The Celtic Year - Birch

Birch/Beth

24^th December – 21^st January

As the first month of the Celtic Year, the most prominent association of Beth is 'new beginnings' and 'renewal', but it also has many other uses in the magickal world:

TOLERANCE - COURAGE - BEAUTY - STRENGTH - PROTECTION - CREATIVITY - FERTILITY - HEALING - LUNAR WORKINGS - FOREST MAGICK - PURIFICATION - EXORCISM - LOVE - SELF-DISCIPLINE - BIRTH

Associations:

Polarity:     Feminine

Element:     Air; Water

Sabbat:       Post Winter Solstice

                   Deities:       Freya; Brigid; Venus; Thor; Diana; 
                 Cerridwen

                   Planet:     Venus; Sun

Animals:     Eagle; Pheasant; Egret; White Stag

Colour:      White

Gems:        Crystal; Red Chard

Flower:      Daisy

Day:         Sunday   

Medicinal Uses

• The oil of Birch bark is used to treat skin conditions and as an insect repellent.
• Birch sap is a natural shampoo; it can also be used as a treatment for dysentery and urinary infections
• An infusion of Birch leaves is an antiseptic and diuretic.

Herbal Usage

• The leaves of this marvellously magickal tree as an infusion/tea can help to break up kidney and bladder stones.
• Birch bark can be used as an astringent and used for non-hereditary baldness.
• Birch tea – made from the inner bark and leaves and this is good for rheumatism or as a sedative to aid sleep
• Birch sap – when harvested like maple syrup, it can be boiled down to make birch syrup

Magical Uses

• Warding against evil; banishing fears; building courage.
• Birch’s vibration heightens tolerance of oneself and others.

Other Information

• Known as ‘The Lady of the Woods’
• The Celtic Symbol of Birch is the White Stag with a rack of seven tines
• A Goddess Tree – the symbol of summer ever-returning
• One of the 9 woods burned during a Belfire at Beltane.
• 1^st level of druid working
• One of the Three Pillars of Wisdom (with Oak and Yew)
• The traditional wood of the Yule Log
• The twigs are the traditional spray of a witches broom or besom.

See also: 
+Shiann Raven Moon Birch Blog Post

For articles of my other Celtic Trees, see below

The Celtic Year – Rowan

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-rowan_2.html

The Celtic Year – Ash

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-ash.html

The Celtic Year – Alder

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-alder.html

The Celtic Year – Willow

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-willow.html

The Celtic Year – Hawthorn

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-hawthorn.html

The Celtic Year – Oak

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-oak.html

The Celtic Year – Holly

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-holly.html

The Celtic Year – Hazel

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-celtic-year-hazel.html