Tree Magic - Willow Tree :herb:

Introduction

Trees are some of the oldest and most magical living creatures on our planet, and almost every culture has a sacredness surrounding the plants. In Celtics lore, trees compromise their "zodiac" chart, where each portion of the year is assigned a tree and correspondences. In Buddhism, a Bodhi tree was where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment. Yggdrasil is the world tree in Norse mythology, holding all the nine realms in its branches.

When it comes to personal practice and sacredness, the willow tree has to be mine. Willow trees have been around my whole life, from the one in my granny's front yard to the one down the street from me now. Willow trees have always been mesmerizing and very spiritually strong. So, I will share some of my experiences, tips, and tricks on how I work with and honor the willow tree.

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Willow Tree Scientific Associations

Science can play a big part in witchcraft. Below are some key scientific aspects of the willow tree that can come into play with magic.

:seedling: Scientific Name: Salix (There are many types, like Salix babylonica for the weeping willow.)

:seedling: Family: Salicaceae

:seedling: Type: Deciduous tree (loses its leaves in fall)

:seedling: Leaves: Long, narrow, and pointed; often light green

:seedling: Branches: Flexible and drooping, especially in weeping willows

:seedling: Flowers: Small, often in fuzzy clusters called catkins

:seedling: Habitat: Grows near water—rivers, lakes, and wetlands

:seedling: Roots: Spread wide and deep; great for controlling erosion

:seedling: Height: Some types grow up to 30-50 feet tall

:seedling: Fun Fact: Willow bark contains salicin, a natural pain reliever—this inspired the creation of aspirin.

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General Magical Associations

While experiences and energies can differ plant-to-plant and person-to-person, here are some general magical associations of the willow tree.

:sparkles: Water and moon energy

:sparkles: Feminine cyclical energy

:sparkles: Emotional healing

:sparkles: Rebirth and renewal (willows are one of the first trees to bud after winter)

:sparkles: Flexibility

:sparkles: Hidden strength

:sparkles: Wish magic

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My Personal Working with the Willow Tree

I assicate willow trees very closely with the things above but also with a few more correspondences based on personal experiences. I'll explain my rationale a bit below.

:dash: Air energy - due to the swaying of the branches in the wind. I have also noticed that when sitting beneath a willow tree, my connection to sound feels heightened.

:black_joker: Tarot associations - the witch, the page of wands, and the ten of chalices. Each of these cards represents an aspect of the willow tree as a magical force in my life. The witch represents deep intuition and powerful feminine, the page of wands taps into creativity, and the ten of chalices the emotional peace and serenity.

:crystal_ball: Oracle Association - Unconditional. This card warns against being too flexible and actually needing to put down boundaries while still acknowledging love and desire to nurture others.

:gift: Offerings - I typically offer liquids (in VERY small amounts if it's not water) since willows are hydrophilic (water loving). I sometimes also hum and sing, and sometimes I listen to her song instead. With permission, I'll "brush her hair" by running my hands through the branches

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Conclusion

Go hug a tree (with consent)

Blessed be witches :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy:

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