The Celtic Year - Alder

Alder/Fearn

18^th March – 14^th April

The 4^th month of the Celtic calendar, Alder encompasses the beauty of the Spring Equinox. As blossoms and blooms burst to life throughout nature; as we hear lambs bleet for the first time, know that you are in the month of Fearn.

strength – spiritual decisions – prophecy – connecting to your intuition – divination – confronting fears – faery realms – academic & business success – air magick – Battle – womanhood – mother-daughter bond – water magick – duty – intelligence – resurrection – weather magick – self-confidence – bravery – shielding

Associations:

Polarity:      Masculine

Element:      Fire & Water          

Sabbat:       Spring Equinox

                   Deities:       Bran; Apollo; Odin; King Arthur; Cronus (Saturn)

Planet:       Neptune; Venus

Animals:     Hawk; Seagull; Raven; Crow; Fox

                   Colour:       Purple; Crimson; Green-Brown

Gems:        Amethyst; Lapis Lazuli; Fire-Garnet

Day:          Saturday

Beings:       Faery Kings; Elf Kings

Medicinal Uses:

Bark (Tea) – Rheumatism; inflammation; diarrhoea; coughs; toothache and ease childbirth pain.

Heated leaves – bagged, will help with skin conditions & burns.

Leaves & Bark – mouthwash to ease tonsillitis and mouth ulcers.

Oil & Essence – ease stiff muscles.

Herbal Uses:

Essence – Reduces nervousness and anxiety.

Bark – made into a ‘potion’ the bark can be used as eyewash or a wash for treating poison ivy, swellings and sprains.

Magickal Uses:

Flowers & Twigs – Charms for faerie magick

Shoots – Make whistle/flute to call spirits of Air.

The Alder is known as the ‘fairy’s tree’ in Celtic lore, so is good for fairy magick.

Other information:

Alder is a part of the Hazelnut family.

Grows on riverbanks and near other bodies of water so that the roots are embedded in water.

Sacred to the Druids

Used to make shields and weapons

The term ‘elder’ as in ‘elder king’ is derived from the word Alder.

The spirits/divas/fey of the Alder have been described as water spirits or ‘Dark Fairies’.

See also:

+Shiann Raven Moon - Celtic Trees - Alder

For articles of my other Celtic Trees, see below

The Celtic Year – Birch

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-birch.html

The Celtic Year – Rowan

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-rowan_2.html

The Celtic Year – Ash

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-ash.html

The Celtic Year – Willow

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-willow.html

The Celtic Year – Hawthorn

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-hawthorn.html

The Celtic Year – Oak

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-oak.html

The Celtic Year – Holly

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-holly.html

The Celtic Year – Hazel

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-hazel.html