any significance to the cedar tree?

[aquinnah]

Hello my Druid friends - I have a floral business and sold small cedar trees in ornamental pots througout this holiday season. One of my customers called me and is planning to plant it to mark her niece's first birthday. I gave her basic planting instructions, and she asked if I knew of any "meaning" that the cedar might have, and I was pleased to tell her that if I didn't know, I knew who might...;) These are European cedars, but I don't yet know the Latin name ( I will ask the wholesaler tomorrow). My 'Magical trees in Celtic Lore' poster doesn't mention cedars. Any ideas??? Thanks for your help.

[LilydePlume]

has told me that cedar is one of the most powerful protectors one can use in working with spirit energy. One must use it correctly, however, and I am not free to divulge that information as to the how to , and must also be used with respect.
BB
LP

[Lavender]

Is is a white cedar? Thuja something or other? The European cedars were originally from North American & were one of the first American trees to be introduced to Europe. They are also refered to as The Tree of Life.

Well, cedar was mentioned in the bible as Solomon talks about the virtues of cedar, hyssop, & juniper to be used in building a temple. And Moses was commanded to use cedar & hyssop for cleansing.

Cedar is one of the nine sacred woods for magical workings. It's an herb of the sun & fire & used for winter rituals. Cedar's properties are protection, prosperity, & healing. White cedar was used by some cultures to protect people & places from evil spirits.

Used in incense, cedar is used to purify houses & banish evil & negativity from the home. Some NA cultures use cedar incense in child blessings & naming ceremonies. But I think this is more the Red Cedar which is different from the White Cedar.

[aquinnah]

Thanks for your help, folks. I'm not sure if it's Thuja, Cedrus, or Juniperus Wildchild. I am leaning toward Juniperus because the ends of the needles are pointy. It's definitely not our native Eastern White Cedar. Are the nine sacred woods you mentioned Celtic or NA? I've seen different versions, and am drawn towards collecting only native species to the island I live on. Blessings of the trees to you!

[lucidfire]

Cedar!! I love Cedar! :loveduv:

[Twig]

The cedar IS a potent and valuble tree. I can't stress enough the respect I have for them. In Oregon we have many ancient and wise ceders, hundreds of years old. Heck, my portal tree itself is ceder. A Old split trunk cedar tree just off a 12 mile long path in the Portland hills called The Wildwood Trail. This gnarled old friend is where I hold my rituals. ( The joggers REALLY freak when they pass me on the trail... I wonder why:confused: I'm just sitting under the roots of a tree with candles lit!)

I myself use it in many of the aromatherapy mixtures I make. THe uplifting scent is a Power in it's own right.

Peace,
Twig
:elf:

[Lavender]

Originally posted by aquinnah
Thanks for your help, folks. I'm not sure if it's Thuja, Cedrus, or Juniperus Wildchild. I am leaning toward Juniperus because the ends of the needles are pointy. It's definitely not our native Eastern White Cedar. Are the nine sacred woods you mentioned Celtic or NA? I've seen different versions, and am drawn towards collecting only native species to the island I live on. Blessings of the trees to you!

Hi Aquinnah, the nine sacred woods are Oak, Pine, Holly, Hazel, Juniper, Cedar, Poplar, Apple, Ash. I'm pretty sure these are NA. I think the Celtic list is as follows: Hazel, Apple, Yew, Holly, Ash, Pine, Oak, Elder, Rowan, Hawthorn. Heh! That's more than 9! . Like you've said, there are so many variations around. If you have anything different, I would love to hear of it! :)

[thefluiddruid]

Originally posted by Wildchild


Hi Aquinnah, the nine sacred woods are Oak, Pine, Holly, Hazel, Juniper, Cedar, Poplar, Apple, Ash. I'm pretty sure these are NA. I think the Celtic list is as follows: Hazel, Apple, Yew, Holly, Ash, Pine, Oak, Elder, Rowan, Hawthorn. Heh! That's more than 9! . Like you've said, there are so many variations around. If you have anything different, I would love to hear of it! :)


First of all to the best of my knowladge the Traditional Native Americans didn't have the nine sacred woods, and many of the mainland european Celts didn't either.
The nine sacred woods come from Irish and Welsh culture, and are Oak, Pine, Holly, Hazel, Juniper, Cedar, Poplar, Apple, Ash..
Hazel, Apple, Yew, Holly, Ash, Pine, Oak, Elder, Rowan, Hawthorn. are the trees that the Ogham was supposedly based on.
However I have yet to find anyting linking the Ogham with special trees that pre-dates the Neo-Druidic "revival" in the late 1700s.

As for Cedar, the Tree that origanated in Europe that most people call Cedar is Fir.

[lucidfire]

Fir and Cedar are the same tree? That's weird; I didn't know that. Here's a tree calendar based off lunar cycles, that shows 13 trees for a year; good to find out which tree you were born under :D http://www.earthcalendar.net/religions/celtictrees2.html

[Lavender]

Cedar & Fir are different trees even though in some places, the common names will get mixed up. What is commonly called red cedar is actually not even a cedar. It's really a Thuja and white cedar is Cedrus. Fir trees have the latin name of Abies. Different latin name. Different plants. These plants have so many similarities that it does get confusing.

[lucidfire]

thanks for the info!

[Lavender]

Originally posted by thefluiddruid
However I have yet to find anyting linking the Ogham with special trees that pre-dates the Neo-Druidic "revival" in the late 1700s.

There seems to be mix feelings about this. I don't know enough about this.

[Twilight Garden]

Originally posted by Twig
THe uplifting scent is a Power in it's own right.I couldn't agree more! I love cedar.