Thirteen Days of Samhain: Day 9

On the ninth day of Samhain, the Goddess gave to me:

Nine Woods A’burning

There is a poem in the community of witches, one that honors the magical properties of trees. Part of the poem is quoted in some extended versions of The Wiccan Rede. Traditionally, these woods were used to kindle the bael-fire at Beltane. In my tradition, we also use these woods at the Samhain fire. I have adapted the poem slightly to fit the native woods of my area (southeast United States) better.

Nine woods in the cauldron go,

Burn them fast and burn them slow;

Birch in the fire goes,

To represent what the lady knows;

Oak gives the forest towers might,

In the fire brings the God’s insight;

Holly is the tree of power,

Causing life and magic to flower;

Willows at the waterside stand,

To aid the journey to the Summerland;

Hawthorn is burned to purify,

And draw faerie to your eye;

Hazel, the tree of wisdom and learning,

Adds its strength to the bright fire burning;

White are the flowers of apple tree,

That brings us fruits of fertility;

Grapes that grow upon the vine,

Giving us both joy and wine;

Cedar does mark the evergreen,

To represent immortality seen;

Elder is the Lady’s tree,

Burn it not or cursed you’ll be!