The willow is one of the seven sacred trees of Ireland. The shelter of a willow tree is said to provide a magically enclosed space for inspiration and meditation ("all love the little cage"). The tree's life force forms a living green sphere of spiritual protection in the space around it. For these reasons, it is sometimes called the "poet's tree". It was also called the Poet's Tree in the "Song of the Forest Trees". In another well known tale, the secret of Labraid the Mariner was revealed to the entire court of Leinster by a harp made of Willow. Labraid's barber had told the king's secret to the Willow tree itself (to avoid breaking his oath of secrecy about the king's unusual ears). When the harp was first played in the king's presence, it said, "Labraid the Mariner has two ears like a horse!" The king's secret was out, but he was still accepted as the king (in spite of his blemish), due to the prosperity and wisdom of his rule. The willow has no symbolic color though the color Ogham for it is associated with "brightness" (fitting for a tree of poetic inspiration). Its class is peasant. It brings balance and peace to us and contributes to our own inner quietness. These properties of the Willow balance the other influences and forces associated with it during periods of poetic inspiration. The willow is a tree of the Moon, as can be seen by the way its limbs speak to us in waves, as well as for its known affinity for water and water spirits. Never cut Willow during the waning moon. It's month is April.

Tone: f (Chase & Paulik); b (ÓBoyle)

Magical Ogham: síúlacht - 1) feeling of being magically influenced, not necessarily by bríocht; 2) spontaneously magic insight, esp. given by proceeding (cf iomas, poc, túras); 3) state of being fey. (CNL) Also spelled as "séolacht" and seems to be closely associated with the act of "sailing" or "reading the signs" (as in reading the stars). (SOD)

Skill Ogham: sairsi - handicraft.

Color Ogham: sodath - "fine-colored".

Word Ogham of Morann Mac Main: Lí n-aimbí ("hue of the lifeless"). The image that I receive from this Ogham is of one that looks beyond the surface of life. This is perhaps to be seen by looking through the eyes of the dead. Another translation of "li n-aimbí" might be "the brightness of death." This may refer to the brightness within the eyes of the dying as they see another world and another light. I have seen such a brightness within the eyes of many that I’ve held dear. True seership requires us to release our preconceptions and be "as one who is dead", in order that we may also see the light that comes from beyond. Appearance.

Word Ogham of CúChulainn: Tosach mela ("beginning of honey"). When we have gone beyond the ordinary boundaries to cross the thresholds between lives and to see only Truth. This is a form of initiation or metamorphosis and represents the beginning of self-Discovery.

Word Ogham of Mac ind Óic: Luth bech ("activity of bees"). The "activity of bees" refers to the knowledge that is received from meditation. It seems to be an allusion to the beehive-like houses of the early Irish monastic communities (though it could also refer to the meditations of poets as well). Luth bech is all about what we bring back from our travels and our work of meditation. It is about how we use the knowledge of fate. This is what we make of our future. Awareness.

Word Ogham of ÓDubhain: Lios ar nochtadh ("circles of revelation"). As we look beyond the present into the future or within ourselves, we can hope to do those things that are essential to resolving problems. Reality itself is shaped like the rings of a tree... there is an easy time for rapid growth and then there are times of slow progress. These circles are very like the caers referenced in the poem by Taliesin called "Preiddeu Annwn." It is my opinion that the seven caers of this poem represent levels of awareness experienced during an initiation into the mysteries. Journeying through each of these levels is all about overcoming our inner blockages. It is about freeing our spirit to a greater reality. It is about overcoming Resistance.