In Celtic “astrology” (a system based on trees not stars), people born between February 18th and March 17th are born under the sign of the Ash. The Druids classified the Ash as a Noble of the Woods and a sacred tree, so if your birthday falls during the time of the Ash’s influence, you are indeed blessed. You might even be magical since this tree has been nicknamed The Enchanter.
The Ash Personality
So what is an Ash’s personality like? Ashes are independent thinkers with the nature of artists and vivid imaginations. Despite being idealistic dreamers, those born under the sign of the Ash are able to see the world and its reality clearly. This is because they are sensitive and highly intuitive. They can see past the superficial surface of people, objects, and situations and perceive what’s at the core. People, however, may not realize what who the Ash truly is at his or her core. Ashes are compassionate and can be charming, leading others to seek out their company, but they also are moody, somewhat emotional and have a frequent need for solitude. Because of this, they can be misinterpreted as withdrawn or even reclusive. In truth, they are empathetic and are intensely aware not only of their own emotions, but everyone else’s too. While they are natural caretakers who enjoy healing others, they need, at times, to be alone for a little self-care. And remember, they’re not just aware of other people, but of everything. They constantly are being impacted by the energy—positive and negative—surrounding them. That’s a lot to absorb and deal with. In addition, an Ash has a vibrant inner life which demands time and attention in order to be transformed into creative productivity.
Now, it may seem that Ashes are lost in their imagination and artistic visions most of the time but they have a key element to their natures which balances their head-in-the-clouds appearance. They are quite grounded. This keeps them in touch with reality and prevents them from floating away. In nature, the actual Ash tree has a complex and deep root system. This is important because these trees ordinarily grow very tall. The deep roots keep them from toppling over. People born under the sign of the Ash keep their feet firmly on the ground while reaching for the stars. This keeps them healthy and stable. One sign of this mental soundness is that, despite their sensitivity is that while Ashes care about others, they generally don’t care what other people think of them.
The Corresponding Celtic Animal
An Ash’s Celtic animal is the adder (some sources alternatively list the seahorse instead). Admittedly, if you’re an Ash, you may not be happy being called a snake. From a Celtic point of view, however, being associated with the snake is a good thing. In Celtic folklore and mythology, snakes are magical, mystical, and wise (similar to their reptilian cousin, the dragon). Snakes are flexible and can transform and heal themselves. In Celtic culture (and other cultures), snakes are associated with healing others as well (think about the Rod of Asclepius, a medical symbol of a snake climbing a staff).
Those born under the sign of the Adder not only can transform themselves, they can transform situations. At least, they have the ability to turn any situation to their advantage. Their adaptability and charm partially enable them to accomplish this. Additionally, like the Ash, Adders are sensitive, perceptive, and highly intuitive, which aids them in dealing with situations and the people involved in them.
Their gifts also often lead Adders to become mystics. In Celtic folklore, the Ash tree is seen as the bridge between or the connector of worlds (the earth, the Underworld, and the heavens). Those born under the sign of the Ash also can connect or travel between these worlds. The Ash / Adder has the ability to pass through the veil which separates this one and the Otherworld. They don’t have to wait for Samhain (when the veil is at its thinnest). The mystical magic they’ve inherited from the Ash tree allows them to go back and forth at will (although a little practice might be needed to get the knack of a smooth transition).
Adders are romantics and they often love fantasy. Frequently, they become highly talented poets, artists, or musicians.
The Ash Tree’s Celtic Symbolism
In Celtic culture, the Ash represents growth (especially spiritual growth), perspective, and rootedness. It also is associated with renewal and resurrection because, as firewood, it burns intensely and brightly for a long time. The tree is consider protective too since its bark has an antiseptic quality which was used on wounds prior to the development of antibiotics. Celtic folklore taught that the Ash had a helpful energy inside and it often was used in protection rituals. The Ash is seen as a protector of children in particular.
Some Celtic Folklore about the Ash
--The Ash is considered to be a magical tree. That belief, combined with its reputation for strength and its healing properties, made it a popular choice for staffs and magic wands.
--Believed to have power over water, the Ash tree’s wood often was used in ship-building. Also, people would carry a piece of ash wood when going on a sea journey as a charm against drowning.
--Ash trees are the most frequent type of tree planted near holy wells.
--Ash trees are the most frequent type of tree planted near holy wells.
--a folk remedy for tired feet is to put Ash leaves in your shoes or boots.
--Ash leaves are said to attract love and prosperity.
--Sleeping with Ash leaves under your pillow is believed to cause prophetic dreams.
--Celtic folklore teaches that the Ash connects the living, the dead, and God (or the gods), so the tree is said to be able to heal one’s spirit.
--Seen as connecting earth and sky, the Ash tree became known as the Backbone of the Universe.
--Parts of the Ash tree have been used in traditional medicine to improve the health of the liver and the spleen, so it also has been used in a cleanse to detoxify the system.
--Want to get rid of a wart: carry a needle on you for three days then stick it into an Ash tree. The wart will be transferred to the tree and appear as a knot in the tree.
--Some Celtic folklore lists the Ash as a good tree to plant to protect your house from lightning but other versions of the folklore claim it is the first tree that will be hit in a thunderstorm.
--Ash berries were placed in cribs to protect the baby from being stolen away by the faeries (of course today this would be seen as a choking hazard!).
--Ash twigs were tied to cows' tails to prevent faeries from stealing or souring the milk.
--An Ash growing near a Willow and a Hawthorn indicates a very magical place where faeries can be seen by humans. Take caution, though. Faeries can be capricious and they may not take kindly to a human spying on them. So be sure to read the final entry below:
--Stand in the shadow of an Ash tree and you will be protected from faerie mischief (for as long as you remain under the tree’s protection).
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