Amanda Frayer artisan // illustrator // designer

To the Druids, the ash held a key to Universal Truth. It was the Tree of Balance and the Marriage of Opposites. This is clearly seen in the physical properties of the tree: ash is ruled by the male energy of the sun yet in harmony with the female element water. It is naturally water-loving and grows in swamps, bogs and other wet places.

Since it was known as the “Venus of the Woods” in England, an ash leaf placed in the left shoe was believed to result in a person meeting his or her future spouse. Finding an ash leaf with an equal number of sections on both sides of the center vein was considered lucky and was often used in love charms. A double leaf was also considered lucky. In medieval folklore, it was considered unlucky if an ash tree on your property didn’t seed every year.

In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil, the great Cosmic Tree, is an immense ash tree that connects heaven and earth. Its leaves provide shade and shelter for the entire world. Many creatures live in the tree, including a dragon that gnaws at the roots and a squirrel that scurries up and down spreading gossip. It is upon this tree that Odin, the highest of the gods, suspended himself for nine days and nights, pierced by his own spear. Eventually, he was able to stretch far enough to take a sip from the spring that bubbled up from the roots of Yggdrasil and this allowed him to understand the runes.

Three of the five great trees of Ireland were ash (the other two were yew and oak). The five magical trees were located in each of the five provinces and symbolized guardians who protected the sovereignty of the land. They were destroyed in 665 CE by the Celts themselves, rather than surrendered to the encroaching Christians.

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Believed to bring the wearer: balance, creativity, fertility, growth, healing, illumination/knowledge, love divination, peace of mind, protection (especially from drowning), rebirth, stability

Other associations: poetry and storytelling, prophecy, transitions, a sense of being in tune with your surroundings, linking the inner and outer worlds

Spirit animals: butterflies, common snipe