Trees 101: The Yew

Personally, I'm not a big fan of yews as to me their foliage smells too much like cat pee, but that doesn't mean that they aren't a magnificent tree to behold, nor hold a great deal of power within them. This is truly a tree of the Winter Solstice as the yew's spring season begins on the day after the solstice. Given that the darkest time of the year is when this tree begins its rebirth, it's considered a Goddess tree (with the Goddess in her crone form) as well as a tree of death. Ironically, this is also a tree of immortality as being an evergreen, it never seems to die in going dormant. All evergreens are considered to be trees of immortality. In ancient times, yews were traditionally planted in burial grounds as it was believed to be a gateway to the next world.

The yew has been used to make bows, arrows, spears and magic wands. The witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth used wands made of yew to work their magic. Along with the birch and oak, the yew was the third tree in the three pillars of wisdom. The yew is symbolic of stability, sovereignty, and mystery. Yew wood has also been used to make household items such as bowls, shutters, boxes, handles and hooks, and various religious and altar objects. It has been rarely used to make furniture. Yew leaves and bark, as well as the tree's seeds are all poisonous to humans and should never be ingested. However, at one time the skin of yew berries was used as a laxative and a heart medicine. Traditionally, to dream of yews is a portent of death, either one's own or that of a loved one.

The yew vibrates to both masculine and feminine energies. It is ruled by Jupiter, Mars and Saturn and is governed by the elements of air, water and fire. Yew can be used in ritual to enhance psychic abilities, to bring one closer to their ancestors at Samhain, and in protection spells. When using yew in any magickal capacity, remember to never ingest any part of the tree and to wash your hands well after handling it.

"Ancient Yew" courtesy of Giles C. Watson on flickr.

Turquoise and Coral

Do you have any favorite stones? Any that really speak to you and you are forever drawn to them again and again? I do. I have been drawn to turquoise since I was a very little girl. Granted, it is my mineral totem for my birth moon in Native American lore, but I had no knowledge of this when I first fell in love with the stone and drew energy from it. My other favorite stone is coral, which not surprisingly perfectly complements turquoise, both with its vibrant color as well as with its properties.

Turquoise is a receptive stone that vibrates to the energy of the element of Earth and is represented by male divine energy, the God. In Native American culture this is the Great Spirit. It’s a stone that offers protection to the wearer as well as bringing healing, courage, and luck. It’s the sacred stone of many Native American Indian tribes and was used to protect them in battle and when placed in tombs, to guard their dead.

Turquoise can be worn to guard against negative magic, accidents, disease and any and all dangers. When worn, it promotes courage and for this reason it makes a valuable amulet for travel.

As a healing stone, turquoise strengthens the eyes, alleviates fevers and reduces headaches. Place the stone against the troubled part of the body and visualize the illness entering the stone. Water into which you have dipped the stone can be drunk for its healing properties.

Like all blue stones, carry turquoise to attract luck and good fortune.

Coral is also a receptive stone but this one vibrates to the energy of the element of Water and is represented by feminine divine energy, the Great Mother Goddess. The stone has the power to heal as well as offering protection, peace and wisdom.

Coral isn’t really a stone, nor is it a plant, but is the skeleton of a formerly living sea creature. Hindus believe that the ocean is where human souls go to live after death and thus coral is a powerful amulet for the living. Coral contains the life essence, the primal energy, of the Mother Goddess, which to me speaks volumes.

It is a very feminine stone and is used to effect inner changes within the person wearing it. It eliminates depression, anxiety, fear, panic and nightmares. I simply love that in ancient times, women wore it to regulate their menses because they understood the link between coral, the sea, the moon and women’s cycles, something that is lost to modern women.

Again, this stone, like turquoise, is a stone of luck, of protection and cures eye issues. It can also cure indigestion and troubles with the blood.

Personally, I prefer the stones to be natural and not polished. I love to see them as nature made them: flawed, irregular and rough. Wear them together and see how powerful they can be: the masculine and the feminine, the God and the Goddess bringing strength, health and luck in all you do, balancing courage and power while giving the wearer the wisdom to know how to use it all wisely.