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If you’ve ever heard someone say “I’m a Rowan” or “I’m an Oak” and wondered what on earth they were talking about, it might have been the Celtic Tree Zodiac. It’s a modern system that links tree species to parts of the calendar year, a bit like star signs, but for trees.
It isn’t an ancient Druidic practice, though it often gets shared as if it is. The version most people refer to today comes from Robert Graves’ 1948 book The White Goddess, where he connected the Ogham alphabet (an early Irish script with tree associations) to a lunar calendar. Later writers turned that into a zodiac of sorts, with personality traits and symbolic meanings for each tree.
So it’s not “old Celtic wisdom” but that doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. For those of us who feel drawn to trees or want to mark time in more seasonal, nature-based ways, it provides a focus for us to explore each month, as well as great inspiration for my pendants.
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| What has our jewellery brand Harmonite been up to? |
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This Saturday I’ll be at the Earth Spirit Events Pagan Fayre to mark Lammas, my first stall since March. I’ll have a selection of hand-carved Celtic knotwork pieces and my usual range of pendants, including a few new ones made from this spring’s pressed leaves.
It’ll be good to be back among like-minded folk, talking craft and sharing stories. If you’re going, do come and say hello and have a chat. |
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Last month, for the first time, we ran a competition to win a pendant by signing up to Elemental Insights.
I will be announcing the winner on our facebook page in the coming days, so keep an eye out! |
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| What have I been writing? |
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Well… not much actual writing, if I’m honest. It’s been more about editing, finalising, and uploading lately.
The writing bit is definitely the fun part. The quiet hours with a notebook or keyboard, getting lost in ideas and sidetracked by fascinating research. But once that’s done, there’s a whole lot of admin that kicks in; blurbs, metadata, image specs, copyrights, pre-order links, more formatting than seems reasonable, and the ever-glamorous job of marketing.
There’s a common myth that if you land a publisher, they’ll do the marketing for you. They won’t. Not unless you’re already famous. So in that sense, I’m not really any worse off as an indie author, I’d still be doing all this legwork either way! (Note to self: must stop whinging and just get on with it!)
I’ll share more on what’s coming soon, once I’ve battled the tech, uploaded everything to the right places and cleared the decks a bit! |
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| What have I been influenced by lately? |
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I recently took a trip to Ireland, helping family with some house decorating. It was a good mix of laughter, hard work and time spent relaxing outdoors.During the trip, we visited the Wild Ireland Animal Sanctuary a stunning attraction that’s home to rescued animals that once were native to Ireland (Woves, Lynx, Brown bears etc.).The weather was a proper contrast: two of the hottest days on record for decades, and then, just as quickly, some of the wettest and windiest. The Wild Atlantic coast lived up to its name, with rugged cliffs and choppy seas that show just how untamed this part of the world remains.We went beach combing most days whilst the dogs enjoyed a bit of freedom, hoping to find a calm moment to swim. But the beaches were lined with Compass Jellyfish, those pale, translucent creatures that look like giant eyeballs scattered along the sand.
In some traditional medicines they have been used for their healing properties, mostly in East Asia, though the Compass Jellyfish itself isn’t widely known for medicinal use.
Folklore around jellyfish varies, but their ‘eye-like’ appearance has sometimes been linked to protection or watchfulness, as if the sea is keeping an eye on you. I like to think of it that way when I wander past them at the water’s edge.
Oh, and my Ancestry DNA results came back, showing a decent chunk of Scandinavian heritage, Swedish and Danish roots to be precise. I’ve always fancied the idea of hailing from an ancient line of Viking shield maidens! Haha.
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| One business helping out another … |
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Froya cosmetics
In line with my newfound Scandic ancestry, I am trying out a 100% herbal skincare range from Norway, I’m really hoping I have not been sucked into yet another beauty industry scam that will leave me feeling gullable and slightly vain.
I generally don’t use creams or makeup since I cannot trust what’s in them or the stories they hide about testing on animals. But this struck me as something worth a try at least. I’m only on day 3, but so far I can tell you that it definitely doesn’t have any fake perfume added, as it has that telltale earth smell!
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| A final word from the woodland… |
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I scattered some wild garlic seeds at the woods last weekend. Seeds I had collected from a friend’s woodland some weeks back. Unfortunately, I missed the bluebell seeds this year, by the time I had returned from Ireland the wind had already shaken them free from their dried-up bells so I was unable to give them a helping hand to spread this year.
The seemingly endless bracken-pulling season is also upon us, but I’m still achy from pulling last weekend, so I don’t want to talk about it!
On a more positive note, we’ve caught badgers on the camera trap digging up the path on the way into camp, we’ve a bumper crop of berries that will soon be ready and it looks like the oaks are having a mast year again – so I will finally be able to make another jar or two of acorn coffee next season. Can’t wait!
Until next time…
Blessings from Rais wood.
Joanne
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