Recent research has enlightened me regarding the ‘Celtic tree calendar’ or ‘Ogham tree calendar’ as it’s also sometimes known - It’s a complete invention dreamed up in the 1960s by the English poet Robert Graves.
There is in fact no evidence whatsoever that trees were associated with particular months.
Graves even rewrote the Ogham alphabet itself in order to make his tree calendar work; he rearranged the letters and even dropped a couple of consonants, calling them 'late additions'. By reducing the letters of Ogham from 15 consonants and 5 vowels to 13 consonants and 5 vowels, he was able to associate each consonant with one 'lunar month'. And so, since each Ogham letter is also associated with (among many other things) a tree, the 'Celtic Tree Calendar' was magically born.
Dr. Sharon Blackie 2021
A nice idea, but not authentic.
Which is why I’m no longer following the ‘tree calendar’ each month (you can of course wander back through the archives for each month).
What’s more important to me (and I hope to you the reader) are authentic and real moments and elements of nature and cosmology from the past, that we can use to shape our future.
Right now is a time of great cosmic change, the new solstice turn next week reminds us that we too can begin again at any moment, nothing in our universe is static, including us.
To be in alignment with our evolutionary journey requires us to open our hearts, to un-learn and re-learn where our deepest relationships connect and align.
It’s a good moon cycle to gather and connect with those close to you. Slow down, tune in, listen and pay attention. Be kind to yourself and open your tender heart to the world.
The solstice is next week on Thursday 20th June at 9.50pm in Ireland.
The sun shines not on us but in us
John Muir
The solstice is a potent symbol of energy, the pinnacle of masculine energy.
Healthy masculine energy qualities include:
Sense of empowerment
Taking charge of your life
Sense of dignity
Strength
Decisiveness