All through my childhood, and most of my adult life, the mighty oak has been a silent but powerful friend. From childhood pastures filled with giant oaks where screeching cat owls loved to live in their hollows, and slow-moving clumsy stag beetles staggered around their roots (in Swedish, stag beetle is directly translated as “oak ox,”) to the protective oak forest surrounding my parent’s houses, the acorns falling in the autumn attracting wild boars that sometimes have scared me half to death if I startled them at night (anyone who heard the growl of a wild boar up close knows exactly what I’m talking about.)
Both practically and symbolically, the oak lends itself to protection and safety. It is the very image of strength, abundance and endurance. A mature oak can be host to over a thousand species, some of which are dependent on the oak exclusively as their living environment. The oak may reach an age of a thousand years. There’s no wonder the Celtic Druids associated oak with immortality, among many other things. In the Old Norse mythology, oak is associated with Thor, well known as the thunder-god, always ready to throw his axe in any battle he found righteous.
As a magical ally, the oak tree can help you cultivate traits such as strength, endurance, abundance and help protect you when needed. If you want to work with the oak magically, here are some things you can do:
If you feel your home needs to be more of a safe haven for you and your loved ones, go out and pick evenly long branches, preferably between one to two feet long. Bind these together with red thread, either in the shape of the five pointed pentagram, or as a solar cross. Let some of the threads hang loose from your creation so they can flow in the wind. Hang this talisman on your front door, asking the oak spirit for protection of your home.
If you are starting a new project that you want to have deep-seated, long-term positive outcome, work with – depending on season – oak leaves and/or acorns. While theses contain all the positive symbolic and energetic signatures mentioned above, in the leaves and the acorns specifically lays the potential for “all possibility.” Change up your flower vases with branches of dark green oak leaves and decorate them with red yarn, and symbols of your choice. Fill bowls of acorns, add whatever stones or little symbols that represent your wants, and if your goal involves money – as they often do – roll bills and stick them in between the acorns. Ask for the blessings of the spirits specifically attached to the oak leaves and acorns (if you’re really lucky, you may see a glimpse of them.)
If you need to be more "in the eye in the storm,” try meditating with the oak tree. This can of course be done sitting under an oak tree, but this is not necessary. Sit comfortably and envision the stem of a giant oak growing around you, “feel” the coarse bark, and know that this tree has been home to thousands and thousands of creatures without getting hurt. Envision its mighty roots going far into the ground, its massive branches spreading far above your head. Borrow some of its ancient power. Know you can be an oak anytime you like.
Enjoy your mighty ally the oak.
This piece was first published in the newsletter Magic, Writing and Marketing. It is a mid-monthly newsletter sent out by the publishers of The Echo World. You can sign up on the website www.theechoworld.com/
Both practically and symbolically, the oak lends itself to protection and safety. It is the very image of strength, abundance and endurance. A mature oak can be host to over a thousand species, some of which are dependent on the oak exclusively as their living environment. The oak may reach an age of a thousand years. There’s no wonder the Celtic Druids associated oak with immortality, among many other things. In the Old Norse mythology, oak is associated with Thor, well known as the thunder-god, always ready to throw his axe in any battle he found righteous.
As a magical ally, the oak tree can help you cultivate traits such as strength, endurance, abundance and help protect you when needed. If you want to work with the oak magically, here are some things you can do:
If you feel your home needs to be more of a safe haven for you and your loved ones, go out and pick evenly long branches, preferably between one to two feet long. Bind these together with red thread, either in the shape of the five pointed pentagram, or as a solar cross. Let some of the threads hang loose from your creation so they can flow in the wind. Hang this talisman on your front door, asking the oak spirit for protection of your home.
If you are starting a new project that you want to have deep-seated, long-term positive outcome, work with – depending on season – oak leaves and/or acorns. While theses contain all the positive symbolic and energetic signatures mentioned above, in the leaves and the acorns specifically lays the potential for “all possibility.” Change up your flower vases with branches of dark green oak leaves and decorate them with red yarn, and symbols of your choice. Fill bowls of acorns, add whatever stones or little symbols that represent your wants, and if your goal involves money – as they often do – roll bills and stick them in between the acorns. Ask for the blessings of the spirits specifically attached to the oak leaves and acorns (if you’re really lucky, you may see a glimpse of them.)
If you need to be more "in the eye in the storm,” try meditating with the oak tree. This can of course be done sitting under an oak tree, but this is not necessary. Sit comfortably and envision the stem of a giant oak growing around you, “feel” the coarse bark, and know that this tree has been home to thousands and thousands of creatures without getting hurt. Envision its mighty roots going far into the ground, its massive branches spreading far above your head. Borrow some of its ancient power. Know you can be an oak anytime you like.
Enjoy your mighty ally the oak.
This piece was first published in the newsletter Magic, Writing and Marketing. It is a mid-monthly newsletter sent out by the publishers of The Echo World. You can sign up on the website www.theechoworld.com/
