Photo By kakisky
Featured Tree: Oak
The Pagan Gamer
4
Ah, the oak. What patience it must take to start from a small little acorn and grow into the large, strong tree that is an oak. But what are it’s magickal properties? And what does it represent anyway? Does it have a mythological or historical meaning?
The acorn itself is considered a symbol of patience and time, as well as the patience to make goals and desires come true. This is because acorns only grow on fully mature oak. The oak itself represents hard work, determination, patience and perseverance. It makes sense when you consider how long it takes for them to grow, and the strength that they have when they have matured.
Oaks have been considered sacred in many cultures and mythos through most of history, often connected to deities that interact with mortals. In Europe especially, throughout most of history the oak tree was highly venerated. Celts, Romans, Greeks and Teutonic tribes all over Europe had particular connections between oak trees and their deities, especially deities of sky, lightning or storms.
Norsemen believed that Thor found shelter from a violent storm under an oak tree, and to this day some people believe that putting acorns in the window sill of a house will protect it from lightning strikes. Women in certain areas of Great Britain wear them on a string around their necks to prevent premature aging. Druids are believed to have held rituals in oak groves, and they believed if mistletoe was found on an oak tree, it was an indication that a god had stopped there via a lightning strike. Rulers often wore oak leaves as a crown as a symbol of their connection to the divine. Roman generals were given oak leaves upon returning from battle, and it is still a symbol of leadership in the military today. Because of it’s use in buildings, it became very popular as a symbol of wealth and power to have one’s home made out of oak.
Some Native American children used to play a game similar to tag in which touching a tree (usually the oak) made the child safe from tagging. These Native Americans believed that the tree had great supernatural powers, and in fact “knocking on wood” was said to originate from this. It was used as a way to prevent the failing of a boast, or to make a hopeful prediction come true. Just as they believed it is bad luck to boast or predict victory, even now we “knock on wood” to prevent a jinx on a situation we’re speaking about.
To this day, modern pagans still honor the oak for it’s connection to the divine. It is used in wands, staves, and ogham runes. Some might even perform their rituals below an oak tree to lend them it’s strength and power, as well as to help connect to the divine in ritual. It is a powerful symbol of strength, hard work, the divine, and patience, and we should all respect this powerful symbol.