Wood captures the essence of the tree. It is a living thing, imbued with the energies and characteristics of its parent. The physical characteristics of the wood often reflect the lore that surrounds the tree itself: bows made from the poisonous yew as bringers of death; the sweet scented apple wood as a symbol of love; the strong, straight ash that was believed to form the central axis of the world. Each wood has it's own personality, its own spirit, and this spirit can augment the power of a talisman or a set of wood runes.
Here then is my introduction to some of those powerful trees which have been known and revered by the people of northern Europe, plus a few that have particular meaning to the indigenous cultures of North America. I have included physical characteristics and traditional uses of the wood in addition to the lore and myths associated with the tree, since all of these factors influence one another. Those marked with a * are used in Tara Hill Designs products.
Many thanks to Colleen Whittaker for providing additional research. Check out her page on the Ogham, which has much more information about sacred trees.
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Jennifer Smith