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Celtic Tree Calendar
The Moon is humanity's oldest calendar. Evidence of ancient peoples keeping time by the phases of the moon have been found carved into rocks and cave walls the world over. The famous tree calendar of the Celts was such a time-keeping device, and, like other tribal cultures, the Celts found names and associations for their moon which were developed and codified over many years of ritual and experimentation. Each moon phase was assigned a corresponding tree, each tree being sacred to either feminine energy and to the Goddess, or to masculine energy and to the God.
The lunar tree calendar of the Celts has long been a source of controversy amont Celtic scholars. Some even claim it was never a part of the old Celtic world, but was an invention of author/researcher Robert Graves. The Druids are generally given credit by other researchers for creating this system. There seems to be no scholarly evidence to prove otherwise, yet many Celtic Pagans feel that the system pre-dates the time of Druidic influence over Celtic religious matters. It is probably reasonable to believe that the truth lies somewhere in between these three extremes. It is most likely that the tree system was in place, with minor regional variations before the time of the Druids who experimented with it, discovered the magickal properties of each tree, and codified all the information into the system we have today.
The trees the Druids selected for the thirteen months were already trees which were sources of magick and myth in Celtic folklore. Several of the trees are said to be attractive to faery folk, and others were sources of magick herbs or medicines.
Today the counting of the Celtic tree calendar begins with the full moon nearest Yule. Perhaps it once began with the full moon nearest Samhain since, until the influence of the Norse, Samhain marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year. When you have pinpointed the full moon closest to Yule, count off the thirteen moons of the lunar year and mark them with their Tree Calendar names.*
Ogham alphabet
"The Ogham (pronounced owam), or sacred Druidic alphabet, contained hidden secrets for magic and divination. Only the initiated could understand these occult meaning. The ancient Celts had a kinship with trees which is shown in this magical alphabet and in their tree calendar. Further proof of their respect for trees is in the old Celtic word for oak (Duir); the word Derwydd or Duirwydd (oak-seer) was probably the origin of the word Druid.
The Celts beleived that many trees where inhabited by spirits or had spirits of their own. This idea most notably applied to any tree with a strong aura around it. They also believed that certain trees had a healing influence on humans. From this ancient respect for the power of trees came the expressions 'touch wood' and 'knock on wood'.
Oak, ash, and thorn were called the faery triad of trees. Where they grow together,it is still said that faeries live.
The ancient Celts used the Ogham alphabet in performing magick. They also threw divination sticks engraved with the signs of the Ogham alphabet.
For divination, paint or engrave the symbols on one side of some flat sticks. Ice cream sticks or tongue depressors work well for this purpose. The symbols can also be drawn on cards and read as you do tarot. Choose seven sticks without looking. Concentrate on your question while holding them in both hands. Then gently toss them on the ground or floor in front of you. The closest sticks represent the present; the farthest represent the future. Any sticks that touch or overlap have a direct and enhanced influence on each other.
The Ogham signs may also be carved into candles or used in writing out requests to be presented to the gods during rituals."**
The trees of the Ogham alphabet were divided into three classifications, which had nothing to do with their physical form. They merely represented their order of importance to the Druids. Chieftains came first, followed by peasants and shrubs. Two symobls, the Grove and the Sea, are not actually trees; their inclusion points out the Druidic acknowledgments of the power of both the sea itself and a group of trees. The last five letters are called the Crane Bag and were given by the sea god Manannan.**
The Moon is humanity's oldest calendar. Evidence of ancient peoples keeping time by the phases of the moon have been found carved into rocks and cave walls the world over. The famous tree calendar of the Celts was such a time-keeping device, and, like other tribal cultures, the Celts found names and associations for their moon which were developed and codified over many years of ritual and experimentation. Each moon phase was assigned a corresponding tree, each tree being sacred to either feminine energy and to the Goddess, or to masculine energy and to the God.
The lunar tree calendar of the Celts has long been a source of controversy amont Celtic scholars. Some even claim it was never a part of the old Celtic world, but was an invention of author/researcher Robert Graves. The Druids are generally given credit by other researchers for creating this system. There seems to be no scholarly evidence to prove otherwise, yet many Celtic Pagans feel that the system pre-dates the time of Druidic influence over Celtic religious matters. It is probably reasonable to believe that the truth lies somewhere in between these three extremes. It is most likely that the tree system was in place, with minor regional variations before the time of the Druids who experimented with it, discovered the magickal properties of each tree, and codified all the information into the system we have today.
The trees the Druids selected for the thirteen months were already trees which were sources of magick and myth in Celtic folklore. Several of the trees are said to be attractive to faery folk, and others were sources of magick herbs or medicines.
Today the counting of the Celtic tree calendar begins with the full moon nearest Yule. Perhaps it once began with the full moon nearest Samhain since, until the influence of the Norse, Samhain marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year. When you have pinpointed the full moon closest to Yule, count off the thirteen moons of the lunar year and mark them with their Tree Calendar names.*
| MOON NAME | POLARITY | NICKNAMES | MAGICKAL PROPERTIES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Moon | Feminine | Moon of Inception; Moon of Beginning |
Protection of children; purification; creativity |
| Rowan Moon | Masculine | Moon of Vision; Spirit Moon; Astral Travel Moon |
Healing; Personal Empowerment; Divination |
| Ash Moon | Feminine | Moon of Waters | Prosperity; Protection; Healing |
| Alder Moon | Masculine | Moon of Utility; Moon of Efficacy; Moonof Self-Guidance |
Spirituality; Teaching; Weather magick; Duty; Mental Prowess; |
| Willow Moon | Feminine | The Witches' Moon; Moon of Balance |
Romantic Love; Healing; Protection; Fertility; Magick for Women |
| Hawthorn Moon | Masculine | Moon of Restraint; Moonof Hindrance; Summer Moon |
Fertility; Peace; Prosperity; Binding |
| Oak Moon | Masculine | Moon of Strength; Moon of Security; Bear Moon |
All positive purposes; Magick for Men; Fidelity |
| Holly Moon | Feminine | Moon of Encirclement; Moon of Polarity |
Protection; Prophecy; Magick for Animals; Sex Magick |
| Hazel Moon | Feminine | Moon of the Wise; Crone Moon |
Manifestiation; Spirit Contact; Protection; Fertility |
| Vine Moon | Androgynous | Moon of Celebration | (Property dependent on the type of vine) Blackberry - Prosperity; Protection; Sacred to Brid Blueberry - Spirituality; Dream Magick Grape - Fertility; Inspiration; Prosperity; Binding Thistle - Courage; Protection; Strength |
| Ivy Moon | Masculine | Moon of Buoyancy; Moon of Resilience |
Healing; Protection; Cooperation; Exorcism |
| Reed Moon | Feminine | Moon of the Home; Hearth Moon; Winter Moon; Moon which Manifests Truth |
Fertility; Protection; Love; Family Concerns |
| Elder Moon | Masculine | Moon of Completeness | Exorcism; Prosperity; Banishing; Healing |
Ogham alphabet
"The Ogham (pronounced owam), or sacred Druidic alphabet, contained hidden secrets for magic and divination. Only the initiated could understand these occult meaning. The ancient Celts had a kinship with trees which is shown in this magical alphabet and in their tree calendar. Further proof of their respect for trees is in the old Celtic word for oak (Duir); the word Derwydd or Duirwydd (oak-seer) was probably the origin of the word Druid.
The Celts beleived that many trees where inhabited by spirits or had spirits of their own. This idea most notably applied to any tree with a strong aura around it. They also believed that certain trees had a healing influence on humans. From this ancient respect for the power of trees came the expressions 'touch wood' and 'knock on wood'.
Oak, ash, and thorn were called the faery triad of trees. Where they grow together,it is still said that faeries live.
The ancient Celts used the Ogham alphabet in performing magick. They also threw divination sticks engraved with the signs of the Ogham alphabet.
For divination, paint or engrave the symbols on one side of some flat sticks. Ice cream sticks or tongue depressors work well for this purpose. The symbols can also be drawn on cards and read as you do tarot. Choose seven sticks without looking. Concentrate on your question while holding them in both hands. Then gently toss them on the ground or floor in front of you. The closest sticks represent the present; the farthest represent the future. Any sticks that touch or overlap have a direct and enhanced influence on each other.
The Ogham signs may also be carved into candles or used in writing out requests to be presented to the gods during rituals."**
The trees of the Ogham alphabet were divided into three classifications, which had nothing to do with their physical form. They merely represented their order of importance to the Druids. Chieftains came first, followed by peasants and shrubs. Two symobls, the Grove and the Sea, are not actually trees; their inclusion points out the Druidic acknowledgments of the power of both the sea itself and a group of trees. The last five letters are called the Crane Bag and were given by the sea god Manannan.**
| Beth/Birch DEC 24 - Jan 20 |
Luis/Rowan Jan 21 - Feb. 17 |
Fearn/Alder March 18 - April 14 |
Saille/Willow April 15 - May 12 |
Nuin/Ash Feb. 18 - March 17 |
New beginnings, good fortune, luck, change |
Protection, ability to distinguish good from bad, insight |
Resiliance, strength, energy |
Intuition, creativity, fertility, mysticism |
Magic, peace |
| Huathe/Hawthorn May 13 - June 9 |
Duir/Oak June 10 - July 7 |
Tinne/Holly July 8 - Aug. 4 |
Coll/Hazel Aug. 5 - Sept. 1 |
Quert/None Apple Tree |
Patience, restraint, abstinence |
Steadfastness, protection, inspiration |
Balance, justice |
Creativity, divination, meditation |
Beauty, youthfulness, perfection |
| Muin/Vine Sept. 2 - Sept. 29 |
Gort/Ivy Sept. 30 - Oct. 27 |
Ngetal/Reed Oct. 28 - Nov. 24 |
Straif/None Blackthorne Tree |
Ruis/Elder Nov.25 - DEC 22 |
Prophecy, release from restraints |
Progress, changes, distractions |
Harmony, unity, wisdom |
Fate, the unexpected, bad luck |
Change, transition, faeries |
| Ailim/None Silver Fir |
Ohn/None Furze Tree |
Ur/None Heather |
Eadha/None White Poplar |
Ioho/None Yew Tree |
Power, insight, progression |
Knowledge, purification, wisdom |
Challenges, goals, luck |
Endurance, success |
Transformation, rebirth, immortality |
| Koad/None The Grove |
Oir/None Spindle |
Uilleand/None Honeysuckle |
Phagos/None Beech Tree |
Pion/None Pine Tree |
 Knowledge, revelations |
| 
Wisdom, good judgement, confidence |
Guidance from the past, experience |
The Sea  Travel |