Celtic Tree Month of Ash 2/18/20

Gender type: Masculine

Planet ruler: Sun and Neptune

Element: Fire and water

Symbolism: Mastership and Power

Stone: Turquoise and Lepidolite

Birds: Snipe

Animals: Unicorn

Color: Blue

Gemstone: Sea-Green Beryl

Deities: Thor, Odin, Mars, Uranus, Woden, Gwydion, Poseidon, Eostra, Minerva

Day: Wednesday

Tarot: Hanged Man

Use: Protection, prosperity, prophecy, health, sea and water rituals

In many blessings, the phrase “of oak, ask and thorn” is often seen signifying the sacred meaning to the Ash tree. The typical ask tree is readily identifiable by its light grey bark and large leaves with sharply defined margins. The wood of the tree is considered valuable due to the toughness and elasticity of the wood and the speed with which it grows. It is also considered one of the five magic trees of Ireland.

The ash tree is associated with suck gods as Uranus, Poseidon, Thor, Odin, Oceanus, Nemesis, Mars, and Gwydion. Nemesis, a greek Goddess, often carried an ash branch as a symbol of the justice of the gods. SHe is also associated with an eight spoken wheel representing the solar wheel and the Fates who dispensed her divine justice with ash; the wood assisting them to quantify happiness and misery and to ensure that it was equally dispensed and not hoarded by a small percentage. SHould someone defy the gods and the fates and hoard happiness, Nemesis would produce her scourge of Ash and dispense her divine justice. 

Spiritually, Ash is associated with divination, prophecy and inspiration. The god Odin reportedly hung from an ash tree before reading runes in order to gain enlightenment. The ash tree also represents Yggdrasill, the world tree of Norse mythology. In their faith, it is believe that the first man formed from the wood of the ash and the first woman from rowan. 

Brooms, often a common tool among witches, are traditionally made of birch twigs tied to an ash handle. The handle is often a hybrid of ash and willow. Ash is commonly believed to have command over the four elements. The handle of the broom, along with birch and willow, are symbolic of the triple goddess. 

What can you use Ash for?

• A staff of ash over a door frame wards off malignant forces
• Ash leaves scattered to the four directions protects the house or area within their perimeter
• A garter made from the green bark of the ash tree is often worn by magic users to protect them against psychic attacks
• The wood also repels snake attacks as snakes inexplicably fear the wood and will not cross it. 
• If you carve ash wood into the shape of a solar cross and carry it with you while traveling across the sea or another body of water, it is said to protect you from drowning.
• Healing wands are made from ash
• Poppets can be carved from the roots of the ash tree. 
• Placing a bowl of water with ash leaves in it under a bed is said to ward off illness. Should you try this, the morning after the bowl is placed, you must discard the bowl of water and leaves outside on open ground. This procedure should be repeated every night until the person with the ailment is well again. 
• Leaves can be work or sewn into sachets for protection against illness or general protection charms.
• Loose ash leaves in your pockets can attract the love of someone of the opposite sex. 
• Burning ash wood at Christmas will encourage prosperity.
• When you have a baby, bury it’s first nail clipping under an ash tree if you would like the baby to grow to be a good singer.
• Ash berries placed in a cradle will challenge the fey from trading the child for a changeling
• Twigs are believed to be used in working to stop the rain of a destructive flood
• Can be used for prophetic dreams when placed under one’s pillow
• Medicinal uses
  • The bark is historically used as a bitter tonic and is said to have been an invaluable anti-periodic.
  • Treatment for fever and ague as a substitute for peruvian bark
  • Considered well used for removing obstructions in the liver and spleen
  • Aids rheumatoid arthritis
  • The leaves have diuretic properties as well as diaphoretic and purgative properties
  • The leaves can treat jaundice and obesity and can be served in the form of wine.
• Leaves should be gathered in June, well-dried, powdered and kept in well corked bottles

Always be sure to ask the tree before gathering any part of it. Always thank it and leave an offering to honor it before leaving with the parts you’ve gathered.

A meditation to do in honor of the Ash Tree: 

I breath life easily.

I speak my truth.

I am protected.

I am at one with the universe.

I honor the energy of ash,

The magician’s staff.

I will recognize that “as above, so below”,

I play a part in the larger scheme of things.

I will link my inner and outer worlds.

So mote it be.