The Language of the Trees
Robert Graves, in his book "The White Goddess", described and ancient calendar in which months of the year were each associated with their own tree. The associations link back to legends from Celtic times when people were more in tune with nature and the seasons than we are today. Almost every native tree was represented and some believe they were each linked to a letter of the Ogham alphabet. Ogham is the earliest form of Irish language and is still found as inscriptions on stones, dating from the 4th to 6th centuries AD, scattered across the Irish countryside See HERE for some of the stones and their surroundings). In The Language of the Trees I have drawn inspiration from the stones, the alphabet and the calendar, which represent for me a living link to our past connections with our native trees.
Life size Giclee prints (£50 plus p and p) and some originals are available for purchase. Please enquire through the contact page if you are interested.
Life size Giclee prints (£50 plus p and p) and some originals are available for purchase. Please enquire through the contact page if you are interested.
Celtic Tree Calendar
ROWAN (2011) 21st January to 17th February
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Peredur, handsome son of Efrauc Flower of warriors and candle of knights... came towards a river valley And the edges of the valley were wooded and the ground around the valley was level meadow. ...On the bank of the river he saw a tall tree one half of which was in flames from the roots along its length to the tip and the other half was green and leafy. Text adapted from The Mabinogion, assembled from the White Book of Rydderch, circa 1000-1250 AD (Based on translations by Geoffrey Gantz and Lady Charlotte Guest) SOLD |
GORSE (2009) Spring Equinox
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Rain outside it wets the fern, white sea shingle, foamy shore... Rain outside the shelter near, yellow gorse, withered cowparsnip... Rain outside it wets the deep wind whistling over the reedtops... Text adapted from The Red Book of Hergest, Welsh, early 12th century (Translation adapted from Early Nature poetry, Kenneth Jackson CUP, 1935) SOLD |
ALDER (2006) 18th March to 14th April
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It delighteth to grow in moist woods and watery places. Over those trees the ravens wander dark and dusky gleaming. Text from Culpeper's The Complete Physician or Herball, 1653, and adapted from the fight at Finnsburh (fragment), English 11th Century. SOLD |
HAWTHORN (2007) 13th May to 9th June
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...Then Merlin began to devise the craft unto Nimiane Till it fill on a day that they went through the forest of Brocelonde And found a bush that was fair and high of white hawthorn full of flowers And when she felt that he was asleep She began her enchantment... Text from Merlin or the Early History of King Arthur, French, about 1450-1460 (Ed. Henry B. Wheatley, 1875). SOLD |
HOLLY (2007) 18th July to 4th August
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...There haled in at the hall door and awful figure Set in his semblance seen. He caused fear to make a bold man wither And was overall a glorious green. Whether had he no helmet, nor a spear to smite, But in his hand he had a holly bobbe, That is most green when groves are bare... Text from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Anon), English, 14th Century (Eds. J.R.R. Tolkien and E.V. Gordon, 1925) FOR SALE |
HAZEL (2007) 5th August to 1st September
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The Naming of the Shannon and the Nine Hazels of Wisdom Sinend daughter of Lodan Lucharglan went to Connla's Well which is under the seawave to behold it. That is a well at which are the hazels of wisdom and in the same hour their fruit, and their blossom and their foliage break forth and these fall on the well in the same shower. Then the salmon chew the fruit and the juice of the nuts is apparent on their purple bellies. And seven streams of wisdom break forth... Text adapted from the Rennes Dindsenchas, Irish 12th-15th Century. SOLD |
IVY (2006) 30th September to 27th October
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The greater ivy climbeth on trees and walls; the stalkes thereof are woody, and now and then so great as it seems to become a tree. Text from Gerard's Herball, 1599 SOLD |
BEECH (2009) The whole year round
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Those are the beech runes... On a shield they should be cut, On Sleipnir's teeth, on the Norn's nail, on the night-owl's beak... All were shaved off and sent on wide ways. They are among the Aesir, they are among the elves, Some went to the wise Vanir, some with humankind Text adapted from The poetic Edda (Translation C. Larrington 1996, OUP and The Titus Project, University of Frankfurt) assembled in the Codex Regius circa 1270. NOT FOR SALE |
Ogham Letters
LUIS for Rowan
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HUATH for Hawthorn
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COLL for Hazel |
GORT for Ivy
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PHAGOS for Beech
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