Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

27th February 2014

Celebrate this majestic and endangered tree and find out the personality type of people born under its sign. Ash trees are native to Britain and members of the Olive family. Tragically, this majestic tree has been much in the press recently because of the fungal disease which is threatening to wipe it out and devastate the many creatures that call it home.

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

27th February 2014

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

27th February 2014

The World Tree
The Celts linked this mighty tree to power, growth, expansion and magnitude because of its size – it has been known to grow to 200 feet. In many cultures, the Ash tree is known as the World Tree: its huge branches reach towards the sky and its deep roots connect to the earth, so it is seen to span all three worlds, the Underworld, Earth, and the Spiritual Realm. In Norse mythology, the Ash is known as Yggdrasil or Cosmic Ash. It heals the loneliness of the human spirit by forming a link between the gods, humans, and the dead in the spirit world. It reminds us that we need to stay grounded to be able to reach for the sky. The spiral buds of the Ash tree were linked to the spiral of life. The seeds of the tree hang down in a bundle; they have a singular wing and twirl to the ground in late winter. They are sometimes known as helicopter seeds or key seeds.

Wood Uses
Ash wood is beautiful and almost pure white. Known as the Warrior’s Wood, it is the most elastic and toughest of all woods and for this reason was used to make wagons and coaches, axe handles, spears, oars, wheel rims, and weaver’s looms. Ash wood burns with intense heat, even when green, and gives off a lovely scent. For this reason, it is linked not only to the air element but also the fire element. Ash wood was used to make wands and witches brooms because of its qualities of strength and protection and its straight grain.

Mighty protector
The protective qualities of Ash were much revered, and it was thought to be a guardian of children. It was believed that a child’s illness could be healed by the child passing through a split in this gentle giant’s trunk.

Medicinal qualities
Fresh Ash leaves placed under your pillow are said to promote prophetic and psychic dreams. The bark should be gathered in spring and is traditionally used for arthritis, cuts, grazes and sores. An infusion of Ash bark is a mild laxative and diuretic and the potent root bark has astringent properties. Traditional herbalists used it to treat liver problems, kidney and urinary infections, intestinal parasites and malaria. The leaves, gathered in summer, can be made into teas and were used for joint problems and rheumatoid arthritis.

Celtic Tree Zodiac
It is easy to fall in love with someone born under the sign of the Ash. These people are attractive, spontaneous, gregarious and vivacious. They are intelligent and lively and love new ideas. They sometimes find it hard to cope with the realities of life because they are such gentle dreamers and can be prone to hypersensitivity and possibly egoism. They are ambitious and wonderful speakers, loving to engage in lively discussion.

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