Druid’s are known for their Tree Lore – their connection to the trees. They support tree-planting and reforestation. Ceremonies and rituals would be performed in Sacred Groves in the forest, as well as that these groves offer a space for meditation, prayer or to commune with nature. Trees are bridges between the lower, middle and upper worlds and we as humans are very much like them. We can turn to the trees to ask for wisdom, guidance and protection. They are great listeners too. Trees help too clean up the energies in an area. They are the witnesses of the transformations and events that happen in the land and therefor record keepers and guardians of the forest.
Every 11th of the month we will introduce you to a different tree from the Ogham Tree Alphabet. To learn from the trees and walk in their ways. Rooting ourselves deeply into fertile grounds and to connect high with clear skies above…
“I am oak.
My roots grow as deep as my branches grow high
I am not afraid of lightning and thunder from the sky
My way is the way of balance
As above so below
Wood and acorns is what I bestow
So that fires may burn bright
On the evening of mid-summer night
May acorns feed both animal and humankind
And peace is what you find
When I open my secret door to go inside
Where the Sky world and Chtonic world reside"
Oak is also called the King of the Forest. In Post-Indo-European times Oak would rule the forests throughout Europe. The Wood of Oak is strong. It has been used throughout the ages to build homes to live in, to build ships to explore the oceans, to build shelters from the storm and create all kinds of artecrafts.
The Wood of Oak produces great heat when burned in fires and it burns slowly, therefor making the fire strong. Traditionally oak wood has been used in Mid-Summer Solstice fires, when we celebrate the beginning of summer and the longest day of the year.
The Druid’s believed that within the Oak tree lived a spirit that could open a door to either go through the branches to the upper world or to enter through the roots the world where all the nature spirits live. They looked at the tree as the ideal way of live: being able to balance as the roots of the Oak grow as deep as its branches grow high.
The Ogham name of oak has been translated into “highest amongst bushes”. Oak was seen as the highest of all trees in the forest, but has been in many traditions as well related to high places, to gods and to thunder and lightning.
In the North of Greece there is the Greek Oracle of the Holy Oak of Dodona, of which was said that “one could hear the will of Zeus in the trees”. The Greek prayed to Oak spirits – also known as Dryads – for rain.
The seven hills of Rome used to be covered with oak trees and they build the temple for Jupiter next to an old, holy oak. When the Romans where taking over Europe, they were often terrified by the Oak Giants in the Germanic forests. While to the Germanic people Oaks were revered as the “origin of the world”. In Northern mythology, Oaks were devoted to Thor, God of Thunder and Lightning. Also in Baltic countries Oaks were worshipped for their connection to the Gods Perkun – God of Lightning, Taara – God of Thunder and Perkunas – God of Thunder and Oaks.
Oaks are said to attract lightning and were therefor planted near to houses and shelters. Because Oak (and other trees too) has a high moisture content, which increases its ability to conduct the electricity. An oak that does get blasted by lightning represents the Tower in the Tarot. It represents a time in our life when our world is blown apart, while the Mighty oak teaches us how to move through the doorway into a new level of existence generated by fresh growth.
HERBAL USES*
From both the bark and the leaves one can brew a tea. White Oak and English Oak can be used both internally and externally, while other types of Oak are only used externally. Only collect bark in early spring from branches and never collect bark from its trunk, because you might kill the tree.
Use 1 tablespoon of White/ English Oak bark per 475ml water and let it simmer with a lit on it for 10 minutes. Drink max. 3 cups a day. The tea expels excessive mucus and tones the stomach.
To make a tea from only the leaves one takes 2 teaspoons of shredded leaves per 235ml water and lets it simmer for 20 minutes.
The astringent tea made from the bark and leaves of oak is suited to treat a variety of complaints in the rectal area. One can prepare a sitz bath to benefit prolapse of the rectum, fistulas and tumors in the rectal area. Or prepare an enema to treat haemorrhoids by taking 1 tablespoon of bark per 1 litre and simmer it for 30 minutes.
Soak a cloth in a tea of branches and leaves and wrap it around the neck to shrink goiters and glandular inflammations.
Make a tea or paste for burning wounds.
Oak tree has been used as a medicine by many different native American tribes** in different forms to treat disease such as: diarrhea, asthma, loss of voice, mouth sores, fever, coughs, sore throats and as a psychological aid for loneliness.
Oak trees are bringers of abundance. Their acorns fill the bellies of animals and humans. Their wood is used to built and create – as well as destroy and transform one could say, when we consider the wood that is used for fires.
Oak shows us strength and balance. When struck by lightning, our worlds are blown apart and Oak shows us how to move through a doorway to other perceptions and to a new level of existence that emerges from the fresh growth as we learn through our experiences and move on. Building new bridges, where old ones where destroyed…
*These herbal uses were taken from the book “A Druid’s Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine” by Ellen Evert Hopman (Destiny Book, 2008)
** For a more comprehensive overview see the book “Medicinal Plants of Native America” by Daniel Moerman
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