Beth

O the Ivy O, she’s the Queen of old, And the Holly he is red. Hang ’em high in the farm, and us won’t come to no harm Till the Christmas days be told — Old Carol from Somerset, England There are some 300 species in the genus Ilex, which is more commonly known as … Read more

The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. –Old Yule carol Today, Marj, my favorite botanist, waxes poetic about the magical holly: “Holly” came from “holy,” or at least from the same source word. Here in eastern North America, … Read more

Dear friends and visitors — My blog, which archives the magical daily offerings on my website, will be paused briefly while I am out of town (and off-line). Don’t worry, though; the website will be updated every morning… And I’ll resume these archives next week when I return, so I do hope you’ll check back … Read more

The friends from my childhood again are before me Each step brings a memory as freely I roam. With soft whispers laden the leaves rustle o’er me The ash grove, the ash grove alone is my home.— Traditional Welsh song The ash tree has always been revered for its mystical powers, and is frequently associated … Read more

Soon as the evening shades prevail,The moon takes up the wondrous tale,And nightly to the listening earth,Repeats the story of her birth. While all the stars that round her burn,And all the planets in their turn,Confirm the tidings as they roll,And spread the truth from pole to pole. For ever singing as they shine,The hand … Read more

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.— John Muir The ash tree has always been revered for its mystical powers, and is frequently associated with healing and enchantment. In addition to being the World Tree Yggdrasil in Norse traditions, in Celtic literature, there are many references to the ash tree, particularly … Read more

Even ash, I do thee pluck,Hoping thus to meet good luck.If no good luck I get from thee,I shall wish thee on the tree.— Old English folk saying In the Celtic Tree Calendar, this is the month of the Ash Tree, one of the holy trinity of the Oak, Ash and Thorn trees. The Ash … Read more

The ash grove, how graceful,How plainly ‘tis speaking,The harp wind through it playingHas language for me. — Traditional Welsh folk song As we feel the shifting energies from Winter moving towards Spring, we honor the Green Allies who are stirring and awakening. They guard our homes, they offer us their shelter, bring us healing and … Read more

A song to the oak, the brave old oak, Who hath ruled in the greenwood long; Here’s health and renown to his broad green crown, And his fifty arms so strong. There’s fear in his frown when the Sun goes down,And the fire in the West fades out; And he showeth his might on a … Read more

Our ordinary mind always tries to persuade us that we are nothing but acorns and that our greatest happiness will be to become bigger, fatter, shinier acorns; but that is of interest only to pigs. Our faith gives us knowledge of something better: that we can become oak trees.— E.F. Schumacher Oak trees have a … Read more