Jul 17, 2024 | 0 comments

Magical herbs and plants: sit under a tree in summer

Jul 17, 2024 | Culture, Mother Earth's Garden | 0 comments

Summer is a very special time of year. Our energy drops and our level of attention vanishes while our thoughts chase a lonely cloud in the very blue sky. It’s a time for lightness, which is why sitting under a tree in summer can help us rediscover the right vigor that the scorching heat of these months causes us to consume.

Allies against summer exhaustion

The origin of the word summer can be traced back to the Latin root aestas, which derives from the Indo-European root aies, which means to burn. This is to indicate precisely those characteristics that make this period of the year lively and exuberant: the harsh heat; the desire to spend time outside the house; and the work of the world that colors these fiery months with celebration.

Yet it is not easy to survive the summer. Energy is consumed more quickly, the heat seems to drain all our will and the sticky sweat makes us easily irritable. So to alleviate this general feeling of exhaustion of body, mind, and soul, it is good to adopt some small summer habits that can lift our spirits.

Among the most important tips, it is always good to remember to wear light fabric clothes (for example linen), drink lots of water, eat fresh fruit, cover your head, and protect your skin with a thin layer of sunscreen.

However, some trees can also prove to be valid allies in resisting the drowsiness of this period. Sitting under an olive tree, for example, with our feet in contact with the grass, can bring calm to a confused mind and make us one with the nature that surrounds us. Lying at the foot of a weeping willow can lift a dejected spirit and provide relief with the cool shade of its gnarled branches.

It is important to learn to ally ourselves with nature to better face the sudden succession of the seasons. Only in this way can we let life surprise us without being forced to burn in the ephemeral flame of its heat.

Trees for the summer

So, which trees are best to sit under in summer to recalibrate our energies? Here are some of the plants that can support us during this period.

Birch

betulla

Di Ellwanger & Barry;Ellwanger & Barry;Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection -Source book page: https://archive.org/stream/descriptivecatal1886ellw/descriptivecatal1886ellw#page/n21/mode/1up, No restrictions, Collegamento

The Celts used to call it the Cosmic Tree, as well as the guardian of the door that led shamans to the abode of the deities. The birch was also considered a symbol of purification for the soul, body, and mind. According to tradition, it possesses four powers: it gives light to the world, stifles cries, soothes illnesses, and purifies the spirit.

Among the population of Slavic origin, however, the birch was considered a tree of rebirth and was burned during popular and religious holidays as a propitiatory rite, to then use the ashes to ward off the nymphs of the lakes and ponds.
In the cycle of life, this tree represents growth and becoming, purity and youth. Because of its long-limbed beauty, it was once believed that it presented itself to men as a virgin dressed in light, bearer of beneficial and healing forces. Having a picnic in a birch grove in summer brings new serenity and mental clarity.

Blackthorn

Prunus Spinosa

Prunus Spinosa

From the Latin name prunus spinosa, this perennial shrub has intricate branches often used as a refuge by birds and small mammals. Its fruits are excellent for creating jams, marmalades, sauces, and syrups, as they contain a lot of vitamin C.

In ancient times, magical properties were attributed to this plant: it was believed that Good and Evil were preserved in the intertwining of its branches. Having a blackthorn in your garden meant protecting your home from fire and your family from disease. Pausing under its leaves in summer allows us to come into contact with the most hidden part of ourselves, while the buzz of the insects that populate it lulls us towards a complete union with the surrounding nature.

Weeping willow

Salix Babylonica reduced from tab. 59 of D. Brandis, Illustrations of the Forest Flora of North-West and Central India, 1874 published by Kurt Stüber, http://www.biolib.de

Salix Babylonica reduced from tab. 59 of D. Brandis, Illustrations of the Forest Flora of North-West and Central India, 1874
published by Kurt Stüber, http://www.biolib.de

Its name derives from the Celtic and means close to water, in fact, the willow prefers humid soil and a ventilated climate; for this reason, it mainly grows near watercourses. Among the Celts, the willow was linked to a female deity and represented fertility, while the Druids used its wood to create musical instruments with which to enchant the people. In Ancient Greece this tree was linked to the afterlife, while for the Jewish people, it brought rain.

In England, the willow has always had a close connection with the world of witches. Witches’ brooms were believed to be made from willow branches.

In the Christian religion, the weeping willow symbolizes purity, reverence, and pain, while for Eastern populations it has always been considered a plant linked to immortality, and therefore sacred.

In a broader popular tradition, however, it has always been the plant associated with the moon and with divinatory, medicinal, and magical qualities considered typically feminine. For this reason, lying under the falling branches of a willow tree, on a clear summer night, is a good way to get away from the worries of everyday life and ask the stars for advice.

Olive

ulivo

E. Knoblauch?, Public domain, da Wikimedia Commons

The olive tree is a tree that embodies a dual personality. Its leaves are dark green on one side and silver on the other: for this reason, they are considered to belong to the moon, while the oil extracted from the olives belongs to the sun.

Olives are widely used in spells against depression, sadness, and melancholy. They are also used to increase fertility and prosperity.

In modern magic, the energies of this plant are used to bring calm and peace and to stimulate spirituality and meditation. They are also useful for blessing, exorcising, and protecting, carving protective amulets or magic wands from their branches.

However, long-lived and resistant, the main characteristic of this plant is eternity, as well as a symbol of life thanks to its ability to overcome difficulties, resist the worst weather conditions, and defeat death. Therefore, taking refuge in the large and serene shade of this tree is like living a moment of eternity with ourselves, regaining control of our mind, and recharging with fresh and new energies.

Living with nature

All too often, life in the city affects our behavior and feelings. The concrete walls, the smog, the roar of cars, and the continuous background of construction sites always open, push us to forget what contact with nature is.

The chirping of birds, the quiet sound of a stream, the breeze shaking the branches of trees; but also the scent of salt, the calm rocking of the sea waves, the wind in your hair. All these sensations are devoured by cities, but we can easily find them in an afternoon in the mountains, a day at the beach, or a picnic at the lake. We just need to be aware of how essential it remains not to let ourselves be swallowed up by the roaring chaos of the city, and to remember to live with nature, always.

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