Spirit Walk Ministry
A Shamanic Studies Ministry
583 State Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
United States
ph: (617) 682-8354
contact
Nature Spirits
I'll follow you, I'll lead you about a round,
Through bog, through bush, through brake, through brier:
Sometime a horse I'll be, sometime a hound,
A hog, a headless bear, sometime a fire;
And neigh, and bark, and grunt, and roar, and burn,
Like horse, hound, hog, bear, fire, at every turn.
~ “A Midsummer Night's Dream” ~
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Nature Spirits
© 2002-2009 Maureen Grace Burns
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Many Ancient Cultures and practitioners of Natural World orientated, Sacred Pathways recognized their valuable contribution to the overall development and harmonic balance of the planetary spirals.
The Land, the Divine Forest, the Sacred Groves, and the Holy Wells were enlivened and hallowed by the presence of the Nature Spirits. From the dancing blue tipped flames of the hearth fire to the sparkling golden candle lights of the lapping brook, the elemental beings of air, water, fire, and earth enliven and sanctify all the Days and Ways of the landscape of daily living.
All cultures have different names for the Nature Spirits like the Irish Sidhe and the German Kobold. Some of the English language equivalents you may be familiar with might include: brownies, elves, dwarves, fairies, fauns, gnomes, leprechauns, nymphs and pixies to name a few.
The most important function of the elementals or the Nature Spirits of air, earth, fire, and water is their charge to be builders of form. As such they become the catalytic generators and steadfast sustainers of the organizing patterns of all growing and living things.
Like humans housing their souls temporarily in a human body or biochemical shell to further the expansion of their individual consciousness, the elemental nature spirits house their spiritual essence within the etheric substance of a particular element.
It is one of the evolutionary spiral options available to the Nature Spirits. The elementals accomplish their work by converting etheric thought designs or Dreaming intentional images into manifest patterns.
The Nature Spirits are also called Devas or Shining Ones because of the light they radiate as they travel about fulfilling their Creational assignments such as helping plants to grow and hallowing tree groves.
Most cultures have folklore and fairytales about them. The Natural World traditions have always been enlivened by the vibrant beingness and the vital quintessential aliveness, of the elemental beings of air, earth, fire, and water who have helped to sanctify the land, the sea, and the sky with their inherent divinity and creative acumen.
From the scintillating splendor of the Fairy Hosts to the rainbow promise treasures of the Leprechauns to the hallowed sword of Excalibur, the mystical, magical Otherworldly powers of the Nature Spirits have charmed the human heart and inspired the soul for millennia.
Hallow Hills, Holy Wells, Pixie Dust, Tree Spirits, and the Wee Folk continue to charm, enchant and enlighten succeeding generations of both children and adults who have attuned to their inner child.
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The Elemental Nature Spirits
© 2002-2009 Maureen Grace Burns
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Earth Element (Gnomes) Earth spirits maintain the physical earth. They aid us in maintaining our physical bodies as well as the physical realm of the earth. We can ask them to help us to become more aware of our physical senses and to develop reliance upon them. They can teach us to be patient, but remember that they can be very stubborn as well.
Water Element (Undines) Water spirits are found in natural sources of water such as rivers, springs, and the ocean. They work with our astral selves and our dreams, and are part of desire, intuition, and love. They are infinitely sensual, something to keep in mind if you wish to work with them. They can assist us to get in touch with the softer side of our creative nature and our emotions, or when we are in need of healing.
Air Element (Sylphs) Air spirits are found in any motion of air, from a light breeze to a tornado. They are composed entirely from wind and thought, and they are the source of all life energy. They can assist us to develop mental abilities and inspiration.
Fire Element (Salamanders) Fire spirits are everywhere. They are responsible for all light, heat, and strong emotions and are composed of Will. They are most helpful in developing our spiritual selves and for stimulating "out with the old, in with the new" energies. Seek their assistance for strong creative energy, but keep in mind that fire energies can be quite temperamental and impulsive.
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Dryads are female tree spirits in Greek Mythology. Technically, dryads are the nymphs of oak trees, but the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general. (‘Drys’ in Greek signifies 'oak)
The nymphs of ash trees were called the Meliai. The ash-tree sisters tended the infant Zeus in Rhea's Cretan cave. Rhea gave birth to the Meliai after being made fertile by the cast-away genitals of Ouranos.
If the nymphs lived in the trees, they were referred to as hamadryads, like Atlantia one of the wives of Danaus; otherwise they were simply dryads. Dryads, like all nymphs, were supernaturally long-lived, but if the tree died, the dryad associated with it died as well. For that reason, dryads and the Greek gods punished any mortals who harmed trees without first propitiating the tree-nymphs.
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Spirits of the Trees
Tree Fauns -- (male tree spirits) Are said to be kindly, wise and reserved. Open to sensitive women and may court their souls.
Tree Nymphs -- (female tree spirits) Are said to be more playful and adventurous with humans. May fall in love with a human man.
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Tree Spirits
© Garden Witchery
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For all of human existence the humans and the trees have had a symbiotic relationship. Trees gave us shelter, food, warmth, flowers and medicine. Trees became our allies in nature, our friend, and as the American Indians would say, "our standing brothers and sisters". Trees are the quiet center of being and thus became the center for gatherings and exchange of knowledge.
Trees became the Tree of Life, a concept that can be traced back to Neolithic times. It became the philosophy of ancient cultures, societies and civilizations that remained close to nature. The Tree of Life or the World Tree was the central axis or Axis Mundi of the Universe. Everything circulates around the Axis Mundi. The Tree of Life is the whole Universe and all life in the Universe is connected and sacred. In fact, the Universe, the Earth, our world is a living entity with divine spirit and we are all travelling within this universe in the cycle of life. Trees are the channels for the divine spirit. The Tree of Life is Creation.
The Tree of Knowledge
Certain groups of trees were established for areas of meeting,worship and learning. These places became sacred and the trees became the Sacred Grove. Sadly, as time passed the ancient traditions lost their way to newer beliefs and sacred groves were abandoned for man made buildings erected over the existing site. Many old churches, especially in Europe are built directly over a pre- existing Pagan foundations. Also, as time passed, trees lost their sacredness. As populations grew, people needed more resources and therefore trees were cut down.
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Special Trees
Each tree is a healer, but there are a few special trees that appeal to the human condition because of the special properties they bare. The trees below are especially symbolic and have been throughout history.
The Alder Tree- associated with water. The catkin bearing alder resist decay in its watery habitat. The water spirits, the undines love this tree as well as the unicorn. The leaves of an alder tree can be made into a tea to treat kidney problems.
The Apple Tree -- the custodian of wisdom and sign of the soul. Freya, the goddess of wisdom walks through heaven dispensing golden apples to the gods which will give them the gift of wisdom and understanding. To grow an apple tree in the garden is a happy omen. The druids believe that apple trees grow in the Celtic paradise. The day of the apple tree is Friday (Freya`s day) and it`s star is Venus. King Arthur was taken to the Vale of Avalon, the Apple Vale to heal his wounds. The apple tree man dwells in the middle of the apple trees. He is the guardian of their fertility and the fairy protector of the spirit of the goddess.
The Ash Tree -- it is said to be an ancestor of humankind. In Greece powerful families were believed to have come from ash trees. In Norse mythology the sacred ash is believed to be the entire support structure of the universe. even today, in certain places, people will leave tokens of human hair hanging from an ash tree in hopes that their wishes, hopes and desires will be granted.
The Bay Tree -- the tree of healing. It is associated with masculine principles (and therefore a tree of the Lord), and medicine, music, and the rays of the sun. The bay protects dwellings and gardens. Bay leaves crowned poet, heroes and important men. Grow a bay tree near your house for it protects your dwelling and wards off illness. When a baby is born it is lucky to celebrate by planting a bay tree for the baby’s sake. Never plant a bay tree where vines grow.
The Birch Tree -- associated with Lammas tide on August 1,the light of the stars, the moon and the sun. It is a symbol of summer ever returning. It is said the birch is the mother of the oak tree because in prehistoric times it was the birch that prepared the earth floor for the majestic oak to be born. It is said the fairies love this tree in the springtime.
The Bramble Tree -- fairies love the bramble tree because it is wild and protects the penetration of secluded sacred faerie clearings.
The Broom Tree -- as you can imagine, the properties associated with the broom tree is that of astral travel and flight.
The Elder Tree -- people used to think it was unlucky to bring any part of an elder tree into the house because it would bring a death in the family. It actually has a feminine soul. It is magickal, healing and fragrant. If planting an elder tree in the garden remembers it likes to be protected and hidden. In fact all the fairy trees like to be planted at a distant from others.
The Hazel Tree -- the tree of wishes and tree of the star goddess. It is associated with the Celtic goddess of the stars, Arianrhad, whose image was seen in the stars of the constellation we now know as the constellation of the Corona Borealis. The hazel is called the tree of wishes because it has the power to grant the hearts desire.
The Hawthorn Tree (Whitehorn or May Tree) -- this is the most sacred tree to the fairies probably because it is so wild, uncompromising and fragrant. If you sit under the thorn tree on May Day Eve, Samhain Eve and Midsummer Eve you can commune with the fairies. Make a ball of last years foliage tied with a white ribbon and burn it in a bonfire on new years day to rid yourself of troubles. Start fresh in the New Year then by making yourself a ball of fresh thorn branches and leaves and keep it to be used in the next years bonfire. It is said that when Joseph of Arimathea came to Glastonbury he brought a white hawthorne with him.
The Holly Tree -- symbol of the life force, vitality and immortality. It is considered a lucky tree to grow in the garden because it wards off negative energies. The shiny green leaves represent the vitality of life even in the coldest of times and is used in Yule for this reason. It is lucky to burn dried holly branches but not if their still green. The male holly tree the prickly one) and the female holly tree (the smooth variegated one) are inhabited by respectfully the holly man and the holly woman.
The Juniper Tree -- considered a protective tree and unlucky to cut down a juniper tree. The tree has an abundance of healing properties. Infusions can be made to treat kidney and liver troubles, arthritis, dropsy and help the elderly.
The Lilac Tree -- it is the fragrance of the lilac tree that is considered magickal. The fragrance is believed to carry humans into fairyland and the supernal world. English tradition considers the lilac to be an unlucky flower to be brought into the house because it is associated with death. This was perhaps fear of the power of the fragrance of the lilac. It is really quite a beneficiary tree. Its flowers can be eaten and used as a tonic for the nervous system.
The Maple Tree -- maple trees meanings includes balance, promise and practicality. The maple is seen as a happy tree, alluring, mystically bringing together all who gather under it's sheltering branches. Carrying a young child through the branches of a Maple tree was traditionally thought to encourage good health and long life. The Maple is also said to bring lifelong success and abundance.
The Oak Tree -- the tree of truth. It is ancient and wise and has an old spirit. An important tree for the druids. The mistletoe of the oak tree has many magickal properties. It is also a marriage tree. Symbolic of the marriage between the god and the goddess. If you dance around the oak tree and wear some of its leaves you will have a long and happy marriage. It is said that if there is a question in your heart that you cannot find the answer to then go to an oak tree and embrace it and ask the spirit of the oak tree to answer your question. If you should know then the oakman will send you a prophetic dream.
The Palm Tree -- palms symbols include peace and opportunity. In many historical cultures, palms were also symbols for such victory and fertility. Early Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul. In Judaism, the palm represents peace and plenty. The palm may also symbolize the Tree of Life in Kabbalah.
The Pine Tree -- the tree of the sun. Its old title was "the sweetest of woods”. The scent of Pine is useful in the reduction of guilt. The pine was also sacred to the sea-god Neptune (Poseidon) and to Bacchus (Dionysus). Like all evergreen trees which do not lose their leaves or green color during the wintertime, the pine tree stands for immortality. In Japan, the pine tree stands as a tribute to strong character and energy because it holds up against strong winds.
The Rowan Tree -- the tree of vision, healing, psychic powers, also known as, Wicken-tree, Wild Ash, Witchbane, Witchen, Witch wood and Tree of Life. Sticks, twigs and branches of the rowan tree help in aid and protection. Rowan is associated with witchcraft. Runes were carved with sticks from a rowan tree. It is associated with the colors, red and gray. It is also a tree held dear by Druids and the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Rowan is also used during rites of the 2nd moon - the vision moon for rites of knowledge and divination. This is based on the Celtic calendar of the 13 moons and represents the Moon of astral travel and vision, healing and empowerment.
The Willow Tree -- the willow tree since ancient times has always been associated with death. In Northern Europe the word witch derives from the word for willow. It is considered to be a tree of enchantment. In Celtic mythology it is associated with the creation myth and considered the obvious with death as the conclsion to birth and life.
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Spirit Walk Ministry
A Shamanic Studies Ministry
583 State Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
United States
ph: (617) 682-8354
contact
