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Most willow species grow and thrive close to water or in damp places, and this theme is reflected in the legends and magic associated with these trees. The moon too recurs as a theme, the movement of water being intimately bound up with and affected by the moon.
Willow Tree in Celtic mythology. Willow – beauty and spiritual presence. The Willow was a sacred tree to the Celts both for the wide range of materials it provided and for its unique beauty and spiritual presence. It appears throughout the mythology of many cultures.
In Celtic mythology, willow trees were believed to possess magical powers and served as gateways to the spirit realm. They were associated with intuition, dreams, and divination practices.
Today, these five trees—the Eo Mugna (an oak), the Bile Dathi (an ash), the Bile Tortan (an ash), the Craeb Uisnig (another ash), and the Eo Rossa (a yew)—are collectively known as the five sacred trees of Ireland.
Explore the significance of willow trees in Celtic mythology, including their symbolism and cultural importance.
For example, the Oak Tree represented strength, courage, and longevity; the Rowan Tree symbolized protection against evil spirits; while the Willow Tree signified intuition and dreams. Furthermore, these Celtic tree symbols were not only limited to their spiritual beliefs but were also deeply intertwined with their natural environment.
Willow Trees were also cherished for their affiliation with water and the ability to facilitate contact with the realm of fairies and faeries, imparting dreams and intuitions from other dimensions. Meanwhile, Hawthorn trees stood as guardians, believed to house nature spirits and were often planted for protection against evil spirits.
In English folklore, a willow tree is believed to be quite sinister, capable of uprooting itself and stalking travellers. In northern areas, willow branches are used instead of palm branches to celebrate Palm Sunday.
In Celtic mythology, on the other hand, the willow tree symbolized healing properties, emphasizing its ability to bring solace and renewal. These contrasting interpretations highlight the cross-cultural significance of the willow tree as a symbol of both sorrow and rejuvenation.
In mythology the willow tree can be connected to many different goddesses. Saille is also associated to many living creatures in Celtic mythology like the crane, the bull, the bumblebee, the hawk [i] and the frog.