I have always been a tree-hugger. Trees are so majestic and spiritual, you cannot help but feel their energy when you are near them.
If you are an 80’s child like me, you may well have grown up reading the many stories written by Enid Blyton. I was especially obsessed with her books about the magic faraway tree, with all of its strange and wonderful characters that lived within its trunk and branches (I was petrified of Dame Slap!). These stories, like many of Blyton’s fairy tales, reference treelore, as do so many literary works by authors such as Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling to name but a few. Trees portrayed as guardians, gatekeepers and as having a living energy and character are very common in books.
Many different countries and cultures have various myths and lore of beings that live in trees and who sometimes are the tree itself. We refer to these creatures as tree spirits, nature spirits or tree nymphs among many variations.
Perhaps the best known are the ‘dryads’ from Greek mythology. The dryads are tree spirits and protectors of the forest, usually believed to be female. The word ‘dryad’ derives from the Greek word ‘drus’ meaning oak and dryads were originally oak tree spirits, though over time the term dryad has come to cover all types of tree nymphs. In Greek mythology there was also a variant called ‘hamadryads’ who, rather than beings whose home was the tree, were actually an integral part of the tree. If the tree died, they would die too.
Other more specific dryad types in Greek mythology:
Meliae (ash); Daphniae (laurel); Meliades (apple); Nymphai Aigeiroi (black poplars); Ampeloi (grape vines); Balanis (Ilex); Karyai (hazel); Kraneiai (cherry; Moreau (mulberry); Pteleai (elm and Sykei (fig).
In Celtic mythology, dryads are known as ‘Sidhe Draoi’ and depicted as elf or faerie-like druids, who can be male or female, with the ability to shape-shift into animals to blend in with their forest environment. They act as guardians of the balance between the earthly and spiritual realms, using their magickal powers to protect the natural world and its inhabitants.
The Celtic tree of life is the Oak, held to be the most sacred tree of all. The Celtic name for oak is ‘daur’ and is the origin of the word ‘door’ (and the root word of ‘druid’) – the oak tree’s root is seen as the doorway to the Otherworld or Faery Realm.
The oak tree is the epitome of strength, bravery, stability and wisdom. If you feel an oak tree calling to you, it is telling you to find your inner courage and overcome your anxieties – stand as tall and as confident as the tree itself.
June 1st – Festival of the Oak Nymph honouring hamadryads – leave a small offering, kiss/hug an oak tree or decorate your altar with oak leaves/acorns.
June 7th – Festival of the Spirits of Oak Trees – similar to the above.
June 10th – July 7th – This period is the Celtic Tree Month of Oak.
If possible, perform your spells and rituals under the canopy of an oak tree during this period – it will enhance the effects of your magick, especially those involving strength and protection.
Happy tree-hugging xx
