The Celts had this mystical culture because they had this strong relationship with nature. Trees are especially special to them because they provided guiding influences from which they could gain insight, wisdom and any hidden messages about life. The Celts believed that every living thing was a living being that had a spirit within it.
The trees were no exception which is why any Celtic tree has its own “spirit power” which results in this wonderful, mystical and diverse divination system.
These trees were cared for, loved and in some cases even worshipped because of the special attributes that were associated with them.
The Celtic trees had powerful symbolism in the lives of the Celtic people back then and today too.
Even with modernization, the strong symbolism associated with these trees hasn’t changed which is why today we see tattoos and signs of these trees being used.
A Celtic tree might be art to someone but to those who truly understand, it bears very powerful symbolism.
Celtic trees, their meanings, and symbolism
Some common Celtic trees, their meanings, and symbolism according to Celtic culture are as follows
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Symbol Of Powerful Magic
Back then in the ancient days, the magic wands and runes were made from branches of different Celtic trees. The magical attributes of these wands were closely related to the meaning of the tree they were made from.
It was also believed that for the magic wand from these branches to work powerfully, they have to have come from fallen branches.
Cutting a branch from the tree was considered a taboo because according to them the tree is a living being and has a spirit within.
In the event that someone went ahead and cut a branch from the tree to make a magic wand, then the magic spells and enchantments would have that reverse effect and affect the bearer of the wand instead.
With the branches of these trees used to make magic wands and their effectiveness determined by the means it was acquired or by the tree it was taken from, it was only natural that Celtic tree became one of the powerful symbols of magic in that society back then.
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Symbol of change
The tree has also been a symbol of great change in the Celtic society and in some cultures around the world.
This is why a magic wand form the Celtic birch tree was used for magical spells related to new love relationships and new beginnings.
This tree has been a symbol of new beginnings, cleansing, new ideas or uncomfortable changes made in someone’s life to usher in great positive change.
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Symbol of Success, Personal Freedom, and personal power.
The Celtic tree, especially the Rowan Celtic tree was often associated with success, finding wisdom and a great connection to personal power.
Back in the ancient Celtic culture, the people made runes from the Rowan branches and used them for protection and to help bring about success especially in battle.
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A symbol of freedom.
The Willow Celtic tree was the symbol of freedom then. It meant freedom for expressing your spirit using actions such as dancing in the wind.
According to Celtic myth, the universe was created from two eggs that were kept among the branches of the willow tree.
They believed this is where other life in the universe began. The Willow wand was actually used for seeing and prophecy.
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A symbol of faith.
In this case, it was the Celtic ash tree that was the symbol of the unseen and strong belief in them. It was also considered a symbol of timelessness and beautiful things.
The people actually put ash shavings in a dream pillow to further strengthen their faith and believe in the good things that existed or those that are yet to come. The Ash wand was used during divination.
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Symbol Of Harmony And Balance
There is the Celtic tree of life which is a common symbol of harmony and balance even today. This tree symbol has been used for tattoos, decorations, and tapestries.
The Celtic tree of life is a great representation of the forces of nature that converge to create harmony. The tree of life became a symbol of an entity which connected the upper and lower worlds.
The numerous roots went deep into the depths of the lower world while the massive branches grow upwards, stretching out to the heavens.
The trunk of this tree is what is viewed as part of the tree that exists on the earth’s plane. According to the beliefs by the Druids, the gods in heaven communicated with humans through the trees of life.
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Symbol Of Longevity.
The Celtic oak tree in this case as the symbol of longevity. It is a strong life-affirming symbol to the Celts. Other attributes of this tree such as wisdom, power, strength, honor, loyalty, stability and heritage were widely recognized by the ancient Celts.
Their towering heights and their great expanse were also strongly associated with endurance and nobility. The oak wand, in this case, was used for performing purification practices.
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A Symbol Of Protection
The Celtic holly tree was, in this case, the symbol of protection and masculine energies. It was planted in homes for protection against negative energy.
It was believed that when it was within a home, great and positive things would happen since negative energy is warded off.
The holly magic wand is indeed used for casting protection spells against any negative energy which makes it a befitting symbol of protection.
Conclusion
From the above symbolism examples, it is clear that the Celtic trees are very special to the Celts and some cultures around the world. They are magical, beautiful, symbolic and a very important part of Celtic history.
The trees mean many things as seen above. To you or anyone, an oak or holly tree might just be that, but when it comes to it being referred to as a Celtic oak or a Celtic holly, it is viewed in a special way by people from that culture.
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