We revere the Irish Sacred Trees. To us they hold the ancient wisdom, for they have witnessed life on earth over large expanses of time. We cry to see trees cut down but rejoice when new trees are planted.

We do not campaign against those people who cut our forests down, although we will give aid to those who do. As peace keepers our mission is to keep the Tree Wisdom alive by remembering the trees that the bhairds of ages past adored and walked beneath.

In our Groves today we focus on 25 Irish Sacred Trees -- though we adore them all. We do this by learning about each, attuning to their unique energy at specific times of the year, we work toward locating each in the wild or planting them around our own homes, and in The Faery-Faith Network we share the Tree Wisdom with other kin. We call this learning of the Irish Sacred Trees & Ogham the White Branch Ways, the lore of which was written about in the ancient Irish manuscript called, The Dindshenchas. The Irish Sacred Trees are remembered in our spiritual practices. We study them through the Ogham and their lunar venerations. Lunar Calendar - monthly tree & ogham placements.

	If you are interested in beginning your study of the Irish Sacred Trees, we invite you to enroll in our online Faery School, for the Druidic Solar Ogham class.

	To watch an Otherworld Pathworking based on our Druidic Tradition and our Sacred Oak of Ireland, 1000 years old visit: IRELAND ~ SACRED OAK

The Dindshenchas ~ Sacred Tree Lore

EO MUGNA

Eo Mugna, great was the fair tree,high its top above the rest;

thirty cubits--it was no trifle--

that was the measure of its girth.

Three hundred cubits was the height of the blameless tree,

its shadow sheltered a thousand:

in secrecy it remained in the north and east

till the time of Conn of the Hundred Fights.

A hundred score of warriors--no empty tale--

along with ten hundred and forty

would that tree shelter--it was a fierce struggle--

till it was overthrown by the poets.

EO ROSSA, EO MUGNA, etc.

How fell the Bough of Dathi?

it spent the strength of many a gentle hireling:

an ash, the tree of the nimble hosts,

its top bore no lasting yield.

The Ash in Tortu--take count thereof!

the Ash of populous Usnech.

their boughs fell--it was not amiss--

in the time of the sons of AEd Slane.

The Oak of Mugna, it was a hallowed treasure;

nine hundred bushels was its bountiful yield:

it fell in Dairbre southward,

across Mag Ailbe of the cruel combats.

The Bole of Ross, a comely yew

with abundance of broad timber,

the tree without hollow or flaw,

the stately bole, how did it fall?

	The Wild Horses of Newbury This short film shows the magical encounter when two wild horses turn up and try and disrupt the felling of two huge old Oak trees during a road building scheme, has to be seen to be believed. Speaks volumes on nature and the environment. Click photo.

BILE TORTAN

Ultan. Fallen is the Tree of Tortu, whose skirts conquered many a storm: . . . even so would they disperse.

Mochuma. The Tree of Tortu looks down on strife: name ye among the wise him who writes of it! here it stands from the time that it was green till the season of its decay.

Mochua. Sad are all the men of Tortu, mourning for that single tree; dearer to them is the thing they see than all things that are gone from us.

Coin Galma. When the men of Tortu used to meet together round the huge conspicuous tree, the pelting of the storms did not reach them, until the day when it was decayed.

Colum Cille. Though it is withered now, it had not an early end: long has it been on earth: the King who created its form has brought it low again.

Ultan of Tech Tua. Fifty cubits is the thickness of the tree that overpowered the array of the forest: three hundred cubits, famous count, was the full height of its timber.

Mochuma. Three landmarks of Erin, thou seest, are shorn of their strength, the Tree of Ross, the mighty Tree of Mugna, and the red-sided Tree of Tortu.

Mochua. Deep was the sound of the Tree of Tortu in the storm's fierce torment: the moaning of the wind on winter nights has torn from it here many a swarm of leaves.

Utan. It found an abode over strong Tortu from the time of the sons of mighty Mil, until its colour faded and it fell, in the time of the sons of Aed Slane.

Croin Galma. A wind laid the Tree low--none that is not hard of heart can bear the loss--and it crushed thrice fifty victims of the Conaille, at their fair.

Sinche. Beldame, though thou breakest faggots from its bole on thy hearth, there was many a fair youth that has slept under its bright branches.

Ultan of Tech Tua. The woman who loosed their fair locks, many a trim sandal hath she loosed: gleefully she laughed at the felling of Tortu's Tree.

Croin Galma. All that meet the eye must fall: they joined in stubborn conflict: the wind withdrew not its hand until it brought down the Tree's pride.

Mochua. To all things comes decay: all men in the world go toward death: they are but red earth and lifeless clay, all folk that gathered round the Tree.

ULtan. The plain of Tortu is a plain without a ruler since it lost its noble tree: two parts of its prosperity are gone since the Tree fell.

Torannan. Adam's transgression of old hath undone the children of the free people: such is the lot in store for us since their mighty Tree withered.

Colum Cille. Deserted is Ochann, and noble Tlachtga, since Ailill, son of Nathi, is gone, the chief of strong troops, that rode through Meath: a death not like that of any other Tree.

Mochua. I am Mochua: I bid Croin not to grieve excessively: from the roots of the illustrious Tree many a tree might spring.

Colum Cille. On a certain summer's day I was in the wood of tufted leafage, having an errand to perform: the crown of Tortu's Tree gave me shelter.

Mochuma. No comfort have I, though the winds stir the treetops of the wood to laughter: to-day a solitary housewife breaks faggots from the Tree of Tortu.

Ultan. Though the wind made rough sport with it, it could not break the Tree while it was young; but it brings to the ground all that is old: this I know by the Tree of Tortu.

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Books by Kisma

Brigid's Press Faery Books	Lighting the wisdom way! Brigid's Press offers books written by Kisma K. Stepanich-Reidling especially for the Faery-Faith Tradition & Network
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