Fir Tree - Ailim

Bruce Clifton

Autumn

West

Water

Fir Tree - Ailim

Pronunciation: Ahl emm
Moon Phase:   Waning Gibbous
Moon of the winter solstice, the shortest day.   
Letter: A
Title: Shrub
Height: (mature) up to 160ft 53mtr
Influence:  Feminine
Age: 5 Generations normally but up to 7
Legend:  Druantia, (Dryad Queen) The power of now, insight for progression.
Deity: Druantia
Element: Air
Chakra: Throat Chakra
Aura: Blue
Medicinal Qualities:  It's scent is good for emotional and mental well being. Will cleanse and balance the upper chakras, throat, third eye, crown.
Totem Entities:  Ladybird, Eagle, Deer/Stag, Arch-Angel Uriel.

The Fir tree is known to be inhabited by Druantia queen of the Dryads, Fae and Elves. Dryads are tree elementals and capable of influencing many things. You have no secrets from the Dryads they watched you come into this world and they will watch you leave and they can influence your progress on the way. Druantia if asked can see along your path and help you understand your mistakes, encourage you to not repeat them by learning from them and help you move forward to realise your dreams and aspirations.

In the same way the Beech and the Poplar will sing to you in the summer breeze, this tree will sing to you in the winter, with her intoxicating scent and pure sweet sounds it is easy to fall under the spell of Druantia, (Queen of the Dryads) invite this tree to share your meditations and dreams.

Pine needles to this day are known to be dried then lit so they smoulder and carried around a new borns crib three times to invoke protection for both mother and child. In the same way sage is burned to cleanse and purify, to explore the local forest then ask Druantias permission before collecting her needles and bark and this should prove more effective and stronger than shop bought sage. A soft almost dry bark will produce a blue white haze from this incense.

Garlands have always been brought indoors for the winter, the Silver Fir frequently favoured as no part of this tree should go to waste. With long cold nights carefully made garlands for invocation and decorative purposes, with the wood being fashioned into musical instruments also paneling for insulation purposes, with its sap making an effective resin and glue. This tree gives protection in many ways, also used as a divining rod to help discover when spirit is close, an aid for communication with the dearly departed. 

The lady bird with her three dots offers the sanctuary of the power of three, appearing in the summer to all who need her. The Ladybirds appearance may be telling you to keep your feet firmly on the ground and to not be carried away in a self centred fantasy. The Silver Fir provides a safe haven during the winter months for the ladybird who will be found deeply embedded in needles that won't open. Druantia will protect all who seek her.

The Eagle was frequently found nesting in the uppermost branches of the fir tree, the similarities betwen eagle and silver fir can be compared to that of oak and the owl. The silver fir known to be home to Druantia, the eagle believed to be great spirit, the silver fir being far sighted as with the eagle, the eagle being target orientated and able to shapeshift and Druantia known to have legendary status among the elementals.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day as the sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, also as the moon will appear to hold it's position as it changes from waxing to full to waning moon, the sun will appear to hold it's position at noon. Both the moon and the sun sharing the same sky at midday, the word "solstice" stems from two greek latin words "sol" meaning sun and "stitium" meaning stoppage.
Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, "sun" and -stitium, "a stoppage." Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

After the winter solstice it is a time of fresh energy, with sap rising along with the days getting longer. It is a time for rebirth, new beginnings and looking ahead. With the Arch-Angel Uriel looking out from the North as you turn and follow the trail of the moon at midday, you will see the might and ceaseless fecundity of Uriel as you face him looking south.

Ogham Tree Lore

Bruce Clifton

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