Celtic Astrology for Imbolc by Carmen Reyes

If You were born January 21 – February 17

  Your Tree Sign is

 

Rowan

 

Sorbus

 

Botanical Information

Sorbus aucuparia  -   European Mountain Ash, native of Eurasia grows wild in the deciduous forests of Europe and Asia; naturalized in SE. Alaska and across S. Canada to Newfoundland and from Maine to Minnesota and California. It is a tenacious tree flourishing at high altitudes and can be seen growing out of cracks and crevices on almost sheer sided hills.

 

The Rowan, commonly known as the European Mountain Ash and the American Mountain Ash, is not an Ash tree at all but derived its alternate name due to the similarity of the leaves of the two Trees. Rowan is actually more related to the Rose and is cousin to the Hawthorn and the Apple.

 

Tree Name

Its bright orange berries are an important winter food for birds. In Europe, fowlers (bird catchers) used the rowan's fruit as bait for their traps. The berries were made into birdlime, a sticky substance smeared on branches to capture the birds.⁴ This practice gave the European rowan its specific name, aucuparia, which is derived from the word auceps, meaning a fowler, or 'to catch birds.'⁵

 

Tree: Rowan or Mountain Ash

Goddess: Brighid, Sequanna

Animal: Dragon, Duck

Stone: Yellow Topaz

Color: Grey

Asteroid/Planet: Vesta, Uranus

 

Tree Goddesses

Brighid Triple Goddess

There actually are three Brighids, maiden, mother, crone. Brighid is a Celtic Goddess who is the keeper of the flame; She is a symbol for fire, Her name meaning “bright arrow” or the “bright one”.  The Gaelic work for Rowan is luisiu, which means flame.

Brighid is a Goddess of smithcraft, poetry, sacred wells, medicine and healing. She is a muse and Goddess of inspiration, especially poetic inspiration.

 

Sequanna

Sequanna is a Gaulish Goddess known as The Fast-Flowing One. She is invoked as Deae Sequanae. She is a healing water Goddess associated with ducks whose healing shrine is called Fontes Sequanae. Sequanna is both the surface and underground waters of the Seine, a watershed Goddess, alive today in the watersheds in the Paris Basin. She is also known as an earth Goddess who lives beneath the waters in Britain.

 

Tree Animal

Dragon

The dragon is a mythical being known to guard secrets and treasures. In Celtic myths they are fiery winged serpents associated with alchemy and the mysterious energies of ley lines.

 

Duck

The duck is associated with the Rowan month as the month of floods when the ducks swim out on the meadows.

 

Stone

Yellow Topaz

An empathetic stone that shields during times of transition and rapid change

 

Color

Grey is the color of reflection, reflected light and mental processes, and in Celtic mythology there is a connection to death and soul migration.

 

Planet

Vesta

An asteroid associated with dedication to fire and the spirit. Vesta seeks inspiration through meditation on the flame. She is charged to guard the flame and keep it from desecration.

 

Uranus

Brilliantly inspired ideas are associated with Uranus, a planet associated with electric and magnetic energies.

 

Tree Attributes

One of Rowan’s nicknames is the Quicken Tree, the Quickbeam – the tree of life.  The time of the Rowan moon is the time of quickening, when life begins to rouse itself from the slumber of winter.

 

Tree Personality

Rowan is a warrior tree and Rowan people have a strong sense of self, directing their energies towards manifesting their inner desires. They are energetic, athletic, can thrive in both community and solitude and have a desire for recognition, new experience. The Rowan lesson is to learn to use the power of will for spiritual means rather than self gratification. Their gift is the ability to arouse and stimulate new ideas and new spiritual life in others.

 

Rowan Craft

Making and carrying a little universal cross (one with both arms equal) of Rowan twigs bound with red thread will protect you against the control of others in the same way that a Rowan tree  planted in the yard protects your home.

 

Tree Essence

Essence of Sorbus aucuparia engenders attunement to the energies of nature, particularly wood and earth, enlarging a deep understanding of the universe

 

Tree Message

The Lady of the Mountain gives special insight or foreknowledge; it provides forewarnings for things outside ourselves of which we are not aware. Rowan offers the strength to turn away anything that threatens purpose and serenity

 

Tree Affirmation

“I have insight”

 

 

Guidelines for Tree Essence Use

Tree essences are handmade using traditional methods. They comprise the energy signature of the tree preserved in brandy. Liquid essences are traditionally taken by mouth, a few drops placed directly under the tongue or in a small glass of water. They can also be taken by placing a drop on pulse points (wrists, throat, neck, forehead, soles of the feet). Essence cream can be applied to pulse points as well. A guideline for using the essences is 3 or 4 times a day.

 

Individual experiences with essences will vary. Sometimes there may be a strong reaction, emotional or other. If this is uncomfortable, reduce or stop for a while. Remember, these essences help you to change yourself – they do not create change by themselves.

 

Although flower and tree essences may help to remove underlying imbalances and increase self healing, they do not replace medical attention. If you have a health concern, please see a qualified practitioner.

 

FES Quintessentials are herbal supplements, Demeter-certified Biodynamic and made with organic and wild harvested flowers.

Green Man Tree Essences are members of the British Association of Flower Essence Producers.

 

http://www.faeriefaith.net/HazelNut/Issue6.html

http://www.druidry.org/obod/trees/rowan_susa.html

http://www.greenwisewoman.com/ogham/card/rowan.html

http://www.novareinna.com

http://www.goddessmystic.com/CoreCurriculum/Goddesses/Sequana/index.shtml

http://www.misslilysmysticalsupplys.com/celticgoddess.html

http://www.celtnet.org.uk/gods_s/sequana.html

http://cura.free.fr/xx/19boutet.html

 

FES Quintessentials – Flower Essence Services

Green Man Tree Essences – Sue and Simon Lilly  

⁴ Brimble, L.J.F. Trees in Britain. 1946. MacMillan and Co. Ltd., London, England, pg. 178.  

⁵ Ibid, pg. 175-176, Little, pg. 511.  

Boutet, Michel-Gerald. Druidical Astrology Primer.2002

Glass- Koentop, Pattalee. Year of Moons Season of Trees. St. Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 1991.  

Graham, Mark., and Heather Buchan. The Celtic Tree Ogham. Milverton, Somerset: Capall Bann, 2006.  

Kerr, Linda. The Hazel Nut. Auburn,AL., Faerie Faith Tradition,  1993  

Landis, James Clifford. The Faerie Faith and the Beth-Luis-Nion Celtic Lunar Calendar. Auburn, Alabama: Auburn University, 2002.  

Monaghan, Patricia. The New Book of Goddesses and Heroines. Llewellyn Publications; 3 Sub edition (September 1, 2002).  

Quarrie, Deanne. From the Branch a Primer in Dianic Witchcraft. Rockmart, Georgia: The Apple Branch Press, 2008.