A short blogpost by guest Juliet Fay …
I’ve always been drawn to ash without knowing much about it, other than the fact you can burn it green. Recently I got curious to learn more, perhaps inspired by the awareness that we are losing our Ash trees to Ash Dieback disease.
Ash has different symbolism in different cultures and the more I learn about it, the more fascinated I am. I took these photos at Denmark Farm Conservation Centre on Sunday morning, at Samhain, the Gaelic festival marking the end of harvest and the beginning of Winter while I was attending a drum making course there.
“Ash Tree Symbolism in Different Cultures
The ash has large roots that sink deep into the ground. For the Celts, this symbolized the people’s ability to dig inside themselves to find nourishment and inner stability. In fact, it is also a great symbol of stability and security. Those belonging to the sign of the ash do not tolerate those who are not concrete or those who rely solely on spirituality, forgetting the more concrete side of life.”
Excerpt from https://magickalspot.com/ash-tree-symbolism-meaning/.
As we draw back from fascination with the mental constructs of our minds, Nature and the Ash Tree, in particular, has much to show us about the nature of our Beingness, even as our bodies move inexorably towards decline and death. Perhaps Ash is even more beautiful in its final act.
For a wonderful exploration of the Ash tree, read, Epitaph for the Ash by Lisa Samson.