celebration


ritual and celebration burning

Willow does not really have a tradition with fire, It is closely associated with water rituals and celebrations such as blessings, namings, rites of passage admission and healing.

wands and staves

Staves and wands of willow are treasured my many water diviners, some say dowsers, who discover the "sacred" water in the willow directs the holder to hidden water sources, as that is where the willow wood wishes to be connected. A cut willow always sustains its memory of water.

Willow staves and wands are also used in ritual to call upon blessing to banish mourning and loss and to also helpe stranded spirits find their way to the otherworld.

divination

Several druid and shaman folk associate willow to dreams an prophecies. A tradition is to leave willow twigs or catkins under your pillow and this will assure peaceful slumbers and gentle dreams.

Willow rods are also bound together to form rings that are the frames of dreamcatchers, to catch dreams and bless the property they hang within, or even heal and protect the trees they may hang upon.

Some folks weave birch, hazel and willow together into frames, with the Birch representing Maiden, Hazel representing Mother and Willow representing the Crone.

Viewing Ogma's Tale Of The Trees, I think I would go for Willow as Maiden, Hazel as Mother and Elder as Crone ... but do weave together what you feel you are guided to and what feels right for you at any moment.

Ancient diviners were also in wonder when observing the goat willow move from its "pussy willow" white first state into yellow balls of pollen loved by the bees.



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