Color of the day: Indigo Incense of the day: Lilac Incense of the day: Lilac As cold weather approached in olden times, stores of wood and fuel were gathered to keep the tribe warm during winter months. Fallen branches and logs were taken first, supplemented by other branches for which thanks were offered to the spirits. It was therefore important to know what kind of wood burned well, which could be burned wet to give instant warmth, and which had to be dried before use. An intimate knowledge of trees and the properties of their wood was important in both a practical and spiritual sense. Here is an old Scottish rhyme about which types of wood should be gathered and revered: Choose the willow of the streams; Choose the hazel of the rocks; Choose the alder of the marshes; Choose the birch of the waterfalls. Choose the ash of the shade; Choose the yew of resilience; Choose the elm of the brae: Choose the oak of the Sun. |