Re: Silver Branches
TopazOwl

Mon Aug 24 08:04:21 1998
*br*Searles wrote,*p*: Most of the references I've seen to wands among Druids *br*: indicate that they are made from Rowan or Hazel.  In _A *br*: Social History of Ancient Ireland_, P.W. Joyce says that the *br*: branches of the Filidh were gold for an Ollamh (a master *br*: Filidh of the first order), a silver branch for the Anruth, *br*: and a bronze branch for all other grades.  I see this as *br*: also being a mark of the Druids.  IMO it is the bells that *br*: are of these metals while the branches themselves are *br*: finished Rowan or Hazel (Magick or Wisdom).*p*     Indeed. My rowan tree gave me the perfect branch for this use recently, and I wasn't even looking for it. :-) *p*     Now, many of the authors who write of these bell branches suggest that if one is going to make one's own that one should *paint* the actual branch the specific color, but that certainly has never seemed at all Druidic to me -- to ruin the natural qualities of the wood (and de-barked Rowan is quite a nice-looking wood) with a foreign substance.*p*     I attached nine hawk bells with leather thongs (that I just "happened" to find at the Oneida Cultural Festival). They give a very nice tone. They are brass and very gold-looking, but I consider them bronze. :-)*p*     I have used other things for a bell branch previously. But I have always been of the mind that, when you are deserving of a proper "tool," it comes to you, and not before.*p*Leigh
Silver Branches
Searles
128
Thu Aug  6 15:12:28 1998