Hi Forestlings - Here's another article on trees. I thought this time I'd like to talk about comparisons between the traditional imports and our native or home grown varieties.

First of all, there's a difference between our (Australian) evergreens and the deciduous trees from overseas. (Deciduous means losing its leaves in autumn). Deciduous trees send up the life force in Spring with the rising sap, so if you prefer to use oak, elm, ash, hawthorn, willow, hazel etc the time to claim your branch to make a wand is spring. The first sign of this is when the leaf buds appear and this is the deciduous tree's most energetic time of the year. From spring, the tree reaches its ultimate growth in mid summer and gradually winds down to be dormant in winter, when the sap or energy flow stops completely. This is one reason for taking your wand in spring - the other is if you take it in late summer the tree hasn't time to heal before the dormant period.

The Australian natives have two seasons when the life force is very strong - one is early to late spring, say from late July to late October and again in autumn, from late February to late April. So, right now is the time if you want a native tree wand. In summer and winter they still pack a hefty kick but it is more spasmodic and not the constant flow of the other two seasons. One of the advantages of native trees is that you can work with them all year round, however with peaks of potency lasting for 6 months of the year.

Through experimentation I have found that with some trees, the feel between Australian and European trees are similar though not the same. The ever-faithful "she oak" (a mulga) for instance is very close to the willow in feel, that is vibration, but also has a touch of the feeling of birch.

"Tea-trees" are different and have a unique feel - being both masculine and feminine in nature, their energy seems to enfold rather than being a direct zap. The "peppercorn", although it gives a weeping appearance, has an upright bouncy energy like the ash and hawthorn - again being similar to both but not quite the same as either in feeling.

Red Gums seem to be more like the oak and the American red cedar - a strong constant flow of energy - like a well-shot arrow to its target ... good for circle casting and directing built-up circle energies.

While the teatree encloses like a glove and is therefore good for directing healing or calming energy, the she-oak makes an excellent dark moon wand and has a dreamy quality to it. Some native wands can benefit from having metals like copper and silver or semi-precious stones affixed to them:

Peppercorn wands work well with a copper heel and even one or 2 copper bands around them; teatree with a piece of agate stone (moss agate seems to be the best) and if you want to give your she-oak wand a boost either a crystal or silver will do the trick. Red gums don't need anything at all to enhance their strength.

To attach a stone to your wand you can secure it to the end with a resin glue or carve out an appropriate sized hole in the side and glue it or wrap leather thonging around it. Copper or silver wire is available for the appropriate wand & can be wrapped around it - or a small piece can be hammered into a small hole in the end of the wand.

Some of the other properties of these trees will be known to you, particularly teatree - that bush remedy for almost everything. Teatree oil is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and works equally well for treating cuts, insect bites, acne, fungal infections, ulcers and all kinds of skin irritations. It has the advantage of working on the damaged skin and leaving healthy tissue alone (an advantage commercial antiseptics do not have) and thus it doesn't sting. It can also be used in a solution for the treatment of thrush and heat irritations - also, before I forget, for mouth ulcers, sore gums and cold sores. Red gum bleeds a sap which is really good for energy raising in a circle - burn it with incense. It's also good on the soles of the feet for energy. Peppercorns - well, they're just really good to cuddle...very friendly trees. She-oaks have small pine cones and needles and burning these is very relaxing and centering. She-oak also makes a good wood for a chalice - being a good container of energy and being female in nature, this seems very apt.

Well, that gives you plenty to try for the moment but just before I close, I'd like to share a new discovery I made in the essential oil area. It's cedarwood oil (from Adyar bookshop or Newton's pharmacy in Sydney)...I found this brilliant for clarity of mind and crystal-clear thinking - two requirements when working in a circle. Also it's good when your eyes feel heavy (for whatever reason). Just put some on a finger, close your eyes and rub gently onto your third eye - a bit at the base of the skull as well. Then open your eyes and feel the difference. Unfortunately this lasts only 2-3 hours and then you'll need a "top up". Bye for now & many blessings.