Celtic dictionary: Birch

The Birch (December 24 - January 20)

"Moon of Inception"

The Celtic year started on the 24^th of December and the perfect tree to suggest a new beginning was the Birch, since it is the first tree to come into leaf after the Winter season. It suggests rebirth and renewal. To the Celts, it was almost as important as the Oak, as its wood was hard and it could grow in places no other tree could grow. It suggested resolution and strength of character. It also symbolized purity and cleanliness, since, as stated above, it was the first tree to welcome Spring. The Birch played many important roles with the Celts, both religious and practical. Birch twigs were supposed to drive away evil spirits and also ensure fertility with the newlyweds. The sap of the tree was used in the manufacturing of beer, wine and vinegar and witches fancied using the Birch twigs in their magical brooms. Probably flew better than the ones made from poplar.

A remarkably versatile tree, the Birch grows on most types of soil and will always be the first tree to reappear after an old forest has been cut down. It is presumed that the name 'Birch' has its origin in the Anglo-Saxon term 'Beorgan", that meant 'to protect, to shelter'.

The Birch 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' Birch individual has a tendency towards introversion or subjectiveness. The nature of the Birch tends to be rather impulsive and often emotional. It's not all bad news, though. These people tend to have a lot of faith in themselves, and will tenaciously pursue their purposes in life. The 'full moon' Birches are quite the opposite; they are objective and extroverted and are known to be visionaries. The dark side, however, consists in a certain lack of reality that sometimes clouds clear judgment.

Overall, the Birch persons have what it takes to be good leaders, strategists and organizers due to their ambition, their clear goal-oriented behavior and their determination. They can not be easily hindered from their actions because of an intense need to achieve the final goal. It appears that the word in order for the Birch character is 'ambition'. And while this will turn him or her into a very trustworthy, reliable and loyal person, it will manifest itself as a setback when it comes to showing displays of affection. It is also rather difficult for the Birch to accept the limitations of others, due to the permanent need for perfection, which might lead to tense relationships at work. The lifestyle of the Birch individuals is orderly, much like in the military. Due to their excessive need to strive to achieve their goals, they can easily become workaholics.

Birch individuals usually prefer to keep a low profile at work, as they would rather not flaunt their successes. They also possess an acute sense of money, as they work very hard to achieve their financial status. Aiming for perfection in whatever they do, Birch individuals might develop a pessimistic attitude towards themselves, that leads to imposing greater amounts of self-discipline. And since they tend to be rather cynical, experiencing loneliness is not an unusual thing for them.

Because of the strict routine that Birch individuals adopt, they usually find it difficult to get involved in successful marriages until later in life. Still, once there, divorces are rare for the ones born under this sign. The Birch characters might develop mild forms of hypochondria, but the reasons are totally unfounded, since the resistance of both the body and the mind is quite high.

Birch individuals should make getting rid of their negativity a goal in life, in order to be able to accomplish a fresh start. They must focus on the desired purpose, to have it stand out clear from any distraction and obstruction.

The Ogham symbol the Birch is associated with is Beith.

The lucky gemstone of the ones under this sign is the Rock Crystal, a substance that has the ability to render invisible light visible by means of refraction.

The flower of the Birch is the Daisy. Like the Birch, this flower is the first to bloom at the first sign of Spring, and it is regarded as a symbol of fidelity and innocence. According to a Celtic legend, the spirits of newborn that died at childbirth scatter Daisies on Earth to cheer the sorrows of their parents.

The celestial body associated with the Birch is the Sun, a powerful Celtic deity. Story has it that a great Celtic hero, Lugh the Sun-King was the guardian of the two Great Gifts, magical artifacts that were of paramount importance to the people - the Magical Sword and Spear.

This is why the Birch deity is Lugh, credited with being the inventor of all arts and crafts. He had under his jurisdiction the Sun, light, fire, metallurgy, weaving and grain harvest. It is also said that he was the protector of the weak.

Two animals are the representations of the Birch: the Golden Eagle and the White Stag. The Eagle was the symbol of the soul; it signified resurrection and rebirth, the victory of life over death. Druids, who are said to have had shape-shifting abilities, had the Eagle as their favored choice, as well as the Raven and the Crow. The White Stag was regarded as a mark of royalty. It was believed to be the guardian of the gateway that separated the animal and the human world. The Stag frequently appears in Celtic legends. The antlers of the stag were seen as the symbol of the metamorphosis process of spiritual growth, aspirations and lofty ideals.

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 Birch, there are three lesser influences, similar to the 'ascendants' in the European zodiac:

December 24 - December 31 - The Apple

January 1 - January 11 - The Fir

January 12 - January 20 - The Elm

Additional information can be found at the respective zodiacal sign.

The approximate equivalent of the Birch sign in the common zodiac is the Capricorn (December 22 - January 19).