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The Sisters, of the Elm

Lore of the Elm

Each Celtic tribe had a Sacred Tree for their Sacred Center. This tree was called the bile. According to ancient books, the modern Irish are descended from Bile. Ancestor of the Gael. This repeats the creation myth of several coltures that said that the first man and woman were created from the first tree. Thesacred nature of wood is found in the relation of trees to sounds in the Ogham, an ancient alphabet and means of learning. Iit can also be found in the use of certain wood in lighting the ritual fires. The fire was the center of celtic ritual. The most sacred of the fire were made from Nine Sacred Woods:

Woods for the Need Fire

"Tagh seileach nan allr, Tagh calltainnnan creag,
Tagh fearna nan lón,
Tagh beithe nan eas,
Tagh uinnseann nan dubhair,
Tagh iubhar nan leuma,
Tagh leamhannan bruthaich,
Tagh duire na gréine."

English:
"Choose the willow of the streams,
Choose the hazel of the rocks,
Choose the alder of the marshes,
Choose the birch of the waterfalls,
Choose the rowan of the shade,
Choose the yew of resilience,
Choose the elm of the brae,
Choose the oak of the sun."

As you will note, there are only 8 woods mentioned here. A Celtic Scholar, Searles O'Dubhain has suggested that the 9th might be holly, ash, or pine.

For some fires, the 9 woods were chosen by 9 people in 9 locations.

CORRESPONDENCES: Ailim (Aiar): Ailm - Elm: Acab

Pine Tree, Fire, Cedar, Witch Elm, Lapwing, Squirrel, Pine Martin, Stage. Warrior Courage and prowess, Deep inner mysteries.

Iroquois Indians were said to have used the bark for making canoes, rope, utensils and roofing for their homes. The wood is tough and cross-grained, highly resistant to splitting. It is used in basket making, for furniture and flooring.

HEALING PROPERTIES: A cold and saturnine plant. The leaves when bruised and applied can heal green wounds and bound with its own bark. The leaves or the bark used with vinegar, cures scurf and leprosy. The decoction of the leaves, bark, or root, heals broken bones. The water that is found in the fresh bladders on the leaves, cleanse the skin and make it fair. This water in a tightly stopped glass, set in the ground for twenty-five days, and the bottom set upon a layer of ordinary salt unti lthe water becomes clear, is a supreme balm for green wounds, used with soft bandaging. The decoction of the bark of the root when fomented, slows hard tumours or shrinking of the sinews. The roots of the Elm, boiled for a long time in water, with the fat that rises skimmed off,is effective when applied to a bald area, will quickly restore hair growth. The bark, when ground with brine or pickle untilthickand laid on the placewith the gout, gives great ease. The decoction of the bark in water, is excellent for areas that have been burnt with fire. (This according to Culpepper's Herbal.)

HISTORY: Italy: The Romans planted elms on the hillsides to provide living supports for the vines. The poet Ovid described this practice:

"If that fair elm," he cried, "alone should stand,
No grapes would glow with gold and tempt the hand,
Or if that vine without her elm should grow,
T'would creep, a poor neglected shrub below."

U.S.: The Logan Elm State Memorial is the site where, in 1774, Chief Logan gave his eloquent speech on Indian-white relations. This speech was delivered under a large elm tree:

"I appeal to any white man to say that he ever entered Logan's cabin, but I gave him meat; that he ever came naked, but I clothed him... He will not turn his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? No one."
--Chief Logan, Mingo Tribe

Canada: In Winnipeg, in the late 1950's several women (termed the "Wild Women of Wolseley" in a front page story in the Winnipeg Free Press on September 19, 1957), joined arms around the Wolseley Elm to prevent its removal to straighten the street.