Sacred Trees

Many people around the world believe that certain trees hold special significance as a fuel for heat, cooking, building materials, and weaponry. In addition to this, many woods also provide a powerful spiritual presence. The specific trees very between cultures and geographical locations, but those believed to be "sacred" share certain traits. Unusual size, beauty, the wide range of materials they provide, unique physical characteristics, or simply the power the tree's spirit could grant it a certain place in folklore and mythology of a culture.

Trees are living things, filled with the essence and energy and of the Elements and Mother Earth with an aura of power which is visible to those who are in total balance and harmony. The lore which surrounds a particular tree of wood often reflects the power the old ones sensed and drew from their presence.

I will not be adding any health information on these trees. My reasoning is because I want to focus on the Magical and Spiritual aspects of them. If you would like the health information, please let me know and I will add it if enough people request it.

The Scents are based on the smell of the burning of each type of tree. If you know how something smells and I'm wrong, please let me know on the contact section of the home page.

Acacia

Folk Names: Cape Gum, Egyptian Thorn, Gum Arabic Tree, Kikwata, Mkwatia, Mgunga, and Mokala.
Scientific Name: Acacia Penninervis
Botanical Family: Fabaceae
Origins: Africa, Australia
Oil: The Gum
Scent:
Element: Air
Planet: Sun
Deity: Astarte, Diana, Horus, Neith, Osiris, and Ra.
Magic: Protection and Psychic Powers.

Acacia is used in spells related to protection and psychic power and the dried gum is used as a base for many incenses. Combine with sandalwood to make incense to aid in meditation and open Psychic Centers. The leaves may also be burned on charcoal to increase personal power.

Apple

Folk Names: Fruit of the Gods, Fruit of the Underworld, Silver Branch, The Silver Bough, and Tree of Love.
Scientific Name: Malus Domestica
Botanical Family: Rosaceae
Origins: Asia and Europe.
Oil: Flowers, Fruit, and Wood.
Scent: Fruity and Sweet.
Element: Water
Planet: Moon and Venus.
Deity: Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena, Dana, Dionysus, Flora, Freya, Hera, Idun, Nemesis, Olwen, Pomona, Venus, and Zeus.
Magic: Fertility, Garden Magic, Good Luck, Healing, Immortality, Love, Perpetual Youth, and Prosperity.

Use Apple branches to make wands ideally suited for emotional and love magick. The Apple branch will gain one admittance to the faery underworld. For healing, cut an Apple into three pieces, rub on the afflicted part of the body, and bury outside. Do this during the waning moon to banish illness. Apples can be used for poppets or the apple wood carved into a poppet. Powder dried seeds and bark to burn as incense. (Caution: more than a few apple seeds can be poisonous). Apples are associated with the dead and Samhain, which is often called the Feast of Apples.

Ash

Folk Names: Nion, Asktroed, Jasen Beli, and Freixo.
Scientific Name: Fraxinus Excelsior
Botanical Family: Oleaceae
Origins: Europe, New Zealand, and United States.
Oil: Leaves
Scent: Vinegar
Element: Fire
Planet: Moon, Neptune, Sun, and Venus.
Deity: Balder, Demeter, Gwydion, Mars, Neptune, Poseidon, Thor, Uranus, and Woden.
Magic: Health, Protection, Prosperity, and Sea Rituals.

A tree with protective qualities, it is used to make brooms for purification and wands for healing. The leaves placed beneath a pillow induce psychic dreams. The leaves bring luck and good fortune when carried in a pocket of bag worn around the neck.

Aspen

Folk Names: European Aspen, Poplar, and Quaking Aspen.
Scientific Name: Populus Tremuloides
Botanical Family: Salicaceae
Origins: North America
Oil:
Scent: Faint to Nothing
Element: Air
Planet: Mercury
Deity:
Magic: Anti-Theft, Eloquence, and Protection.

Place an Aspen leaf under your tongue if you wish to become eloquent. In some parts of America this tree was called Aspen and used magically as listed here, In other parts of America it was called Poplar and used in flying ointments for astral projection.

Bamboo

Folk Names: Common Bamboo, Ohe, and Kauayan-kiling.
Scientific Name: Bambusa Vulgaris
Botanical Family: Poaceae
Origins: Asia, Australia, Central America, Southeast Argentina, and Southeast United States.
Oil:
Scent: Faint Green Leaves
Element: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water.
Planet:
Deity: Hina, Sekhmet, and Thoth.
Magic: Good Fortune, Hex-Breaking, Luck, Protection, and Wishes.

Excellent for magick wands, representing all four elements. "Growing up from the earth through water, it passes through the sky as it reaches toward the fire of the Sun." Crush the wood to a powder and burn for protection -- or grow by the house for good fortune.

Beech

Folk Names: Bok, Boke, Buche, Buk, Buke, Faggio, Fagos, Faya, Haya, and Hetre.
Scientific Name: Fagus Syvatica
Botanical Family: Fagaceae
Origins: Asia, Europe, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:MildWoods Smell
Element: Air
Planet: Mars and Saturn.
Deity: Bragi, Diana, and Loki.
Magic: Wishes

Take a stick of Beech, scratch or carve your wishes onto it, bury it in the ground and leave it there. Your wish will come true if it is to be. Carry the wood or leaves to increase creative power.

Birch

Folk Names: Beithe, Bereza, Berke, Beth, Bouleau, and Lady of the Woods.
Scientific Name: Betula Pendula
Botanical Family: Betulaceae
Origins: Canada, Chine, Europe, Siberia, Southwest Asia, and United States.
Oil:
Scent: Subtle and Sweet
Element: Air and Water.
Planet: Moon, Pluto, Sun, and Venus.
Deity: Angus, Brigit, Cybele, Freye, Frigga, Gaia, Heimdell, Thor, and Venus.
Magic: Exorcism, Fertility, New Beginnings, Protection, Purification, Rebirth, Renewal, and The Goddess.

To ward off the evil eye, tie a red ribbon on the branch of one of these lovely trees. To exorcise people and animals by gently striking them with the twigs of this tree. The wood was once used to make cradles as the wood would protect the young one within as well as boughs hung over the child to keep them from being enchanted by the Little People. The branches were marked with ogham and carried for protection in small pouches as well as given to newlyweds for fertility. In Wales, the Birch is a tree of love, and wreaths are made out of the branches and twigs as tokens of love.

Broom (Poison)

Folk Names: Banal, Basam, Besom, Bisom, Bizzon, Breem, Broom Tops, Brum, Genista Green Broom, Irish Broom, Irish Tops, Link, Scotch Broom, and Hog Weed.
Scientific Name: Cytisus Scoparius
Botanical Family: Fabaceae
Origins: Europe, North Africa, and West Asia.
Oil:
Scent: Dirty Animal Cage
Element: Air
Planet: Mars, Mercury, and Moon.
Deity: Pan
Magic: Divination, Protection, Purification, and Wind Spells.

Makes an excellent ritual or handfasting broom. Use to create sacred space. Blooms bring good fortune and plenty. To raise the winds, throw broom into the air while invoking the spirits of the Air. To calm the winds, burn broom and bury the ashes. An infusion sprinkled throughout the house exorcises poltergeists.

Although it was once used in an infusion and drunk to increase psychic powers, this can be dangerous because it's poisonous. Instead carry it to help you rather then ingesting it.

Cedar

Folk Names: Ironwood and Kingwood.
Scientific Name: Cedrus
Botanical Family: Cupressaceae
Origins: Global
Oil:
Scent: Pencils
Element: Fire
Planet: Jupiter, Mercury, Moon, Neptune, and Sun.
Deity: Artemis, Gaia, and Rhainnon.
Magic: Healing, Longevity, Money, Prosperity, Protection, and Purification.

Chips from the wood of various types of aromatic cedars make an excellent incense with Sun properties and produce a warm but not hot smell, woodsy and soothing. Cedarwood smoke was inhaled by oracles prior to prophecy, works well for consecrating a wand, and plays a part in Midsummer celebrations. The smoke is also purifying and chases away bad dreams. This herb is also helpful for working on the ego or centering oneself and building self-esteem. Keep a piece in the wallet to draw money and in all money incenses. Add to love sachets and Burn for psychic powers.

Cypress

Folk Name: Tee of Death
Scientific Name: Cupressus
Botanical Family: Cupressaceae
Origins: Global
Oil:
Scent: Fresh, Pine-Like, Smokey, and Sweet Balsamic Undertones.
Element: Earth
Planet: Saturn and Venus.
Deity: Anubis, Aphrodite, Apollo, Ashtoreth, Artemis, Cupid, Cybele, Demeter, Diana, Gaia, Hades, Hebe, Hecate, Jupiter, Mithras, Persephone, Pluto, Thoth, and Zoroaster.
Magic: Comfort, Death, Healing, Longevity, Past-life Workings, and Protection.

Connected to death in all of its aspects. The smoke of Cypress can be used to consecrate ritual objects.

Dogwood

Folk Name: Boxwood, Budwood, Dogtree, Florida Dogwood, Flowering Cornel, Flowering Dogwood, Green Osier, and Virginia Dogwood.
Scientific Name: Cornus
Botanical Family: Cornaceae
Origins: China, Eurasia, Japan, and North America.
Oil:
Scent: Strong, but not altogether unpleasent.
Element:
Planet: Moon and Pluto.
Deity: Consus and Mars.
Magic: Protection and Wishes.

Keeps writings and meetings secret, therefore is an excellent herb for the Book of Shadows. An oil of the flowers is priceless in sealing letters and keeping unintended eyes from secret writings. Powdered flowers and dried bark may be used as incense. Place the sap of the dogwood onto a handkerchief on Midsummer Eve. This will grant any wish you have as long as you carry it faithfully. Dogwood leaves or wood can be placed in protective amulets.

Elder

Folk Names: Alhuren, Battree, Boure Tree, Eldrum, Ellhorn, Frau Holle, Hildemoer, Hylder, Lady Ellhorn, Old Gal, Old Lady, Pipe Tree, Rob Elder, Sureau, Sweet Elder, and Tree of Doom.
Scientific Name: Sambucus
Botanical Family: Adoxaceae
Origins: Global
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Water
Planet: Pluto, Saturn, and Venus.
Deity: The Cailleach, The Dagda, Freya, Frigga, Holda, Loki, and Venus.
Magic: Exorcism, Healing, Prosperity, Protection, and Sleep.

This plant represents regeneration because of how quickly it grows from any part that is planted and because Elder is the thirteenth month of the Celtic tree calendar. As the month of death and rebirth, it has three days: Past, Present, and Future. Amongst northern Europeans, who have cultivated it since the Stone Age, cutting a branch from this shrub was thought to offend the Elder Mother (for the Norse, Freya) who lived inside it. Branches are widely used for wands. One must always be cautious to ask permission from the Elder Dryad before cutting or harvesting Elder limbs or leaves and berries to avoid very bad luck. It is also considered very bad luck to burn Elder wood. The leaves hung around the doors and windows will ward off evil.

Elm

Folk Names: Elven, English Elm, and European Elm.
Scientific Name: Ulmus Campestris
Botanical Family: Ulmaceae
Origins: Australia, Central Asia, Europe, Indonesia, Middle East, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Water
Planet: Mercury, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and Venus.
Deity: The Cailleach, Freya, Hoenin, Lodr, Loki, and Odin.
Magic: Love and Protection.

Once known as "Elven" due to its popularity among Elves, Elm is now used to protect against lightning strikes, as well as to attract love when carried.

Fir

Folk Names: Unknown
Scientific Name:
Botanical Family: Pinaceae
Origins: Global
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Earth and Spirit
Planet: Jupiter, Moon, and Neptune.
Deity: Artemis, Cybele, Diana, Dionysus (Silver Fir) and Idun.
Magic: Immortality

Most Fir species can be used interchangeably for magical uses, and they all produce resin. Fir needles can be used as incense to help lift a negative atmosphere. If smoke is not appropriate, try simmering them. The essential oil can be used as well. They symbolize immortality, taking the long view and seeing situations clearly. Fir resin can be used to “seal” a spell, or as a fixative for any magical craft. Needles of silver fir may be burned for ceremonies to bless mother and baby. Or wet them and use them to sprinkle water over mother and baby (most birthing centers do not take kindly to burning things in their rooms). Use Fir trees and Fir boughs to decorate for your Midwinter Holidays.

Hawthorn

Folk Names: Bread and Cheese Tree, Gaxels, Hagthorn, Halves, Haw, Hazels, Huath, Ladies' Meat, Mayblossom, and May Bush.
Scientific Name: Crataegus
Botanical Family: Rosaceae
Origins: Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Fire
Planet: Mars and Pluto.
Deity: Ares, Belenus, Cardea, Danu, Flora, Hathor, Hymen, Idun, Liber, Libra, Maia, Mars, and White Goddess.
Magic: Chastity, Cleansing, Faeries, Fertility, Fishing Magic, Happiness, Love, and Protection.

Hawthorn is a sacred tree in many Pagan religions. The blossoms, called May Flowers, are used in spring celebrations. The May Pole is traditionally made of hawthorn or decorated with hawthorn flowers. As the tree is sacred to fairies, one must ask permission before taking the blooms or sprigs and must certainly leave an offering when cutting down a whole tree. Used in protective sachets and amulets against evil influences. Promotes happiness in marriage or a relationship. It is bad luck to cut down a hawthorn. Burn the berries as incense when you need energy and change in life. The phrase “by Oak, Ash and Thorn” referred to Hawthorn (the Thorn part) used in blessing and ritual. These three trees were considered portals to the realm of the fae.

Hazel

Folk Names: Coll
Scientific Name: Corylus
Botanical Family: Betulaceae
Origins: Global
Oil: Nuts
Scent:
Element: Air
Planet: Mercury and Sun.
Deity: Artemis, The Cailleach, Diana, Hecate, Janus, Mercury, and Thor.
Magic: Anti-Lightning, Divination, Fertility, Luck, Protection, Reconciliation, Strength, Wisdom, and Wishes.

According to lore, Hawthorn is one of the nine traditional woods burned in the Balefire by the Druids at Beltane, burned for wisdom. Known in ancient times as the “Tree of Wisdom”. Hazel wood is excellent for an all-purpose wand. Forked branches can be used for divining. Sprigs of Hazel can be carried for good luck; they are especially powerful if bound together by red and gold thread. Hazel is sacred to the Fey. A wand made of the wood can be used to call the Fey. Hazel can be used as dowsing rods to find ley lines. Forked branches can be used to find water or buried treasure. Twigs, nuts and branches should be gathered after sunset on Samhain for that is when the magical power of the tree is at its peak. However, you mustn’t cut Hazel with a knife, but a flint.

Hickory

Folk Names: Bitter Peca, Mockernut, Pignut, and Shagbark Hickory.
Scientific Name: Carya
Botanical Family: Juglandaceae
Origins: China, India, Indochina, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:
Element:
Planet:
Deity:
Magic: Legal Matters.

Burn a piece of Hickory root to ashes. Mix with cinquefoil and place this mixture in a box. Hang over the door to ensure that you don't have trouble with the law.

Holly

Folk Names: Aquifolius, Bat's Wings, Christ's Thorn, Holy Tree, Holm Chaste, Hulm, Hulver Bush, and Tinne.
Scientific Name: Ilex Aquifolium
Botanical Family: Aquifolaceae
Origins: Europe, North America, and South America.
Source of Plants Oil: Berries and Leaves.
Scent Description: Very Sweet
Element: Fire
Planet: Mars
Associated Deity: Athena, The Holly King, Saturn, and Zeus.
Magical Attributes: Anti-Lightning, Dream Magic, Luck, Protection, Re-birth, Sacrifice, and Truth.

One of the best protective herbs. The wood of the Holly is very well suited for the handle of the ritual knife as it both attracts and repels energies. It is powerful when defense is needed in circle while preserving the gentleness within it. Holly water is sprinkled on newborn babies to protect them. Carried by men, it promotes luck. (Ivy is the corresponding plant of luck for women). Decorate the house with it at Yule for good luck. Planted around the home for protection against evil. The leaves and berries can be carried by a man to heighten his masculinity, virility and to attract a lover.

Juniper

Folk Names: Enebro, Gemeiner, Wachholder, Geneva, Gin Berry, Ginepro, and Gin Plant.
Scientific Name: Juniperus Communes
Botanical Family: Cupressaceae
Origins: Asia, Europe, and North America.
Oil: Berries and Leaves
Scent: Evergreen and Sweet.
Element: Fire
Planet: Jupiter, Saturn, Sun, and Venus.
Deity: Apollo, Ashera, Astarte, Badb, Cybele, Hel, Horned God, Loke, Odin, Sol Invictus, and Tyr.
Magic: Anti-Theft, Divination, Exorcism, Health, Love, and Protection.

Juniper is mentioned as a suitable incense for ritual offerings and ingredients for sacred fires in a variety of European, Mediterranean, and Native American sources. The leaves may be bundled, burned and used as a purifying and protective fumigant to ward off any unpleasantness, including disease and sanctify an object or space. Juniper is also a relatively common ingredient in Kyphi (Kapet), incense used in ancient Egyptian temples and households. Jupiter may also be burned during divination. Protection against accidents, harm and theft. The berries are used to attract lovers once dried and worn as a charm. They can also be used as Smudge bundles. I've done this myself and found it works great.

Maple

Folk Names: Unknown
Scientific Name: Acer
Botanical Family: Sapindaceae
Origins: Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Air, Fire, and Water.
Planet: Jupiter and Moon.
Deity:
Magic: Divination, Longevity, Love, and Money.

Maple is excellent for wands, staffs, and maypoles. Maple is useful in moon magic and in spells related to travel, learning and decision-making, especially in matters related to bringing about or dealing with change. Maple is also useful for spiritual healing. Maple syrup may be used in Kitchen Witchery for love spells and spiritual healing, i.e. soothing the psyche.

Mistletoe

Folk Names: All Heal, Birdlime, Devil's Fuge, Donnerbesen, European Mistletoe, Golden Bough, Holy Wood, Lignam Sanctae Crucis, Misseltoe, Thunderbesem, Witches Broom, and Wood of the Cross.
Scientific Name: Phoradendron Leacarpum
Botanical Family: Viscaceae
Origins: Europe and North America.
Oil:
Scent Description: None
Element: Air
Planet: Sun
Associated Deity: Apollo, Balder, Freya, Frigga, Jupiter, Odin, and Venus.
Magical Attributes: Exorcism,, Fertility, Health, Hunting, Love, and Protection.

Mistletoe is associated with both Yule and Midsummer festivals. Use in spells to attract love, for protection, for luck while hunting, for forgiveness and reconciliation, to increase sexual potency in men and to help conceive. It can be burned to banish unwanted spirits, laid across the threshold of the bedroom to banish unpleasant dreams, hung in the home to attract love and drive away negative influence and carried as a general protective amulet. Mistletoe is toxic. While you’d have to eat a lot of it to kill yourself with it, pets and small children are at a great risk. Mistletoe berries should never be taken internally.

Oak

Folk Names: Duir, Jove's Nuts, Juglans, and White Oak.
Scientific Name: Quercus
Botanical Family: Fagaceae
Origins: Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Earth and Fire.
Planet: Mars, Moon, Jupiter, and Sun.
Deity: Athena, Artemis, Aine, Brigit, Cybele, Dagda, Danu, Demeter, Dianus, Erota, Flora, Frigga, Hecate, Heme, Hephaestus, Hera, Horned God, Janus, Jupiter, Mars, Njord, Orcua, Pan, Rhea, Thor, Vulcan, and Zeus.
Magic: Fertility, Finances, Healing, Health, Longevity, Luck, Money, Peace, Potency, Protection, Strength, and The God.

The Oak is a sacred tree in many cultures. A Witch will often seek out a grove of Oak to perform rites. It has always been considered unlucky to cut down an oak. After getting permission from the tree's Dryad, burn oak leaves for purification of ritual spaces. Oak is often used for all-purpose wands and they imbue great power. The acorns have been carried to increase fertility in women and to increase sexual appeal by men, preserve youth and to banish illness. Hang Oak over windows and doors to protect your house from evil spirits.

Olive

Folk Names: Itm, Mitan, and Olivier.
Scientific Name: Olea Europaea
Botanical Family: Oleaceae
Origins: Australia, China, India, Mediterranean, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, and United States.
Oil: Fruit
Scent:
Element: Fire
Planet: Sun
Deity: Athena, Horus, Minerva, Pan, and Zeus.
Magic: Fertility, Fidelity, Fruitfulness, Healing, Lust, Peace, Potency, Protection, and Security.

Draw a pentagram in olive oil on an item you would like to protect. Wear olive leaves to bring good luck. Hang branches over the door to prevent lightning strikes and keep evil from entering, or place the leaves in a bag or add them to a wreath and hang on the door or the chimney for the same purpose Steep olive leaves in rainwater and asperge your house after you’ve cleaned and blessed it, or stash leaves in the corners of a room to keep a peaceful household and prevent or bring an end to family arguments. Wear a wreath of olive leaves to ensure female fertility. Eat olives to ensure male fertility and potency. Use olive leaves to decorate an altar in honor of a God or honored ancestor. Olive oil is an excellent base for any oil blends and anointing oils.

Pine

Folk Names: Fairy Tree and Giuthas.
Scientific Name: Pinus
Botanical Family: Pinaceae
Origins:
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Air
Planet: Jupiter, Mars, Pluto, and Saturn.
Deity: Astorte, Attus, Bacchus, The Cailleach, Cybele, Diana, Dionysus, Gaia, Hephaestus, Pan, Rhiannon, Saturn, Sylvanus, and Venus.
Magic: Attunement to Nature, Centering, Cleansing, Exorcism, Fertility, Fortune, Healing, Money, Productivity, Prosperity, Protection, and Purification.

Pine buds prepared by decoction act as an expectorant and antiseptic. This same mixture can be used for inhalation for head colds, although it is easier to toss some needles in hot water. Green cones and needles can be added to bath water to ease muscle pains and swelling. For magic, pine is best suited for its aromatic qualities of bringing one back into balance, and enhancing connection with the natural world.

Rowan

Folk Name: Delight of the Eye, Mountain Ash, Quickbane, Ran Tree, Roden-Quicken, Roden-Quicken-Royan, Roynetree, Sorb Apple, Thor's Helper, Whitty, Wicken-Tree, Wiggin, Wiggy, Wiky, Wild Ash, Witchbane, Witchen, and Witchwood.
Scientific Name: Sorbus Acuparia
Botanical Family:
Origins: Asia, Europe, Mediteranean, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Fire
Planet: Moon, Pluto, Saturn, and Sun.
Deity: Badb, Danu, Diana, Luna, and Thor.
Magic: Good Luck, Healing, Magic, Power, Protection, Psychic Powers, Strength, and Success.

Rowan wood, carried, increases psychic powers, and the branches are often used in fashioning dowsing rods and magical wands. Add the leaves and berries to divination incense as well as those designed to increase psychic powers. Carrying Rowan berries (or the bark) aids in recuperation, and they are added to healing and health sachets, and luck sachets. For centuries Rowan has been used for protection purposes in Europe. 2 twigs tied together with red thread to make a cross is an age-old protective amulet. Cornish peasants carried these in their pockets, and Scottish Highlanders inserted them into the lining of their clothes. Walking sticks made of Rowan are excellent tools for people who roams woods and fields.

Sycamore

Folk Names: Buttonball and Buttonwood.
Scientific Name: Platanus Occidentails
Botanical Family: Platanaceae
Origins: North America
Oil:
Scent:
Element:
Planet: Venus
Deity: Aengus, Hathor, Isis, and Nut.
Magic: Emotional issues and Trauma.

Okay, so sadly there's a lack of magical or herbal traditional uses for Sycamore pretty much everywhere you look. I personally blame the fact that the tree's wood is very heavy and quite hard, making it very difficult to work with in small delicate uses. It's much easier to use in constructing boxes, furniture, musical instruments, barrels, large canoes, and so on.

Walnut

Folk Names: Carys, Caucasian Walnut, English Walnut, Tree of Evil, and Walnoot.
Scientific Name: Juglans
Botanical Family: Juglandaceae
Origins: China, Iran, Mexico, Turkey, Ukraine, and United States.
Oil: Nuts
Scent:
Element: Earth and Fire.
Planet: Jupiter, Mercury, and Sun.
Deity: Artemis, Diana, Dionysus, Jupiter, Thor, and Zeus.
Magic: Divination Healing, Health, Infertility, Mental Powers, Oracle, Protection, and Wishes.

Walnut wood makes wonderful wands and staves for those who use their wand or staff for weather working, abundance, insight, healing, focus, wealth, creativity and motivation. Walnut wood also makes exceptional and beautiful rune stones and spirit boards. Ink made from walnuts (black walnut produces the darkest color) is wonderful for writing spells on paper and for writing in one’s Book of Shadows and for darkening magical tools made from wood. To make a wish/grow an intention, break open and English Walnut and take out the meats and eat them. Write your intention as a positive statement on a very small piece of paper. Fold it and tuck it into your Walnut shell, close the shell and use glue or wax to seal it. Bury it outside to "grow" your intention. Say it out loud as you plant it.

Willow

Folk Names: Osier, Pussy Willow, Saille, Salicyne Willow, Sauugh Tree, Tree of Enchantment, White Willow, Witches' Aspirin, Withe, and Withy.
Scientific Name: Salix
Botanical Family: Salicaceae
Origins: Asia, Europe, and North America.
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Water
Planet: Moon and Neptune.
Deity: Artemis, Belili, Belinus, Brigit, Ceres, Hecate, Hel, Hera, Idun, Luna, Mercury, Neptune, Osiris, Persephone, Poseidon, Thoth, and Vesta.
Magic: Enchantment, Healing, Love, Love Divination, Moon Magic, Protection, and The Underworld.

Willow leaves are carried or used in mixtures to attract love, and the wood is used to fashion magical wands dedicated to Moon Magic. If you wish to know if you will ever be married in the new year, on New Year's Eve throw your shoe or boot into a willow tree. If it doesn't catch and stay in the branches the first time, you have 8 more tries. If you succeed in trapping your shoe in the tree, you will be wed within 12 months. All parts of the Willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose. Knock on a Willow to avert evil ("knock on wood"). The leaves, bark, and wood are utilized in healing spells.

Witch Hazel

Folk Names: Snapping Hazelnut, Spotted Alder, and Winterbloom.
Scientific Name: Hamamelis Virginiea
Botanical Family: Hamamelidaceae
Origins: North America
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Fire
Planet: Moon, Saturn, and Sun.
Deity: The Cailleach
Magic: Chastity, Healing the Heart, and Protection.

Witch Hazel is an American native, thus it did not enter into our European-based magical system until relatively late in the game. Couple this with the fact that Wytch Elm (Scots Elm) was often referred to as Witch Hazel in Europe and we might have some problems with accurate information. That being said, I will do my best. Witch hazel branches can be used for dowsing. The energy of witch hazel resonates with the planet Saturn. It can be burned or made into an herbal elixir to banish unwanted emotions and to remove hexes, dis-ease, and general negativity.

Yew (Poison)

Folk Names: Euair and Iubhair.
Scientific Name: Taxus
Botanical Family: Taxaceae
Origins: Global
Oil:
Scent:
Element: Water
Planet: Jupiter, Moon, Pluto, and Saturn.
Deity: Aine, The Cailleach, Cybele, Hecate, Hel, Loki, Morgana, Nephthys, and Odin.
Magic: Altered State of Consciousness and Raising the Dead.

Yew is a faerie plant and one of those plants that has a long association with witches. Yew is associated with death and rebirth and is appropriate for funeral wreaths and memorial plantings. Likewise, it is appropriate for decorating for Yule, as the winter solstice represents the cusp between the seasons of life and death. Although the practice is not recommended, yew may be burned during spells to raise the dead. Their spirits will be trapped within the smoke until you release them. Yew is associated with divination, astral travel, anything that relates to communication or travel between realms. The wood is also very attractive in form and coloring. This makes it especially useful for making runes, Ogham sticks, frames for scrying mirrors, talking boards and other divination tools. Don't use for goblets or any dishes that will be eaten from. People have died from drinking wine stored in Yew barrels!