Magical Trees #25 - 13th Nov 2024
Magical Trees - The druids can’t all be wrong!
Why are trees so magical? Why are so many people drawn to hugging trees, touching their bark or just spending time in the woods? These are all questions I’m going to address right now.
I love trees, they all have magical benefits, most have medicinal benefits and if nothing else they aid us to breath cleaner oxygen.
Trees have been used in magic since time immemorial due to their healing and protective qualities. They have been felled for as many years to provide us with more practical items too like tables and chairs, early hospital crutches, doors, baby cots, flooring and even early drinking cups. Wood is robust and hardwearing, so works well for the majority of natural uses.
Typically, old, mature trees produce more oxygen than younger trees. In fact, a mature oak tree can produce, on average of 100,000 litres of oxygen in a single year which equates to 274 litres of oxygen a day, that is half of all the oxygen an average human needs. It is believed that the Sandalwood tree produces the most amount of oxygen.
The Druids had their own sacred tree alphabet, used like the tarot, each symbol related to a specific tree and referred to as the Ogham.
The 7 Sacred Trees are believed to be the Oak, the Ash, the Yew, the Birch, the Elm, the Holly, and the Hazel. All providing something different to the human race.
Trees also provide medical benefits to us, they help to stabilise blood pressure, reduce stress levels, and induce a sense of calm in these stressful times we live in. People who spend more time among trees have less mental health issues too. White Willow bark is a pain killer and what Aspirin is made from. Forests provide a rich reserve of compounds that are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. Tree and plant extracts contain a variety of bioactive compounds that help with everything from managing pain to staunching bleeding, sterilizing wounds, strengthening our immune systems, soothing our nervous systems and lots more.
Even going back before the 13th Century and Nordic belief systems, the Ash tree was considered so magical that Yggdrasil the Ash, larger than any other known tree and contained the 9 Worlds.
Trees also have their own eco system, supporting mushrooms, producing apples, nuts and berries, guava and so many more products we eat.
Check out the Herbal Grimoire or buy my book “A witch with a difference” for the magical benefits of individual trees and check out my courses on magical Herbalism and Herbs for Health.