A majestic tree, the powerful alder can be found across the Northern Hemisphere in cooler climates. The Celtic Month Alder celebrates rebirth, resurrection, and sunrise as it heralds spring with new leaves. The alder symbolizes rebirth possibly because alder buds grow in a spiral pattern.
In Gaelic, the month of Alder is referred to as Fearn (pronounced fa-rin), and it is the fifth month in the Ogham calendar. Alder is linked to both male and female principles and represents balance. Along with balance Alder wood has shielding and protection qualities.
People Born in the Month of Alder
People with the alder as their birth tree are charismatic and driven. However, they can sometimes be immature and impatient too. Alders are natural leaders renowned for their confidence and focus on tasks, carrying the alder's best attributes.
Alders generally get along well with everyone and are typically extroverts, although exceptions certainly exist. They hate wasting time and love it when their plans come together and they get their communities involved.
For these reasons, Alders get along fantastically with persons born in the months of Hawthorns, Oaks, as well as some Birches.
Grove of Alder trees
Value of Alder Wood
The alder tree's distinctive properties also add to its mysticism. It was a valuable tree for the Ancient Celts and one we still use today.
The alder tree burns at an extremely high temperature. For the Celts who loved their jewelry, this was invaluable for heating the fires of the forge.
However, nobody just cut down an alder tree willy-nilly. In fact, it’s still illegal in parts of Britain to do that. People believed that the alder tree was bleeding when cut because its wood would change from a pale white to a dark orange.
The thick, oily sap also looks like blood. This sap can be boiled down to make syrup.
It became taboo to harm them unless necessary. To do so was to ask for tragedy and chaos in your house. Although alders were felled or naturally fallen, their wood wasn't only used in the forges.
The Celts used alder wood extensively for carpentry, most notably in the foundations of their homes and for their shields. Other parts of the tree they used for medicine, often as a substitute for quinine.
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Related Elements
Planets – Mars
Element – Fire, Water
Stone – Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli
Birds – Hawk, Raven, Seagull
Animals – Snake, Fox
Color – Purple
Gemstone – Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, and Yellow Chrysolite
Deities – Apollo, Bran, Branwyn, Wotan, King Arthur, Ares, Pan
Sabbat - Ostara
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Conservation and Ecology
Alder trees play an important role in their ecological communities. In addition to providing habitats for various land mammals and birds, their nitrogen-rich leaves and roots also contribute to soil health and stability.
Their leaves play another role in the ecosystem too. Alder leaves feed many species of moth and butterfly caterpillars, which discourages them from damaging agricultural crops. Of course, other browsing animals also eat alder leaves, such as the moose.
This is not to say that all is well, however. Although alder trees aren't classified as endangered, they're still vulnerable to parasites like the northern groundcone, a holoparasitic plant native to Canada and Alaska.
Additionally, deforestation has destroyed numerous alder forests, which has significantly destabilized the ecology of those regions and destroyed the lifestyle of the indigenous peoples who harvested from the trees.
Alder Magic
Alder is best used in magic that restores balance. You can also use it to inspire harmony, clarity, and confidence. Calling on the spirits of the tree can also restore your inner strength.
Similarly, Druids once used alder cuttings to invoke air elementals. Specifically, they would hollow out the tree's green shoots to make whistles.
Thus, the alder balanced Bran's power with the fairies' magic. It is this balance that really gives it protective powers. The timing of its month just before the spring equinox reminds us of this, as we all need protection and balance in our own lives to face the trials ahead.
Not only that, but you can also craft useful dyes from the alder. The flowers make a green dye, while the sap makes a red-orange dye, and the twigs make brown.
If you're an Alderperson, dying some important clothes or tools with these dyes could significantly help your magic. Not only that, but you'll look really cool too.
Fairy Magic
Some of the strongest magic comes from the alder's associations with fairies, though. Alder flowers and twigs are invaluable when communicating with a fairy, and alder fairies are certainly an interesting lot.
Although they're technically Unseelie spirits, the Alder fairies aren't overly hostile. Rather, they're simply protective, but they can cooperate. This is why approaching them with alder twigs is so important.
Alder fairies are also water spirits. Of course, this makes sense. The trees are most commonly found growing beside bodies of natural water, such as rivers or lakes. Given the fragile state of these environments nowadays, it’s no surprise that alder fairies are so protective.
Overall, these fairies venerate the tree for its role in cosmology, both theirs and our own. Alders symbolize balance most of all, and there's no better balance than continuing the cycle of rebirth. These nature spirits love the tree's strength, as well as its intricacy
If you can get permission though, drinking from the water running by an alder's roots can earn you a fantastic boon. The fairies might grant you foresight, or clarity when making your decisions. Alder water can stabilize and reinvigorate you.
When alder fairies do have to travel, though, they do so in the form of ravens. Make sure to pay the birds extra respects if you're planning to do alder magic shortly or if it's Alder month.
Read my article on WORKING WITH THE FAE
Read Poetry
The gods loved to be read to and Odin and Bran especially love poems. Read your favorite poems or write a poem for them.
The following poem by Cicely Mary Barker is a beautiful one to start with. Barker was a popular illustrator born in 1895. She created the Flower Fairies (children with wings holding flowers).
The Song of the Alder Fairy
by Cicely Mary Barker
By the lake or river-side
Where the Alders dwell,
In the Autumn may be spied
Baby catkins; cones beside —
Old and new as well.
Seasons come and seasons go;
That's the tale they tell!
After Autumn, Winter's cold
Leads us to the Spring;
And, before the leaves unfold,
On the Alder you'll behold,
Crimson catkins swing!
They are making ready now;
That's the song I sing!
Spells
Alder trees are associated with protection, strength, and the balance between the elements of fire and water. During this month, practitioners of Celtic paganism may choose to work with spells that harness the energies of Alder for various purposes.
Here are a few spell ideas for the Celtic month of Alder:
Protection Spell: Carve a symbol of protection, such as a pentacle or a bindrune for safety, into a small piece of Alder wood. Hold the wood in your hands and visualize a shield of light emanating from it, protecting you from harm. Carry this talisman with you for added protection.
Strength Ritual: Sit quietly under an Alder tree and meditate on the qualities of strength and resilience. Visualize yourself absorbing the tree's strong and sturdy energy. Carry this sense of inner strength with you throughout the month to overcome challenges.
Balance Charm: Create a sachet or charm bag using Alder leaves, combined with herbs like lavender and rosemary for balance. Charge the charm with the intention of balancing the opposing forces within your life, whether it be work and home or emotions and logic. Keep the charm with you or place it in a space where you seek balance.
Spells to aid success in business and academic ventures work well during this month.
Magic Spell for Clarity and Balance
To invoke clarity and balance into your life, gather a purple candle, rosemary, and an amethyst crystal.
Begin by lighting the purple candle, focusing on its calming flame. Take a few deep breaths to center yourself.
Take the rosemary and sprinkle it around the candle in a clockwise direction, envisioning a shield of clarity forming around you.
Hold the amethyst crystal in your dominant hand and close your eyes. Feel its energy pulsating through you, bringing insight and balance to your mind.
Repeat the following incantation:
By the light of this candle so fair,
With rosemary's magic filling the air,
Amethyst's clarity and balance I claim,
In mind, body, and spirit, the same.
Sit in quiet meditation for a few moments, absorbing the energy of your spell and visualizing the clarity and balance you seek.
When you feel ready, extinguish the candle and carry the amethyst with you as a talisman of your intentions.
May clarity and balance be ever present in your journey. Blessed be.
Remember to always approach spellwork with respect and mindfulness, honoring the energies of nature and the elements. May these spells for the month of Alder bring you protection, strength, and balance on your spiritual journey.
Tools
Alder Shields
As a symbol of strength and battle Alder wood is great for making shields. An alder shield will protect you and give you courage. Remember courage and compassion go hand in hand.
Alder Wands
Because alder wood has a connection to all four elements, wands made from alder are particularly versatile. They're especially useful for magic that needs you to balance something, such as your emotions. You can use alder wands for weather magic as well.
For the best results, carve your wand from branches that the wind has blown off the alder tree, not branches that you've cut off yourself. This way the wood's elemental connection is preserved.
Keep in mind that an alder wand can be unpredictable sometimes. You're automatically involving all the elements when using one, so be careful if you're not experienced with that.
Alder Flutes
For the more musically inclined pagans, the month of Alder is a great time to make a flute. Following in the traditions of the druids, you can use your flute to help focus your air elemental magic. Not only that, you can use it to play songs too and celebrate the spring equinox.
The best flutes come from branches that the wind has blown off the alder tree, such as after storms. This way, the wood has already been infused with the air element. As well, you can collect them without harming the tree itself.
Flutes are also associated with the deity Pan, as is the Alder month. Because of this, it is auspicious to begin this kind of project during this time, especially if you plan to pray to Pan in the future.
Traditional Healing
The alder tree is renowned for its healing properties worldwide. It'd almost be easier to list what the tree can't treat. Alder has traditionally been used to treat coughs, parasites, sprains, toothaches, and strains.
Additionally, you can brew tea or make a poultice from the leaves that'll soothe a sore throat or burns. The bark can also be used to treat inflammation or skin disease and bites and poison oak.
Burning the bark itself can be useful too, as it makes fantastic incense. As well as smelling wonderful, alder bark clears the head and helps you to balance your life. Alder incense is a great choice before major decisions, as well as before exams or interviews.
The History of the Month of Alder
In Celtic legend, the alder is most closely associated with the deity Bran, a Welsh king of Britain. He carried its twigs into battle. Because of all this, the alder was a sign of protection for the Celts. Not only did it symbolize a warrior's strength, the alder was also a symbol of wonder and mystery. After all, it is the tree that fairies love.
Indeed, there's a riddle about Bran's famed connection to this beautiful tree:
Talisan the Poet: Why is the alder tree purple?
Gwydion the hero: Because Bran wore purple.
This is symbolic of Christ’s resurrection made during the middle 500s AD.
Also known as Bran the Blessed, the name "Brân" is Welsh for raven.
Alder in Creation of Man
Irish creation myths tell of how the first man was actually made from alder wood. This association has lasted, and even today the alder has a correspondence with masculine energy.
Auther, Ame, is the founder of CPH and loves this month because it means rebirth and spring is coming! Ame is an environmental educator has a small non-profit Fox Run Environmental Education.
The Hawthorne tree month is an exciting time that embraces fire, male energy, and fertility. The days are longer and it is a symbol that summer is upon us.
Along with ash and oak, the hawthorn is part of the triad of sacred trees and home to the fae. It was called Huath by the ancient Celts and was pronounced Hoh-uh.