Celtic Astrology for Litha by Carmen Reyes

If you were born June 10 – July 7

Your Tree Sign is

Oak

Quercus

Botanical Information

Quercus alba, the White Oak can be found in southern Quebec, New England, Minnesota and from Florida to Texas. There are about 450 species of oak with varying shapes and sizes and most of them can be found in America. Not all oaks are deciduous, Quercus coccifera, the Kermes Oak is a prickly evergreen and the Holm Oak has thorny leaves that are similar to the holly. Holm is an old country name for holly. Oak are members of the Beech family (Fagaceae).

The oak is one of the last trees to leaf out, others trees have flowered while the slow steady oak is just beginning to put on leaves. The fruit of the oak, the acorn, was a staple food of the American Indians). The word acorn is derived from Æcern in Old English, which comes from acer, a field.

Tree Name

Quercus robur is the name of the common oak, robur is the root of the English word “robust”. The Ogham name for the oak is Duir which is a Sanskrit word. Duir means oak and also means door, a doorway or an entryway into the otherworld.

Tree Goddess

Brighid is the Celtic Goddess of Inspiration, Keeper of the Flame, her name in Gaelic means fire tipped. Her sacred well is found at Kildare which means “church of the oak”.

Cardea is the Goddess of the Hinge of the year; she is a Roman Goddess of thresholds and especially doors. Her power is to “Open what is shut, and shut what is open”.

 Tree Attributes

The Oak symbolizes health, strength and endurance, and displays these qualities in the long life and tremendous size of some species. It is said that the oak, "courts the lightning flash" as lightening is supposed to strike the oak more than any other tree. Because of this the oak is given the name, "lightning oak." Oak trees have always been regarded as great protectors, guardians of the virtuous and often the guardian tree of a family.
The need fire is kindled in an oak and the Midsummer fires are of oak. At the Summer Solstice, the oak stands at the doorway of the turning of the year, as the sun reaches it height and begins a cycle of decline.

Tree Craft

The acorn is said to be a powerful symbol for good health and prosperity. Keep one in your pocket as a charm for robust health.

Tree Personality

The oak is an optimistic, energetic personality, a leader and a risk taker. They are grounded and have firm boundaries. For the oak personality, the glass is always full, they have strong nurturing powers and an inner resilience.

Tree Essence

The Bach Flower essence imparts sturdiness, great strength and courage. It is for those who are exhausted but struggle on, never giving up.

Tree Message

The Lady of the Doorway, “Duir is a gateway to inner realms, a sign that reveals the truth about the past layers of action”. 1

Tree Affirmation

“I have strength”

Bibliography

Clark, Curtis. Natural history of the trees of the Celtic Ogham. Circle Network News 17(2):12-13 (Issue 56, Summer 1995).

Dugan, Ellen. Herb Magic for Beginners: Down to Earth Enchantments, Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 2008

Fergus, Charles. Trees of New England. Guilford, Connecticut: The Globe Pequot Press, 2005.

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.

Hagender, Fred. The Meaning of Trees. San Francisco, CA : Chronicle Books LLC, 2005.

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

Kindred, Glennie. The Oak Tree, King of the Greenwood, The White Dragon, 1988

Laurie, Erynn Rowan. Ogham Weaving Word Wisdom. Stafford, UK: Megalithica Books, 2007.

Moorey, Teresa. The Magic and Mystery of the Trees. Milverton, Somerset: Capall Bann, 2006.

 

Paterson, Helena. The Handbook of Celtic Astrology. St. Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn Press, 1995.

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

Footnote

1.  From the Branch: A Primer in Dianic Witchcraft, page 195