Magical Properties of Trees and Specific Woods

Alder
Masculine Energy. Alder is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 18 March to 14 April.
Druids associated this tree with the fox. The deity Bran considers this tree to be
sacred.
Magical Properties: Alder wands are used for witch craft magic rituals concerning
with charisma, journeys, self confidence, bravery, supervision skills, and spiritual
growth. Also used in shielding the astral self from unwanted intrusion from other
realms.

Apple
Female energy. The apple wand is symbolic of fertility, peace, plenty and joy. A tree
that is sacred to Venus and the Celtic Goddess Rhiannon. Apple is a staple food of
the elven and fairie realm.
Magical Properties: This is a powerful wood of choice for the witch when working
with the fairie magic. Apple is a good wood for aiding in the propagation of skills,
often used in love magic. Apple wood promotes peace and harmony, magic of light
and the divine, and promotes visions.

Ash
Female and Effeminate Male energy are present in Ash 18 February to 17 March.
Ash is closely aligned to the elemental Earth. Ash is a sacred tree of Celtic
Astrology. Greeks associated this tree with Neptune and Mercury. The Druids
associated this tree with the adder. The Nordic peoples held this tree sacred to
Woden (Odin), the Nordic World Tree, Yggdrasil, is an Ash tree and is considered to
be the father of all trees. The Welsh associated this tree with the God Gwydion.
Magical Properties: The Ash wand is an excellent wood for promoting brain power,
aids in communication, intelligence, wisdom, and promotes curiosity. Use this wood
to remove mental blockages and aid in the promotion of word use and
understanding. It is the wood of the writer, poet, and scholar. Promotes spiritual love
and health. Protects against unwanted change. Brings balance to the mind. It is said
that warts rubbed on the bark will be absorbed into the tree. Use for protection from
drowning, magical effectiveness, sea power, and healing. Ash is also used for
protection, finding special roots, horse magic, enhances skills of arts and crafts,
justice, weather magic, and for working with the magic of cave and wells.

Beech:
Male Energy and because it produces nuts it is closely related to the Oak.
Associated with the Greek God Apollo and the Elves Sun Lord Obraash. The Celts
used the nut of this tree to fodder the sacred swine. Norse tradition says that tablets
of Beech were used to make the very first writing tablets for the runes, strong magic
for working with the Nordic runes.
Magical Properties: Beech wands are used in the magic of divination. Reduces
swellings and skin inflammations. Helps to balance mental health. Aspiration, desire,
and victory are all key elements of this wood. Used while working with ancestors, old
wisdom, and magical research. Beech is a sacred wood of the summer solstice.
Birch
Male energy. Birch is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 24 December to 20 January.
One of the first trees to naturally establish in cleared forests. It is a tree of new
beginnings and establishments. Closely aligned with the element of water. The
Druids associated this wood with the white stag.
Magical Properties: The Birch wand is used in many cleansing rituals. Birch is a
symbol of rebirth, renewal, and diligence. Some use this wood to aid in the calming
of emotions. The bark helps to heal wounds and burns. Many European communities
use or have used, birch twigs to expel evil spirits. Some cultures utilize birch rods in
rituals designed to drive out spirits of the old year. Controlled by Moon influences to
include; birth, Lunar spells, healing, and protection. Birch by tradition has been linked
to youth and new beginnings. Use in rituals that signify a new start of any endeavour.

Cedar:
Associated with the Greek Goddess Persephone during her detainment in the
Underworld. Also associated with the Celt Goddess Sezh that watches over the
realm of fertility, herbs, and trees. Used by King Solomon, one of the greatest
mystics of all time, in the building of the temple in Jerusalem.
Magical Properties: Cedar wands cleanse negative atmospheres. Used for the
creation of sacred spaces. Related to longevity, protection, and preservation. Often
used to summon helpful spirits during rituals and invocations.

Cherry
Both feminine and masculine energies. Artemis, Morrigan, Tyr, Mars, Aries, Herne,
and Ambash all consider this wood sacred. Associated with the elemental Earth.
Magical properties: Cherry wands are much centred and have very grounded
energy. Earth energy is very well grounded, unwavering, and solid. Cherry is used in
ritual to stabilize and focus. Cherry is often used for intuitive and insight and to
overcome obstacles. This is an excellent choice for divination or medium work, as
well as healing and love magic. Cherry is suited for use in hunting magic, working
with animals and familiars, eroticism, unification of covens and groups, spells of
detection, and amplifying spell work.

Elder
Masculine energy. Elder is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 25 November to 23
December. The Elder is also said to be the tree used in the crucifixion of Christ.
Associated with the Celt Goddess Cailleach Beara and the Raven. Some have
considered this tree to be unlucky due to its association with the crucifixion, or it may
one of those nasty rumours started by the church in order to combat belief systems
outside their own scope of a limited belief system.
Magical Properties: Elder wands are most often used in Faerie Magic, banishment,
magical arts, protection from evil, imagination, change, and healing.

Elm
Feminine energy. Often referred to as the home of the fairies. It is known to for its
ability to ward away lightening. Associated with the Great Goddess in crone stage.
Relative to the elements of both Earth and Air.
Magical Properties: Use of the Elm wands is strong in magic used concerning
endurance, fertility, horticulture, passage thru death and phases of life, rebirth, and
invocation of the Goddess. Elm adds stability, grounding, and focus to spell working.
Hawthorn
Masculine energy. Hawthorn is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 13 May to 9 June.
Considered sacred by the Celtic summer flower maiden Olwen; also associated with
the owl. This tree is also sacred to Aquarius and the windlord Vashaan. It was often
planted in the parameters of a cottage for protection. It is believed that fairies live in
the hedges of Hawthorn especially if near ash or oak. Associated with the element of
Air.
Magical Properties: Hawthorn wands open insight, provides psychic protection,
encourages creativity, used to make charms, aids in the development of self
confidence, purification, develops patience, detects magic since it is deeply magical
from outer realms, used in weather working, banishment of evil spirits, concealing
magic, chastity, male potency, and fairy magic.

Hazel
Feminine energy. Hazel is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 5 August to 1
September. Associated with the elements of Fire, Air, and Water. Manannan Mac Lir,
the Celtic Sea God, considered the wood to be sacred. Druids associated with the
fish Salmon. Aligned with the Greek Goddess Aphrodite and the Celtic Goddess
Danu, known by the elves and Arianrhod.
Magical Properties: Artistic ability, magical knowledge, and optimism are provided by
the enchanting use of Hazel. The energy of hazel wands promoted love and
creativity allowing a person to move beyond self-serving modes of existence. Hazel
is the bringer of change. Hazel also promotes creative expression, eloquence, and
art of all types. This was the most common wood used to create wands in the
ancient Celtic traditions. Also used in magic spells for wisdom, creativity, intelligence,
navigation, inspiration, and wrath.

Holly
Feminine energy. Holly is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 8 July to 4 August. The
sacred spear of Odin was made of Holly. The Roman god Mars rules over this
mighty wood. Related to the elemental Earth. Associated by Druidic tradition to the
grand majesty of the Unicorn. The Smith God Govannon considers this wood to be
sacred.
Magical Properties: Purity, strength, logic, power transfer, protection. Holly wands
are often used in magic concerning sleep. It is said that a man who carries the
leaves and berries of holly is irresistible to women. Since the story of the ruler ship of
the Holly King and the Oak King deal with cycles and rebirth, it is often used in magic
to ease the loss of loved ones to death. It also carries properties of the sacred,
material advance, physical revenge, and beauty.

Ivy
Masculine energy. Persephone considers this wood to be sacred. Druids related this
to the Butterfly. Guinevere the fairy bride rules over this wood.
Magical Properties: Determination, strength, optimism, spiritual growth. Ivy is a fine
wand for protection, good against wayward spirits and angry elementals, ensures
success in business and all new endeavours.

Lilac
A favourite of the forest nymphs and where they are surely Pan is close. Lilac is
sacred to the Greek Twins Gemini. Associated with the element of Air.
Magical Properties: Lilac wands are good for magic dealing with romance, love, and
passion. Superb when utilizing such magic for the realm of intellect, communication,
mental concentration. Enhances sexual pleasure. Lilac provides protection during
travel. When dealing with illusion magic, this wood is very adequate, as with the
divining arts.

Maple
Maple has both Feminine and Masculine energy. Libra and Virgo consider this tree
to be sacred. Associated with the elements of Spirit and Water. The great horned owl
is the sacred bird of this tree.
Magical Properties: Some cultures primarily use Maple wands for spiritual healing.
Maple is a traveller’s wood. It enhances intellectual pursuits, acquiring knowledge,
and communication. Spells concerning art, beauty, binding, and abundance should
consider using this wood. The gypsies believe Maple brings gold and that eating the
seeds draws love.

Oak
Strong Masculine energy. Oak is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 10 June to 7 July.
The Druids associated the oak with the Wren. Closely aligned with the elements
Earth, Water, and Spirit. The Oak is considered to be the most powerful and the
most sacred to the Druids. Wizards consider this the most amplified wood to use to
in spells that work with time and counter spells. Sacred to the Irish God Dagda.
Magical Properties: Truth, steadfast knowledge, protection. Oak wands bring vitality
and long life. To the ancient Celtic people, oak was the protector, provider,
benevolent king of the trees. Utilized as a healing wood and very well grounded
considering its strong connection to the earth. This wood helps centre the mind,
allowing it to focus on the task at hand and ignore distractions. Oak help promote
both observation and intuition. Oak magic inspires bravery, presence, leadership
skills, prosperity, and strength.

Poplar
Masculine energy. Plato makes a reference to the use of Black popular and Silver Fir
as an aid in divination. Aligned with the elements of Spirit, Water, and Fire.
Influenced by the power of Venus.
Magical properties: Poplar wands have an incredibly diverse energy, allowing it to be
an all-purpose wood for magical workings. The diversity of the energy in this wood
makes it useful for evocation as well as banishment rituals. It is also strong with the
elements of hope, rebirth, and divinations.

Vine
Masculine and feminine energies are present in Vinewood. Vine is a sacred tree of
Celtic Astrology 2 September to 29 September. Druids associated this wood with the
Swan. Considered sacred by the Tuatha De Danaan Gods of Irish Mythology.
Magical Properties: Vinewood wands encourage spiritual initiation, faerie work, joy
spells, excitement, rebirth, sacred knowledge, and authority.

Walnut
Feminine and Masculine energies are present in Walnut. Closely aligned with the
elements of Earth and Spirit. Walnut is sacred to the Gods Vashaan, Zeus, Jupiter,
Thor, and Vishnu.
Magical properties: Black walnut wands are well used in the magic of teleportation,
astral travel, weather working, averting lightening, powers of the wind and breath,
and motivation.

Willow
Feminine energy. Willow is a sacred tree of Celtic Astrology 15 April to 12 May.
Willow is strongly aligned with the element of water and associated with the element
of spirit. The Druids associated this tree with the hare. Diana, Hecate, Astarte,
Ceridwen, Arianrhod, Rhiannon, and Omulan all consider this to be a very sacred
tree.
Magical Properties: Willow wands are strong in the cycles of life dealing with death
and rebirth, change, the will. It is a very emotional wood. Willow can add vital energy
to the sick and elderly. Some say that burning willow can soothe and guide the souls
of the recently deceased. Willow wood is the very essence of magic, not just the
mere making a tool into a magical one, willow makes the tool magical. Willow will
align itself to the inner will of the party that shares its energy. The stronger the will,
the more effective the wood. Willow is extremely useful in healing. It is also good for
love spells and rituals involving emotion. It strengthens the third eye, and is a great
tool for divination as well.