Willow: The Ogham Tree for February

 

The ancient Celts invented the first alphabet in Europe which is called the Ogham script.  Each letter is associated with a tree or an important plant.  The alphabet was used as a mnemonic device to encode knowledge, the Celtic song of the universe, Ceolta na Cruinne (Diana Beresford-Kroeger).  The thirteen months of the year (pre-Gregorian calendar) were each represented by a particular tree.  The new year began on Nov. 1^st with Birch, followed by Rowan in December and Alder in January.  The tree associated with February is Willow.  It was called Saille and it represented the letter S.

Saille    S

The willow that the Celts referred to was likely Goat Willow (Salix caprea) or Pussywillow.  Weeping Willows (Salix babylonica) are native to China but were brought to the UK in the 1730’s where it has become naturalized.  Weeping Willow has become naturalized all over the world.  The American Pussywillow (Salix discolor) is a North American variety and Grey willow (Salix cinerea) is native to Northern Europe.  “Willow is known by many folk names, such as ‘osier’, ‘pussy willow’, ‘saille’, ‘Sally’, ‘withy’, ‘witch’s aspirin’, and the ‘tree of enchantment’.” (Paterson, p. 265)  I think that, for our modern purposes you can imagine whichever species of Willow that you know and by whatever name you know it by.

Willow loves the water and is often found on riverbanks and lakeshores.  Alder is the king of the water and Willow the queen according to ancient Celtic wisdom.  Since Willow is water-seeking and the tides are governed by the moon, Willow represents the female and lunar rhythms of life.  In the Celtic world, women were property owners and both male and female energy was recognized equally. Willow’s association with water and the moon has been seen as a connection to intuition, imagination and clairvoyance and so harps were made of willow.  It is a mediator of liminal spaces and has a strong life force. Willows, water and the moon are connected with ancient gods and goddesses from many civilizations including ancient Israel.

Willow has large fibrous roots which will send up new shoots when branches are cut or break off.  Cuttings from willow will also root in water or in the earth and can be propagated that way.  Willows produce both male and female catkins but on different plants.  These catkins which we call “pussywillows” emerge before the leaves representing fertility while providing early pollen for the bees. Willow catkins are pollinated by insects and the wind.  The seeds are scattered by the wind in fluffs of cottony looking down.  The seeds need to land on moist ground where they can root quickly as they have no endosperm to provide stored food.

The Celts used Willow branches, called sally rods as a weaving material for baskets and donkey panniers to carry turf from the bogs.  Smaller branches were used for household brushes.  Hen baskets were woven from Willow in a loose weave which reduced feather mites but protected the eggs.

Wattle is a technique that goes back to Neolithic times.  It is the weaving of thin branches through upright stakes to construct baskets, fish traps, fences and house walls and one form of a Welsh coracle which was used on the Severn River.  Willow was often used for wattling.  Willow wood is also used for boxes, brooms, cricket bats, cradle boards, furniture, flutes, poles, sweat lodges, toys and many other things.

Willow was used for pain relief as it has salicylates in the bark and as a rose-tan dye for raw linen and wool. The bark contain 13% tannic acid and so it was used in tanning leather.

Willows are excellent at bio-filtration to remove pollutants including heavy metals from water.  They stabilize stream banks and lakeshores to prevent erosion, reclaim soil, provide a windbreak and a wildlife habitat.

“The energy of Willow assists in easing the difficult feelings that arise from periods of change and the sense of loss that often follows.” (Forest, p75)  Willow is the energy “to go forth, into the unknown, with greater confidence and trust in ourselves” (Kindred, p18).  It enhances the power of intuition and will allow emotions to come to the surface and move through grief to healing.  The Willow twig that roots easily when placed in the earth or in water teaches us that in every loss is a new capacity for growth. “Willow is recommended for use when seeking to understand ancient ways.” (Kindred, p19)  “It is thought that the origins of the saying ‘Knock on wood’ came from the age-old act of knocking on a willow tree to avert evil and bring good luck.” (Paterson, p.264)  Willow is the tree of boundaries and thus teaches us how to protect our own boundaries.

This is a compilation of information taken from the following sources:

Diana Beresford-Kroeger (2019) To Speak for the Trees. Random House: Canada.

Danu Forest (2014) Celtic Tree Magic: Ogham Lore and Druid Mysteries. Llewellyn Worldwide: Woodbury, Minnesota.

Glennie Kindred, (1997) The Tree Ogham. Glennie Kindred: UK.

Liz and Colin Murray (1988) The Celtic Tree Oracle. Connections Book Publishing: London, UK.

Jacqueline Memory Peterson (1996) Tree Wisdom: The definitive guidebook to the myth, folklore and healing power of Trees. Thorsons: London.

Elen Sentier (2014) Trees of the Goddess. Moon Books: Winchester, UK.