Thread by @kieran224526981

The White Lady of the Woods, also known as the White Birch stands, slender and graceful, with long branches reaching toward the sky. This Tree is rarely seen singly, growing most often in Groves.

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#FolkloreSunday

Artwork : Spring Birch Trees by Olha Darchuk

She embodies the ideal of graceful femininity and light-filled grace. Birch, as with all Trees, has specific attributes and associations. The Ogham are divided into classification of Chieftain, Shrub, Peasant and Bramble. Beith is a Chieftain.

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Beith is also known for its protective magical abilities, along with its role as the herald of new beginnings.
In ancient times, brooms made of Birch twigs were commonly used to drive out the spirits of the old year and to ‘beat the bounds’ of property for protection.

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Thus, broomsticks made of Birch have the added benefit of these protective qualities. This is the Tree commonly used by the shaman to climb the sky ladder to make contact with the Gods of the Air and Beith is associated with Air and winds.

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Maypoles were often of Birch, as were the twigs used to ignite the Beltane fires, signifying new beginnings and a fresh start. The Yule log is, traditionally, Birch also. Cradles made of Birch are said to protect the infant from harm, particularly of a psychic nature.

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For the same reasons it is said that a small piece of Birch carried upon a person will prevent kidnapping of the individual by the sidhe, or the Faerie Folk. The animals associated with Beith are the pheasant and the white cow and it’s plant is the Fly Agaric mushroom.

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