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April 26 through May 2, 2021

Monday's Scorpio full Moon (also known as the Pink Moon) may throw us a bit off-center for a day or two, as its intensity can tend to bring hidden fears to the surface or make us doubt our current course. Combined with Pluto turning retrograde in Capricorn on Tuesday, the first part of this week falls under the idea of practicing caution and refraining from making any decisions one way or the other! Things ease up considerably under Wednesday and Thursday's Sagittarius Moon, where a light-hearted energy emanates from the heavens. Staying focused in the moment will help bring things to right size again and eradicate a feeling of being overwhelmed. It's back to work the remainder of the week as the Moon travels through responsible Capricorn from Friday through Sunday. Time to tackle the workload and chores that keep our worlds running smoothly as we transition from April into May. So all in all, even though things may start out on a rough note, we'll be able to reclaim our balance and equilibrium and have a pretty productive week!

10 Uncommonly Common Magical Trees, by Sandra Kynes

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

While the oak, hawthorn, and apple are rich in folklore and well known as highly magical, many trees regarded as common and maybe even run-of-the-mill have colorful histories and can give your magical practices a boost. You don't need to have a tree growing in your yard to work with it. A twig, leaf, nut, flower, fruit, piece of bark, or anything from a tree embodies its energy and can be used to represent it. In addition to objects made from the wood of a tree, infused oils, essential oils, hydrosols (i.e. flower waters), flower essences, and other products can be used for magic and ritual, too.

Sometimes, you may not have access to a particular type of tree or something made from it, but just as we use pictures and other objects to represent deities, we can do the same when working with trees. Let's take a look at ten fairly common trees.

1. Cherry
Cherry trees have been providing a tasty treat that people have enjoyed for millennia. Believed to ward off the plague, during medieval times pieces of bark were hung over doorways and sometimes placed inside the home. Since the Middle Ages, the cherry has been associated with virginity and beauty as well as seduction.

Cherry pits, or stones, have been used as talismans to attract a lover and for divination to see whether or not a wish may come true. The procedure was to take a handful of cherry stones without counting them. Similar to divination with daisy petals, one at a time a cherry stone was placed on a table as a phrase was said. "This year" was said when the first stone was set down, "next year" was said with the second, "sometime" with the third, and "never" with the fourth. This was repeated until the last cherry stone was set down, revealing the answer.

For other uses, as part of a love spell, use cherry juice to consecrate a red candle. To heighten awareness during divination sessions, burn a small piece of cherry bark as incense before you begin.

2. Dogwood
A popular garden tree, dogwood is a showy attention-getter when it comes into bloom with its large, white flowers that are sometimes tinged with pink. In medieval Germany, carrying a handkerchief that had been dabbed in the sap of a dogwood on Midsummer's Day was believed to make a wish come true. Dogwood was believed to have highly protective powers. The tree was originally called dagwood because farm animal prods, which were known as dags, were made from the wood. Pronounced with an "a" sound (as in "father"), the tree name evolved in dogwood.

You can call on dogwood's protective energy by placing a few leaves under your welcome mat to serve as guardians of your home. Despite the misinterpretation of the name, you can think of the leaves as guard dogs. Carry a small piece of wood in a purse or pocket as a protective talisman. Burn a dried leaf to help banish what you no longer want in your life. Sitting under a dogwood is said to inspire new ideas and to help gain a new perspective on a situation or problem. The energy of the dogwood also provides emotional support.

3. Hackberry
The popularity of using hackberry has as a shade tree has increased because it works well as a substitute for elms, which have diminished in number due to Dutch elm disease. According to folklore in the Middle East, the hackberry's round fruit was believed to grow only in the moonlight. Because it was revered as a protective tree, small pieces of wood were used as amulets. There was also a belief that a person who slept under a hackberry would be protected from evil spirits. This tree is frequently host to the magical mistletoe.

With its historical lunar association, hackberry is perfect to incorporate into your esbat rituals for a boost in energy. Make a circle in the middle of your altar using its berries or leaves or carve its name on a white candle to burn during your ritual or spell work. Use a piece of hackberry wood as a protective amulet or burn it in a spell to raise energy around you or your home. To boost inspiration for creative projects, keep a picture of a hackberry tree in your workspace.

4. Lemon
The lemon's exact origin is unknown, but it is believed to have been a natural hybrid. After it was introduced into the Mediterranean region, the lemon quickly became valued for medicinal purposes. Similarly, the lemon blossom became widely treasured for its fragrance. Crusaders took the fruit home with them and by the thirteenth century, lemons were being grown in the warmer regions of Europe. During the Middle Ages, the lemon was believed to protect against poison, the plague, and bewitchment. In art, it became a symbol of faithful love and fertility.

Well known for its cleansing and purification properties, spray a little lemon hydrosol to prepare an area for ritual or wherever you need to freshen and move energy. Use lemon oil or juice to prepare candles and to purify magic or ritual objects when they come into your life. Lemon raises awareness, increases psychic abilities, and inspires movement to a higher spiritual plane. Place a drop or two of the essential oil in the melted wax of a candle to enhance meditation or divination sessions.

5. Lilac
This popular garden shrub is beloved for the fragrance of its flowers that hang in large inverted pyramidal clusters. Regarded as prophetic in Wales, lilac flowers were an indication for the coming summer season. If the buds formed late and then opened quickly, the summer would be mostly rainy. If the flowers faded faster than normal, summer would be very warm. In Russia, it was believed that a baby placed under a lilac bush would receive the gift of wisdom. For seventeenth-century settlers in North America, lilacs were a link to the homeland they left behind. It was the second flowering shrub transported from Europe (rose was the first).

To enhance dream work and encourage prophetic dreaming, place vase of fresh-cut lilac flowers in your bedroom. For defensive magic or to break a hex, burn a dried leaf or a few of the small flowers, and then scatter the cool ashes outside. To boost the power of a love spell, use the flower essence to prepare a candle. Lilac fosters peace and happiness and deepens spirituality.

6. Maple
Well known for their fiery autumn colors, maple trees seem to grow almost everywhere. In medieval England large burls, a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk, were often used to make drinking bowls. The traditional wassail bowl was made from maple. In parts of England, the maple was known as the maypoling tree. According to legend, the leaves became red in the autumn because the faery living in the tree painted them.

Of course, maple syrup is a prized product from the sugar maple. According to weather lore, if the first sap from a tree is not sweet, it will be a long syrup season. However, if the sap is sweet, the season for tapping will be short.

As part of a spell to attract or rekindle love, scatter a handful of dried red leaves on your altar. Also use red leaves to work with the faery realm. Place a green leaf under a green candle on your altar to attract prosperity. Before lighting a remembrance candle for a loved one who has passed beyond the veil, dab a little maple syrup on it to symbolically sweeten their transition to the otherworld.

7. Peach
In ancient China, the peach blossom was a symbol of renewal and fertility. According to Chinese mythology, a peach tree grew at the gate of the guardian spirits, giving the tree an association with protection. Because of this, people would hang branches and woodcarvings on their porches to ward off evil spirits.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, the peach was used for healing and sympathetic magic. In addition to treating ailments, herbalist Nicolas Culpeper noted that peaches fostered lust. Throughout Europe, the peach was a symbol of the female genitals and used as an ingredient in love potions.

For your own love spells, prepare a candle with peach kernel oil or flower essence before lighting it. To boost fidelity, sensually eat a peach with your lover. To foster happiness in the home, place a picture of three peaches in your kitchen. Hold a dried peach pit during meditation when seeking wisdom.

8. Sycamore
A valued shade tree, sycamores are frequently misidentified as maples because of the shape of their leaves. Sycamore has been known as a ghost tree because its pale, mottled bark gives it an eerie appearance, especially on foggy mornings and at dusk.

The ancient Greeks regarded this tree as a gift from the gods, and according to legend Hercules planted sycamores to honor his father Zeus. The Romans prized these trees so much that they poured libations of wine on their roots. During the Middles Ages, sycamore trees growing in a village was believed to keep the plague at bay.

Sycamore aids in opening the mind to receive information and interpret messages. Before any type of psychic work or divination, crumble a piece of dried leaf and then burn it to clear and prepare the energy of your workspace. To bring harmony and stability to your life, hold a branch during meditation.

9. Walnut
It was common practice for Romans to bury a coin beneath a walnut tree as an offering to Pomona, the goddess of fruit trees. The Greeks dedicated the tree to Zeus and Persephone and associated it with prophecy. Germanic peoples dedicated the tree to Freyr and Thor.

Regarded as a magically protective tree, the walnut reputedly provided protection from lightning and supernatural forces. As a nut with two distinctive halves joined as one, walnuts were a symbol of marriage. According to Pliny the Elder, the association of walnuts with fertility was due to their resemblance to testicles. Others during his time noted that walnuts were an aphrodisiac.

Prepare a walnut in a protection spell, and then place it near the front door of your home. To provide clarity when making decisions, meditate while holding two walnut leaves. As part of a love spell, separate the halves of a walnut and write your name and the other person's name on each half. Tie them back together by wrapping red thread around them.

10. Willow
Usually found near water, the willow has been associated with sacred and mysterious powers as well as enchantment. Although linked with death and grieving, the weeping willow also has a long association with dispelling sadness and recovering from emotional darkness. It was often planted in cemeteries and depicted on gravestones for the dual purpose of both expressing and relieving grief. In Ireland, harps were often made of willow wood because it was believed that the tree's soul would come forth through the music.

Allied with moon goddesses, make a circle with pussy willow catkins and/or willow leaves on your esbat altar to aid in raising lunar energy. Use willow flower essence or make an infused oil to prepare a pink or red candle for love spells or a white candle for divination. Willow can aid you in contacting faeries and other nature spirits.

Get to Know Trees
In addition to working with trees magically, get to know the trees in your neighborhood by going for walks or spending time in your backyard. Gaze at them and touch them; be aware of their energy as well as their spirits. Getting to know trees does more than boost the energy of magic and ritual, it expands our connection with the green world. Trees also provide a meaningful connection with the past and with our ancestors. They help us find the beauty and sacredness of this world and to feel it deep in our souls.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. All rights reserved.

My son is 15, and lately I've noticed some disturbing changes in him. Some months ago he became withdrawn, sullen, short-tempered and mean-spirited. He stays in his room all the time, and when he does come out, he lashes out at anyone in his path. Around the same time, he started listening to really angry hard rock music. I'm wondering if the music is making him act this way, or if the music is just another symptom of his angst. I know that just overhearing this music is disturbing to me, so I wonder what hours after hours of listening to it is doing to his soul. I worry about what kind of energies this music is attracting to him and to our house. Do I need to put my foot down about this? What do you think?

- Roxie

Astrea:

Your son is not consciously trying to freak you out, but he IS trying to freak you out. He wants your complete attention but he can't tell you that because that would make him feel stupid. Though they're not supposed to at his age, all boys do want Mama, and all teens need structure.

At least his behavior is consistently awful for now. When hormones go crazy, most parents do too. My son went through a typical grungy phase that lasted from about 14 to 16. I always knew he and his friends were home and hiding out upstairs because I could smell them. If I remember correctly, their favorite lyrics went something like Kill your parents, kill your parents, kill your parents while they sleep...

You have to be a diligent mother. Monitor or limit his internet use and be aware of dangerous, self-destructive behavior. Make him bring his friends home with him; it will be worth the cost of extra groceries because even if your kid won't talk to you, his friends will.

Even kids who become wonderful people later in life will do all sorts of negative things to get attention when they're teens. Your teen knows that loud, angry music and sullen behavior makes you worry about him, so he's passive-aggressively expressing his inner turmoil in these ways.

If you told him not to climb the big tree in your yard, he'd probably find a way to build himself a tree house. Teens are known to listen to horrible music - just look at Mozart and the terrible music he wrote to rebel against tradition. Even Jesus started making trouble as a youngster. Do you think it could have been that ear splitting, awful-sounding nose flute everyone played at celebrations?

Whenever I began to fear my son was a serial killer in the making, I would take him somewhere to eat so we could have a long talk. Take your son out and gently tell him that you are concerned about the music he's listening to making him UNHAPPY. When they realize that we really care, most kids will tell us if something is wrong.

Be prepared for this to continue for a while longer, and understand that the more you complain about it, the more he's going to want to find things to upset you. Fortunately, I seriously doubt this music will affect his soul as much as it may his ears.

Try to be as tolerant as possible. Teens are difficult people to deal with more often than not, but this transition to adulthood is much harder on him than the rest of you. I recommend you buy the other members of the family some ear plugs and learn to watch television with closed captions.

*****

Susyn:

You absolutely must put your foot down about this as well as any internet activity that could be adding to his angry and unsettled mood. The vibrations of this type of music and the attitude they are creating in your son are definitely connected.

Although we are often unaware of it, any noise pollution in our surroundings will have an immediate affect on our feelings, attitudes and general demeanor. Just as we might listen to soft, calming music during meditation or to de-stress, the kind of music you describe will have the opposite affect of unsettling, upsetting and agitating us no matter what age we are.

I'm not decrying all music of this genre, but I wouldn't ignore the immediate effects you're witnessing it have on your son. Don't forget that the music and movie business have known for years what they are doing to subtly affect their audiences and create certain moods and responses.

When it first came out, I recall the producers of the Exorcist bragging that they had purposefully evoked primal fear via the film's soundtrack. By weaving the sound of swarming bees into the music, they aimed to trigger subliminal fears in the viewers - as if this movie wasn't visually scary enough!

This should tell us that we're wise to ponder how various input may be influencing us on a subconscious level. Even department stores will utilize piped in music and aromas to influence shoppers. The truth is that we are constantly being bombarded by this type of subliminal seduction.

Many business enterprises work hard to create, influence and harm us in secretive, manipulative ways. The harder we try to break free of this type of mind control, the harder businesses work to find new and more powerful ways to manipulate us. Of course, they already know that if they can get into the minds of our children, they will have lots of power (and profits) for many years to come.

I know it's difficult with teenagers, for you want to support their independence and their right to make their own decisions. In this case, however, your son is young and easily influenced, so you'll have to stand your ground.

He may throw a major fit about you cutting him off from his music, and he may even try to defy you by listening to it when he's out from under your watchful eye, but in the long run, taking a stand on his behalf is something he will thank you for later.

A parent's job is harder today than ever before, but that's what makes it so important that you take a stand on his behalf and look out for his best interests.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.