"Culpeper
says in his Complete Herbal "The moon owns the willow" and
it was known as the witches' tree and the tree of enchantment. Robert Graves
suggests that witch, wicker and wicked are all derived from willow."
By Glennie Kindred ( www.whitedragon.org.uk )
Willows are trees and shrubs from the genus Salix, found in cold to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Almost exclusively they’re all (around 400 species) hygrophytic to hydrophytic, which means they’ll be found growing on damp soil, in moist areas or straight out of the water.
The leaves are
typically narrow or lanceolate, though they can sometimes be oval as well, and
occasionally with serrated edges. They have very strong roots, sometimes
stoloniferous, very resistant, creeping, and even forming on the aerial parts
of the plant. The Willows are dioecious, which means they have separate units
bearing only male, and separate units bearing only female
 |
| White Willow ( Salix alba ) |
People love to
plant willows on “troublesome” grounds prone to forming pools, or puddles and
retaining surface water for prolonged periods, as they will ameliorate this
problem. They are in general very decorative so that helps too. They’ve proven
themselves as an invaluable source to the natural versions of analgesic
medicine and plant’s growth hormone.
The analgesic
compounds are salicylates, namely salicilin and salicylic acid found in the
bark and leaves of the Willow (and also Poplar) trees. [1] Salicylic acid is a
metabolite of Aspirin. Hippocrates suggested chewing on the bark to reduce
fever and inflammation. The analgesic from the Willow seem to work slower than
the Aspirin, but also seem to have a more lasting effect, particularly in
treating headaches, lower back pain, osteoarthritis etc. [2] Indole-3-butyric
acid (IBA) which is abundant in new branches, and stems is a powerful growth
hormone of the plants [3] and can be used for propagation of cuttings of
willows and pretty much any other plant equally well. People make the so
called; “Willow water” to use it as a natural plant growth hormone. The
Salicylic acid present in the willow water has an additional benefit, or
fighting the bacterial and also some fungal infection to which the cutting are
very prone to become victims.
The wood is used
in the furniture industry, and branches are sometimes used as wicker for the
baskets.
Willow can act
as hyper-accumulators on certain types of soil, and are therefore used for
phytoremediation of the soil.
Willows in magick
and spirituality
Many species, or
even varieties are used in magickal workings. This is probably due to the fact
that the most of the Willows are rather similar, and share the traits which are
observed in the “Doctrine of Signatures” so people naturally tent to use
whatever species was available in their part of the world. In the Europe, the
Willow used in magick has been the “White” willow or Salix alba, but also Salix
babyloniaca or the Weeping willow. The latter, due to its availability pretty
much worldwide, is often being used nowadays in magick. It’s a popular
horticultural tree, that’s quite tolerant to the differences in soil types and
composition, so it’s grown profusely across the northern Hemisphere.
The Weeping
willow is though, sometimes seen as unlucky due to its use prominently as a
symbol of sorrow or death in art. In Shakespeare’s “Othello” we have a “Willow
song” sang by Desdemona
 |
| From the Monet's Water Lilies series, notice the branches of Weeping Willow arching over the water and the Lilies |
Willow and the
unconscious
Willow, is the
bridge to unconscious and understanding our own emotions. Ruled by Moon and
water, it makes perfect sense for it to be an agent per excellence for such.
The Latin verb “salire” which means “to leap”, and is one of the possible
sources of the Latin name for the genus, illustrates the spiritual power of the
Willow to help one leap the gap between emotion and understanding. Or emotions
and cognitive processes. It brings clarity when the confusion is caused by
imagery, emotional outburst, and helps us go through emotional turmoil in a
natural and healthy way, keeping us balanced should we start to waver, hesitate
or “run amok” the path we need to take in any given time.
Many consider it
extremely beneficial when facing a sensitive dilemma of any kind, or struggling
with emotions, to sit under a willow tree, or to hug it. Especially during the
nights of the Full Moon, ideally near the body of the water so you can watch
its reflection. This is said to intuitively bring solution to the mind. From
personal experience, I can testify that this is indeed of great help.
Willow can also
help us understand the abstract imagery, dreams, visions, and makes an
excellent divining rods.
In Slavic, and
particularly Balkan Slavic witchery it’s used to heal and soothe a child which
is overly emotional, usually the children that cry hysterically, and sometimes
also those that suffer from night terrors.
For this purposes
one needs to find a branch of Willow that touches the water surface, dips it
into a vessel with water*, and give some of this water to the child to drink.
[5]
Willow and the
feminine
Willow is deeply
connected to the feminine and the female energies. It’s associated with the
various female pagan deities like the; Artemis, Ceres, Hecate, Persephone,
Hera, Belili and others [6] It’s seen symbolic and sacred to the Brigid during
the Imboloc by some.
Sallow, as also
sometimes referred to (some species more than others, in Europe Salix carpea
for example) appears also as a symbol of female sexuality, fertility and female
power to fascinate, charm and bind;
“Willow is used
for charms of fascination and binding, and during the spring moon we have the
power of the Spring Maiden who fascinates and binds the power of the young
King. Aphrodite is associated with the spring and the bright half of the moon,
courtship and the union which blesses the land with fertility. British and
Irish mythology is also rich with legends of the beguiling, Willowy Spring
Maiden who is called Olwen, Niwalen, Gwenhyver, Cordelia, Blodeuwedd and many
others, who initiate the young King into a deeply sexual experience.” [7]
In the Balkans,
Willow is used profusely in folk healing rituals, but some of them are reserved
only from the women, and are therefore tabooed for men. The example is the ritual that women,
especially maidens and young girls do on the feast day of the St. George. They
make a “belt” using a willow branch and tie it around their waist to be “as
slim and fair as willow”, which is also an example of sympathetic magick.
For the Slavic
people Willow is a place that the water fairies love to frequent and dwell around,
so they can be contacted there, or an offering for them could be made there.
Caution was needed, as in the Slavic folklore, most of the water fairies are
very malevolent and cruel, and should only be contacted in some dire need. It
was usually only the desperate or those extremely skilled in magick who’d work
with the water fae.
Willow as a
healer and “axis mundi” for the Slavic folk
Among most Slavic
people, the Willow enjoys the reputation of a sacred tree, which is a bit like
the Ygdrassil or the Tree of life of Kabala, for it’s transcendental and
connects various planes of existence. It is therefore considered the embodiment
of the archetypical “axis mundi”, much like the Oak tree that only gained such
reputation later in the Slavic culture and myth, mostly due to the patriarchal
ways of community, making it a “male” counterpart to the willow. [8]
Because of this
transcendental, and bridging (like mentioned before the word Salix, is derived
from the terms reffering to leaping) power, the willow was used to banish
diseases to the “Netherland”, or other specific place, where from they could no
longer return to ail the one performing the ritual.
An example is a
ritual where a person afflicted with the fever, particularly a persistent one,
must roast a whole garlic bud, early in the morning before the first roosters
sound themselves. Then he or she, takes it to the willow, shakes it three times
vigorously apologizing for it and saying:
“It is not the morning dew that I shake off from you,
But the fever that I shake off from myself”
A person then
leaves the roasted garlic on the willow, and swiftly abandons the place, taking
care not to turn back** and look at the spot, for any reason. [9]
It’s still
customary to hit children (mildly and affectionately, for it’s a symbolic
gesture) in Serbia, Bulgaria, parts of Montenegro and Croatia on the Lazarus’
Saturday with willow twigs to ensure they remain healthy throughout the year.
The willow branches are also commonly blessed in the Orthodox Christian
churches on this day, to be used on the Palm Sunday, due to them being more
readily available than the palm trees. [10] Young men and women will also
customary hit each other with the willow twigs saying: “May you grow fair as
willow”, in a belief that this will bring them vitality and fair appearance.
Since this is
meant to be a practical blog, here are a few ideas, that I’ve came up myself,
on how to implement the power of willow in magick;
The dream decoder
spell
Respectfully
gather a small piece of willow bark, or a piece of Willow wood. You can use
some branch and cut a small slice of it. Thank the tree and water it or leave
it some kind of offering. This would ideally be done on a night of the full
moon, or otherwise some Monday.
When dry, some Monday,
place this piece of this wood in a small blue, or a purple bag or sachet,
preferably made of linen, along with a piece of Ulexite, Clear Calcite or
Quartz. Light a blue candle and enchant the charm by holding it in the hands,
breathing upon it and chanting;
“Nightly scenes
that perish with light
Confusing,
forgotten or out of sight
I understand
now your omens and sign,
For Willow and
crystal conjure you fine”
Place under
pillow to overcome confusing, irrational dreams, and to understand dream omens
and the symbols of the subconscious mind in them, helping this insight heal the
mental struggles which caused them.
The New chance
spell
When experiencing a failure of some kind, and wanting to turn it around by finding another way to do it, a new perspective, or simply new hope and willpower, go to where willows grow. Respectfully cut a small, healthy branch from the tree, preferably the new, green ones. This should be done in spring, during the waxing moon, ideal time being Ostara.
Plant it in the
wet soil. You may dip it in the growing hormone to ensure it sprouts new roots
swiftly and safely. Envision the solution you need, or simply wish for it
strongly, water the cutting and chant:
“Cut away yet, far from dead,
Even when stricken with the strife,
I embrace the new chance instead,
Growing towards better life.”
As the little
cutting grows, so will you find the solution and a way to turn your failure
into success.
Hoodoo spell to make
someone weep or heal them
To make someone
mentally unstable and make them weep and cry. Inscribe a skull candle with the
name of the person you wish to affect. It should be a black skull candle. Dress
it with some condition oil appropriate to your need. Then sprinkle the candle
or entwine it with some Couchgrass ( or Witchgrass ) and sprinkle with some
crumbled leaves of the Weeping Willow. You can arrange these just below the eye
sockets of the skull candle so it appears as if the skull is crying. Burn and
speak appropriate words or power.
To help someone
heal from grieving too much, dress a white skull candle with some Healing or
Tranquility oil. Sprinkle it with crumbled or powdered Weeping willow leaves
and Balm of Gilead. If it’s a broken heart they suffer from add some Violet
leaf or Heartease leaf too. Burn during the hours of the Sun and read the
following Bible verse:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ( Revelations 21:4 )
Spirituality
talisman
It’s customary in
some parts of Europe to collect some Willow tree juice on a piece of Linen
fabric the day after Ostara , and then carry that a spirituality
talisman. Here is what I think is an equally good alternative method.
Cut a piece of
willow branch, so you have a nice, small rounded slice. Gather respectfully on
a night of the full moon, or some Monday while the moon is in the waxing phase.
Inscribe one side of this talisman with the spiral. On the other you can
inscribe an open eye, and your initials, or something of a sort. Let it dry,
and when well dry, dress it lightly with some Master key oil, or other kind of
appropriate spiritual oil. When the oil dries out, it’s ready. You can make it
into a pendant or place in a small charm vial and use that as a pendant, and
carry it on your behalf to raise your spiritual awareness, and help you connect
to the spirit world more easily and swiftly. It will also help grow your
natural spiritual talents. You can also put this in a charm or mojo bag with
things like the Witches Burr, and Galangal root for example, for increase in
spiritual power.
NOTE: This article was written and composed by myself. If you wish to use any part of it elsewhere online feel free but add credits: Shadow of the Shadows magick place, or "Shadow-333@hotmail.com , or a direct link to this page
CREDITS AND REFERENCES: * In traditional Balkan witchcraft this type of plant remedy
is usually made by soaking the plant material, usually a whole plant if
herbaceous, or a bark, root etc., in a vessel with water; most commonly a pan,
or a bowl, and leaving it outside or a window sill over night to catch the
“brightness”, that is the spiritual energy radiated by Moon and stars. The
Willow remedy was probably also made this way.
** This is a frequent taboo in some Slavic magick rituals
and spells, particularly the healing ones. It’s firmly believed that if the
practitioner turned around, they could catch a glimpse of the forces or spirits
which are making sure the ritual comes to fruition, and could go mad or die
because of it.
[5] Veselin Cajkanovic “Recnik Srpskih narodnih verovanja o
biljkama” (lit. Veselin Cajkanovic “Dictionary of Serbian folk beliefs about
plants”) Beograd 1994
[6] Cunningham, Scott “Cunningham’s encyclopedia of magic
herbs”
[7] Retrieved from; https://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/willow.htm
for explanatory, educational and illustrative purposes, without any ill will
[9] Acc. to the same
source listed under [8]
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_Saturday
IMAGE CREDITS:
The first image, the botanical illustration is from: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/02/2b/a8/022ba89dd0769cadb7f92a95953ff24b.jpg
The second one, which is the Claude Monet's image is from: https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,dpr_1.0,f_auto,w_950/joumqzbympg7vmxsqe4j.jpg
both used here for illustrative purposes without any ill intention
