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Magic Properties of Wood
Wood is a remarkable substance, a gift from nature itself. Nearly every culture throughout
history has attributed magic properties to wood. Some hold one type of wood to be sacred, while
others believe that all wood has magic properties. We at Goldentree Wands believe that all
wood has specific magic properties, unique to each species and variety. In an effort to aid the
magic community, we have compiled a listing of the magic properties of a variety of wood
types. Some of these types of wood have been known for many years to have certain properties
(Celtic woods for instance), while others have never before been categorized.
This listing will be broken up into two parts. Because the Celtic woods are the most
commonly known of the magic woods, the first part of this listing will consist only of these wood
types. The second part of the listing will be woods that were never classified by the Celts, due to
the fact that these are not European woods. The properties of the woods in the second section
were obtained using a method of divination known as the "Witchstone.
All woods will be arranged alphabetically within their respective sections
Celtic Woods
The druids believed that humanity descended from the trees, that we are in affect one in
the same. As such, they went to great lengths to discern all of the magic properties of the wood
around them. They also had a different system of astrology than we use today, known today as
the Celtic Tree Calendar. The following information was compiled from this calendar and
several other sources.
Alder
Gender Association: Masculine
Date Association: March 18 - April 14
Planetary Ruler: Mars
Animal Association: Fox
Ruling Deity: Bran
Magical Properties:
Courage, evolving spirituality, self-reliance,
adventurism, charm and leadership skills
Ash
Gender Association: Feminine, Effeminate Male
Date Association: February 18 - March 17
Planetary Ruler: Neptune, Mercury
Animal Association: Adder
Elemental Association: Air, Spirit, Water
Ruling Deity: Gwydion
Magical Properties: Intelligence, wit, communication, knowledge,
curiosity
Aids in communication and learning, removing
blockages that prevent the flow of words and
knowledge. It is the wood of the poet and the
scholar.
Promotes spiritual love and health. Protects against
unwanted change.
Birch
Gender Association: Masculine
Date Association: December 24 - January 20
Planetary Ruler: Sun
Animal Association: The White Stag
Elemental Association: Fire
Ruling Deity: Lugh
Magical Properties: Rebirth, patience, organization, leadership skills,
diligence, loyalty, the calming of emotions
A very fire-oriented wood, the energy is very
cleansing and purifying, burning away that which is
not desired. It allows one to create, to exert their
willpower and achieve positive results. For this
reason, it is an excellent tool for magic involving
wealth, luck, and goals.
An unrestrained, fiery energy, this wood lacks
grounding. Those who get carried away easily and
are not grounded themselves may wish to avoid this
wood. But it can help others release their baggage,
be more impulsive, and see beyond that which is
right in front of them.
Elder
Gender Association: Masculine
Date Association: November 25 - December 23
Planetary Ruler: Saturn
Animal Association: Raven
Ruling Deity: Cailleach Beara
Magical Properties:
Faerie Magic, protection from evil, imagination,
change
Hawthorn
Gender Association: Masculine
Date Association: May 13 - June 9
Planetary Ruler: Vulcan
Animal Association: Owl
Ruling Deity: Olwen
Magical Properties:
Wisdom, psychic protection, patience, creativity,
confidence, charm
Hazel Gender Association: Feminine
Date Association: August 5 - September 1
Planetary Ruler: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter
Animal Association: Salmon
Elemental Association: Fire, Air, Water
Ruling Deity: Manannan Mac Lir
Magical Properties:
Artistic ability, magical knowledge, optimism
The energy of hazel wood promoted love and
creativity. It allows a person to shed their baggage,
opening themselves up to their full potential. This
wood is the bringer of change. Sometimes this
change can lead to conflict, but sometimes conflict is
needed to change a situation. This wood also
promotes creative expression, eloquence, and art of
all types.
This was the most common wood used to create
wands in the ancient Celtic traditions.
Holly
Gender Association: Feminine
Date Association: July 8 - August 4
Planetary Ruler: Earth
Animal Association: Unicorn
Ruling Deity: Govannon
Magical Properties: Purity, strength, logic, power transfer, protection.
American Holly (the variety of holly that we use) is the
whitest wood in the world. But all holly woods are
known for their creamy to white coloring. Perhaps this
is on of the reasons this wood has always represented
purity and goodness. The energy of holly is very pure,
so much so that it is linked to the mythological unicorn,
the purest of all animals. The wood will not tolerate
dark forces or energies, and will best be used to
channel positive energy for the betterment of the
world. Healing work, blessings, exorcisms, psychic
shielding, and astral guidance are all activities that
would be excellent for this type of wood.
Ivy
Gender Association: Masculine
Date Association: September 30 - October 27
Planetary Ruler: Persephone
Animal Association: Butterfly
Ruling Deity: Guinevere
Magical Properties:
Determination, strength, optimism, spiritual growth
Oak
Gender Association: Masculine
Date Association: June 10 - July 7
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
Animal Association: Wren
Elemental
Association: Earth, Water, Spirit
Ruling Deity: Dagda
Magical Properties: Truth, steadfast knowledge, protection
To the ancient Celtic people, oak was the protector,
provider, benevolent king of the trees. Oak provided
the people shelter in the form of building material,
protection by providing material for weapons, and
nourishment through its edible acorns.
Oak is an excellent healing wood. Connected strongly
to the Earth, it can easily channel natural life energies,
and help sense where healing might be needed. This
wood helps center the mind, allowing it to focus on the
task at hand and ignore distractions. It can also help
bring about desirable change in love matters. Oak help
promote both observation and intuition.
Oak provides a very balanced energy, skewed neither
toward the light or the darkness.
Reed
Gender Association: Feminine
Date Association: October 28 - November 24
Planetary Ruler: Pluto
Animal Association: Hound
Ruling Deity: Pwyll
Magical Properties:
Wisdom, scholarship, fearlessness, destiny
Rowan
Gender Association: Masculine
Date Association: January 21 - February 17
Planetary Ruler: Uranus
Animal Association: Dragon
Ruling Deity: Brigid
Magical Properties:
Originality, free-thinking, psychic ability, love and
understanding
Vine
Gender Association: Masculine and feminine
Date Association: September 2 - September 29
Planetary Ruler: Venus
Animal Association: Swan
Ruling Deity: Tuatha De Danaan
Magical Properties: Spiritual initiation, sacred knowledge, authority
Willow
Gender Association: Feminine
Date Association: April 15 - May 12
Planetary Ruler: Moon, Mars
Animal Association: Hare
Ruling Deity: Ceridwen
Elemental Association: Earth, Spirit
Magical Properties: Death and rebirth, cyclical energy, change, emotion,
will
Willow is an amazing wood for magickal tools
because it is already perfectly aligned to magick
(the movement of energy guided by will ). This
wood reacts to the will of the one who is utilizing it,
enhancing it accordingly. The stronger the will, the
more effective the wood.
Willow is extremely useful in healing. It is also
good for love spells and rituals involving emotion.
It also increases psychism, and is a great tool for
divination as well (especially concerning luck
matters).
Non-Celtic and Exotic Wood
Below is a listing of woods not ever classified by the Druids. Why did they never classify
these woods? Is it because they do not contain any magical properties? No, we think the answer
is more likely that they just never got down to Africa, South America, the Hawaiian Islands, etc.
We imagine that if they had, they would have had a great deal to say about these types of trees.
The properties of the following woods were obtained by a method of divination known as
the Witchstone (a very versatile form of divination similar in many respects to the Tarot).
African Blackwood
Wood Origin: Africa, Parts of Asia
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Saturn
Elemental Association: Water, Air, Spirit
Magical properties: This wood is often mistaken for ebony, since it is
such a uniform black color. However, African
Blackwood is not part of the ebony family. Rather, it
is a part of the rosewood family, and the black color
is actually an extremely deep purple. Despite this, it
is unlike the other members of the rosewood family in
nearly every aspect.
This wood is strongly aligned with the energy of
Saturn. Saturn is known to block other energies,
represents the end of cycles, and the energy of the
underworld. This would be an excellent wood for
blocking the energy of other magick, and
communication with the dead. And magick related to
death would be highly effective with this wood. It
acts as a conduit between the physical and spiritual
realms.
African Blackwood is also useful for exacting
creative and intellectual changes in life, and removing
communication barriers.
Apricot
Wood Origin: Many, a fruit wood
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Moon, and Mars to a minor degree
Elemental Association: Spirit
Magical properties: A very powerful spiritual wood, apricot's energy
follows closely that of the moon. Its energy is
cyclical in nature. This wood strengthens feminine
intuition and strength. It would be a perfect tool for
divination. It strengthens spiritual energy and the
psychic mind.
This wood is also good for strengthening psychic
love and non-romantic relationships, especially those
within blood relatives. The wood carries with it a
very strong, positive spiritual energy.
Black Palm
Wood Origin: Southeast Asia
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Jupiter, Sun
Elemental Association: Water
Magical properties: The most remarkable thing about this wood is that its
primary property is that of magic. The wood is
naturally aligned with magic, and enhances magical
energy. Obviously this is a good choice as a material
for sacred objects.
This wood is strongly aligned to water energy. It
rejects all fire-related energies, and it would also not
be useful for healing. It brings about positive
changes, creates opportunities, and opens spiritual
pathways. Good words to associate with this wood
are: feeling, changing, growing, love, and art. This
wood is excellent for gaining power and knowledge
from nature (which is what magic is).
Black Walnut
Wood Origin: North America and Europe
Gender Association: Feminine and Masculine
Planetary Association: Moon, Saturn
Elemental Association: Earth, Spirit
Magical properties: The best word to describe the energy of this wood is
"introspective." It is not for those with flights of
fancy, but rather for those who seek to explore their
own personal energy and the "here and now." It is
good for blocking out emotional energy so that one
may focus upon the task at hand.
This wood couples reason with intuition to help a
person grow spiritually and to heal themselves from
within. A quiet, unassuming wood, black walnut can
help us to get in touch with ourselves and the Earth.
Bloodwood
Wood Origin: Bolivia (South America)
Gender Association: Masculine and Feminine
Planetary Association: Mars and Venus
Elemental Association: All 4 physical elements, fire, earth, air, and water
Magical properties: Bloodwood is a remarkable wood mainly for its
ability to utilize elemental energies. The wood itself
can channel and enhance the affect of all elemental
energies, but the degree to which it can do so seems
to depend upon the person utilizing the wood. This
can be determined by your astrological sign.
Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Bloodwood would enhance your ability to utilize
water energy if you are a Pisces far more greatly than
if you were an Aries, for instance. Likewise, a Pisces
may find bloodwood nearly useless when working
with the element of fire, because that element is the
opposite of the primary element of the Pisces.
Bocote
Wood Origin: Mexico
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Sun, Jupiter, Mars
Elemental Association: All but air
Magical properties: Bocote represents the end of an old cycle and the
beginning of a new one. The extremely peaceful and
positive energy of this wood can be utilized in a
number of ways. It is excellent when used as tool to
diagnose illness, chakras, or other health-related
issues. It has a very powerful spiritual energy,
which may bring with it either peace or inner
turmoil. However, if it does bring turmoil, it is only
to bring about the correct way of thinking or balance
of energy in the end.
Bocote has strong fire energy, related mostly to
passionate love. It is also an inspiration for the
artistic and creative mind, focusing on beauty and
the Earth.
Bubinga
Wood Origin: Equatorial Africa
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: (in order of importance) Moon, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter
Elemental Association: Earth, Fire
Magical properties: Love is the most prevalent energy within this
wood. This means that it would be best used for
love magick or any matters related to emotional
energy. It is a very spiritual wood, emotionally
healing. It has very strong feminine aspects,
emphasizing intuition, creativity, and nurturing.
This is a wood with not one single negative
attribute, which is extremely rare. It would be
useful for any type of magick. But, the energies
within the wood would be especially powerful if
utilized for love magick, divination, and emotional
healing. The power of this wood will be strongest
at the full moon, weakest at the new moon.
Butternut
Wood Origin: North America
Gender Association: Masculine and Feminine
Planetary Association: Jupiter, Venus
Elemental Association: Earth, Fire
Magical properties: This wood brings wisdom and creativity to any
situation. It will aid in finding the truths that others
miss, often resulting in good fortune and wealth.
An excellent gambler's wood, or a tool for
promoting luck and affluence.
Butternut will help make one's home and self image
perfect, matching one's drive and passion. It will
allow a person to shape their life as an artist shapes
clay.
Canarywood
Wood Origin: Africa
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mars, Jupiter, and Venus
Elemental Association: Spirit and Air
Magical properties: Canarywood is a wonderful wood for healing the
body and the soul. It offers strength, both spiritual
and physical. Vigor, health, rejuvenation of the
mind and body. It is a wood of spiritual
inspiration, and would be excellent for spurring
creativity and artistic expression.
Being a spiritual wood, canarywood is an excellent
tool for exploring the non-physical world. It
would aid in astral projection and scrying. It also
strengthens emotional bonds within the home.
Cedar, Aromatic Red
Wood Origin: North America, mostly Virginia, USA
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Venus, Mercury
Elemental Association: Earth, Spirit
Magical properties: Named Aromatic Red Cedar due to its intoxicating scent, this wood
is often used for its pest controlling properties. The scent of the
wood acts in much the same manner as moth balls, repelling
insects. This wood can be found used in everything from bird
houses to decorative mulch for this reason. Once finished, however,
the scent is no longer detectable and the pest repellant properties
likewise vanish.
The energetic properties of this wood are mostly focused upon
communication and information. It is an excellent wood for use in
any divination, and will help a person obtain information from afar
(either spiritual or physical in nature). It grants the ability to see
what is happening, to know the truth behind any given situation.
For knowledge-gaining endeavors, such as schooling of the start of
a new enterprise, Aromatic Red Cedar in an invaluable tool. It will
bring luck in any pursuit that requires the acquisition of new
knowledge.
In addition, this wood will aid a person in feeling at home with their
spirituality, to love oneself. Often people struggle with feelings of
inadequacy or guilt over their spiritual choices, and this wood can
help a person to work those feelings out and know which decisions
are right for their life. It can help us bring about an overall balance
to our lives, a harmony between our spiritual beliefs and our
outward expressions.
Finally, this wood will help a person with healthy communication in
all forms.
Chechen
Wood Origin: Central America, Mexico
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mars, Mercury
Elemental Association: Spirit
Magical properties: Spiritual matters can often be conflicted or unclear.
Chechen brings one the ability to gain spiritual
strength, to overcome spiritual conflict. It will
allow a person to question their own beliefs
honestly, and come to needed and truthful
conclusions.
This wood is all about bringing beauty into life. It
can help create a better outlook, improving both
physical and mental health in the process. It is an
amazing tool for those who have a difficult time
breaking free from outmoded beliefs or ways of
thinking, or who dwell upon negativity too much.
Cherry
Wood Origin: Many, a fruit wood
Gender Association: Feminine and Masculine
Planetary Association: Moon, Mars
Elemental Association: Earth
Magical properties: An extremely earth-centric wood, cherry has very
grounded energy. Earth energy is very level-
headed, non-impulsive. It helps us to see the here
and now, think clearly, and act upon rationality
rather than emotion.
Aligned with the Moon and Mars, cherry is highly
useful for intuitive magic and conquering conflict.
This would be an excellent wood for divination or
medium work, as well as healing and love magic.
As a magical tool, it is highly recommended for
those who identify well with earth energy.
Cocobolo
Wood Origin: South America
Gender Association: Very strongly Masculine
Planetary Association: Mercury, Jupiter
Elemental Association: Fire
Magical properties: Cocobolo is the wood of passion. Within it courses
the energy of the flame, burning hot with desire,
sexuality, ambition, adventure, even rage. A purely
masculine energy radiates from the wood.
This wood's energy would be a good tool for goal-
oriented people. It will encourage ambition and
achievement, and a thirst for knowledge and
understanding in whatever the matter is at hand.
Cocobolo boosts intuitive luck, but can lead to rash
or hasty decisions. It's energy is adventurous, and
may lead a person into danger or travel far from
their level of usual comfort. This is not always a
bad thing.
Desert Ironwood
Wood Origin: North America
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Venus, Mercury, Moon
Elemental Association: Spirit, Water, Some Earth
Magical properties: Desert Ironwood is not the hardest wood in the world, but it is the
hardest wood that does not contain a large amount of gum or resin
content, meaning that it is bone dry. And as the name implies, it is
extremely hard and heavy, maybe the third hardest wood on the
planet. This makes it the most stable wood in the world, never
cracking or warping and very resistant to climactic change.
The energy of this wood is simply amazing. The image that comes to
mind is that of an elderly tribal wise woman. She is never afraid,
because she knows that life is a cycle ending in death. The mysteries
and wonders of life are at her fingertips, because she is experienced
enough to know a great deal, and wise enough to accept that which cannot be known.
This wood has a very dark, feminine energy. It brings a feeling of
protection, steadfast knowledge that the darkness is no more
threatening than the light. It brings the ability to explore the
mysteries of life unafraid and to gain the knowledge there-in. Only then can one truly know all of the beauty of life.
This wood will enhance artistic expression, bringing a fresh look to
life. It will change one's mode of thinking, and allow one to accept
life changes gracefully and with a calm wisdom.
Ebony (Gabon)
Wood Origin: Africa, the Gabon region
Gender Association: Masculine and Feminine, equality
Planetary Association: Venus
Elemental Association: All 5 (fire, water, earth, air, spirit)
Magical properties: Positive luck, balance of energy
Ebony is well-known as the most powerful magical
wood. Scott Cunningham, trusted writer of over 30
books about magic and the occult, writes about
ebony, "Ebony wood is protective and so is used in
making amulets. Ebony wands give the magician
pure, unadulterated power."
The power of ebony is non-discriminating. It is
useful for any magical practice and with any
element. It is especially useful in spells dealing with
the home, love, and Venus.
Ebony (Macassar)
Wood Origin: Celebes Islands, Maluku and Borneo (Asia)
Gender Association: Masculine and Feminine, equality
Planetary Association: Venus, Jupiter
Elemental Association: All 5 (fire, water, earth, air, spirit), emphasis on
Water
Magical properties: Power to change, positive luck, balance of energy,
breaks down social barriers.
Ebony is well-known as the most powerful magical
wood. Scott Cunningham, trusted writer of over 30
books about magic and the occult, writes about
ebony, "Ebony wood is protective and so is used in
making amulets. Ebony wands give the magician
pure, unadulterated power."
The power of ebony is non-discriminating. It is
useful for any magical practice and with any
element. Macassar ebony differs slightly from the
energy of Gaboon ebony, in that it is more centered
around emotions and intuition. This wood would be
especially useful in the seeking of spiritual
knowledge and exploring intuition and emotion. It
would not be especially useful for healing.
Historically, this wood was used in the handles of
Samurai swords.
Eucalyptus
Wood Origin: Australia, Various
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Mars
Elemental Association: Earth
Magical properties: One of the strongest healing woods known,
eucalyptus trees have been used for medicines for
centuries as well as for ritual items pertaining to
healing. The energy of this wood is good and pure,
clean like the earth from which it is born. This wood
is highly recommended for any purpose combating
illness or promoting good health.
Eucalyptus is also primarily associated with positive
luck, especially if related to knowledge. For
instance, using eucalyptus in a ritual seeking a
positive result to pending news (tests, interviews)
would prove beneficial. Worn as a charm, this wood
would promote positive luck for the wearer. It is also
an excellent tool in divination.
Katalox
Wood Origin: Central America
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Saturn, Jupiter
Elemental Association: Earth, Water
Magical properties: Katalox is primarily a wood of balance, especially the balance
between light and darkness. It helps one achieve self-knowledge, the
ability to see one's own life as others might, and to decide which
aspects may be out of balance or in need of correction. It allows one
to feel "at home" in their own skin, complete by acknowledgement of
the whole self and seeing the whole of reality, not just the parts people
often wish to see. Useful both for those who dwell too much in the
light, having a difficulty coping with death, sorrow, or mysterious
subject-matter, or those who constantly dwell in darkness, refusing to
let the light in. Balance is the key. This wood brings about
acceptance on many levels.
For those who have anger issues, Katalox is an excellent tool for
overcoming them. The wood is introspective and grounding, slowing
anger and allowing one to think clearly and see situations in a more
logical and understanding manner.
This wood is a wonderful tool for change. Those who have a difficult
time coping with change will find that they are able to accept and learn
from change better. Those who have a difficult time bringing about change in their life will find it easier to do so.
This is also an excellent tool for exploring divination, mysteries, and
other forms of "dark" spirituality.
Kingwood
Wood Origin: Brazil
Gender Association: Masculine and Feminine
Planetary Association: Saturn, Moon, Jupiter
Elemental Association: Spirit, Water
Magical properties: The primary energies of this wood are strength and
protection. It is associated with the very assertive masculine
and the warrior-feminine. It will block out unwanted energy,
forming an impenetrable protective barrier. This wood brings
with it the ability to exert one's will upon the world, creating
needed or desired change.
The power of this wood blasts away all ambiguity. It will
allow one to discover their true spiritual path, locking in only
the most sincere beliefs, allowing the rest to fall away. It
clarifies confusion.
This wood is an excellent healing wood, closely tied with
willpower. It would also be excellent for luck magic or
divination. Also excellent for curses or other offensive magic,
this is not a wood for novices or the untrustworthy.
Koa
Wood Origin: The Hawaiian Islands
Gender Association: Split between masculine and feminine, different
associations for each
Planetary Association: Masculine: Jupiter, Saturn, Sun, Mercury
Feminine: Moon, Venus, Sun, Mercury
Elemental Association: Masculine: Water
Feminine: Fire
Magical properties: Koa is one of the most curious of woods we have had the
pleasure of working with. It has both a masculine and a
feminine side, almost completely separate.
Masculine properties: The energy associated with the masculine
aspects of this wood are duality and balance, like the tides. This
energy is deeply connected with the ocean, which is alternately
giving and destructive. To truly utilize the masculine properties
of this wood, one must be able to recognize and become
comfortable with the ebb and flow of its energy. Deity:
Kanaloa, Hawaiian God of the Sea
Feminine properties: Centered around the element of fire, Koa
in its feminine aspect brings creativity, beauty, and wisdom, and
strength. It also brings a fiery energy, capable of destructive
power or the power to overcome strife. Deity: Pele, Hawaiian
Fire Goddess
Leopardwood (Lacewood)
Wood Origin: Australia
Gender Association: Both masculine and feminine
Planetary Association: Mars and Venus
Elemental Association: Water
Magical properties: Leopardwood is very useful in divination, especially
obtaining news from afar. It is also associated with
positive luck, a gambler's wood. The energy of this
wood is overall very positive, and it would be an
excellent wood for use in almost any ritual or spell,
but especially those dealing with luck or divination.
Lignum Vitae
Wood Origin: South America and parts of Europe
Gender Association: Masculine and Feminine
Planetary Association: Sun, Jupiter, Venus
Elemental Association: Earth, Water
Magical properties: The hardest, densest wood in the word, Lignum Vitae means
"long life" in Latin. This tree is also called the "Tree of Life" as
well as "Iron Wood." The wood is so dense and heavy that it will
not even float in water. It comes with a long history and legend.
This naturally green wood has been used for time untold in
construction due to the fact that it is so hard and dense. Because
it has a large amount of resin within it as well as its density, it is
naturally lubricated and was thus used as ball bearings on ships.
The greatest legend about this wood is that Merlin the Wizard
carried a staff and/or wand made from Lignum Vitae. This
legend appears in both literature and ancient writings about the
legend of Camelot. If true, it is hardly surprising. The energy
within the wood is perfectly suited to a great man such as Merlin.
This wood has a profoundly positive energy. The overall energy
of the wood can be summed up as "the power and strength of
goodness." Its strong connections with the sun, Jupiter, and luck
energy make the wood an ideal tool for any worker of positive
magick. The energy about the wood is very healing, in both
physical and spiritual matters. The energies within the wood
would also be excellent for divining information from far away as
well as close to home.
This wood represents the end of strife and the beginning of a new,
positive, cycle.
Mahogany (Genuine)
Wood Origin: Honduras
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Earth, Mars, Mercury, Moon
Elemental Association: Primary: Earth, Secondary: Fire
Magical properties: Mahogany is an interesting wood mainly because,
while most woods have a variety of differing uses,
this one is very specialized. This wood is very
focused on fertility, growing. It has a very powerful
bond with the Earth, and will channel Earth energy
better than any other.
Secondary to fertility, this wood has other uses as
well. Enhancing intuition, strengthening bonds with
blood relatives (especially the mother/son
relationship), and exploring and clarifying goals are
all possible uses for Mahogany. This wood would
not be good for divination.
Mahogany (African)
Wood Origin: Africa
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Moon
Elemental Association: Primary: Spirit, Secondary: Fire
Magical properties: This is one of the most spiritually focused of all
woods, and would be best used in magic dealing with
anything non-physical. Divination and spiritual
growth and guidance are its primary properties. It is
also an excellent wood for healing spells, though
mostly for emotional and spiritual healing.
Maple
Wood Origin: Various
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Moon, Jupiter
Elemental Association: Spirit, Water
Magical properties: Maple is a fascinating a beautiful wood due largely to the great
deal of variation in its appearance. Some maple wood is without
any interesting grain, while some has an amazing wavy (called
"curly") appearance with remarkable translucence. And some
maple is known as "Bird's Eye" maple because it has tiny little
spots in the grain, like miniature knotholes, throughout the
wood. And still other maple is "spalted," or crossed with very
dark lines within the grain. It is sometimes hard to tell that all of
these woods come from the same type of tree.
Maple is one of the most spiritual woods in existence. Because
of this, the primary use of the wood is that of spiritual healing.
It is also amazing when working with moon magick.
Maple is a traveler's wood. Those who are always on the move
and changing will feel right at home with this type of energy. It
allows a person to focus in on the choices in any situation,
eliminating luck and chance. It enhances intellectual pursuits
and learning.
Marblewood
Wood Origin: South America
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mars
Elemental Association: Earth
Magical properties: This wood has an extremely grounded energy, while at the same
time being very intense. It will react strongly to the passion of
the individual using it, helping to achieve goals and remove
conflict through strong and decisive action.
It is a VERY strong healing tool, drawing energy up from the
Earth itself for this purpose. It would be useful for all types of
healing, from animals to plants, physical healing to emotional
healing. It encourages empathy and compassion, enhancing
feelings of love and affection.
Marblewood enhances positive luck, helping to bring situations
that are out of the control of the individual to a positive end.
A wood that will aid a person in all areas of learning and artistry,
it removes blockages that prevent forward movement in life.
This will enhance creativity for artistic pursuits as well as
removing the obstacles that might interfere with academic
achievement.
Mopane
Wood Origin: Zimbabwe
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mars, Saturn
Elemental Association: Air
Magical properties: Communication and awareness are the two main
energies present in this wood. It has the ability to add
or remove blockages from communication. This
makes it excellent for treating communication
disorders, such as speech impediments or autism. It
is also a good tool for blocking out unwanted
communication, both physical and spiritual in nature.
This wood helps one let go of past pains and move
forward in life. It brings a general positive energy,
making past hurts seem not as important. It will aid
in planning out and attaining future goals.
Myrtlewood
Wood Origin: North America
Gender Association: Balanced masculinity and femininity
Planetary Association: Venus, Jupiter, Mars
Elemental Association: Primary: Earth, Secondary: Fire
Magical properties: This wood is all about balanced energy. Oftentimes,
people will focus only on one or two details of their
lives, neglecting the rest. This wood's energy helps
us to step back and see the big picture, not getting
overwhelmed by the details. It helps to balance the
energies within us or a situation. Myrtlewood will
aid in decision making, but not luck.
This wood is very versatile. It is good for healing,
creating abundance, and for nurturing passionate
love. However, it has a very honest energy and will
not tolerate deception or "creative truth" in any of
your workings with it.
Olivewood, Bethlehem
Wood Origin: Israel
Gender Association: Masculine Primarily, Feminine Secondary
Planetary Association: Sun Primary, Moon Secondary
Elemental Association: Air, Spirit, Water (In order of strength)
Magical properties: Bethlehem Olive Wood is obtained from tree
trimmings in the holy olive orchards in and around
the holy city of Bethlehem in Israel. This wood
obviously has a very strong symbolism for Christians,
as it is mentioned repeatedly in the Bible. Like all
woods, this beautiful wood also has many unique
energetic properties.
This wood is foremost an amazing aid in
communication of any type. It opens the mind to
intuitive and empathetic energy, allowing you to truly
gain insight into other's thoughts and actions. This
wood is also remarkable in its ability to aid in
communication with spirits and the dead.
With powerful spiritual energy, having this wood in
your possession will help bring about the situations
that create spiritual growth. It attracts such situations
into your life. It will create a "holy" atmosphere in
the home, helping in all aspects of spiritual life.
This wood will aid in learning and finding the true
path of knowledge. It will do this by creating positive
change in life, keeping a person from falling into
stagnant patterns of thought and action. For this
reason, it is an excellent tool for those who are trying
to find their path in life, or those who find their
learning halted by habit.
Finally, this wood is an amazing tool for healing.
However, it relies almost entirely upon the will and
passion of the healer themselves. A person who is
truly committed to healing would find this wood will
boost their abilities wonderfully.
Olivewood, Italian
Wood Origin: Italy
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Saturn, Sun
Elemental Association: Earth, Spirit
Magical properties: Balance between the spiritual and physical aspects of
life is often difficult to attain. The central energy
within this wood bring about this balance. It will
allow a person to travel between the spiritual and
physical words at ease, and thus is an excellent tool
for astral projection or communication with spirits or
the dead. This energy is somewhat chaotic due to its
extremely powerful connection with the spiritual
realm, and may bring unwanted communication as
well.
The spiritual journeys brought on by this wood can
bring about self-love and a balance of energies, as
well as a greater understanding of life and death.
Rebirth.
Osage Orange
Wood Origin: USA, Great Plains
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Sun, Jupiter
Elemental Association: Spirit, Earth, Fire
Magical properties: Named after the Osage tribe of the Great Plains
region, this wood was used by those people to make
bows and other items. An extremely strong and
straight-grained wood, it is still the preferred wood to
use for a recurve hunting bow or crossbow. This
wood is famous for its ability to repel household
pests and resist rot.
This wood is extremely spiritual in nature, especially
related to matters that also coincide with earth
energy. It would be ideal for communicating with
spirit animals or guides. It is perfect for spiritual
healing, such as astral healing. This wood aides in
the pursuit of goals and passions.
Padauk
Wood Origin: Africa, Gabon region
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mars
Elemental Association: Fire
Magical properties: A powerful yet chaotic wood, Padauk is not at all
recommended for those new to The Craft. The
energy of this wood is constantly changing, randomly
fluctuating. It would, however, be an amazing wood
for healing magic if one could learn to harness the
chaotic energy within. In the hands of the
inexperienced, it would likely do more harm than
good.
Pear
Wood Origin: Various, fruit wood
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mercury, Sun
Elemental Association: Earth, Fire
Magical properties: Extremely earth-centric energy, very grounded. This
type of wood is best used for healing, and will appeal
mostly to those who have a passion to heal. This
wood would not be useful for spiritual exploration,
such as astral projection, divination, etc, but is
extremely useful in earth-centric matters. It brings a
creative, inspiring energy to the home. This wood is
excellent for use with money and prosperity spells.
Pink Ivory
Wood Origin: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Sun, Mars
Elemental Association: Spirit, Water
Magical properties: Pink Ivory was the royal wood of the Zulu people of
Africa. Legend states that the Zulu king would carry a
staff crafted from this wood, as well as ornamental
jewelry, and any others caught possessing the wood of
the Pink Ivory tree were to be punished by beheading.
This included foreigners in their own country and
abroad. Many have said that this legend was simply
invented by the Africans to drive up the price of the
wood as an export item, but that is unclear. It is a
protected tree in South Africa, and only cut down by
limited permit, making it one of the most rare and
expensive crafting woods in the world. The tree itself
is a fruit-bearing tree, and the fruit is traded in
marketplaces across southern Africa.
Energetically, this wood is strongly associated with the
sun, spiritual healing, and strength. "Change" and
"growth" are the key words for this wood. It gives the
power to bring about needed change in one's own life,
to learn and grow toward healthy goals. It grants the
ability to leave the past behind, and look to the future,
a brighter future not marred by the baggage of our
past. This is especially true in home situations, where
home life is a burden. It allows one to see and feel
their home anew, leaving behind past hurts, or to seek
a new home if that is desired.
Spiritually, this wood is not a good tool for
communication with otherworldly spirits, but an
excellent tool for healing one's own spirit or the spirits
of other living people or animals. It will aid in magic
that seeks to heal emotional hurts, or cure inhibitions
that cripple social behavior. It will aid in opening
channels of communication between people (or
between people and animals).
This wood is also an excellent tool for love magic, or
magic having to do with luck or wealth.
Poplar
Wood Origin: Europe and North America
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Sun, Mercury, Saturn, Venus
Elemental Association: Spirit, Water, Fire
Magical properties: This wood has incredibly diverse energy, allowing
it to be an all-purpose wood for magickal
workings. While containing almost entirely
masculine energy, it is also influenced by the power
of Venus, bringing a softer, intuitive, feminine
energy as well.
Spiritual energy is strongest within this wood,
followed by the power of water. Water and spirit
combined make this wood excellent for any
working dealing with change, acts of will, or
evocation (this is the wood we use to create our
athames). This is also an excellent healing wood.
The diversity of the energy in this wood makes it
useful for evocation as well as banishment rituals.
Purpleheart
Wood Origin: Central and South America
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Venus and Mercury
Elemental Association: Spirit, Air
Magical properties:
A spiritual wood, purpleheart is excellent for use in
divination magic. It also enhances energy dealing
with creativity and knowledge. One of the best
woods when dealing with spiritual healing and
health issues, purpleheart would be especially
useful in eradicating the negative energies that
create strife in the home.
Redheart
Wood Origin: South America, various
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Jupiter, Sun, Moon
Elemental Association: Earth, Water
Magical properties: Containing an overall bright and carefree energy, redheart
is an excellent wood for those seeking to be able to focus
more on the "here and now" rather than dwelling on past
or possible future events. It allows one to follow their
whims, set aside their fears, and move their life in an
overall positive direction. It does not distract one from
real threats, but rather removes the fear and doubt that
can cloud our judgment and make us imagine things
worse than they may actually be. This wood will aid a
person in finding their personal truth, free of self-
deception.
Self-esteem is not to be underrated. Most of us live under
certain assumptions about how people view us or our
beliefs that may not be entirely accurate. The power of
this wood will help a person set aside those assumptions,
to feel free to speak their mind and express their views
without fear of what others may think. It is a freeing
energy, without self consciousness or darkness and
doubt. It allows us to see this life for what it is, not what
we imagine it to be, and to love it.
Rosewood (Bolivian)
Wood Origin: Bolivia
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Mars, Moon, Venus
Elemental Association: Spirit, Fire
Magical properties: This wood's energy is primarily feminine, and
focused on spiritual, intuitive health and beauty.
Bolivian Rosewood is motherly, spiritual, and
nourishing. It lends a boost to intuitive thought and
feeling, and is thus excellent in divination and
scrying. A healing wood, rosewood can be used in
all healing rituals but is especially effective in
spiritual healing. In matters dealing with beauty,
rosewood can be very effective. Carried or worn as a
charm, this wood will enhance female beauty and
feminine grace. It would be good for love spells as
well, but only those conducted with maturity and
wisdom. Frivolous energies will not be enhanced by
this wood.
Rosewood (East Indian)
Wood Origin: India
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Moon, Venus, Saturn
Elemental Association: Fire, Earth, Some Water
Magical properties: East Indian Rosewood has a very magical energy, but that
of dark magic, mystery. Darkness is not a negative thing,
but it is that which is not usually focused upon, the hidden
things in life that escape the notice of most people. This
wood will help a person work with these energies. For
this reason, this wood is highly recommended for all
magic involving divination, communication with the dead,
and internal truth.
In addition, this wood is excellent for magic involving
health and beauty, physical things that you can see and
touch. Physical healing or the clearing up of cosmetic
flaws would be good uses for this wood.
A very grounded wood, it can also help bring about
positive change, even if that change does include some
conflict. It can help bring about a feeling of being at
home.
Rosewood (Honduran)
Wood Origin: Honduras
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Venus, Saturn, Moon
Elemental Association: Spirit, Water, Fire, Air (in order of strength)
Magical properties: Being a member of the rosewood family, this wood shares
many properties with other rosewoods while also having a
distinctly different energy all its own.
Unlike some other rosewoods, Honduran Rosewood is not
purely feminine, allowing a small amount of masculine
energy to also come through. The most powerful energy
within the wood is spiritually focused. It would best be
used for creative therapy and healing. This is a life-
changing, positive, feminine energy.
Like most rosewoods, this wood is excellent for love
magick and bringing passion into life. Also like most
rosewoods, it is good for bringing about change and for
boosting intuitive or psychic abilities. But unlike other
rosewoods, the energy of Saturn allows this wood to also
block out unwanted energies in magickal workings. This
can be excellent for isolating only the desired aspect of the
wood.
Sagebrush
Wood Origin: Western United States
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Sun
Elemental Association: Fire, Spirit
Magical properties: Though considered an unsightly desert weed by most people, the
Native American people held the sagebrush plant in particular
reverence. It was the only wood they used to burn in their sweat
lodges, creating a greasy dark smoke that helped them achieve a
higher state of consciousness. In their culture, this wood could
not be collected until the collector was spiritually purified.
Not surprisingly, the primary energy of this wood is cleansing
and purifying itself. It helps to clear away negativity and doubt,
helping a person to focus on their true passions and to gain
valuable insights. It reveals needed goals, and creates drive. It
can help a person remove the obstacles they have found placed
between themselves and the things they seek in life, by
removing blockages within oneself.
This would also be an excellent tool for divination, but not with
dark energy. It would not help with scrying, but would be an aid
in meditative divination or spiritual journeys.
Tulipwood
Wood Origin: Brazil
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: The Moon and Venus
Elemental Association: Water
Magical properties: Tulipwood is part of the rosewood family. It carries with it
many of the traits of other rosewoods, with a few unique traits as
well. A very powerful feminine energy radiates from this
wood. It would be extraordinary if used in moon magic, and
anything having to do with creativity, intuitions, and beauty, and
natural cycles. This would be an excellent wood for divination.
The primary element of this wood is water. Water usually
brings with it a calm and peaceful effect. However, the energy
of this wood contains the full spectrum of water energy, both
peaceful and destructive. It is as though the very energy of the
Goddess rests within the wood; beautiful and serene, yet
powerful and proud.
The wood carries an overall positive energy, and also may be
used to bring about affluence and wealth. One of the most
powerful woods we have ever encountered, with a very diverse
and potent energy.
Wenge
Wood Origin: Tropical West Africa
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Saturn, Venus
Elemental Association: Fire, Air, Spirit
Magical properties: Wenge is not only a beautiful wood to look at, but
also a wonderful magical tool. It possesses a very
relaxed energy, encouraging slow, even thought. It is
the perfect tool for meditation, especially for those
who have trouble slowing their thoughts. It is also a
healing wood, useful for a variety of physical as well
and emotional healing applications. Worn as a
charm, this wood would create a more even mood
and centered thought. It would also calm the temper
and encourage learning. This wood is not for the
impatient, if they hope to utilize it for quick power.
Whitewood
Wood Origin: Romania
Gender Association: Masculine and Feminine
Planetary Association: Saturn, Moon, Sun
Elemental Association: Air
Magical properties: Anyone who has purchased cheap lumber at a
hardware store that is not specifically labeled pine
has probably purchased whitewood, usually
imported from Romania. It is a very fast growing
tree related to the pine tree, but without the aroma or
prevalence of sap.
This wood contains a very dark energy. Darkness is
that which is mysterious and often frightening to
people. It is extremely useful for many types of
magic, including divination, communication with the
spirit world, death, and exploring the mysteries of
life. This wood is protective, allowing one to
explore their dark side without getting lost within it.
Overall, this wood helps one understand things that
most people choose to ignore or may not even know
exist.
It can bring healing through communication, and a
general comfort through knowledge. It is a very
grounded wood, despite the prevalence of air energy.
Yellowheart (also known as Satinwood)
Wood Origin: Various, from Florida USA to Brazil
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mars, Saturn, Moon
Elemental Association: Water is strongest, but exhibits energy in all elements
but fire
Magical properties: This wood contains a very powerful, and often strange, energy.
Though it is overall positive, it is a wood highly influenced by
luck and the energies which surround it. The results may be
unpredictable, though usually not dangerous (unlike African
Padauk).
The wood is highly in tune with the planet Mars. Mars brings
both strife and war, or the energy to overcome these things. In
this case, the energy is very tied up with life energy as well,
possibly indicating that the wood could be used to influence
health issues, both spiritual and physical.
Water energy is the strongest elemental force within this wood,
and with it the cyclical energy of the moon. Water brings a
peaceful energy, a stillness. This energy will be strongest on the
full moon, and nearly nonexistent during a new moon.
The most interesting aspect of this wood is the prevalence of the
planet Saturn. Saturn blocks Venus and the element of Fire in
this wood's energy, keeping creative thought, desires, and
ambitions at a minimum. This would be highly useful for
meditation, though may be a hindrance in other endeavors.
Yew, Pacific
Wood Origin: North America, Pacific Northwest
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Mercury, Jupiter, Moon
Elemental Association: Earth, Spirit
Magical properties: Though not European Yew, the Pacific Yew is nearly
identical to the species of tree that was used to create the
infamous English Longbow. This species of Yew was
instead used by the native people of North America to
make spears and bows of great power and sacred history.
The main property of the Pacific Yew is focus. It grants
the ability to block out the things that do not matter and
concentrate on the matters at hand. It is an amazing aid in
the pursuit of knowledge and goals. It brings a balance of
the physical and spiritual worlds, the ability to
concentrate on either with equal clarity.
Not a recommended wood for divination or luck, but
highly recommended for use with the pursuit of goals,
including love.
Zebrawood
Wood Origin: Africa, Gabon region
Gender Association: Feminine
Planetary Association: Moon
Elemental Association: Air
Magical properties: The primary associations of this wood are the moon, love, luck,
wisdom, creativity, and beauty. It is the only wood we have
encountered that has absolutely no masculine energy.
Though there is a very positive energy about this wood, it is not
recommended for healing magic. It would, however, be an
excellent tool in dealing with love magic, and anything relating
to feminine energy or the moon. It would also be a good tool
for divination.
Ziricote
Wood Origin: Central and South America
Gender Association: Masculine
Planetary Association: Sun, Saturn, Moon
Elemental Association: Fire
Magical properties: A somewhat peculiar wood in that, despite its very strong
masculine energy, it is primarily a nurturing energy. Often we
associate masculinity with aggressive behavior or violence, but
this is not always the case. When describing the energy of this
wood, the best analogy is that of the protective and nurturing
father.
This wood is extremely protective in nature, and would be an
excellent tool for those doing shielding spells or who are in need
of added defensive energy. It will bring about a peaceful feeling
in the home, free of danger.
Ziricote is an excellent tool for bringing love into one's life. It
does this by helping a person to love themselves, encouraging a
positive self image. For those with self esteem issues that keep
others at bay, this would be an invaluable resource.
An assertive wood, it will help a person take strong and decisive
action. Not a boost in luck energy, this wood relies instead on
making choices, cause and effect. It would be a great aid to
those who find that they are unable to make up their minds
about things, or who are easily distracted.
Finally, this wood is an excellent healing tool. Like the flame
cleanses, this wood can burn away illness and negativity. It also
encourages clear communication between people.
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