The Ash Tree ~ Myths & Legends The Ash tree, or Fraxinus excelsior, is native to Northern Europe and the British Isles. It’s a graceful and beautiful tree, with pale grey bark and feathery green leaves. Fast growing, it thrives in damp, lime-rich soil and is one of the main trees to be found in lowland woods. The Ash has strong mystical associations and has been featured in many myths and legends throughout history. It’s thought to be the tree from which the essence of humankind originated. We’ve pulled together a few of them for you to indulge in! Ancient Ireland It was of great importance to the ancient Irish. In their early history, it is said that five magical trees guarded the land, with three of these being Ash trees. The other two were a Yew and an Oak. Saint Patrick is said to have driven all the serpents out of Ireland with the aid of an Ash stick. To the Celtic people, the serpent represented female earth energy and so to them this act of Saint Patrick symbolised the banishment of the goddess from involvement in the affairs of humankind. Europe In Northern Europe legend, the Ash is seen as the Great World Tree. Yggdrasill, the Enchanted Ash, marked the centre of the universe around which everything flowed. In Scandinavia, the goddesses, the Three Norns, dispensed justice from beneath the sacred Ash and the Greek Goddess Nemesis also carried an Ash branch as an instrument of divine justice on behalf of the Gods. The Vikings believed that the first man was born of Ash and it was a strong influence on their travels, with the Ash being connected to water and the ocean. Both the Welsh and Irish used Ash for oars and sailors carried an equal-armed cross of Ash to protect them at sea. It is sacred to Poseidon whose palace is beneath the ocean. Ash is considered one of the best woods for making spears and a staff of Ash was said to protect against malign influences. It eventually replaced the Birch as the maypole, becoming the symbol of the creative life-giving energy of the sun god, instead of a celebration of the Virgin Goddess as it once was. The Druids To the Druids, the Ash held the key to the universal truth. It is the Tree of Balance and the marriage of opposites and links our inner and outer worlds. Ruled by the male energy of the sun, it has a special relationship with the female element of water. The Druids represented these different levels of existence as “Three circles of Being” – Abred, Gwynedd and Ceugant. Translated into trinities such as Past, Present and Future. Through their understanding of Universal Order, the Celts discovered a deep sense of belonging and a purpose for their existence. Our modern and hectic daily life is usually far removed from the cycles and forces of the natural world and can often seem empty of any real purpose. We should be encouraged to consider the role of the past in creating the present so that we can appreciate the many ways of positive thought. This action can help shape a better future. Through a process of balancing and parrying opposites, we like the Ash, can achieve harmony within ourselves. BACK TO ARTICLES
