Cedar
Keywords
Balance, Calm, Dreaming, Healing, Longevity, Preservation, Prosperity,
Protection, Purification, Wisdom
Historical
Background and Folklore
Although there are a number of trees called cedars, only those of
the genus Cedrus are true cedars. In the Middle East, cedar wood
from the famed Cedars of Lebanon was used to build the Temple of
Solomon. It was also known as arbor vitae, the tree of life. Cedars
were associated with the Divine because they seemed to grow out
of the rocks without need of soil or water, and they flourished
under difficult conditions.
In ancient Egypt, cedar oil and incense was used as an offering
to the gods. The sun god Ra was mentioned as “he who dwelt
among the cedars”. Cedar became associated with Imbolg because
it represents coming into the light from darkness. |
In the Middles Ages and Renaissance, the durable cedar was used in
Europe for furniture, chest lining and musical instruments. The mythical
unicorn was said to keep his treasure in a cedar wood chest.
Associations
Elements: air, earth, fire, water
Energy: masculine
Goddesses: Arianrhod, Arinna, Astarte, Brigid, Calypso, Persephone
Gods: Aegir, Osiris, Ra, Thunderbird
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Other
Beings/Characters: archangel Tazkiel, elves, faeries, unicorns
Celestial Body: Sun
Color: light yellow
Gemstone: yellow chrysoprase
Dates: February 2 - 18 and August 14 - 23
Other Associations: passing from darkness into light; the self;
eternal life; remove or repel negativity; sabbat: Imbolg; throat
chakra; Babylon
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