Tree Magick and The Wheel of the Year
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Trees have long been a sacred symbol in many cultures. Ancient people all over the world celebrated the kinship of nature with humans, with trees representing creation tales and specific deities, as well as growth and knowledge. Trees symbolize many different things in religion and folklore, from the Tree of Life to the ancient Celtic calendar. Incorporating tree magick into your own spiritual practice is an easy way to connect with nature on a personal level.
Wheel of the Year and Tree Magick
If you follow the Wheel of the Year, you may opt to pay homage to certain trees during certain sabbats. Oak is associated with the bonfires of Litha during midsummer, while evergreen trees are popular at Yule. Rowan trees are associated with the Goddess Brigid who is celebrated at Imbolc, while Hawthorn trees are celebrated during Beltane. Apple trees bear fruit during the season of Mabon and Samhain. Both Ostara and Birch trees symbolize renewal. And as Lughnasdh represents the start of the abundant harvest season, it seems fitting to associate that sabbat with Pine and Maple, both of which are associated with abundance and prosperity.
In her book The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book, author Skye Alexander notes that as part of practicing tree magick, it’s important to ask the tree’s permission before cutting off a branch or twig. And afterwards you should thank the tree and leave an offering, such as composted fertilizer to help it renew.
The Meanings & Associations of Different Trees
Every tree is tethered to different beliefs and associations. Oaks are associated with strength and longevity, often used in ceremonial fires for the Wheel of the Year. While Elder trees are believed by some to be sacred and should never be burned. According to Judy Ann Nock in her book The Modern Witchcraft Book of Natural Magick Rowan trees are thought to hold all the secrets of the world, except the name of God.
Here are some common tree names and their associations:
Ash - associated with sacrifice, protection, strength and harmony
Apple - associated with immortality, beauty, happiness and security
Birch - associated with renewal, celasing, purification and protection
Cedar - associated with healing, protection and creativity
Elder - associated with birth, death and fairy folk
Fir - associated with birth, resurrection and honesty
Hazel - associated with divination, wisdom, luck, fertility and protection
Maple - associated with balance, practicality, love and abundance
Oak - associated with strength, power and longevity
Pine - associated with creativity, longevity, cleaning and prosperity
Rowan - associated with spirituality, protection and fairy folk
Willow - associated with healing, dreams and the underworld
Yew - associated with immortality, protection and death
Tree magick is still practiced today as part of spell work, sacred circles, religious rituals and individual spiritual paths. Trees can be used as an anchor for meditation, community celebrations, as ingredients in spell work, and as part of herbal remedies. Always remember to ask permission before cutting any part of tree and give thanks afterwards.
Do you have a favorite type of tree? Do you practice tree magic as part of your spiritual path? Share in the comments!
References & Recommended Reading
The Modern Witchcraft Book of Natural Magick by Judy Ann Nock
The Modern Guide to Witchcraft by Skye Alexander
The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book by Skye Alexander
Celtic Tree Months Article: https://www.learnreligions.com/celtic-tree-months-2562403
Trees & Paganism Article: https://arboriculture.wordpress.com/2016/10/16/trees-and-religion-paganism/
Trees & World Religions Article: https://arboriculture.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/trees-and-religion-worldwide-indigenous-religions/
More Posts About the Wheel of the Year
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A History of Lughnasadh
Disclaimer: This website uses affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate or other affiliate program participant, I earn from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I believe in and use myself. Thank you!
Tip: If you’d prefer to support local retailers in your area, independent booksellers can often order specific books for you and have them delivered to the store for pick up, for the same price as ordering online.
Lughnasadh is the first of three autumn celebrations in the Wheel of the Year. A cross-quarter day, Lughnasadh is celebrated on August 1 (though some celebrate on August 5th when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo). Named for the Celtic God Lugh, Lughnasadh was later known as Lammas by early Christians. Many modern Lughnasadh traditions are rooted in the ancient customs associated with the first harvest of grain. Marking the midpoint of summer, Lughnasadh is a good time to slow down, reflect and think about the last turn in the Wheel of the Year.
Early Celtic Traditions
Lughnasadh is named for the ancient Celtic God Lugh, who is thought to be an older personification of the Celtic god Bel / Baal (for whom Beltane is named for). Both deities are associated with fire and the sun. In ancient Celtic culture Lughnasadh was a time to start preparing for winter, when the first harvest of grain was cut and vegetables and fruits preserved. Harvest festivals were popular during the period between Lughnasadh and Mabon. People would gather for celebration, games and to trade their produce and wares. In her book Modern Guide to Witchcraft, author Skye Alexander points out that the tradition of harvest festivals lives on through the many rural state and county agricultural fairs throughout the United States.
As Christianity spread into the British Isles beginning around the sixth century, Lughnasadh eventually became known as Lammas, which means loaf mass. This name referred to the first baking of bread of the new harvest, which would be brought to the local parish church to be blessed by the priest. Read more about the history of Lughnasadh & Lammas
Cross-Quarter Days
Lughnasadh is one of the cross-quarter days in the Celtic calendar. A cross-quarter day marks the mid-point between the summer and winter solstices and the spring and autumn equinoxes (also called Quarter Days). Lughnasadh falls on August 1, which is the midpoint between the summer solstice (Litha) and the Autumn Equinox (Mabon). While there is historical debate about whether the Celtic calendar included both quarter and cross-quarter days, the cross-quarter days mark the Celtic beginning of Spring (Imbolc), Summer (Beltane), Autumn (Lughnasadh) and Winter (Samhain). These dates reflect the agrarian cycle of the northern hemisphere, when daily life revolved largey around the harvesting and preserving of food ahead of the long winter months.
Modern Lughnasadh Traditions
Today Lughnasadh is celebrated by pagans and wiccans as one of the eight Wheel of the Year sabbats. Common celebrations include baking bread, making beer, hosting bonfires and decorating your home with seasonal flowers and cornstalks and early gourds.
Lughnasadh as a Time for Reflection
Lughnasadh marks the seventh turn of the Wheel of the Year. The year is 3/4th over and it’s a good time to pause and reflect on how your year has been so far. What are you happy about? What disappointments did you experience? What do you want to focus on between now and Samhain? If you journal, write down what you would like to be, do and have in the coming months. See my favorite journals
Summer days are half over, and so now is a good time to slow down and savor the beautiful weather, if you haven’t done so already. Make a date with friends to go on a picnic or a hike; host a potluck dinner followed by a bonfire; or celebrate solo with a glass of seasonal blackberry wine and some fresh bread.
How are you celebrating Lughnasadh this year? Share in the comments below!
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More About Lughnasadh
Moonlight Meditation and New Grimoire Pages
The full Meadow Moon (AKA Buck Moon) is happening this week. I’m hoping the skies stay clear so I can have a clear view of it tonight. I’ve been feeling the winds of change tugging at my soul and I want to do some moon meditations to help me focus. I am not a good meditator, so when I do want to practice I prefer late nights, when there is minimal noise and distractions. If the weather is good and the mosquitoes minimal, I’ll sit outside. In colder weather I’ll just plop down on the floor, wherever there is a chunk of moonlight shining in, close my eyes and let my thoughts run. Do you do anything special when you meditate?
New Grimoire Series
This week’s printable is the first in a series I’m planning. I’ve been wanting to create a more formal Wheel of the Year grimoire/journal for myself. I have notes about alchemy, lunar phases, the Wheel of the Year, goddesses, and cultural history scattered throughout several notebooks, binders, planners, post-it notes, ect...
Even though I literally create a yearly Wheel of the Year planner to help folks organize their own spiritual practice, I’m like the carpenter with the half-finished house, never using the planner to its full capacity. As I’ve been researching and writing for my book outline and upcoming printables, I thought wouldn’t it be great if I took ALL my notes and created some printables that I can then just pop into my planner and reference when needed, rather than tearing my office apart trying to remember random notes about which goddess is associated with thunderstorms (It’s Inanna, btw, more on her in a future newsletter).
So first up is a simple series of reference charts and since it is high summer, it seemed natural to start with flowers.
Obviously this is not an exhaustive list of every flower available, but I figured these are all pretty common for most readers. If there are flowers you think should go on the list please let me know either by email or over on Instagram.
If you’d like to do more of your own Wheel of the Year research, be sure to check out the Bookshelf for recommended reading and the books I use when writing for Mabon House and my list of favorite Witchcraft Books Here.
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