Wind, Water and Willows

According to the Celtic Tree Calendar we are now in the month of the Ash tree or ‘Nuinn’ as it is known in the Ogham. (Feb 18th – Mar 17th)

In Norse mythology the ‘World Tree’ Yggdrasil is said to be an Ash tree, it is also believed that the first man ‘Ask’ was formed from the Ash. Some sources say that the first woman ‘Embla’ was formed from a Rowan tree which is also commonly known as the ‘Mountain Ash’ due to the similarity of its leaves to those of true Ash trees.

“All Life is figured by them as a Tree. Igdrasil, the Ash-tree of Existence, has its roots deep down in the kingdoms of Hela or Death; its trunk reaches up heaven-high, spreads its boughs over the whole Universe: it is the Tree of Existence.

At the foot of it, in the Death-kingdom, sit Three _Nornas_,Fates,–the Past, Present, Future; watering its roots from the Sacred Well. Its “boughs,” with their buddings and disleafings?–events, things suffered, things done, catastrophes,–stretch through all lands and times. Is not every leaf of it a biography, every fibre there an act or word? Its boughs are Histories of Nations.

The rustle of it is the noise of Human Existence, onwards from of old. It grows there, the breath of Human Passion rustling through it;–or storm tost, the storm-wind howling through it like the voice of all the gods. It is Igdrasil, the Tree of Existence.”

~ Thomas Carlyle 1795-1881

But bringing us back into the world of the Celts, it is also St Patrick’s Day on the last day of this ‘lunar month’ and here we have a connection – it is said that Saint Patrick used a stick made of Ash wood to drive the snakes out of Ireland.  As there is no evidence to suggest that (post-glacial) Ireland has ever been home to any snakes, this legend most likely refers to him driving paganism out of Ireland – serpents representing the energy of the Goddess.   

Another legend tells us that the town of Aspatria (Ash Tree of Saint Patrick) in Cumbria acquired its name when the Saint, whilst preaching in the area, thrust his staff into the ground – as he always did – only this time his message took so long to get through to the people that the staff actually took root!

Here’s a snippet of folklore regarding the Ash from the late Henrietta Munro, Caithness author and historian …

 ‘If you have an ash in the garden and you want to cut it down, please ask its permission first – otherwise it will curse you. Never use ash twigs for your pea sticks as they will harm the plants and take all the good out of the soil. Ash makes splendid firewood – remember the old rhyme “ash new or ash old is fit for a queen with a crown of gold”.‘

http://www.caithness.org/history/articles/march90/folkloreplantsflower.htm

Wishing you ALL the VERY BEST for the coming month 😉

Kim X

Many apologies for being several days late with this – firstly having not been able to get online for almost a week due to my internet provider having issues with a broken undersea cable! .. and then losing half of the post when trying to save! Hopefully this will be ‘3rd time lucky’! 😉

Imbolc is the one of the old Celtic sun festivals (or cross-quarter days), marking the beginning of Spring and is usually celebrated on the 1st or 2nd February; falling midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

Revived in the 20th Century by the Neo-Pagan movement it is sometimes celebrated a few days later, when the sun is 15 degrees into Aquarius – this year that happened on the 4th – you can check the astronomical/astrological date on an online epheremis like this one on cafeastrology.com.

It is also known as Saint Brigid’s Day – which is most probably the Christianised festival of the Celtic Goddess Brigid or Bride. 

I could go on to write a lot more about Imbolc in general here but as there is already so much info on the internet already I would much rather talk about it in relation to Ogham and also some local lore ..

According to Robert Graves’ Celtic tree calendar we are now in the time of ‘Luis’ or Rowan (21st Jan – 17th Feb) – you can read a little about the Rowan under my section on ‘The Trees’.  The Old Gaelic word ‘Luis’ is thought to derive from either ‘luise ‘meaning ‘flame’ or ‘lus’ which is ‘herb’.
 

Looking at the ‘Word Oghams’ of the Scholar’s Primer – which is our original source for the meanings behind the Ogham letters – we have various interpretations:

From Morann Mac Mainn – a famous judge and poet …

Luis – Li sula, delight of eye, that is luis, quicken tree, l, to wit, the flame. (Also translated as the colour of vision by others)

From the famous warrior Cuchulain…

Luis – Luth Cethra I Leam, strength of cattle

From Oenghus – a god of love and poetic inspiration …

Luis – Cara ceathra, friend of cattle, elm. Cara, dear to the cattle is the elm for its bloom and for down. Hence it was put for the Ogham luis, quicken tree, l, for hence was quicken tree, l, put for it.


Connections to Imbolc and the Goddess(or Saint) Brigid can be seen in the above – flames and cattle with the celebratory heath fires, Brigid’s flame and her protection of cattle. 

According to the late author and local historian Henrietta Munro of Caithness …

‘You should always have a rowan tree in the garden – preferably near the gate to keep witches away; and farmers were always told to keep a cross made of rowan branches above the byre door so that witches could not take the freit from the milk.’
 

Some Folklore about Plants and Flowers 

 Image courtesy of Theresa Knott

These crosses are known as ‘Brigid’s Crosses’ and are said to derive from the pagan ‘sunwheel’ – they are traditionally made on 1st February and are believed to protect houses from fire and evil when hung up in the kitchen or above the front door.
 

So there’s just a few snippets for you – for more information I would recommend the following ..

Imbolc ~ Wikipedia

Celtic Ritual – Celtic Sacred Calendar

Imbolc ~ February Eve ..

The Brighid Oracle by Ceri Norman

Yes Spring IS finally in the air! 🙂

Kim x