Ogham Tuesday: Aspen/Eadha

Sometimes called Quaking Aspen, the leaves of this tree tremble at the slightest breeze. 

Quaking aspen spreads through its root system, naturally growing into large stands over time, with one tree being a clone of the next. Pando is the name of a quaking aspen clone made of up ~47,000 stems that at first glance seem to be individual trees, but NO. They are connected to a common root system that spans 106 acres in Utah's Fishlake National Forest. This makes Pando the world's largest tree by both weight and landmass. 

This connective network actively directs nutrients to stems that are struggling, such that the strength of the whole is preserved. Its ability to regenerate from the root system has also helped Pando survive fires and damage that would have leveled an ordinary (solitary) tree. 

So, while Aspen as an omen points to fear, it also carries with it the remedies of courage and connection. It’s simply a signal that fear exists. Naming a fear can help put it in its place, so we can gather the support we need to take action through that fear. “Do it scared,” the advice says. But you don’t have to do it alone. Take your shield. Take your support system. THEN do it scared, and prevail. 

Keywords include: fear, courage, trembling, communication, shield, admonition, respect, core, consideration, invite, interrogate, gentle, conquest, safety, push, overcome

Guidance might include:

• Build your systems of support now, so they’ll sustain you when you need them. 

• Acknowledge your fear and ask for help navigating through it. 

• Don’t move faster than your protection. 

Questions or cautions might include:

• How can you lean on the strength of community right now?

• Is your level of fear proportional to the actual threat? 

• Where are the roots of your own regeneration? 

What connections do you see? 

Blessings,

Nicole

~ 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, and loves to fall in love with bad ideas.

 #ogham #omens #divination #druidry #pagan #9firespress #oghamtuesday