#aessina

Properties: Healing, rebirth, divination, magic, love, Otherworlds (the Dream, Ardenweald, etc), and G’hanir Deities: Mother Moon, Eonar, Aviana, Aessina, Ursol, Aliothe, Q’onzu Elements: Spirit, Decay Guardians: Moonkin, hippogryphs, harpies, owls, ravens, wisps

As many are told in their earliest druidic lessons the blossoms and fruit of the apple tree are also tied to some of the most powerful times of the Druidic and Elunarian year - Byltan and Samha, when dawn and twilight are at their most equal in spring and fall and veil between planes becomes thin. Because the apple blossoms bloom as Byltan approaches and produce their fruit in preparation of Samha, these trees hold great significance to the cycle itself and are often seen as representations of the cycle of generosity.

The apple tree serves as a Shan’do to us all, naturally teaching us lessons in the cycle of seasons and the balance between Spirit and Decay.  After the rest of winter Spirit and Life blooms and in time creates fruit. In turn if not consumed or pruned that fruit will fall to decay and rot. However, for those that do not see the world in cycles and balance they see the beautiful fruit becoming putrid and falling to the earth as a tragedy and waste of potential. As Doril we know that when the apple falls to decay it begins a new phase of life. One where it feeds the soil and insects below giving life to new trees or the apple tree itself. And so after the rest of winter does the cycle begin again. The apple tree is a reminder of this balance and cycle. Because of these lessons the Apple tree is closely associated with the cycle on a grander scale between the Dream and Ardenweald, a cycle that repeats in measurements of moments and eras. Interest and study in the realm of Ardenweald has only grown since the shattering of the veil and the blooming of Amirdrassil. During many moots and discussions of the cycle in Moonglade has the apple tree become a symbol for the lifecycle of Wild Gods, Loa, and nature spirits - each like an apple in the greater cycle and cosmic tree. When one falls it transitions to another phase of being in the long slumber either being reborn or sustaining others just like the humble apple.

A Gift of Elune While some tie the tree to G’hanir there are Druids of the Moon who believe that the apples are a gift from the Goddess Elune herself and her gardens. They say that the blossoms are a manifestation of her tranquility and each apple is blessed with a star inside to show her love. Some Druids of the Moon believe the Tear of Elune and the Sister’s Tear which seeded Amirdrassil are cosmic apple seeds from Elune herself.

Druidic Uses Some Druids of the Branch plant an Apple tree in their grove as a promise to stay. This is for two symbolic reasons, one for its symbol as a tree of community and the other for its protection. During the corruption of Val'sharah by the Nightmare, apple trees were some of the last to fall to corruption leading some to believe the tree held some natural resistance to the corruption if even for a short period. It's also believed that lightning will not strike an apple tree so it may serve as a ward from natural disasters as well. As such many druids will make wards of protection from apple branches or its blossoms, fruit , and/or wood as reagents for protective spells.

Some teaching methods use these properties of transition to aid Thero’shan in their first attempts to transition their consciousness to the Dream. A Shan’do will have their Thero’shan sleep beneath an Apple tree at the peak of a Full Moon. The theory being that the tree may serve as a guide for the mind. We find a similar lesson in The Legend of Applebeard. For as he slumbers  he dreams of forests far and unknown to him. If no apple tree is near, a Shan’do may take a fallen branch of an apple tree and tie silver bells to it. As the wind passes through the chimes it is said the mystical singing of Elune may be heard and lull Thero’shan into a trance and transition with greater ease. With the blooming of Amirdrassil some have begun to apply this method to the great tree and sleep under its boughs or fashion similar chimes with fallen branches of Amirdrassil in hopes of visiting Ardenweald. Though I have yet to hear if any have been successful.

Should you wish to fashion a chime like this for your own use or use the wood of apple trees in a staff or wand I offer a word of caution, never cut down a branch of an apple tree. Only take that which has naturally fallen and thereby freely given. To do so otherwise is said to bring bad luck and twist spells.

Properties: Rebirth, mysticism, magic, enchantment, transformation, destiny, femininity, balance, the ocean, prophetic dreams, weaving, prosperity, protection, healing, love, the world tree, Amirdrassil Deities: Mother Moon, Mu'sha, Aviana, Aessina, Ohn’ahra, Q’onzu, Shadra, Mazu Elements: Water, Air, Spirit Guardians: Dryads, owls, ravens, spiders, faerie dragons, wildkin, wisps Moon Phase: Waxing

The World Mother Ash is one of the most sacred trees to Druids. It forms a triad with Oak and Thorn (often represented by Hawthorn or Blackthorn or both depending on practice). It is also considered by many to be the divine feminine counterpart to the divine masculine Oak in this triad and thus is heavily associated with the Mother Moon and G’hanir. In some Kaldorei Druidic theories of thought the Ash represents the greater cosmic world tree or the center of the universe by which all planes of reality connect. Some Druids of the Moon take this theory further still and claim that Elune Herself is this center figure of the universe through which all planes are connected thereby making Her the cosmic world tree itself through which all things are balanced. 

In this practice, invoking the phases of Elune allows druids to “traverse” the cosmic world tree. By invoking her brightest phases one may travel up into the Dream or the boughs of this cosmic world tree or access the plane of water or air. In theory, invoking Elune’s darker phases may allow one to access the darker realms of the Dream like the Blighted Lands by descending this cosmic tree to the darker roots of Death, Shadow, and Decay. Since the blooming of Amirdrassil, the new world tree’s connections between life and death has reinvigorated this discussion of the cosmic world tree model as the tree serves as a perfect example for the theory by linking two realms to one another through reality itself. 

Since the Nightmare’s defeat in the Legion invasion and the Cenarion Circle’s ongoing talks with the Thornspeakers of Kul Tiras, discussion of these darker branches and roots of the tree of life are becoming more common while still hushed in Nighthaven. Especially with these new reports of this “Unseeming” from the Isle of Dorn. Many fear it may be yet another dark root of the cosmic world tree that has remained undiscovered or the possibility that the Nightmare was much more deeply rooted in the Dream far earlier than we first believed.

Some scholars of this theory speculate that Lake Elune’ara or the Rift of Aln may be the transition point to the “darker” roots of the cosmos or to areas of the Dream like Thros. The Lake and its pure waters serve as the reflection of Elune’s brightest phases and the Rift its counter reflection in shadow. It’s speculated then that the presence of the Twisting Nether and the Great Dark Beyond in the Rift serves as the chaotic flow of spirit and decay through the cosmos as the two elements do in the trees of reality - the macro scale of the cosmos reflected in the trees of our world. In both Shamanic tradition and the magical study of Telemancy the Twisting Nether serves as a method to travel between the planes therefore in the cosmic world tree model the Twisting Nether may serve as its branches, trunk, and roots through which the cosmos may be explored and similarly with the Great Dark Beyond. While a somewhat heretical thought to those of the Eluntie faith, this model of thought suggests that the Twisting Nether and Great Dark Beyond are just as much a part of Elune Herself as any other force. Just as She shifts between light and dark so too is the Twisting Nether a place where Light and Void clash and as a Goddess of Balance the Great Dark Beyond would be yet another reflection still.

The curious Loa Q’onzu has seen a slight rise in worship in Nighthaven. Their claimed ability to traverse between planes has given them a new association with the Ashwood tree as this symbol of the great cosmic world tree.

Ashwood Lumber Properties and Uses Because of these associations with Elune and the cosmos some Ashwood trees are considered to be “moontouched” or “star touched.” Wildkin, wisps, dryads, and faerie dragons are often drawn to old growth Ashwood trees. When any of these gather in great numbers around an Ashwood or a grove this is how woodworkers know the tree and area is “moontouched” or “star touched.” The wood of these trees naturally retains astral and restorative magics absorbed from the environment and requires almost no enchantment to access this magic. Because of this the lumber is used in the creation of wands, magical staves, enchanted bows,and in other magical and ceremonial uses. The preferred Kaldorei method of harvesting the wood is from already fallen Ashwood trees or through the help of wisps to harvest wood without hurting the tree.

Because of these natural astral and restorative qualities many associate the tree with G’hanir, the Mother Tree, Aviana, and Aessina. Many druidic healers and Sisters of Elune chose to have staves or other instruments crafted from Moontouched or Startouched Ashwood because it serves as a natural powerful focus to the power of the Dream or the Goddess and is seen as natural source of power and a gift of the Goddess. Ashwood seeds may also be used by powerful druidic healers to bring the spirit back to fallen party member in battle. In doing so the seed and its latent restorative magic is consumed. 

Kaldorei Sailors often widdle effigies or idols of a crescent moon from Ashwood to protect them while at sea. The token is either left at a moonwell, a temple, or worn on their person in hopes that the Goddess grants them calm seas. 

Effigies of Ohn’ahra or Mu’sha are also carved from limbs of Ashwood trees that have fallen in storms or great gusts of wind. The fallen wood is said to capture that potent energy and channel the power of the Loa or the whispers of Mu’sha for the Earth Mother to hear.

The wood of an ash tree can be woven into baskets, dreamcatchers, and many other wards, runes, etc. Because of this weaving quality many associate it with Lady Sathrah and in some Troll traditions it is associated with the spider Loa Shadra as well.

Rituals of the Ashwood - In many groves the Ashwood is carved with spirals to symbolize the tree's connection to the Dream and possibly to the greater cosmos. - Sleep with fresh Ashwood leaves to stimulate prophetic dreams or to aid in accessing the Dream or or to dreamwalk. - Wood from an Ashwood tree is used to create wards against scrying, divination, or dreamwalking.

- Incense created from this wood is used in rituals related to astral projection in reality or to other planes through the Twisting Nether.

- Water collected from beneath an Ash tree is said to be protective against negative energies, enchantments while raising healing ones and fight off illness.