining) for hid-
den water, buried treasure, and crimi-
nals. Irish heralds carried white hazel
wands, symbolic of their office. Hazel
also makes an excellent magick wand.
Cultivated in Europe since Roman
times, apple is a particularly sacred tree
in mythology. It represents immortal-
ity, eternal youth, and happiness in the
Corrected pages PM.p65 9 3/25/2004, 2:27 PM