Trees have been with us since before we first evolved an imagination. They are beyond beautiful, smell fantastic, and help signal the changing of the seasons. There is even scientific evidence that being around them can help improve our mental health! So, naturally, it's unsurprising that they feature so prominently in folklore and world mythology!
As a fantasy writer, practicing witch, and Animistic Pagan I've really been trying to learn more and more about this wonderful folklore and why something so common to our daily lives holds such a firm grip on our imagination. Maybe when I feel more confident in my knowledge, I'll share a more detailed guide, but for now, I'll just talk about a few species that I find interesting!
Ash - The tree of life! In Norse mythology, the world tree that held the realms on its branches was thought to be an ash. Ancient Druids also supposedly used their wood to fashion wands! Unsurprisingly, it was believed to have healing properties
Oak - The father of the woods! Oak trees are strong and sturdy, often associated with thunder gods such as Zeus and Thor. Oak was sacred to the Druids, who would practice many rituals around oak groves and burn oak wood as part of their mid summer sacrifice. In fact, the word Druid likely means 'oak man'. You can also use the order oak and ash grew their leaves to predict the weather for the summer! If the oak before the ash, Then weβll only have a splash. If the ash before the oak, Then weβll surely have a soak.
Yew - The tree of death! Okay, so maybe that's a tad dramatic, but seriously, a staggering amount of British churchyards have a yew tree planted somewhere in their graveyards! Perhaps this is because their bark is highly poisonous! (As anyone who's read my most recent story knows). So if you're ever forreiging, make sure you don't nibble on any!
Aspen - Another tree I love to use in writing! That's because it's strongly associated with fairies and provides a direct link to the Otherworld! It's said that meditating under an aspen will allow you to hear messages from distant realms, should you choose to listen. Their leaves also provide protection, even allowing you to return safely from the land of the dead! Sadly, this Otherworldly association made it a bit of a target for medieval Christians, who associated anything fay with evil. According to lore, Jesus was crucified on aspen wood, making the tree forever tremble in shame. Whatever your beliefs, make sure you treat these trees with respect and listen closely to what they have to say!
Willow - A striking tree to any who see it, easily recognised at a glance by its weaping leaves. Unsurprisingly, it's most popular as the tree of sadness. In Hamlet, Ophelia drowns after falling from a willow branch. Orpheus also carries a branch into the underworld when he goes to rescue Euridice. But there's more to this tree than misery and death; the willow always grows back quickly when cut down. Perhaps we could call it the tree of rebirth! It's also known for its healing properties, often used to treat headaches and rhumitism; in fact, its bark is even the key ingredient in aspirin!
Blackthorn - The tree of witches! Yes, that's right! Blackthorn was said to be the wood that witches preferred for their wands! This is because it's frequently a home to fairies and its wood wards off evil spirits!
Right, that's enough tree talk! I hope you all had fun reading it! Maybe next time, I'll do flowers! ^_^
(The photo is of Dartmoore, Cornwall, UK; credit to GettyImages)
