Elder Tree
AKA: America
Elder, Sweet Elder, Common Elder, Elderberry, Lady Elder
Gender:
Female
Plantet:
Venus
Element: Air
Mundane
Uses:
Externally,
the leaves and bark of the elder tree are uses for mild burns.
The flowers are
used in easeing eye pain, reducing inflamation of the skin, and
assisting with curing mouth ulcers.
Flower also
reduces fevers and are traditionally used to treat the flu, colds,
and upper respiratory tract problems.
The fruits of
the elder tree have laxative and diaphoretic properties to them, and
can assist in stool softening, and increasing urination.
On a less
medicinal note, the berries are used in the making of certain wines.
Magical
Uses:
It is thought
that standing under the Elder Tree would give you the ability to see
the fae. They are also said to love the music made by instruments
created by the elder tree.
Wands madefrom
elder are used in driving out evil spirits or negative though forms.
The tree itself is considered protective. Twigs were often put in
pouches, worn around the neck to protect against evil, both physical
and phsychic. The leaves were also often bunched together and hung in
doorways, and over windowsills, to keep evil away from the house.
It is thought
that if you burn an elder tree, you will beome cursed. As the saying
goes “Nine
woods in the Cauldron go,
burn them quick a' burn them slow.
burn them quick a' burn them slow.
Elder
be ye Lady's tree;
burn it not or cursed ye'll be”
burn it not or cursed ye'll be”
Similarly,
if you plan on taking a branch to use for wandmaking, it is
traditional and courteous to first ask the tree, and perhaps even
leave an offering. This can be something simple like some extra water
in the heat, raking around the roots, to remove any invasive weeds,
or perhaps even adding some rich soil or compost at the feet to
promote healthy growth.
People
used the leaves of elder tree's to bless both people and places. To
bless a place, take the leaves and berries, and scatter them in the
four corners of the place being blessed. In the case of a person,
scatter the leaves over the individual.
Random
Information: Though the flowers
are used most often, every part of the elder tree can be used
medically in some way.
The
leaves and Berries are considered toxic and should not be used
internally.
DISCLAIMER:
I have no medical degrees, and am not a doctor. Consult a physician before ingesting somthing new, or using as a topical aid that you are unfamiliar with. These are my personal findings only. I do not reccommend using them until you have consulted your physician.
