Rambling about Oak trees

You can read my blog about Childhood Memories of being with an Oak Tree, and Rambling in the New forest here

Pine - Pinus sylvestris - Alim in Celtic Ogham

Scots Pine Rannock Forest 

Scotch Pine is one of National Emblems of Scotland which is the only place that it occurs from native seed. It formed nearly all the trees of the Caledonian Forest which once covered most of the Scottish Highlands. In England and Wales there are  archaeological records showing the Scots Pine grew there until about the 16th century. In Ireland this tree became extinct  and as result there is very little about it in Irish folklore. The only reference I have seen is that Fionn Mac Chal  had a secret  pine forest where he and his band of warriors would recuperated hunt and relax.

The exploitation of this tree  for timber, for fire wood,  the overgrazing by sheep deer the deliberate clearance to deter wolves and the dispossessed  Scots all contributed to the decline of Caledonian Forest which once covered much of the Scottish Highlands. Today only 1% of this ancient forest remains but there are plans to restore some areas with trees grown from the seeds of native ancient pines only from Scotland.

Near Aviemore Abernethy Forest, in the Cairngorm mountain, is the largest native Scots pine wood in Britain. It is National reserve which also includes a river, lochs and moor land.  I have walked in this forest in Scotland many times.  Here the Scots Pine is known in Clarsach Nan Craobh  - The Harp of Trees. When the wind blows through the pine needles and branches  it  creates  a very magical sound, and it is a magical place full of  the smell of the pine resin  fresh and invigorating  mingles with the  sweet smell of the heather.   In the heat of summer the sound of the pine cones exploding to release their seeds is quite startling. The wild life is in the forest is wonderful I have seen in forest crested tits, crossbills, red squirrels and deer.

Loch Garten, in the middle of the reserve, is famous for its ospreys. They nest nearby and can be clearly seen from the Osprey Centre.  To see these birds flying overhead is an awe inspiring experience. The parents can be seen feeding the chicks in the nest via the live video pictures relayed back to the centre, The Capercaillie woodland grouse is another bird that can be seen from the centre. These are endangered birds and  have shrunk from over  20,000 in Scotland in the 70s until it is now estimated that there is only 2000 left in the wild.  During April to May the Centre has early morning spring lek Caper-watch . The display of lekking by these birds is well worth the early morning wake up call.  The RSPB  manage the site so that people from hides can see these iconic birds without disturbing their mating rituals.

The Black Woods of Rannoch Forest near Pittlockery is full of native trees including the doughty oak, aspen, birch and hazel. There's a stand of ancient Scots pine, with their reddish trunks, near Airigh nan Cuileag where if you are lucky you may see three red animals - deer, squirrel and pine marten. The Pine martin hunts red squirrels through the tree tops.  The forest is jointly managed by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Heritage, and contains important communities of species characteristic of old pine woods, particularly lichens, fungi and a number of rare ferns, horsetails and club mosses.

Walking in the stand of ancient Scots pine you can imagine how the forest would have in when it was the haunt of cattle raiders and outlaws,rebels and the dispossessed from the clearances in Scotland. It is so different from the serried ranks of pine grown for commercial use which have caused so many people to despise  this beautiful life giving tree.

Pine - Alim in the Ogham  is contrasted with Oak in the Ogham Calendar both symbolising the Irish God of the air Lugh.  One is evergreen and represents the new born sun at the Winter Solstice and Oak represents the mature sun at midsummer.  To draw the few of the pine encourages you to put the past behind you to look ahead and plan for new beginnings.  It is a time for optimism and to look on the bright side of life. The Pine burns with a fragrant bright white flame.  Its flame it is believed in Scottish folklore will drive out ghosts and malicious spirits from a home or a heart.

It is now near the end of season of the year which begins with the burning of Yule  log  - traditionally Pine. The pine tree has become central to modern Christmas celebrations. The Scots Pine has now been replaced in popularity by the Norway spruce as a tree in the home at for Christmas.   I prefer the Scots pine in its natural habitat  amongst the fauna and flora it  supports.  

With Reiki Blessings
Wishing you a Happy New Year

Merryb

Yew Celtic Tree Lore - Ioho in the ogham

The tree of the Ovate in Druidry is the Yew.  At Kingley Vale, in  Hampshire, the yews are one the oldest living things in Britain. In  fact the yew trees at Kingley Vale are probably on slightly younger than the  ancient yew tree in a church yard  in Fortingall, Scotland which is said to 5000 years old.   it was a custom  for Druids to plant a groves of yews.  Sited at the foot of Kingley Vale the yew grove is sculpted by time and harsh winter storms. From the central trunk yew branches tower 60 feet or more  skywards and then bend down to the earth.  Where the branch touches it roots and from it springs a new yew tree, but still attached to the parent branch. Even from the empty heartwood of these ancient yew grows a younger yew.  It hard to distinguish which is the original tree. Yew is know as the everlasting tree.

The yew grove at Kingley Vale and the yews planted along the path to the top of Bow Hill  mark a ceremonial route to a series of bell and bowl barrows also known as The King's  Graves,  Walking into the grove of  yews there is a real feeling of awe  and sense of the sacred similar to walking into a cathedral but these trees pre-date Christianity. The yews and Kings Grave date to the bronze age. It is said that the ghost of dead warriors haunt the hill.  The yew is the longest lived most mysterious and sacred trees. Only ivy will  grow in the shade of the yew tree as it is toxic except for the flesh  of the  berries but the black pip are highly poisonous.

The yew is the 20th tree of the Ogham and is know known by the Celtic name Ioho  it is a chieftain tree shown the same respect as the oak.  The yews' energy  represents, death, rebirth and transformation in the never ending cycle of life.   It also provides access to the ancestors. Sometimes tribal chiefs were  buried under a yew to combine  with the dryad of the tree so that the his  wisdom would still be accessible to the tribe.  The Celts believed the yew groves marks the entrance to the otherworld.   This is where those journeying to the meet the ancestors may enter the otherworld.  Yew groves also provide sanctuary and healing and in the present time its bark from the yew may be the source  of healing for some cancers.

With Reiki Blessings

MerryB

Willow

Today was sunny and mild and I had a tranquil morning cutting my willow whips which form a fedge* along one edge of my allotment.  Some of the stems were eight or nine foot high (3 metres) and had  grown straight skyward others have branched out at ground level, some at chest high.  The willow  is unusual  in that cuttings can be placed in the ground even upside down and they will grow. The colours of the new growth are a beautiful fresh yellow, green or lovely copper brown and the buds are swelling ready to burst into flower and leaf. 



honey bee on a willow flower

The willows catkins appear early in spring before the leaves buds begin to unfold.  The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract the bees as they rouse from winter hibernation. On a sunny days the buzz of hungry bees create a lovely harmony as they begin collecting pollen to prepare for new broods of grubs.  It is one of the reason I planted willow whips.

I love the gentle buzzing of bees in the spring and summer and the glimpse of their bright stripped bottoms as the forage deep inside a flower.  Some species of these beautiful creatures are threatened by extinction including one of the most charming  the bumble bees.

http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/

The willow has many medicinal properties.The Ovates of the Druids in ancient times knew willow as a healer of great power. Even today Its bark is a source of salycic acid, which is the main ingredient in aspirin. A cup of willow-bark tea helps ease pain, fever, rheumatism.  An infusion of the leaves can be used as a digestive tonic and treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery. By making a split in the bark "water" gathered from flowering willows is:

 "good for dimness of sight or films that grow over the eyes."

Culpeppers' Herbal

Another reason for choosing to plant willows is because of the use willow in magic mystery. Through the ages Druids have used willow wands in rituals and ceremonies.  Willows can facilitate meditation and is thought to bring a sense of deep connection with the divine.  It is believed that Willow will assist clairvoyance, intuition, and journeying.   I like the idea that you  can tell you secrets to willow and it will keep them safe.

 

www.rspb.org.uk

My willow is Salix Viminalis.  I planted two rows  in January 2010.  The whips are very beautiful full of movement.  In the breeze they create a delightful whispering and rustling.  They are always full of insects and birds.  My hope is that this summer I will see a willow warbler perched on one of the whips. 

My living fence has beauty, mystery and is wonderful habitat for many varied  insects and birds.  In the week  of Imbolc,or Candlemas the herald of spring  and hope what better way to spend time than working with and thinking about willow.

*fedge is a living fence

With blessing 

The Merry Rambler

Holly Folk Lore & Ogham

This is the season when I begin to decorate my house with evergreens ready for the winter solstice and Christmas. I have just cut myrtle and bay and filled a lovely handmade bowl with it. Next week I will add holly to it. This year the holly trees are full of berries not apparently a sign of the harsh winter to come but the sign of a good summer before the winter starts.


I love walking at Selbourne amongst the beech trees and often growing in the shade cast by these large stately trees are holly bushes. Holly can grow into an eighty foot tree or grow in hedgerow as it will tolerate shade. Holly is an evergreen  but is not self fertile and  both male and female trees are needed to produce the berries.  The holly produces tiny white flowers in May.  In early summer the leaves are soft  do not have spikes but by the Autumn the leaves have hardened and become prickly, perhaps, to protect it from browsing animals. By November the female tree will have developed its red berries.


In the Celtic Ogham Holly is the 8th tree and is symbolic of the life force evergreen and fruitful. It is the warrior king, male and strong. The holly is also a gentle tree the female red berries are associated with compassion and unconditional love. Holly wood is white, dense and strong. It was used by theCelts for the shafts of spears and for chariot shafts. Smaller pieces of the wood were carved or cut for clubs walking sticks, wands bowls, inlay and woodcuts.  Holly will give direction and balance in spiritual or emotional turmoil or challenge. In Astrology it is placed at the cusp of Saturn and Mars and its raw energy will burn through deceit and injustice.

The holly tree was known as holm in pre-Christian England. This noble but gentle tree was planted near house and farms to repel poison, wild animal evil spirits and lightening strikes.  It was also a tree that was supposed to be hated by witches. This spiritual warrior protects the natural world and should always be treated with respect, woodsmen were wary of cutting down a holly as fairies would be annoyed if it was mistreated and would seek revenge on the perpetrator.  Beware how you dispose of holly brought in to the home over Christmas, it should be by buried. composted, or burnt!


There are many folk tales poems and stories about holly. In  one of the Fianna folk tales ,  Fionn Mac Chal tells his son Oscar that:

"No fleshy heart was ever in my breast, but a heart of the Holly spike,

all over clad with steel.

Niall Mac Coitir

Fionn Mac Chal was a brave and fearless Celtic warrior of the Fianna,  and eventually took over the leadership from Goll Mac Morna and transformed the Fianna into the legendary Warriors of Ireland. However, he was vunerable to the charms and magic of women.


 In the tale of The Hags at the cave of Keshcorran.  Three women sat in the cave knitting a yarn of holly on crooked holly needles. The women threaded the yarn across the cave entrance and all around the sides of the cave.  Fionn  comes across the hags and is taunted by them.  Angered by their slurs and jibes he strides into the cave to confront them, as he crosses the yarn his strength leaves him.  He is over powered by the women and tied and bound .  Warriors from the Fianna rush into the cave to rescue Fionn  but as they step across the threshold of the cave they also tumble down helpless and weak and at the mercy of the women.   Only the giant, one eyed, Goll Mac Morna is able to kill the hags in a ferocious battle and release the warriors from their magic holly ties.


Far away from this time of the legendary heroes of Ireland  holly is brought into houses at the winter Solstices and Christmas. It is used decorate our homes ready for the celebration of the returning of the light and the birth of Jesus.  By having Holly in the house natures spirits may rest there out of the cold winter weather and bring blessings to all within. You may even be lucky enough to see a Fairy dancing in the candlelight amongst the holly sprigs.

With Reiki blessings

Merry B

Holly Blue & Ivy, Gort in The Celtic Ogham

Ivy flowering in my garden
in December 2011

My garden is full of Ivy as until last week it  was heavily shaded by a 20 metre evergreen Pittosporum .  Ivy has grown up the fences  and  in the bottom third of the garden only Ivy flourishes on the East wall.  I loved its  glossy green leaves which are five lobed when young and as the Ivy matures and begins to flower the leaves change to a diamond shape.  The flowers grow in cluster and are green with yellow anthers and the fruits are black when they ripe inn early spring.  The fruit are loved by blackbirds, black capes and wood-pigeons. On sunny days in early spring the flowers  provides nectar for bumble bee  roused by the sun to come out of their warm nest.  It also harbours overwintering butterflies, moths, and spiders.   And in spring is a safe haven for the blackbirds to nest in and raise their young. 

In ancient hedgerow Ivy will clamber to the top of trees as it can grow up to thirty meters.  In one of the ancient woodlands I walk in the Ivy grows upwards and carpets the floor.  On the under side of the stems are  a thick mat of short roots, but it is not parasitic plant it is self supporting the red roots help it hold on  as it spirals to upwards.  In the Yew Grove at Kingley Vale ivy clambers amongst the yew where no other plant can tolerate the toxicity of the soil near yews.

Holly Blue RSPB

Ivy and holly are bond together in ancient lore the ivy is the feminine and and emblem of the battle over sovereignty of the woods with holly, which is held to be masculine. Their relationship is linked not merely by carols and lore but in nature the holly and the Ivy share the nurture of  the beautiful Holly Blue Butterfly.  This beautiful butterflies emerge in March and can by seen flitting and basking high up on shrubs and trees.  In Spring the female Holly Blue will lay her eggs under the buds of a Holly tree.  Here the caterpillars will emerge after a week and eat the leaves of the holly, they prefer the female tree's leaves but will munch on the male tree as well.  In Summer the female Holly Blue will lay her eggs on or under Ivy flower buds  The caterpillars will feed on the Ivy leaf  and flower buds for three to four weeks.   Then Holly blue will pupate on the wood stems of the Ivy and overwinter there until they emerge the following spring. 

Early Spring and all Summer long this beautiful butterfly flit around my garden feeding on aphids' honeydew and salts from muddy ground.  In spring it is hard to tell the male and female apart.  the female has slightly thicker black edging to top of their wings, however, in summer the females emerging are a deep blue almost purple shade.  The males do not change colour.  both sexes have the same pale blue  under wings.   Wherever Holly and Ivy grow you will find The Holly Blue Butterfly.  Unlike many butterflies the Holly Blue is not endangered and it can be found in many gardens, churchyards, parks and woods.



Ivy is named Edihean in Welsh and  means Ivy for beauty.  In the  Celtic Ogham it is know as Gort.   Ivy often grows in a spiral as goes upwards to the sky and this is seen as representing growth and rebirth, and the cycles of life.  Ivy even when cut back hard will regrow vigorously so to draw this few is guidance to be resolute in achieving a plan or task, or vigorous in the pursuit of an aim. It will also support the querent's spiritual journey   They Ivy has been seen as a plant of prophecy and is associated with the followers of  Bacchus And Dionysus.   But in the Celtic world, much closer to nature than we are,  could its reputation for helping  with prophecy be because of its important part in the life cycle of the Holly Blue Butterfly?   The colour of Ivy in the Celtic Ogham is gorm  - Sky blue -  the colour of the Holly Blue Butterfly.  Its  caterpillar after feeding  on the Ivy will change  into  a chryallis which clings to the woody stems for shelter from winters' chill and storms.   Finally in  early Spring it  transforms into a beautiful blue butterfly.  It is easy to believe it is a  magical messenger flying skywards taking messages to and from the otherworld.  

For the winter Solstice I will decorate the fire mantles with swathes of Ivy.  It will stay fresh for at least a week without water.  And  I will also decorate the Christmas table with Ivy twined with  flowering honey suckle .  The glossy evergreen leaves  of the Ivy and the fragrant flowers of the Honeysuckle are a reminder of the promise of  spring.

With Reiki blessing and light

to you all this Christmas

and a Happy New Year

Merry B

Pine - Pinus sylvestris - Alim in Celtic Ogham

Scots Pine Rannock Forest 

Scotch Pine is one of National Emblems of Scotland which is the only place that it occurs from native seed. It formed nearly all the trees of the Caledonian Forest which once covered most of the Scottish Highlands. In England and Wales there are  archaeological records showing the Scots Pine grew there until about the 16th century. In Ireland this tree became extinct  and as result there is very little about it in Irish folklore. The only reference I have seen is that Fionn Mac Chal  had a secret  pine forest where he and his band of warriors would recuperated hunt and relax.

The exploitation of this tree  for timber, for fire wood,  the overgrazing by sheep deer the deliberate clearance to deter wolves and the dispossessed  Scots all contributed to the decline of Caledonian Forest which once covered much of the Scottish Highlands. Today only 1% of this ancient forest remains but there are plans to restore some areas with trees grown from the seeds of native ancient pines only from Scotland.

Near Aviemore Abernethy Forest, in the Cairngorm mountain, is the largest native Scots pine wood in Britain. It is National reserve which also includes a river, lochs and moor land.  I have walked in this forest in Scotland many times.  Here the Scots Pine is known in Clarsach Nan Craobh  - The Harp of Trees. When the wind blows through the pine needles and branches  it  creates  a very magical sound, and it is a magical place full of  the smell of the pine resin  fresh and invigorating  mingles with the  sweet smell of the heather.   In the heat of summer the sound of the pine cones exploding to release their seeds is quite startling. The wild life is in the forest is wonderful I have seen in forest crested tits, crossbills, red squirrels and deer.

Loch Garten, in the middle of the reserve, is famous for its ospreys. They nest nearby and can be clearly seen from the Osprey Centre.  To see these birds flying overhead is an awe inspiring experience. The parents can be seen feeding the chicks in the nest via the live video pictures relayed back to the centre, The Capercaillie woodland grouse is another bird that can be seen from the centre. These are endangered birds and  have shrunk from over  20,000 in Scotland in the 70s until it is now estimated that there is only 2000 left in the wild.  During April to May the Centre has early morning spring lek Caper-watch . The display of lekking by these birds is well worth the early morning wake up call.  The RSPB  manage the site so that people from hides can see these iconic birds without disturbing their mating rituals.

The Black Woods of Rannoch Forest near Pittlockery is full of native trees including the doughty oak, aspen, birch and hazel. There's a stand of ancient Scots pine, with their reddish trunks, near Airigh nan Cuileag where if you are lucky you may see three red animals - deer, squirrel and pine marten. The Pine martin hunts red squirrels through the tree tops.  The forest is jointly managed by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Heritage, and contains important communities of species characteristic of old pine woods, particularly lichens, fungi and a number of rare ferns, horsetails and club mosses.

Walking in the stand of ancient Scots pine you can imagine how the forest would have in when it was the haunt of cattle raiders and outlaws,rebels and the dispossessed from the clearances in Scotland. It is so different from the serried ranks of pine grown for commercial use which have caused so many people to despise  this beautiful life giving tree.

Pine - Alim in the Ogham  is contrasted with Oak in the Ogham Calendar both symbolising the Irish God of the air Lugh.  One is evergreen and represents the new born sun at the Winter Solstice and Oak represents the mature sun at midsummer.  To draw the few of the pine encourages you to put the past behind you to look ahead and plan for new beginnings.  It is a time for optimism and to look on the bright side of life. The Pine burns with a fragrant bright white flame.  Its flame it is believed in Scottish folklore will drive out ghosts and malicious spirits from a home or a heart.

It is now near the end of season of the year which begins with the burning of Yule  log  - traditionally Pine. The pine tree has become central to modern Christmas celebrations. The Scots Pine has now been replaced in popularity by the Norway spruce as a tree in the home at for Christmas.   I prefer the Scots pine in its natural habitat  amongst the fauna and flora it  supports.  

With Reiki Blessings
Wishing you a Happy New Year

Merryb