ELDER

Earth Mother, Elder Mother
Fairy Queen Tree
Magic of enchanted flute
Call spirits to me
Guardian of the boundary
Mirrors back to thee

The elder is the tree on the Celtic tree calendar for November 24 to December 23.  It is also known as the country medicine chest, the Fairy Queen Tree, or the tree of transition.  There are 26 varieties found around the world, some of them toxic.  The species of black or deep purple elderberry found in Europe and North America are used interchangeably.  It is one of the plants that our ancestors always seemed to have around for its medicine and magic.

On a purely practical level, elderberry is used as a very nutritious and healing food.  It is used for drink, jam, flavoring, and a variety of medicines and tonics.  The flowers are widely used for medicinal teas.  The other parts of the plant have been used medicinally but are toxic.  The wood has been used as maple syrup taps, straws, and fire blow tubes.  Flutes and pipes of pan are often made from elder.

These musical instruments are considered to be magic and to sing a song to call spirits.  Magicians treasure the wood for magic wands and other tools,  Our ancestors carried many parts of elder for protection and luck.

Traditionally, elder is planted at the corner of the house, the corner of the garden, or the corner or gate of the property.  It is seen as the guardian of borders.  It was planted at the corner of the house to protect the house from evil and negativity.  When it was planted in the garden, it was seen to bring prosperity.  When it was planted at the boundary of the property, it acted as a shield.  It was also seen as the gateway between worlds.

This tree of transition is seen by some as the gate to the fairy realm and sacred to the Fairy Queen.  It is seen as the tree gate or boundary of life, health, and spirit.

Some see it as the home of the Elder Mother, or home of the Elves.  It is associated with the goddess in all her forms, and a plant of earth magic.  As a tree associated with the sacred feminine and the darkest part of the year, she encourages healing and the exploration of the transitions of your life.  She represents the cycle of life in all its aspects.  She is the duality and magic of light and dark, good and evil, life and health and death.  She is food, medicine, and poison.

Elder is seen as the mirror of your life.  If you treat her with respect, reverence, and wisdom, and use her for the good of all, she nurishes, heals, and protects.  If you treat her with disrespect, foolishness, and ill intent, that ill intent comes back to you.  She is the duality that reflects back to you that which you put into the world.