Valley Wands

Appearance

Tree - Letter

Meanings

Whitethorn

Also known as the Hawthorn, its is considered to be one of the most powerful trees. It is closely associated with witchcraft, protection, fertility. It is often used for love/marriage spells and protection with its powers of dispelling negative energy and strife. The Hawthorn is said to stand at the doors of the otherworld and is sometimes called the faery tree and can be found 'guarding' cemeteries and holy places. The tree except in May is usually regarded as a very unlucky tree due to its contradictory nature of having beautiful flowers and deadly thorns.

Birch

Birch is one of the first trees to grow on bare soil and has come to symbolize fertility, healing and rebirth. The tree itself was used for almost everything from canoes to producing sugar and represents that which is needed for everyday living. It is known for its protective healing abilities and is used to drive out evil spirits and as protection from the faery folk.

Rowan

The Rowan is also known as the Mountain Ash and the Witchtree (because of the pentagram that can be found at the base of its berries). It has always been regarded as an aid for protection against evil charms and enchantment. It is believed that if it is planted at the gate of your garden it will ward away evil spirits, if used as a walking stick it will protect the traveller from evil and guide him home safely. In addition it is associated with astral travel, vision and healing. The berries and leaves are dried and burned as incense to invoke spirits, familiars, spirit guides, and the elements.

Alder

The Alder is an unusual tree, it is waterloving yet is also highly combustible, making it very sacred as it combines the elements water and fire. Because of its fierce flame it is sometimes known as the warrior tree, its symbolism being that of strength, tenacity and determination. Because of its resistance to water it can be used to hold water elementals and negative spirits. Dyes can be made from its bark, flowers and twigs, one of which was red which the druids used to dye their faces during rituals.

Willow

The Willow is regarded as feminine and is closely associated with the moon and water. It is seen as a melancholic tree representing sadness, it is believed sitting underneath it will soothe the emotions and banish depression and sadness. In addition it was associated to love, healing, rhythms, and the gaining of eloquence, inspiration, growth and skills. It is said to protect from enchantment.

Ash

Ash also referred to as Yggdrasil in Northern Europe and known as the world tree was very sacred to the druids. Its main symbolism being that of stability as it links the inner and otherworlds. It is used in spells that require focus and strength and is often used to banish mental strife. It is said that if you put its leaves under your pillow it will induce psychic dreams.

Oak

Oak has always been respected by nearly all world cultures. Admired for its strength and size it represents strength, endurance and power. Because it is often struck by lightening it has become associated with having the ability to attract inspiration, wisdom and illumination. Oak galls were known as Serpent Eggs and were used in magic and charms. It has also been associated with fertility. The oak is considered very sacred to the druids and there name has even been linked as a derivative of duir (oak).

Holly

Holly is associated with the cycle of death and rebirth representing winter winning over summer. With this symbolism in mind it is good for spells that involve sleep or rest. Because of its bristles and its use in making spears it is closely associated with combat and protection, warding away evil spirits and also signifying the virtues of balance and directness. It is favoured during the winter season as lucky with its beautiful leaves and berries being very colourful against the dead landscape giving hope for the following summer during the dark months.

Hazel

The Hazel is considered one of the most important trees it is very closely related to the salmon, who eats its nuts of poetic wisdom. Its associations are: intuition; poetry; divination; meditation; wisdom; knowledge and fertility. The nuts have been eaten to gain knowledge, they have also been used as part of a hallucinogenic brew to induce visions. In addition many love spells and aphrodisiacs can be made from its nut.

Apple

The Apple tree represents youth, beauty, and love. It features in most major myths as the fruit that keeps the gods young/immortal. Its juice can be used to infer strength and beauty. It was also seen as the fruit of choice seen in the myth of the bible and also of Paris and the three goddesses. It is commonly used for spells regarding love and healing.

Vine

The Vine has been cultivated for a very long time throughout Europe and is one of the greatest suppliers of wine. Due to the heady effects of wine this plant was associated with the loss of inhibitions and the loosening of the tongue. It represents the release of prophetic powers and the revealing of truths.

Ivy

Ivy is able to thrive and grow in almost all environments, it is extremely strong and is very difficult to destroy. Its stalks grow in what appears a helix and therefore represents the growing spiral of self enlightenment that was sacred to the Celts. It symbolizes the soul and its journeys both inner and outer on its search for nourishment.

Broom

Broom is the equivelant of Furze or gorse and was also used to sweep ritualistic areas to purify them. It is set on fire to burn away all the old growth and make way for the new. It is seen as a good plant to use when wanting to make new starts or begin new ventures.

Blackthorn

Blackthorn is a winter tree and is very hardy, it has black bark and is armed with vicious thorns and can be found growing in dense thickets. Its wood and its thorns are used for offensive magic like thundersticks or piercing effigies. The plant itself has come to represent fate or outside influences that must be followed.

Elder

  Elder is well known for its regenerative properties, it can easily regrow damaged branches and roots quickly from any part. It represents the end in the beginning and the beginning in the end. It was considered by some as unlucky as it was the abode of witches, but to others it was the tree of second sight that allowed you to see the faery folk. It was a sacred tree and it was not allowed to be damaged in anyway the druids used it both for spells and curses. It was believed that if you bathed your eyes in the sap of the wood it allowed you to see faeries and witches.

Silver Fir

The Fir is a tall slender tree that grows in mountainous regions, its cones respond to the environment by opening with the sun and closing with rain. Because of its height it indicates aspiring views, far sight and clear vision. In addition it symbolizes flexibility, astuteness and the ability to change. Its wood is considered good for magic that involves shapeshifting and other changing magics.

Furze

  Furze, or Gorse was used to sweep important areas and is seen as a purifier. It is said that burning the blooms and shoots will calm the wind, it is also set on fire to burn away all the old growth and make way for the new. It is seen as a good plant to use when wanting to make new starts or begin new ventures.

Heather

  Heather grows in great abundance and helps form vegetation known as heath this is believed to be the source of the phrase heathen as many ceremonies of this nature were carried out on the heath. Its blossoms can be made into tea and it is a great producer of honey with the aid of the spirit messengers - bees. It has come to represent healing and a way to be closer to the otherworld.

White Poplar

The Poplar or Aspen is also known as the whispering and quivering tree due to the fact that its leaves move and rustle with almost every murmur of the wind. It is a very hardy tree and has come to represent protection and durability. The tree has the ability to shield and resist, and is closely associated with the gifts of speech and wind.

Yew

  The Yew tree is sometimes regarded as the most sacred tree to the druids with it symbolism of death and rebirth (due to the fact that the outer tree dies and a new tree grows within). It represents transformation & reincarnation and may be used to enhance magical/psychic abilities as well as induce vision. All parts of the yew are poisonous apart from the berry covering and it was used to poison weapons, it was also used to make bows.

Aspen

The Aspen has much symbolism to do with christianity and the devil, the reasons being: Christs cross was made from aspen and Judas was supposed to have hanged himself from this tree. The tree itself is used to commune with the otherworld - demons in particular and is used for protection against the forces of darkness.

Spindle Tree

The wood of the Spindle tree is bright, colourful and was used to make spindles. With this in mind we can see why it came to embody creative inspiration, purification, initiation and blessings.

Honeysuckle

Also known as Woodbine this represents attraction and sweetness, it is useful for spells concerning glamours or attracting something into your life.

Pine

Its title of old was "the sweetest of woods" and it is favoured for its vitamin C. It governs issues concerning clear thought and preservation.

Witch Hazel

This symbolizes absorption and cleansing. In times of old it was used to treat acne and skin complaints. Due to its ability to absorb it is used to absorb attacks and negativity therefore purifying areas and objects.