Ogham Tuesday: Willow/Saille

“It’s only mystery and I like it.”

With apologies to The Rolling Stones and thanks to that bumper sticker I saw eons ago, Willow has always felt to me like a tree of mysteries. When I was a kid, I’d hang out under the draping branches and feel like I was part of a grand secret. It reaches not only down into the earth and up to the sky, but also extends out to any waterway in its vicinity (for better or worse!). The dichotomy of growing up and draping over at the same time has a lot of resonance for me. 

There are stronger trees on the landscape, but willows always catch my eye with their distinctive shape across myriad varieties. (There are 300+ species and cultivars worldwide and ~90 of those are native to the US!) Willows have a “sweet spot” of heat, humidity, moisture, and soil pH, but need little intervention when they’re happy. They grow quickly, which can make their limbs weak, so early pruning is important to encourage a strong shape that’s resistant to storm damage. 

Willows provide food and cover for many wildlife species. Their bark provides food for deer and beaver and even moose; and their catkins produce nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. Willow bark can be made into string and its branches are good basket-making material. Willow tree bark also contains salicin, which traditional/indigenous medicine uses to treat fever and pain, and from which aspirin was developed.*

Keywords include: intuition, emotion, water, flow, transubstantiation, bending, resilience, underworld, depth, superstitious, visionary, absorb, saturated

Guidance and questions might be:

• Do I need to consider what is happening under the surface of this situation? Can I embrace mystery and intuition, and take action without certainty?

• In what ways can I be more connected with the earth, water, and sky around me? To what powers do I need to reach out?

• Am I unintentionally undermining the structures around me, while trying to meet my own needs? Can I place myself in the environment to be in a better flow state?

• How can I weave my strengths into the collective whole? Where do I need to cultivate resilience and where should I prune away vulnerabilities?

What connections do you see between Willow as an ogham and Willow 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 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.

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