ALDER CELTIC SACRED TREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Fourth consonant of the Ogham alphabet –Fearn “F”  (pronounced “Farin”) 

 

Planet: Neptune

Element: Fire & Water

Symbolism: Release, Shield and Foundation, Determination, Discrimination and Inner Confidence, Royalty

Stone: Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli 

Birds: Hawk, Seagulls, Raven

Color: Purple

Sabbat: Ostara

Gemstone: Yellow Crysolite

Deity: Bran, Apollo, Odin, King Arthur

Folk Names: Owler

 

The Alder Moon is associated with the return of Persephone from Hades in reunion with Her mother Demeter.

 Irish Druids held Alder trees sacred, the green shoots can be easily hollowed out to make whistles that are used to invoke Air Elementals.

 Alder is valued for its excellent dyes.  The bark produces a red dye, the flowers a green dye, and the twigs a brown dye.  When an Alder is cut down, it bleeds and orangey- red sap that is associated with blood and war.

 Irish legend tells how the first man was made from alder, and the first woman from rowan.

 Do not fell a Sacred Alder, or it is said that your house will be burned to the ground! 

 The Alder is associated with Fire and the power to reduce water.

 If you look closely at an Alder bud, you will notice that it is set in a spiral shape symbolic of re-birth.

 

MAGICK:

The Month of Alder is the right time to find a way of expressing our hopes and dreams for the New Year, forgiving any leftover angers and coming to terms with what's written in our own Book of Destiny. The Alder grows quickly and its energy can help us move along our Path, forgiving and accepting others and ourselves. For example, if there is a dispute with neighbors, Alder could be planted to restore harmony and turn anger into beauty.

 

Spells to aid success in your business and academic ventures work well at this time of year. Sow the seeds of your success now.

 

To the Celts the Alder is the Faerie’s tree. The flowers and twigs are known as charms to be used in Faerie magic. Alder is also sacred to Faery kings and elf kings – from the word Alder comes elder (not the tree) as in ‘elder’ kings. The Fey of the Alder have been described as water spirits or as “Dark Faeries”. They are very protective of the tree and when they leave their trees, this Faerie will take the form of a Raven. The Fey are said to dance beneath an Alder three that is in bloom.

 

The Alder has applications in magick done for spiritual decisions, duty, prophecy, oracular strength, intelligence, mental prowess, resurrection, air magic, water magic, strength, spirituality, teaching, weather magick, and protection from outside forces.

 

 

MAGICKAL APPLICATIONS:

 

 

Protection:  Carry Alder leaves or twigs in a pouch as a protection charm. Alder will give you extra strength in psychic battles.

 

The Fey:  Carrying Alder twigs or flowers acts as a charm for communicating with the fey.

 

Psychic Powers:  Whistles may be made of out of young shoots entice Air elemental spirits. This gives a Witch the ability to summon, control and banish elementals or the four winds. Love:  The smoke from burning Rowan may foretell the future of lovers.

 

Health and Healing: Alder bark is used to treat inflammations, rheumatism, and diarrhea. Bags filled with heated alder leaves helped with chronic skin diseases and burns. A gargle made from leaves and bark will cure mouth ulcers and soothed tonsillitis. Alder oil and essence resonate with the Muscular System and can relieve stiffness and damp diseases, enabling us to move forward with flexibility and comfort.

 

Rowan Morgana 2014

 

sources

About.com Celtic Tree months

The Goddess Tree

Year of Moons Season of Trees 

https://dutchie.org/alder-lore/