Willow

The west quarter of the Wiccan pentacle represents water and  is the place to find emotion.  It is where the water filled roots of a weeping willow tree would seek succour. It is where I, an emotional being, am drawn.  The Celtic tree month of Willow began on 15th April and I have been thinking about this dramatically powerful magical tree.

I love the idea of a tree for each month. It helps to focus my thoughts and this month I am happy to think about emotion. There is a lot of water in me.

This is an enchanting time of the year. It is a time to use scents to enhance our bodies and an exciting time for our minds because nature is waking up.  Birds and other animals are becoming vivid in their livery in order to seek a mate.  We, as humans, are doing the same, preparing for the big spring Sabbat of Beltane on May 1st.

When we think of the willow tree, we usually think of a weeping willow but there are many other kinds.  The Druids favour the Goat Willow for its branches make a good wand.  It has special spring qualities - silvery flowers on the female tree followed by golden pollen on the catkins. It is an important moon and sun tree.

So, what better time to sit beneath a willow tree with a willow basket in your hand and enjoy the warmer days.  Who knows, if you look in the water beneath the tree, you may even see your future lover.

At Imbolc the triple Goddess was a maiden.  Now she has become a seductress, ready to seduce the young God. He will consummate their union on May 1st.

Many ancient Goddesses are associated with the willow tree.  Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld and the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the Greek Goddess of the earth, had a sacred grove in Tartarus.  It is said that the grove was remarkable for its black poplars and aged willows.