The oldest living organism on Earth today is a tree in California, named the Methuselah Tree; its age has been estimated at over 4,700 years. Trees are tremendously powerful, particularly those that are oldest - for example, the Methuselah Tree was alive before the creation of the pyramids. The Celts recognized the power inherent in trees and based an alphabet on them, known as the Ogham. This was a simple system of lines marked into stones, wood, etc., most commonly read from bottom to top. Today these symbols can be found on runes, although the Norse/Scandinavian symbols are more common. (See Celtic Ogham: The Ogham Alphabet for more info.) The Oak was known to the Druids as the "King of the Trees."

   Incorporating trees into your magick is extremely simple: Use a branch from a particular tree as a wand, or purchase a wand made from that type of tree. Many witches, including myself, prefer to find their own wands. Just keep an eye out for fallen branches of an appropriate size - these are gifts from the tree to you, for use in magick. This way you can attain a wand without hurting the tree. Should a tree gift you with a wand, be sure to thank it (communing with it, offering libations, etc.).

    The following are some links that define correspondences of specific trees

• Lady of the Earth: Woods: Their types and uses

• Lady of the Earth: Trees and Their Magickal Uses

• Wicca: Tree Correspondences