Ogham Tuesday: Alder/Fearn

Alder trees are native to Europe and Great Britain. The European alder (Alnus glutinosa) reaches a maximum height of ~25 meters, with a life expectancy of just 50-60 years. It grows in a variety of habitats and soil types but especially in areas with damp soil, including wet woodlands, marshes, and riverbanks. Alder tree roots lock nitrogen into the soil so it can tolerate, and even improve, poor soils.They don’t need much care or pruning once established. 

European alder and many other varieties can be grown in the US, but my area doesn’t have the right conditions for them to thrive with my style of gardening. Instead, I may try Common alder (Alnus serrulata), a variety that is Missouri’s only native alder. It doesn’t get quite so large here, with a more shrub-like appearance and a max height of about seven meters tall. Alder still prefers the same growing conditions as its European cousin, but in prairies and along (often dried) riverbeds, its thick mat of roots can help prevent erosion. 

Alder trees produce pollen and seeds in their catkins, which may be male or female on the same tree, for a range of wildlife such as bees, finches, and caterpillars of the alder moth. The bark of alder has a long history of medical uses prior to colonization in North America. For example, infusions made from the bark of red alders were taken to treat anemia, colds, congestion, and to relieve pain because the salicin in it has an action similar to aspirin.* The dried female catkins, which look like tiny pinecones, are useful in craft projects. They are also sometimes plated with gold and silver and used in jewelry. Once cut, Alder wood also changes to red or orange, which is WILD.

In an omen, Alder could be a call to pay attention to where (or from whom) you are taking advice, or to confirm the example you’re following promotes the same goals and ideals as your current self. Perhaps it appears as a warning that, while you have the right advice and information available, you are not heeding it. Lessons gleaned from another’s experience can be a shortcut to your own success and steer you away from costly errors, if you let them.

Keywords include: trusted, faith, seek, caring, defended, challenges, shielding, counsel, hardy, reliable, enrichment, mentorship, patron.

Guidance and questions might be:

• Are you holding on to guidance that’s out of touch (or out of date) with your need? It might be time for a periodic review of how those factors are aligning. 

• Is it time for a new mentor? If your goals have changed, it’s possible your previous mentors or maps won’t be able to guide you as well. 

• How are you “paying forward” the value of lessons you’ve gained from your mentors? Do you feel a call to offer mentorship to others? 

What connections do you see between Alder as an ogham and Alder as a tree? I’m excited to hear your thoughts!

Blessings,

Nicole

* I’m not an herbalist or a doctor at all, and I’m especially NOT YOUR herbalist or doctor. This information is interesting and anecdotal but should not be interpreted as medical advice. 

~ Nicole (Nikki, sometimes Saffron Hare) is founder and general manager at Nine Fires Press. Her Druidic practice has included solitary, small-group, and congregational worship, with a focus on liturgy and seership. She is studying for her Master Gardener certification, rehabbing an underground home in the Midwestern US, loves to fall in love with bad ideas.