The Celtic Trees
Written and researched by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewska, B.F.A.

The Importance of Trees:

The oldest symbol of the world-axis is the sacred tree, and the World Tree was the symbolic center of the universe. Many words for awareness, knowledge, and writing include elements of the word, wydd (wood).

Many cultures have trees in their beliefs:

• The Hindu Upanishads thought the branches of trees symbolized the five elements of ether, fire, water, air, and earth.
• The Celts revered the Oak and the Hazel as "Trees of Wisdom."
• The Druids shaped their philosophy around the santity of trees. Their magical alphabet was a tree alphabet. Each Ogham letter was associated with a particular tree.

  The elm, hornbeam, willow, hazel, birch, and oak were symbols of spirtual love. The oak was especially sacred, for groves of oaks formed the ritual center of every community.

• The tree in the Garden of Eden was a prototype of the Kabbalistic mandals called the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is based on the World Tree of the Babylonian Semites.
• Mayan pyramids were re-creations of the World Tree or World Mountain.
• The Norsemen's tree was a gigantic ash or yew named Yggdrasil, whose branches reached towards heaven and whose roots would down into hell. The enchanted ash was sacred to Wotan (German name)/Woden (English name).

The Classification of Trees:

Chieftain Trees: oak, hazel, holly, apple, ash, yew, and fir.

Peasant Trees: alder, willow, birch, elm, hawthorn, aspen, and quicken.

Shrub Trees: black thorn, elder, spindle, test-tree, honeysuckle, bird-cherry, and white hazel.

Herb Trees: gorse, heather, broom, bog-myrtle, and rushes.

Great Trees:

The Druids venerated the native trees of Britain and Ireland. Ogham was the mystical alphabet used in divination and magic.

Words using wydd as their basis:
• Arwydd = a sign
• Cyfarwydd = information
• Cywgdd = a wise man
• Derwydd - a Druid

Five Great Trees in Ireland:

1. The Tree of Ross
2. The Tree of Mugna
3. The Tree of Dathi
4. The Tree of Uisneth
5. The Tree of Tortu

Each of these trees was guarded by one of the Irish Shaman-Poets who seemed to have cut their trees down when they were threatened by Christian incursions. Similarly, Christians cut down many sacred trees, just in case they had powers.

The Order of the Magical Power of Trees:

The tree represented the cosmos. The branches were symbolic of heaven and its roots of the underworld. From the roots or base of trees, streams of pure, life-giving water flowed and formed pools or wells. Some the the Celts most sacred spots were sites were their were wells and large oaks. Hawthorn is a powerful tree against lightning

Blackthorn was used as walking sticks and magical staves of Druids, wizards and witches.

***Please note that the blackthorn bushes are becoming scarce in Ireland. However, Creative Irish Gifts has a Blackthorn walking stick for $39.98 (item #0A064). Their phone number is 1-800-843-4538. Their website is: Shop Irish.com. Their FAX: 1-877-213-3600.

You are the visitor since March 10, 2005

Back to World Legends
Back to the Scottish Table of Contents
Home

Webmaster: Margaret Sypniewska
Owner: Raymond Sypniewski, B.S., M.A.
Email Margaret: Margaret

This page was last updated on May 20, 2014

This page is hosted by