Celtic dictionary: Ash

February 18 - March 17 - "Moon of Waters"

The Ash was considered one of the sacred trees in Celtic beliefs, along with the Oak and the Hawthorn. The Druids thought that the wood of the Ash was enchanted, for which reason it was used in the manufacturing of wands and spears. To assure protection from snakes, Ash twigs were placed in circles. Ash was also believed to protect children from illness, if they were passed through its branches. The wood of this tree was also believed to ward off ailments from water or food. The Celts' belief was that the Ash originated in the Great Deep (also called the Undersea Land of Tethys), for which reason it is said to offer protection from death by drowning.

The tree was also considered a 'match-maker marker': if seeds did not appear on a the tree, then its owner was believed to be unlucky in love. In the Ogham alphabet, the tree is known as the Cosmic Ash, or the World Tree. Gwydion (the Celtic equivalent of Odin, the Norse God) was known to choose thick twigs of the Ash for his magical wands. In Celtic lore, the Ash connected the three circles of existence... Past, Present and Future, or, in another interpretation, Confusion, Balance and Creative Force.

The Ash person can be of two distinct types. And it is as such with every tree in the zodiac: a first type called 'the new moon', related to the first two weeks of the sign, and 'the full moon' that obviously goes to the last two weeks of the respective sign.

The 'new moon' Ash individual has tendencies towards impulsiveness in emotional relationships. If at first one might remark an aura of apprehension around the Ash person, beneath the surface lies a truly spontaneous character. The 'full moon' Ash will almost always respond to situations with great generosity of spirit, easily mistaken for naivete. The truth is that gullibility is really an outward display of a humble spirit, a quality that was much appreciated then as it is now.

Overall, the Ash characters compress two different sides in one character. One side is artistic with a twinge of vulnerability, the other is pragmatic. A compassionate and sensitive being, the Ash can relate easier to the baser and more spiritual aspects of humankind. The Ash individual is also known to have a natural ability to relieve suffering, both physical and spiritual. Despite their apparently frail appearance, Ash people are actually highly adaptable and can easily recover from strong emotional blows. On the other hand, the Ash characters are not difficult to be influenced by others and, if isolated, they may get low on self-esteem.

Career-wise, Ash people have an innate genius for making money, but will frequently fail in bringing the project to its completion. Their jobs should not have a strict routine, for which reason a career in arts, or better yet in the medical field should prove beneficial. Children born under the Ash sign need careful guiding in order to learn how to use their talents to full potential. Due to their attraction to worlds of fantasy, the Ash persons will almost always love the theater and movies and will be endowed with beautiful voices, even though they would rather work away from the limelight. Since the Ash tree is considered to have originated in the Great Deep, it is not a surprise that Ash natives be fascinated by the ocean, or any body of water, although fascination may sometimes be replaced by fear.

Ash persons are very enthusiastic, communicative and inquisitive and love embarking themselves in discussions regarding new plans and new ideas. They are very kind and careful friends and will make ideal sweethearts and parents. Almost always with their head in the clouds, the Ash individuals appear to be struggling to keep their feet as close to the ground as possible. As a drawback, they are easily influenced by others and, because of their hypersensitivity, it's quite easy for them to lose self-confidence and ambition. As long as their mental abilities are kept focused, they should not have a problem keeping nervousness or irritability at bay.

The Ash native should learn that problems need not necessarily be solved by one person alone, others might also have an opinion or a piece of advice. Therefore, learning to ask questions might prove beneficial.

The Ogham symbol the Ash is associated with is Nuinn.

The lucky gemstone of the ones born under this sign is the Coral. Since it is formed from the skeleton of an animal, the term gemstone is not entirely correct. Rather an 'ocean jewel', if you will. Coral is one of the oldest gem materials, used as adornment since prehistoric times. Coral jewelry has existed in the Celtic culture for as far as the Iron Age. It was used as a powerful talisman to stop the bleeding, to protect from evil spirits and ward off hurricanes. The Coral is also said to protect children, cure madness and bestow wisdom on the people who wear it.

The flower of the Ash is the Wood Anemone, a plant that prefers wooden areas and meadows. It is said that a Wood Anemone will never blossom earlier than March 16 and later than April 22. In ancient times, people traveling through a field of Anemones would hold their breath for fear that the air surrounding them could be poisonous. Nevertheless, herbalists recommended the plant for use in headaches or rheumatic gut.

The celestial body associated with the Ash is Neptune ('Llyr'), God of the Sea.

The Ash deity is considered to be Gwydion, magician, storyteller and trickster. Seen by many as 'Master of Illusion', Gwydion was a helper of humans and fought against greed and small-mindedness. He was the patron of arts and learning and strove to rule out ignorance. For all these, Gwydion is also known as the 'Druid of Gods'.

Three animals are the representations of the Ash: the Adder, the Seagull (Common Tern) and the Sea Horse. The Adder (like all the snakes) symbolized wisdom and spiritual energy. They were usually associated with cunning, wisdom and reincarnation. An amulet, called gloine nathair (serpent glass) was one of the things Druids often carried with them. The Seagull was connected to Llyr, the Sea God and was looked at as a messenger from the Otherworlds. The Sea Horse represented an important figure in Celtic mythology, as both a connection to the Otherworlds and an invitation to a journey of discovery. The Celts considered the Sea Horse a baby Dragon.

There are also other lesser influences for each sign of the Celtic zodiac. These influences can be traced by the specific date of birth within the major sign. In the case of the individual born under the sign of the Ash, there are four influences, similar to the 'ascendants' in the European zodiac:

 

February 18 - The Cedar

February 19 - February 28/29 - The Pine

March 1 - March 10 - The Weeping Willow

March 11 - March 17 - The Lime

 

The approximate equivalent of the Ash sign in the Western/European zodiac is the Pisces (February 19 - March 20).