The Willow tree is one of the seven sacred Irish trees and is a sacred tree to Druids and Wiccans as It has many magical and medical uses. It is common in folklore and mythology and has many associations with Gods and Goddesses. Thus, the Willow tree is often called the "Witch's tree" or "Goddess Tree".
The botanical name of the Willow 'Salix' comes from the Celtic word 'sal' - meaning near, and “lis” - meaning water. That is probably because the Willow is particularly planted on the banks of rivers and streams, although it can flourish in the moist ground in many temperate regions throughout the world. That is also why sometimes it is called the "Queen of Water".
There are a lot of types of Willows, but here I'm going to be talking mostly about the White Willow.
How to recognize the Willow?
The bark of the White Willow is a pale greeny-brown, thick, gnarled, rough and furrowed.
The leaves are mostly long and narrow. The color of the leaves is greeny-gray on top and ivory-white underneath.
Willows flower and leaf during May, sometimes together or sometimes separately - flower before leaf.
Male and female flowers grow on separate trees relying on the wind and insects for pollination.
It flowers in the form of catkins of which the male flower is the prettiest.
Medical use
Willow's bark has been used for its pain-relieving qualities for at least 2,000 years because the Salix alba (white willow) contains salicin, which is converted to salicylic acid in the body a.k.a Aspirin. Nowadays the synthetic drug has displaced willow bark from popular use, but we could still use the herb instead.
Willow bark reduces fever and relieves rheumatism, is used as pain relief, gum and tonsil inflammations, and as a footbath for sweaty feet.
The bark is collected in springtime (be careful not to ring the tree or it will die).
Black willow (Salix nigra) black bark as opposed to the light greens of the white willow. Its properties are much the same, but herbally it was used in the past as an aphrodisiac and sexual sedative.
Goat willow or sallow willow (Salix caprea) is used in almost the same way as the white willow, but sallow bark tea is recommended for indigestion and as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
In Myth and Folklore
The Willow is most associated with the moon, water and all that is feminine. It is the tree of dreaming, intuition and deep emotions. Symbolically it belongs to the beginning of spring when all of life is awakening once more. Willow is a strong part of witchcraft, the Underworld and is used for the enhancement of psychic abilities.
So it should be no wonder that Hecate, the powerful Greek goddess of the moon, underworld, sorcery and witchcraft was also associated with the willow.
The Greek sorceress Circe is said to have had a riverside cemetery planted with Willow trees dedicated to Hecate and her moon magic. Here male corpses were wrapped in un-tanned ox-hides and left exposed in the tops of the trees for the elements to claim and the birds to eat. From this association with grief and death came the practice of placing Willow branches in the coffins of the departed, and the planting of young saplings on their graves.
Ancient Celts believed willow planted on the grave would suck up the spirit of the dead person and their spirit would live in the tree.
The Goddess Proserpina was also associated with the Willow tree, as the tree's branches and leaves looked like serpents, and the latter were sacred to this Goddess. In Athens it was a custom to place Willow branches in the beds of infertile women to help cure them.
One old tradition concerning the Willow is the festival of the Green George, which is still celebrated today by Rumanian Gypsies. On the day of the festival, a young Willow tree is cut down and re-erected at the place of the festivities, there it is dressed and adorned with garlands. That same night all the pregnant women assemble around the tree, and each places an article of clothing beneath it. The belief being that if a single leaf from the tree falls on a garment overnight, its owner will be granted an easy child delivery by the Willows goddess. The character of the Green George is represented by a man covered in greenery from the land, which is symbolic of the tree's association with the water that fertilizes the land and brings life. At dawn on the 23rd, the man knocks three nails into the tree, removing them again and then throws them in the river, lake, or stream from where they cut the tree. This was done to gain the favor of the spirits of the water. After that Green George takes the tree back and dips its branches and leaves in the water to awaken the tree's fertile qualities. Then He raises the tree and shakes water onto all the communities' animals, flocks and herds ensuring fertility for the coming year. When all this is done the tree is taken back to the place of festivities and re-erected and everyone can continue feasting and drinking.
The Willow was also sacred to poets, for the sound of the wind through the Willow is said to have a potent influence on the mind which results in inspiration. Orpheus the Greeks' most celebrated poet is said to have received his gifts of eloquence and communication from the Willow by carrying its branches with him while journeying through the Underworld.
Due to his talents as a poet the god Apollo presented him with a lyre and asked him to make music, he, in turn, instructed the Muses in its use.
Upon his death with the intercession of Apollo and the Muses, Zeus placed the lyre of Orpheus amongst the stars. Orpheus was depicted in bas-relief in the temple at Delphi leaning against a Willow tree touching its branches.
Other beliefs
Old folklore advises that to plant a young Willow and watch it grow, would ease the passage of your soul at death.
Willow smoke is believed to soothe and guide the souls of the dead.
All parts of the willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose. Knock on a willow tree (knock on wood) to avert evil.
Magical use
Willow is maybe most commonly used in the making of wands. The best way to do this is by getting a piece of fresh Willow cut (do so respectfully!) Or you could use a newly fallen piece. You can strip the bark off and carve the wand with rune or sigil to enhance a particular use. After it dries you can polish it with beeswax and even decorate it.
You can use the wands when you need help to connect with your intuition, deep emotions, dreams, divination, and when you need inpiration for making art.
Along with wands, Willow can also be used for making talismans to attract protection, divination, inspiration, healing, fertility, love, dealing with feelings of grief and death, and anything to do with the element Water.
The Besom, the Witches Broom, is another thing the Willow finds a place in. Traditionally made from three Trees - The stave is made from Ash, for protection; Birch twigs are used for the broom itself to expel evil spirits. The Besom is bound with Willow to honor Hecate, The Goddess of witchcraft.
Another great use of Willow in witchcraft is to get back in touch with your emotions, potency, and dreams. It is easily done by placing a piece of Willow under your pillow when you sleep. You will find your dreams will immediately become more vivid and meaningful.
This and many more qualities the Willow tree possesses make it one of the most emblematic trees in witchcraft. On one side it's a symbol of the Underworld, death, and grief and on the other hand it is a symbol of fertility and new life. It is all that belongs to the intangible realm of the water element.
Stay Blessed Witches!
See you next time...
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