Alder - Fearn
Ogham letter F Ruler of the 4th Lunar Month
The Celts and the Druids believed the tree represented the link between heaven and earth. The Druid was one with 'knowledge of the trees' and was a 'Forest Sage'. Other scholars suggest that Druid is derived from the pre-Indo-European root deru – which means firm, solid, strong or steadfast, combined with the root weid – which means to see, creating a term that could translate as ‘Strong Seer’. To get a sense of how it might feel to be a Druid, try saying this: “I am strong - a steadfast seer, a knower of magic and enchantment. I am a sage of the forest. I know the secrets of the oak and the wildwood.”
The Medial Woman…is a representation of the strong-sighted and deep-hearted self who lives simultaneously in the world of light (our conventional, daytime domain) and the world of dark (the hidden realm of potential, the depths of the Soul and its making of things to bear, balance, unleash in goodness in the topside world). The medial woman in mythos since time out of mind remains rooted in both worlds, and listening to her ways and means in stories, we can hear, see, and feel the guidance this vital and soulful sense grants: “to live so strong, so wide, and so very deeply…as we promised to do before we ever came to earth.” (From Walking in Two Worlds: The Archetype of the Medial Woman by Clarissa Pinkola Estes)
The Alder Moon is the first Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox
The magic of the Fearn (pronounced verern) is that it spans the space between earth and water, with its roots in the two elements – so – that faery space of betwixt and between.
Medial/Liminal/Kawsay
Alder - oracle tree sacred to the Druids which is considered a tree of the fairies, and protected by the water fairy-folk.
Primarily a wetlands and swamp tree, the alder's root system is often submerged in watery areas. Although it is primarily associated with the element of water, the alder gracefully crosses into the realm of air, and thus representing earth and fire as well.
Alder wood is oily and water resistant turning very hard when underwater, so it’s been used since earliest times to make piles, foundations and stilts for platforms, bridges, lake-dwellings and roads. The best known example of this was the building of 16th century Venice in its shallow Venetian Lagoon. Use indoors was not encouraged as the oil impregnated wood was a magnet for woodworm. The alder (although a poor firewood) makes a pristine grade of charcoal, and was perfect for steadily hot conditions utilized to forge fine Celtic weaponry. The wood has a wonderful soft amber colour, with darker streaks and markings and when treated is much prized for decorative objects and music instruments. Since 1956, the guitar manufacturer Fender has been using alder to build the bodies of its electric guitars, including the legendary Stratocaster. (To be precise, the species used is the red alder, Alnus rubra, native to the west coast of America). But who knew that the unmistakeable notes of Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton owed their tone to alder wood? Fender’s website explains: “It has a resonant, balanced tone brighter than other hardwoods…”
The pith is easily pushed out of green shoots to make whistles. Several shoots bound together by cordage, can be trimmed to the desired length for producing the note you want and used to entice Air elementals. The old superstition of "whistling up the wind" began with this custom. For example, ancient legend indicates the wood of the young alder is traditionally used for crafting whistles, pan flutes and recorders. This establishes the alder's claim to the air element.
Within the realm of fire, the alder's coloring transmutes into a fiery orange after it is cut (the alder turns from white to an unnerving blood red due to its bright red-orange sap, indicating to the Celts that the alder secretly harbors sacred flame within its flesh), so be cautious of cutting one down, for this would anger the water sprites and airy fairies, and cause one’s house to burn down in revenge!
https://the-hazel-tree.com/2015/08/23/the-spirit-of-the-alder/
http://elrefugiodelabrujita.blogspot.com.es/2015/12/the-power-of-deer-clearly-i-see-clearly.html
·
·
·
.
.
.
From: Real Witches See Possibility: https://onewillowapothecaries.com/real-witches-see-possibi…/
·
The Celtic Tree Month of Alder (pronounced "AHL-der") takes
place between March 18th and April 14th. The word is ultimately derived from
el, the Proto-Indo-European name for that tree that means "red" or
"brown." This is the same etymology as the distantly related elm
tree. The tree's Celtic name is fearn (pronounced "FAIR-un"). This
tree is often called "the wood of the witches."
“What
shall we name her?” “Nelda, because it means of the Alder tree. Meaning she
will be strong with love and nurturing. Nelda was also the name of my great
grandmother.”
The sound of this name would be perfect for a boy. But I'm placing it
in the unisex category because the month of Alder is all about the ties between
women, particularly the mother-daughter bond. Because the bark of the tree was
used to make dye (red dye from the bark, green dye from the flowers, and brown
dye from the twigs), the tree became associated with the traditionally feminine
art of spinning. Magickal flutes, pipes, and whistles can be made from this
tree. These instruments can be used to summon and control the air spirits. The
alder is also used for magick relating to construction or building. The tree is
good for fairy magick as they enjoy dancing under this tree when it is in
flower. The Fey of alder trees are often believed to be water sprites or
"dark fairies," and when they leave the trees they take the form of
ravens. You can also use this tree for prophecy, duty, intellect, oracular
strength, resurrection, teaching, and weather magick.
Alder bark contains the chemical salicin, which is an
anti-inflammatory. Tea made from the bark can be used to treat diarrhea,
toothaches, coughs, and pains during childbirth. You can also use the bark to
make a potion that can be used to wash the eyes, treat poison ivy, and help
heal swellings and sprains. Much of the pilings that form the foundation of
Venice is alder wood.
http://bewitchingnames.blogspot.com/2012/03/alder.html
·
Witch is a term as shifting and volatile as mercury. Over time it has
been an accusation, a slur, a fear, a story, a fairytale, and a costume. But in
the beginning, a witch was someone who was recognized as working with healing.
A person who had a direct relationship to the medicine of those things we
cannot immediately see.
The etymological roots of the word witch are mixed, murky and a bit
mysterious. But some scholars argue that witch can be traced back to the
Indo-European world weid – which means both “to see” and “to know.”
Traditional healers knew that the way in which we perceive gives shape
to our direct experience of reality. If we wish to change our reality, or the
concreteness of loss or devastation that we’ve been handed, we must first begin
with what we are open to seeing.
And Real Witches see possibility.
They understand that sometimes the most profound healing does not come
from the physiology of a specific medicine, but from the life-changing
alteration of our core vision and belief. Where there is pain, there could be
relief. Where there is death, regeneration can be leased.
At the heart, to be a witch doesn’t mean that you manipulate reality to
your liking. It means that you can see and call forth manifold possibilities.
It means that your perception of reality goes beyond what has been handed to
you. And that you can perceive the presence of freedom, and healing, in all
things.
.
.
From: Real Witches See Possibility: https://onewillowapothecaries.com/real-witches-see-possibi…/
Photo of me and Milla Kotimaa by Anne Rivera Photography
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario