As you drive through the Irish countryside, you can still see trees decorated with ribbons and 'prayers' to the gods asking for health, wealth, and love.Īccording to Mara Freeman, author of Kindling the Celtic Spirit.

The idea that trees were messengers to the gods still holds out in Irish superstitions as well. Some say that if you fall asleep under certain trees, you will awaken to find yourself in the midst of fairies in the Otherworld. There are numerous stories in Irish folklore involving mystical trees. They believed the Oak was a passageway into the Otherworld. They believed the Oak tree symbolized the ' axis mundi', which means the center of the universe. The Oak was the most sacred tree of all to the Celts. In the Ogham alphabet, each of the letters represented a sacred tree or plant. The Celtic Ogham (pronounced OH-um) alphabet is a system of divination which some say was created by the Celtic Druids. The wood of many trees was also considered magical. Their wood provides materials to build shelter as well as fires for preparing nourishing meals, warming the body on a frigid night, or engaging in spiritual rituals. They are a source of healing medicinal extracts. Trees provide sustenance for people and animals. With trees as far as the eye could see in Celtic lands, it is no wonder that they were such sacred symbols in all Celtic tribes. In those days, thick forests dominated the land. The Celts were the dominant ethnic and cultural group of Northern Europe for ages. They believed trees in particular were a source of great wisdom with the power to bridge the gap between the upper and lower worlds and bring blessings from the gods. The ancient Celts believed all living things were spiritual, mystical beings, not just inanimate objects to be exploited. In fact, the Irish Druids believed the Sacred Tree had the power to reveal messages from the gods. Yet all are woven together, signifying the connection between all things in the Heavens and the Earth. Their branches reach high into the heavens. The symbolism of the Celtic Tree vividly comes to life in this design by Celtic artist, Jen Delyth. One of the most sacred Celtic symbols of all

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