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Beech
Keywords
Ancestry, Companionship, Creativity, Mental Balance, Patience, Protection,
Stability, Rebirth; Transformation Wisdom
Historical
Background and Folklore
The beech tree has been called the “mother of the woods”
and queen to the king oak. As mother, her lofty branches provide
protection and shelter for smaller trees, and sustenance for human
and wildlife with her sweet beechnuts. Like hazelnuts, beechnuts
were believed to impart wisdom and were used as amulets. The visible
roots of the beech have been compared to serpents—a fitting
connection since the snake was a creature associated with the Great
Mother Goddess.
When oak groves were not available, beech was a suitable substitute
for Druidic ritual because of its majestic bearing. Along with oak,
beech trees were included in the sacred grove of Dodona at the temple
of Zeus in Greece.
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Associations with rebirth, transformation and ancestors may have come
from the common occurrence of dried brown leaves remaining on the
tree from one year to the next, providing an illustration of cycles
and generational change.
Associations
Elements: fire, water
Energy: feminine
Goddesses: Athena, Ceridwen, Diana, Freya, Frigg, Hel/Holle
Gods: Apollo, Loki, Odin, Tyr, Zeus |
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Other
Beings/Characters: archangels Hayriel and Jophael
Zodiac: Gemini, Virgo
Celestial Body: Saturn
Color: light blue
Gemstones: azurite, blue topaz
Ogham Character: Uilleann – Letters: UI, PE
Ogham Character: Ifin/Iphin – Letters: IO, PH
Rune Character: Nyd – Letters: Ng
Rune Character: Peorth/Pertho – Letter: P
Date: December 22
Bach Flower Remedy: intolerance
Miscellaneous: second sight; aids energy flow; bring stability to
your life; southwest; sabbats: Litha/Midsummer, Samhain
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© Llewellyn - Whispers from the Woods
For more information, refer to the full text in Whispers from
the Woods.
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