Tree Lore: Magnolia

Today is the First day of Spring, otherwise known as the Vernal Equinox!  Happy flowers and sunshine everyone :)  In celebration, I decided to highlight one of my favorite trees associated with the Spring Season....

Magnolia

Elemental Association: Earth

Astrological Signs: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo

Ruling Planet: Sun, Venus 

Gender: Female

Magnolia is an ancient genus of plant having evolved even before bees appeared on the timeline.  The giant blossoms on this tree developed to encourage pollination by beetles first.  Some fossilized specimens have been found to date back approximately twenty-million years!

Various parts of this tree have found popular uses across the world.  In traditional Chinese medicine (known as Hou Po), the bark is used for regulating Qi (life-force) and resolving stagnation.  It helps with coughing, vomiting and bloating.  The dental community has also taken interest in the Magnolia bark extract because it interferes with the formation of bacterial plaque.

In ancient China where the plant was called Yu-lan (Jade Orchid), only the Emporer was entitled to own a Magnolia and he would occasionally give a root as a sign of imperial favor. The ancient Aztecs also knew of the Magnolia tree, naming it Eloxochitl or "Flower with Green Husk". One superstition tells that a blossom placed in the bedroom will kill anyone who sleeps there.

In Japan the blossoms are used to wrap some foods and eaten and the Magnolia is the state tree of Mississippi.  The fragrance of the blossoms is thought to possess aromatherapy qualities that help reduce anxiety.  Native Americans were said to avoid sleeping under the tree when in bloom because of its strong scent.

In flower symbolism, the Magnolia represents nobility, perseverance and a love of nature.  Indeed, this plant has been known to survive ice ages, mountain range formations and continental drift and still rises regally among other flowering trees with some of the most magnificent foliage.  Dreaming of Magnolia symbolizes beauty, grace and elegance.  It can also represent a need to feel protected and safe, or to be recognized.

Wands made from Magnolia will help to encourage a regal but gentile demeanor.  There is an almost hypnotic and languid quality to this wood that is at once commanding but unhurried.  It will help the practitioner to make wise decisions and develop patience and endurance.  Magnolia will inspire a graceful and elegant application of will and encourage one to see the beauty of nature everywhere.

Tree Lore: Monkeypod

The name sounds so strange, but I do like the lore that goes along with this tree - not to mention the tufts :)

Monkeypod

Elemental Association: Water, Air

Astrological Signs: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, Aquairius, Gemini, Libra

Ruling Planet: Neptune, Pluto

Gender: Male

Monkeypod - also commonly known as the Raintree - is a popular ornamental tree.  It is often used for shade and flourishes well in tropical climates with an impressive, spreading crown.  In Hawaii it can flower any time of year with spindly pink clusters that look like powder-puffs caught in the canopy of the tree.  This tree loves to be in the sun and its fruit is an edible nutrient for various birds and wildlife.

The Hawaiin Monkeypod wood has often been a popular choice for carving figurines of various gods such as Kan, Ku, Lono and Kanaloa, often referred to as Tiki Gods or statues.  In New Zealand, the tree is said have sprung from the leaves which fell from the crown of Hatu-patu, god of the winds.

The Monkeypod gained it's alternate name of Raintree because according to legends, water has been claimed to fall from underneath its leaves even in the driest of weather.  Though this phenomenon has legendary status, it is a very real occurrence.  Due to the ability of this tree to rapidly condense ambient moisture in the air, the trunk is sometimes found to drip with water.

Magical tools made from this wood will be good for use in celebrations and festivities.  It may also act as an excellent conduit for invoking the weather to one's favor.  Having an air of mystery, it will also assist with puzzle and riddle solving.

The Monkeypod is a cheerful and majestic tree whose canopy provides a sprawling shelter to any who come beneath it.

Tree Lore: Greenheart

Every good Fairy Princess attends to her studies.  My course in Tree Lore here at the Fairy Academy has proven to be quite intensive!  Just to share the wealth of knowledge that I'm learning, and to lighten the homework some, I put a poll on my Facebook site asking about which tree I should elaborate on this week.  The winner was Greenheart, and this is what I've learned in my research :)

Greenheart

Elemental Association: Earth, Water

Astrological Signs: Capricorn, Taurus, Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio

Ruling Planet: Moon, Neptune

Gender: Male, Female

Greenheart is quite the temperamental wood.  This is a tropical wood and verges on the smaller side of trees that inhabit the rainforests.  Even still, the tree tends to grow tall and straight. The heartwood of this tree varies from light to dark olive (and sometimes blackish) tint from which it derives its name. Greenheart is native to South America and particularly Guyana.  

It is rather infamous for both its incredible durability as well as its dangerous nature.  The wood of this tree, when cut, has been known to dry and expand or split so quickly and with such force as to drive splinters into the roofs of the lumber mill.  One is cautioned against splinters when working this wood because they will cause infection.  

That said, a goodly piece of tamed Greenheart is second only to Teak in its durability and is particularly resilient in wetter atmospheres whilst still maintaining its flexibility.  This makes it popular for the construction of docks and pylons. Greenheart was also a very popular wood in the making of fly-fishing rods in some cultures.

One very interesting American Folklore says that Greenheart (or Greenheart-Er-Knowledge) is the name of the devil's daughter.  In contrast to her father, she appears to be a sympathetic and benevolent character. In a story of Jack and the Devil, she helps Jack out-smart the devil three times by building him a ladder from her cut nail and stands of hair.  Eventually he wins her in marriage.

This wood will be good for encouraging ingenuity and creative solutions to challenges or hurdles.  It helps to remind us that while knowledge is valuable, applied knowledge can be extremely versatile and powerful.

Greenheart helps to strengthen courage and resolve and is an excellent choice for working with the ocean and Merfolk.  It is resistant to decay by water and so can act as an excellent vessel for travel, scrying in ponds, lakes or other aquatic sources.  It may also deliver messages and draw upon the energy of the natural world around us.

Tree Lore: Fig

For some time now, I have been editing my book on the myth and magic of trees (faeries love trees, as I am sure you know :).  It is a tedious process, there are a lot of trees and I've researched over 100!  I thought perhaps I might share a little bit of what I've learned along the way.  Today I begin editing with the Fig tree.

Fig

Elemental Association: All

Astrological Signs: All

Ruling Planet: Saturn, Pluto 

Gender: Male

Fig trees are steeped in history and lore from Ancient Egypt to Mesopotamia to Asia and Near Eastern cultures.  In Indian culture, it was underneath the Bodhi Tree - which was an ancient and revered Fig - that Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment.  Later he became known as the first Buddha and founder of Buddhism.

In Celtic tree lore, the dates for the Fig tree are: June 14-23 and December 12 - 21.  It is thought to represent sensibility and is revered as a strong, independent and stern on matters related to family and contradiction.  It bears a good sense of humor and respects practical talent and intelligence.

The Fig fruit has been portrayed as the forbidden fruit of the bible in some Mediterranean art depicting the Garden of Eden.  Islamic tradition mentions the Fig and the Olive as two forbidden trees in the Garden of Eden.

One interesting bit of trivia is that in the biblical story of Adam and Eve, they sewed together Fig leaves to cover their nakedness once they were became aware.  When the Vatican made the decision to open its museum halls to the public during the nineteenth century, the sculptures it housed were 'altered' to have their private regions covered with Fig leaves, in order to preserve the modesty of ladies who would be visiting the museum!

In Greek and Roman traditions the Fig tree is often associated with Bacchus (Dionysus to the Greeks), the God of wine and drunkenness.  Often this connection includes Priapus, a Satyr who symbolizes sexual desire.

Fig trees were also held sacred to the Romans because the wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus took rest under the branches of the tree.  Figs were offered as celebratory presents on the first day of the year by the Romans.  Sykeis the name of the dryad nymph that presides over the Fig tree.

The Fig can also represent abundance and initiation.  Ancient Egyptian priests would eat Figs at consecration rites and ceremonies and they were also a staple of some of the first desert hermits.  Indeed, anyone possessing such a sustaining fruit in a barren land would be seen to have abundance.

Wands made from Fig will encourage unity, bringing people together.  This wood promotes the true understanding and the revelations of knowledge and enlightenment.  It provides overall a sustaining, stable energy geared toward practicality and pragmatism.  Everything in moderation however, including moderation - even the Fig will take time out to celebrate and enjoy the pleasures of life.

Tree Lore: Linden

This week's tree of study is the Linden.  I chose this one because I used to use Linden scented soap which had such a soft and clean smell it gives me warm memories :)

Elemental Association: Earth

Astrological Signs: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo

Ruling Planet: Venus, Saturn

Gender: Female

Linden is a tree arrayed with leafy green foliage worthy of mention by such notables as Pliny and Aristophanes who both remarked upon its beauty.  Being both strong and lightweight, Linden has been used for a number of purposes over the ages from corset boning to yokes for the plough as relayed to us by Virgil: “A light linden-tree also is felled betimes for the yoke”.  The inner bark was sometimes used for paper.

The Green Dryads, or tree spirits, were said to be wedded to Linden trees. In Roman mythology the Linden tree was a symbol of conjugal love and fidelity.  It was described by the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning in the following passage:

“Here a Linden-tree stood, bright'ning
All adown its silver rind;
For, as some trees draw the lightning,
So this tree, unto my mind,
Drew to earth the blessed sunshine
From the sky where it was shrined” 

It is sometimes known as the "Bee Tree" because the aroma and nectar of the blossoms are very attractive to them. The pale-colored honey made by the busy visitors is of excellent quality.  Linden sap can also be made into a nice wine.

Another common name for Linden is the Lime Tree. It is the National tree of the Czech Republic and in Slavic mythology it is sacred.  In Germany, towns would hold judiciary meetings under the Linden with the belief that it would help to uncover the truth.  In German folklore it was called the "Tree of Lovers".  This is possibly attributed in part to the passage by famous medieval German poet Walther von der Vogelweide:

“Under the lime tree

on the open field,

where we two had our bed,

you still can see

lovely both

broken flowers and grass.”

This could also be attributed in part to an older fertility rite where the Grass King would hand over his crown under a grove of seven Lindens so that it could be stuck into the soil of the flax fields to promote growth.

Linden will be useful with magic and spells that focus on love, romance, honesty and jurisprudence.  Ancient Scythian diviners also used to weave leaves of Linden around their fingers when speaking prophecy, claiming that the trees would speak to them through their leaves.

This wood can assist in seduction or coercive efforts, especially when accompanied by the aromatic blossoms.  It will also favor genuine endeavors that may require some hard work or attention to detail.  Another interesting magical quality of the Linden is that it can assist with the recalling and enhancement of memory.