The information below is gathered from a variety of sources- Druidic tree lore, assorted magickal texts, and to no small extent, my own subjective experiences shaping and handling the various species. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary. Please bear with me- This page is a work in progress.
The seven sacred trees of the Celts are Ash, Alder, Apple, Birch, Holly, Oak, and Willow. Also of interest may be the Ogham, or celtic tree alphabet.
In Norse tradition, Yggdrasil was thought to be either an Ash or Yew. Gesundheit. Sorry, couldn't resist.
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A heavy, strong, light colored wood with a prominant open grain, similar to oak.
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Symbolizes strength, protection, and the sea, although some also attribute it with solar energy. The most traditional wood for norse runes. In the Ogham, it represents change and growth. |
Alder
Africa, Europe, Japan
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An orangish to reddish brown wood with darker streaks |
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A rich, light to medium brown wood with a nicely contrasting darker grain. |
Associated with Jupiter, and specified by Abramelin for use in ceremonial magick. Also considered to have properties relating to healing, prosperity and wisdom. |
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A surprisingly hard wood that ranges from light amber to rich honey brown. The inner bark can be skimmed to reveal a stunning grain pattern not unlike damascus steel. |
Used for love, fertility and health, apple also has strong connotations of harvest. |
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A light wood with medium hardness and a distinctive papery bark. Takes stains very well.
Native to US, Europe
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Associated with birth, new beginnings, and feminine energy. |
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A rich red-amber toned wood that darkens with age. |
A good wood for love, fertility, and divination. |
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A nearly grainless jet-black wood. Very hard and heavy. |
One of the first chioces for magical tools, ebony represents the moon, mystery, and the strong energy of high magick. It is an extremely powerful magickal wood, and works for nearly all types of ritual tools. |
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Generally a rich chocolate color with black grain. A very hard, heavy wood. |
Similar magickal properties to gaboon ebony, but perhaps a bit "softer". |
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A variety of ebony with jet black streaks through a softer yellow grain. |
One of the best choices for a wand that incorporates both male and female energies. |
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Elder be ye Lady's tree
burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
Sacred to the moon goddess, folklore says that elder is used for protection and to ward off witches. Hum.
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A bright white, extremely dense and almost grainless- it resembles a white version of ebony, and is sometimes dyed and used as a substitute for it. |
In the ogham, represents a test or challenge. |
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A cinamon-orange colored tropical hardwood with a distinctive leopard/snakeskin pattern |
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An oily, bright green to greenish brown wood with a lovely dark/light shaded grain. |
Literally, the "Tree of Life". This has a very strong feeling of health and well being.
Note: There are several completely different species from Australia, Haiti, and Asia all called lignum vitae. The one described is the one we use.
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A soft, lightweight, medium brown wood with an open grain and even color. |
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A light colored wood with great variety in grain and hardness. |
Holding special significance to New Englanders, maple is associated with longevity and prosperity. |
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A deep black wood with a faint smell of peat moss. Sturdy, but a bit softer than fresh oak. Often has much splitting, cracks, and checking. |
Bog oak is oak that fell and sank to the bottom of a peat bog thousands of years ago. Instead of decaying (there are little or no bacteria in the oxygen-fee environment) it becomes heavy, hard, and jet black like ebony. This highly sought after wood is imported from Ireland, is, very, very powerful, and has an average age of 3,000 to 8,000 years. |
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A hard, sturdy wood with open grain and a rich color that ranges from pinkish-brown to rust. |
Represents strength, health, protection, and wisdom. Red oak tends to be a little "warmer" with it's energy than white oak. |
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A hard, sturdy wood with open grain and a light brown color. |
Generally the same as red oak, above. |
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A smoooth wood with characteristic swirly grain of dark brown and honey beige. Smells distinctly of olives when first cut. |
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A tropical hardwood with a bright pink color |
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A fairly sturdy pale beige to light brown wood. |
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A hard, dense wood with open grain and a truly striking purple color that darkens with age. |
A warm wood that has a feeling of the feminine or the feminine side of the male, if that makes sense to you. One of my customers has a very cool post on his blog with his own speculation on purpleheart's relationship to Qaballah |
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A tropical wood with tones ranging from deep crimson to bright orange. |
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A dense, sturdy wood |
Often used for protection. Traditional wood for druid's staves in some traditions.
The North American mountain ash is a close relative of the european rowan, and is sometimes used as a substitute.
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A wood distinguished by it's bright red and yellow grain pattern. |
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Vine
Various speicies found on every continent
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Vines local to New England have a high sap content and dry to a hard, very light, even color with a tight grain. |
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A rich dark brown wood with a soft texture and varieties from light to heavy weight |
Often used for wisdom, mental prowess, and psychic powers |
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A very soft, lightweight, "whippy" sort of wood with light-medium greyish brown color. |
A good wood for healing, divination, and protection |
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A yellowish softwood with a darker colored heartwood. |
Nearly every part of the yew is toxic, and the wood is used to make superior bows. Both probably contribute to it's association with death and winter. |
