Birch
Beith
(Birth)
Beith Pronounced: Beyh
Beith corresponds to the letter B in the Ogam alphabet and is associated with the Birch tree. This symbol represents new beginning, change, purity and rebirth.
Status: Peasant-tree
Element: Water
Gender: Feminine
Celtic First Month: November
Celtic First Month: November
Powers: Beith is the beginning of a new year is an opportunity to start with a clean slate.
Keywords: Beginnings, change, purity, protection, cleansing, foundation and vitality. It affects both the physical and the spiritual realms.
Deities Associated: Thor, Frigga, Eostre, Lugh, Freya.
Interesting Spiritual Information: Birch has been associated with fertility, healing, new beginnings, purification, protection, creativity and birth. Its twigs are used as wands/rods to bestow fertility onto cattle and newlyweds, cradles were made from its wood. Birch wood bark has been used in love spells. The birch acts as a doorway to the Underworld as it is a tree of the fey and known as the Lady of the Woods. When coming into your life it represents the opportunity to start a new quest, an adventure that will prove to be the unfolding of your destiny.
Folklore: In Celtic cultures, the birch symbolized growth, renewal, stability, initiation and adaptability because it is able to sustain harsh conditions. In the Gaelic creation myth, Dagda, the god of Nature, played creation into being using a harp made from birch. The music encouraged the seasons to wax and wane and so the cycle of life began. The birch maypole was used in themes of fertility and regeneration celebrations. The silver birch is known as the ‘Lady of the Woods.’ It is feminine, constant and friendly, a tree of enchantment. In the moonlight its silver bark seems to glow and is linked with the fey.
Interesting Spiritual Information: Birch has been associated with fertility, healing, new beginnings, purification, protection, creativity and birth. Its twigs are used as wands/rods to bestow fertility onto cattle and newlyweds, cradles were made from its wood. Birch wood bark has been used in love spells. The birch acts as a doorway to the Underworld as it is a tree of the fey and known as the Lady of the Woods. When coming into your life it represents the opportunity to start a new quest, an adventure that will prove to be the unfolding of your destiny.
Ogam Healing: Change (Regenerate yourself); Cleansing; Depression; Diet; Foundation and vitality; Free creative imagination Help in diets; New beginnings; Obesity; Protection; Seeing the bigger picture; Strengthening will; Protecting mothers and their young; Purity; Teeth/ mouthwash/ Antiviral illnesses; Cholesterol levels; Detoxing the body; High blood pressure; Respiratory diseases; Digestion/ Diuretic; Cystitis; Kidney and bladder…
More Medical information and in-depth healing suggestions can be found in my book The Beginners Book of Ogam Tree Healing, or by attending one of my workshops.
Notes: Birch was also used to drive out madness, entities and to punish convicts in the past.