Seasonal Tree Meditation

Access the Energy of the Seasons and the Wheel of the Year

The tree calendar and the Ogham alphabet have been so widely adopted and integrated into modern practice that they have become a system of symbols. Like all symbols, their purpose is to aid us in accessing deeper levels of energy and consciousness.

Most well known are the thirteen “month” or lunar trees of the tree calendar. In addition, there are five season or solar trees. Together, these month/lunar and season/solar trees are symbolic of the moon and sun. The moon’s thirteen lunations are contained within the five seasons of the year. This concept of the thirteen within the five comes from the Coligny calendar, which was discovered in 1897 near Lyons, France. It is a lunar calendar and believed to have been used by the Celts of Gaul. In this calendar, a year consisted of thirteen 28-day months with one extra day (the nameless day) at mid-winter. There was a broader division of the year into five parts, which, it has been argued, made perfect sense for our agrarian ancestors.

Two of the season trees stand on either side of the Winter Solstice. Because we live in a glaringly bright world with light anytime we want it, we tend to forget the deep significance of daylight to ancient people. These two trees represent a powerful threshold. Once the longest night of the year passes, the days gradually lengthen. It is as if the breath of nature is suspended between these two trees waiting for the sun to begin its return journey.

To fully appreciate the energy of a season, take time to focus on the energy of its associated tree and the tree’s attributes. One way to focus on a tree and invite its energy into your life is to light a candle and meditate or sit quietly as you think about the season and what gifts or lessons that particular tree imparts. To support this energy, carve the name of the tree or its Ogham character into the candle. You may also want to write the name of the tree on a slip of paper, find a picture of that type of tree or use an object such as a leaf, needle, or flower from the tree.

Light the candle on the first night of the tree’s season. (In the case of yew and fir, there will be only one night.) Take time to think about the tree’s characteristics and which one(s) may have meaning for you. If you are using a picture, place it beside the candle and softly focus your eyes on the tree. If you are using something from the tree, hold it between your palms. Whenever possible, use pictures and items from the tree in order to engage as many of your senses as you can in the process.

Throughout the season, light the candle long enough so it will finish by the end of that tree’s time. Alternatively, you could prepare one tall candle with all tree names and/or Oghams that you burn down as the year progresses.

A Full Circle Meditation
To gain insight into the energy of the Wheel of the Year and how the seasonal tree energy spirals through it, you may want to try a full circle meditation. For this you will need candles and objects and/or slips of paper with the names of each of the five season trees. Place a chair or cushion on the floor in the center where you will imagine a circle surrounding you. You may want to cast a circle as you would for ritual.

Determine which way is north and place the candle for yew with the candle for fir to its right. Place the paper with the tree’s name, a picture or object in front of each candle. The candle and object, picture or name for heather goes in the south position at the opposite side of your circle. Place gorse in the east and aspen in the west. Take your seat in the center. From inside the circle, face the direction that corresponds to the current season. If it is midway through a season, face the midway point.

Begin as with other meditations, focusing on your breath and calming your energy. When you are ready, shift your focus to the tree of the current season. For example, if you are facing east think springtime and the attributes of gorse. Allow yourself to feel and experience the energy of this season and tree. Let the energy of the tree guide you. Moving clockwise, repeat this process for each of the other seasons. If it is winter, start with yew if it is before the solstice or fir if it is after the solstice. The spring and autumn equinoxes are days of balance when light and dark are equal. Take time to feel the equilibrium of these seasons. Spend as much time as you feel is appropriate on each one.

With this meditation you are connecting with the natural world and the cycle of the year. It provides a macro consciousness of standing outside the circle of time, while at the same time helping your energy spiral inward. Trees provide a way to tap into the web of all existence for magical and spiritual purposes, as well as to simply embrace and enhance life. Like music, trees speak to something deep and primal within us.

The more we open to the energy around us, the more mystical our relation with the land and elements becomes. As we work with tree energy, we are able to see and appreciate the mysteries of the natural world and the wisdom of the soul.

© Sandra Kynes
Published in
Llewellyn's 2006 Magical Almanac