Quick Guide to
Magickal and Medicinal Properties of Trees
Magickal Properties
Below is a quick reference list to help utilize the magickal properties of trees. However, it is of dire importance you understand that the trees will not aid, assist, or guide you if your intentions are harmful. In addition, please remember that nobody should take a part of a tree without asking permission first and revealing to the tree what you plan to use it for, but if your heart is in the right place, most trees will grant you permission. If, however, you get the feeling that a tree does not approve, then I suggest you leave the tree alone and move on to another. Do not take from a tree just because you can. There may be repercussions. If it is the wood you seek, look for fallen twigs, branches, or those that may still be attached to the tree but no longer live. If you want the leaves or needles, I suggest looking on the ground first and gathering those that have fallen. Only when this is not an option, and you have the tree’s blessing, should you cut a living leaf or twig. Make sure to give love and gratitude in some form or other back to the tree. It is foolish to think one can take without giving in return. The truth is that we are not above nature but are a part of it.
For any of the below possibilities, you can simply use either the leaves or wood of one tree or combine two or more. There is no limit. This type of magick operates in accordance with the law of proximity; in other words, the magickal properties cause and create effects in the nearby location. If you wish to keep your home safe from harmful energies, choose one of the following and place the wood, leaves, or needles over a door, window, or anywhere close to the area you wish to protect. If you want to ward negativity and harmful energies from your car, place the wood, leaves, or needles within the vehicle. If you wish to attract or repel specific energies wherever you go, carry the wood, needles, or leaves with you in a sachet. It is the same concept when using crystals or stones. For an extra boost of empowerment, I suggest you hold the leaves, needles, or wood in your hand, free your mind of stress, worries, anger, resentment, jealousy, etc., and then ask the spirit of the tree to work with you while focusing on your intention and mentally projecting this intent into the specimen. This is a simple method of charging and aligning your intentions with the natural vibrations of the plant. Be warned, if your intention is to harm, all that you do will fall back upon you when you least expect it and the only harm you will cause is to yourself. Magick has a universal built-in system of checks and balances and cannot be manipulated for long even if it does not seem apparent for some time.
All-Purpose Magick: apple, cedar, ginkgo, holly, lilac, maple, oak, pine, rowan, sandalwood, sycamore, willow
Acceptance/Self-Esteem: alder, arborvitae, aspen, birch, cherry, cypress, fir, ginkgo, grape (vine), grapefruit, horsechestnut, ironwood, katsura, larch, lemon, lilac, lime, linden, maackia, maple, oak, olive, palm, poplar, quince, willow, yellowwood, ylang-ylang
Ancestors and Burial: apple, arborvitae, birch, cypress, elder, elm, ginkgo, Kentucky coffee tree, pagoda, redwood, sycamore, willow, yew
Astral Projection: catalpa, ginkgo, lilac, poplar, willow
Awakening/Enlightenment: apple, birch, bodhi, boxelder, cherry, holly, ironwood, lemon, lilac, lime, mango, maple, myrrh, ylang-ylang
Banishing: arborvitae, aspen, fir, hawthorn, larch, lilac, linden, locust, oak, pine, rowan, spruce, sweet gum, sycamore, hazel, yew
Beginnings: birch, cherry, elm, ironwood, olive, Kentucky coffee tree, larch, lilac, magnolia, sycamore, willow
Binding/Defense: arborvitae, aspen, buckthorn, cedar, devil’s walking stick, dogwood, elder (do not burn), euonymus, ginkgo, hawthorn, holly, larch, lilac, linden, maackia, monkey-puzzle, oak, olive, peach, pine, rowan, spruce, sweet gum, sycamore, witch hazel
Courage: alder, aspen, black gum, euonymus, Joshua tree, oak, walnut, yellowwood
Creativity: beech, birch, cherry, ginkgo, grapefruit, holly, mahogany, maple, willow
Curse Breaking: arborvitae, bamboo, bodhi, buckthorn, cedar, elder (do not burn), euonymus, fir, hackberry, hawthorn, holly, larch, mimosa, oak, pine, rowan, sumac, spruce, yew (don’t touch without gloves)
Depression (to reverse): apple, apricot, cedar, cherry, fir, oak, orange, pear, pine, plane tree, spruce, tulip tree, yellowwood, most fruit trees
Divination: apple, arborvitae, baobab, beech, buckeye, cherry, cottonwood, elm, fig, ginkgo, hawthorn, holly, hornbeam, horsechestnut, laurel, lemon, lilac, lime, magnolia, mimosa, orange, plane tree, pomegranate, rowan, totara, willow, witch hazel
Dreams: apple, ash, aspen, baobab, elm, holly, hop tree, lilac, linden, magnolia, mimosa, myrrh, poplar, willow
Exorcism: acacia, arborvitae, aspen, bamboo, buckthorn, cedar, cinnamon, dragon’s blood, elder (do not burn), fir, ginkgo, hackberry, juniper, larch, lemon, lime, myrrh, pine, oak, palm, rowan, spruce, sumac
Faith: acacia, almond, apple, banyan, cherry, cinnamon, cottonwood, holly, olive, palm, pine, sycamore, most trees in general
Health/Healing: apple, apricot, ash, avocado, bamboo, banana, baobab, black gum, boxelder, catalpa, cedar, cherry, chestnut, cinnamon, cork tree, cypress, elder (never burn), eucalyptus, fringe tree, ginkgo, grapefruit, hop tree, hornbeam, katsura, larch, laurel, lemon, lilac, lime, linden, locust, magnolia, mahogany, mango, maple, mimosa, monkey puzzle, myrrh, nutmeg, oak, olive, orange, pear, pepper tree, persimmon, pine, plum, pomegranate, poplar, redbud, redwood, rowan, sassafras, sumac (be cautious as there is a poisonous variety), sycamore, terebinth, totara, tulip tree, walnut, witch hazel, ylang-ylang
Legal Matters: alder, bamboo, hickory, linden, oak, palm
Longevity: apple, apricot, cherry, cypress, fir, ginkgo, holly, maple, peach, pear, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, most evergreen trees
Love/Fertility: apple, apricot, ash, aspen, avocado, banana, birch, black gum, boxelder, catalpa, cedar, cherry, chestnut, cinnamon, cork tree, dogwood, dragon’s blood, elm, fig, ginkgo, grapevine, holly, honeysuckle, katsura, lilac, linden, locust, maackia, magnolia, mango, maple, mimosa, monkey puzzle, myrrh, myrtle, nutmeg, orange, pawpaw, peach, pear, plum, pomegranate, quince, redbud, serviceberry, sycamore, tulip tree, willow
Luck/Fortune/Wishes/Success: banyan, beech, boxelder, buckeye, buckthorn, cashew, chestnut, cork tree, dogwood, euonymus, fig, ginkgo, hickory, holly, honeysuckle, horsechestnut, larch, linden, maple, nutmeg, oak, orange, palm, pear, persimmon, pomegranate, poplar, rowan, walnut
Money: almond, banana, boxelder, buckeye, cashew, catalpa, cedar, chestnut, cinnamon, ginkgo, grapevine, honeysuckle, horsechestnut, maple, myrtle, nutmeg, oak, orange, pecan, pine, pomegranate, poplar, sassafras
New Beginnings: birch, boxelder, cedar, cinnamon, coffee tree, elm, fir, ginkgo, ironwood, larch, lilac, magnolia, maple, pomegranate, sycamore, willow
Peace and Comfort: alder, apple, arborvitae, aspen, avocado, beech, birch, ginkgo, hornbeam, horsechestnut, ironwood, katsura, lemon, lilac, lime, linden, maackia, maple, myrrh, myrtle, oak, palm, willow
Protection: acacia, alder, apple, arborvitae, ash, aspen, bamboo, birch, bodhi, cedar, chestnut, cinnamon, devil’s walking stick, dogwood, dragon’s blood, ebony, elder (do not burn), elm, eucalyptus, fig, fir, ginkgo, hackberry, hawthorn, hemlock, holly, honeysuckle, hornbeam, ironwood, kauri, larch, lemon, lilac, lime, linden, locust, mahogany, maple, mimosa, mulberry, myrrh, Norfolk pine, oak, olive, Osage orange, palm, pawpaw, pepper tree, pine, plum, pomegranate, quince, redwood, rowan, spruce, sweet gum, willow, witch hazel
Psychic Abilities: apple, elder, elm, lilac, magnolia, mimosa, redbud, rowan, willow
Purification/Cleansing: apple, arborvitae, birch, buckthorn, cedar, cherry, cinnamon, cypress, ebony, elder (do not burn), fir, ginkgo, hackberry, hawthorn, holly, larch, lemon, lilac, lime, mango, mimosa, myrrh, oak, palm, pepper tree, pine, plum, spruce, rowan, willow
Reincarnation/Past Life Recall: acacia, aspen, birch, cedar, fir, ginkgo, holly, ironwood, larch, lilac
Sleep: elder, hop tree, linden, willow
Spirit Communication: almond, apple, aspen, banyan, baobab, beech, birch, catalpa, cedar, coffee tree, devil’s walking stick, elm, fir, ginkgo, hawthorn, holly, hop tree, hornbeam, ironwood, Joshua tree, larch, lemon, lilac, lime, linden, monkey puzzle, pomegranate, spruce, sweet gum, sycamore, willow
Success: apple, chestnut, euonymus, hornbeam, larch, oak, orange, poplar, rowan, walnut
Youth/Beauty/Longevity: apple, apricot, avocado, baobab, Canadian hemlock, cedar, cherry, fir, ginkgo, grapefruit, holly, Joshua tree, katsura, lemon, lilac, lime, maackia, mango, maple, monkey puzzle, myrtle, Norfolk pine, orange, peach, pine, redwood, spruce, sycamore, tulip tree, willow
Quick Reference to Medical Ailments
Below is a quick reference list of thirteen physical ailments and the trees that can be used to combat those said ailments. This is a generalized list and there are many more that can be found in the field guide (Chapter 4). It is necessary to keep in mind that this is a magickal guide to incorporating trees into your spiritual and magickal practices and that this book is not by any means meant to avoid visiting your doctor. I am not a physician and I do not suggest that you utilize the medicinal properties of trees without consulting a professional practitioner of medicine. What I do suggest is that you use these trees as a magickal correspondence to aid in spell work and magickal goals that may pertain to healing. Also, it is important to note that as science and medicine continues to advance, more and more healing properties and benefits of trees are continuously being discovered; therefore, there may be additional health and healing properties of trees that have not been included. Once again, please be careful, do additional research, and speak with a professional first if you decide to employ the medicinal properties of trees. Sometimes only the leaves contain the beneficial properties that you seek, and sometimes those properties are only found in the bark, or only in the fruit, or only in the roots or flowers, etc. It is not enough to assume that any part of a given tree will be helpful. In fact, many times certain parts of trees can be harmful and toxic while other parts are beneficial. Lastly, this list and all the information throughout this book pertains to the tall woody plants called trees and does not include other non-tree plants. If you want to know more or are curious about where I gathered the information for this book, please refer to the bibliography or consider doing your own research.
Blood Pressure: apple, cherry, cork tree, hawthorn, linden
Burns: apple, aspen, Canadian hemlock, linden, poplar
Cough/Chest Colds: catalpa, cherry, elm, eucalyptus, fir, ginkgo, larch, magnolia, maple, mulberry, pear, pine, red cedar, sassafras, walnut
Diarrhea: alder, cork tree, dogwood, elm, hackberry, linden, London plane tree, poplar, sweet gum
Fever Reduction: alder, ash, aspen, cherry, cork tree, cottonwood, dogwood, elm, fringe tree, ironwood, lilac, tulip tree, willow
Headaches/Pain: apple, aspen, cork tree, cottonwood, elder, fringe tree, shagbark hickory, poplar, viburnum, willow
Heart Problems: apple, cherry, Cornelian cherry dogwood, hawthorn, plum
Inflammations: alder, aspen, linden, poplar, willow, witch hazel
Laxatives: ash, buckthorn, catalpa, crabapple, fringe tree, hickory, Kentucky coffee tree, peach, plum
Minor Cuts/Wounds: alder, beech, catalpa, Canadian hemlock, cork tree, cotton wood, elm, fringe tree, hackberry, hop tree, hornbeam, pagoda tree, poplar, Rowan (European mountain ash), sweet gum, sycamore
Mouth (Gums, Teeth, Throat): alder, apple, birch, persimmon, sassafras
Rheumatism: alder, birch, buckthorn, cork tree, hickory, sweet gum
Urinary/Bladder: ash, cork tree, hornbeam, larch, peach, pear, tulip tree
Other Notable Trees
Acacia
Family: Fabaceae
Number of Species: Over 800
Properties: The acacia tree, which closely resembles the locust tree, is also called the gum Arabic tree, thorn tree, Egyptian thorn, or whistling thorn. It was considered sacred to the Egyptian god Osiris. The ancient Egyptians used the wood for crafting boats as a symbol of the journey of the soul after death. It is said that the ancient tribes of Israel used the wood of the acacia tree to construct the Ark of the Covenant, the tabernacle, and the altar within the ancient temple (see Exodus 25:23). Place a branch or twig of acacia wood over or near the bed to ward off harmful spirits or energies. Burn acacia wood along with sandalwood to arouse psychic abilities.
Almond
Family: Rosaceae
Number of Species: About 40
Properties: Almond nuts, leaves, and wood can be used in money spells, fertility rights, patience development, and connection with the divine. Carry almonds to attract money or other treasures. Sweet almonds may cure or reduce fever, however bitter almonds are toxic to humans if not boiled and can cause serious health problems or even death. Almond wood is excellent for crafting a wand or a staff, and some traditions claim this wood is superior for such tools. In ancient Biblical times, the nearby Pagan cultures considered the almond tree, as well as the pomegranate, to be sacred to the Great Mother Goddess. Its scientific name Amygdalus comes from the Sumerian words amaga, meaning Great Mother. Ironically, the Biblical staff of Aaron, and possibly that of Moses, was made of almond wood and referred to as the staff of God (see Numbers 17:8 and Exodus 19:9). The almond tree may also be seen as a symbol of the light of the divine as one of its ancient names (Aramaic) is luz, meaning light.
Apricot
Family: Rosaceae
Number of Species: over 400 species of prunus
Properties: Also called wild apricot and golden apple, the leaves, flowers, and pit can be carried or used to attract love or draw in healing energies. The fruit is very edible, minus the seeds, which contain cyanide; they are round like a small peach, yellow-orange with a tint of red. Seeds may fight cancer, but they also contain cyanide, therefore one must consult a physician prior to consuming in order to learn the proper dosage. The fruit contains vitamin A, calcium, phosphorous, iron, and traces of sulphur, sodium, manganese, bromine, and cobalt.
Avocado
Family: Lauraceae
Properties: Also called Ahuacotl (Aztec), alligator pear, and persea. Use for love, lust, beauty, fertility, and all types of magick. Wands made from avocado are very powerful, and this wood is all-purpose, magickally speaking. If you grow an avocado plant from the pit and care for it in your home, you will invite the energies of love and peace into your dwelling. Avocado fruits are high in potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, E, and much more.
Bamboo
Family: Poaceae
Number of Species: About 1,450
Properties: The common bamboo, or golden bamboo, is not a tree, but a grass that grows up to 100 feet in height. The wood and leaves can be used for protection, healing emotional wounds, breaking curses, or to bring good fortune. Place bamboo wood over your door to bring good luck and protection from harmful energies. To break a curse, crush the wood into a powder and burn it while knowing that as the wood burns, so does the curse. Carry a piece of bamboo wood with you to repel harmful unwanted energies.
Banana
Family: Musaceae
Number of Species: At least 70
Properties: Use for health, fertility, prosperity, and increasing potency. The leaves, fruit, and flowers can be carried to attract monetary gain and prosperity; however, sometimes financial gains come in many forms or disguises. Banana wood can be used to make a wand or staff. Bananas actually grow on very large, tree-like plants but they are not technically trees.
Banyan
Family: Moraceae
Number of Species: About 850
Properties: The banyan tree is the national tree of India and is also called Indian fig, arched fig, and the Vada tree. In many ancient cultures, the banyan tree has been seen as a representation of the World Tree, the Tree of Knowledge, and the Tree of Life. The wood is an excellent specimen for making a staff. Sitting beneath or touching a banyan tree with reverence will bring good luck.
Baobab
Family: Malvaceae
Number of Species: 8
Properties: Connecting to the spirit world, associated with the moon and the element of water, healing, and intuition, sometimes used for burial rites, as this tree is considered a gate to the spirit world. In South Africa there is a baobab tree over 2,000 years old and is known by the locals as the “Tree of Life.” This particular tree is so large that it takes 30 or more people holding hands to surround it. The leaves of the baobab tree are rich in vitamin C and calcium. The bark and seeds have been used to treat colds and fever.
Family: Moraceae
Number of Species: About 850 species
Properties: Protection, wisdom, fertility, meditation, and enlightenment. The bodhi tree, also called pipal tree, bo tree, and sacred fig, is sacred to Vishnu and Buddha and it is said that both were born beneath this tree. Walk counter-clockwise at least three times to break a curse or to remove harmful energies. Burn the dried leaves during meditation to receive wisdom and enlightenment. This tree is very sacred to Hindus and Buddhists.
Cashew
Family: Anacardiaceae
Properties: Carry cashews to attract prosperity and money or use as a correspondence in this type of magick.
Cinnamon Tree
Family: Lauraceae
Properties: Spirituality, love, passion, desire, success, healing, blessing, protection, cleansing, purification, money, and increasing psychic abilities. The inner bark of the cinnamon tree is used to obtain the cinnamon spice. There are several related species that can be used to obtain cinnamon, but only one true cinnamon tree. Cinnamon spice has been mentioned several times in the Bible as an ingredient for making anointing oil. Burn or carry cinnamon leaves, incense, or spice to invite positive spiritual vibrations, to promote healing, to attract money, and to stimulate psychic abilities. Place cinnamon in an area to protect from harmful energies.
Devil’s Walking Stick
Other Names: Hercules club, angelica tree, prickly ash (though not an ash), prickly elder, toothache tree, pigeon tree, shot bush
Number of Species: Over 800
Family: Araliaceae
Magickal Properties and Lore: Protection, endurance, strength, unconditional love, can represent both the God and the Goddess, but beware, this tree is very sacred to the divine and also the nature spirits; in general, it should not be used. If you come across this tree, give it love and blessings and win the favor of the tree spirits. Be careful of the thorns.
Medicinal Properties: Roots and fruit have been used to treat toothaches, boils, snakebites, and eye and skin problems, but this requires very special procedures as the berries and bark are toxic to humans and even touching this tree can irritate the skin. Flowers provide nectar and pollen for honeybees, and the berries are a source of food for birds and other wildlife but are not safe for humans.
Dragon’s Blood Tree
Family: Asparagaceae
Number of Species: At least 40
Properties: Protection, exorcisms, potency, and love. Burn the resin or an incense to attract love or to drive away harmful energies. To induce quiet and peace in a household, mix powdered dragon’s blood with sugar and salt and then seal up the mixture in a bottle or jar and keep it hidden.
Ebony
Family: Ebenaceae
Number of Species: 500–700
Properties: Protection, purification, and magickal power. Ebony wood can be used to make an incredibly powerful wand. It has been said that one should not stand beneath an ebony tree during a storm. The name ebony is derived from the Egyptian name for the tree hbny and/or the Greek name ebenos. The name of the genus, Diospyros, comes from the Greek words dios (god/Zeus) and pyros (wheat/fruit/food) and is generally accepted to mean the “fruit of god” or “divine fruit.”
Eucalyptus
Family: Myrtaceae
Number of Species: 400 to 700 species of evergreen trees and shrubs
Properties: Also known as gum tree. Used for natural and magickal healing, protection, balance, and vitality. Hang a branch or twig over your bed to help promote the healing of fevers, colds, and other illnesses. Leaves can be carried for protection. The wood of the eucalyptus is used to make the magickal musical instrument called the didgeridoo that is considered sacred to many shamans.
Fig
Family: Moraceae
Number of Species: Over 800
Properties: Use for fertility, conception, impotency, divination, protection, and love. Folk legend has it that by writing a question on a fig leaf, one can derive a yes or no answer. If the leaf dries slowly, the answer to the question is yes and a good sign; but if the leaf dries rapidly, the answer is no. Fig branches, twigs, and leaves will bring protection to the home as well as good luck. Place a fig branch or twig near your door if you travel in order to encourage a safe return. Share a fig with a loved one to strengthen your relationship and to promote love. The fig tree is mentioned numerous times in the Bible and is said to have clothed Adam and Eve after partaking, the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge (see Genesis 3:7).
Grape
Family: Vitaceae
Number of Species: About 60
Properties: Although not a tree, this wood is too wonderful not to include. It is associated with joy, delight, fertility, love, health and healing, metal powers, and money. Grapes are sacred to the Goddess as well as Dionysus and Bacchus. Eat grapes to enhance fertility, share red grapes with those you love, or place grapes upon the altar for magickal workings to give an extra boost of power. Carry dried twigs for the same purposes.
Grapefruit
Family: Rutaceae
Properties: Health, healing, longevity, optimism, energy, weight loss, and inspiration. The grapefruit has also been called the “forbidden fruit” or chakotra.
Honeysuckle
Family: Caprifoliacea
Number of Species: 180
Properties: Honeysuckle is not a tree, rather a vine, but due to its easy access and powerful properties, it is worthy of mention. The honeysuckle has many magickal properties. Use for protection, good fortune, money, psychic abilities, balance of the Divine Masculine and Feminine, and safety. Carry honeysuckle flowers to attract money and love. Gently crush the flowers, with permission of course, and rub the resulting extract on the forehead between the eyes to awaken or increase psychic abilities. Plant a honeysuckle near the home to draw good luck, positive energies, and nature spirits and to ward off harmful energies. Place a twig or small branch over the door to ward harmful energies and possibly to deter fevers and colds.
Joshua Tree
Family: Agavaceae
Properties: Survival, perseverance, connecting with the divine, longevity, and beauty. The Joshua tree grows in the Mojave Desert and is also called the yucca palm tree and izote de desierto. Mormon settlers named the tree after the Biblical story of Joshua, who reached his hands up to the heavens in a gesture of prayer due to the apparent shape of the tree.
Kauri
Family: Aruacariaceae
Number of Species: About 20 species of tall growing coniferous evergreen trees
Properties: Relationships, connecting with the divine, symbolic of “as above so below,” protection, shielding, love, and emotional healing; can be used for general magick.
Laurel
Family: Lauraceae
Number of Species: 2–3 species of laurel tree
Properties: Healing, easing both physical and emotional pain, divination, and comfort. Also called sweet bay, and bay leaves are often used for cooking such as in soups. The leaves and other parts of this tree were used in ancient Greek and Roman ceremonies and considered sacred to Gaia, Daphne, and Apollo. Burn bay leaves while employing any form of divination to encourage a trance-like state to induce prophetic and psychic abilities.
Family: Rutaceae
Properties: All-purpose magick. Use for discovering the truth, discovering spirit guides, starting over, longevity, healing, enlightenment, exorcism, discovering the truth of a matter, protection, purification, cleansing, love, joy, and divination. Mix lemon juice with water and contain the mixture in a spray bottle to purify an area from harmful energies. Add lemon juice to a ritual bath to purify the body. The dried leaves and fruit peels can be carried in a sachet to promote inspiration and clarity and to attract love. Share some freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice with water as a drink or a tasty treat with a loved one to strengthen the bonds of family, friendship, and unconditional love.
Lilac
Family: Oleaceae
Number of Species: 20–25 species and over 1,000 varieties of this small tree or shrub
Properties: Love, rebirth, protection, exorcisms, fertility, healing, psychic abilities, and past-life recollection. The essence of the flowers can cleanse and balance all the chakras, particularly the heart, help focus the mind, and aid in opening spirit communication. The message of the lilac is to learn to maintain a balance of the mind, emotion, the mundane, and the spiritual. Consider adding the flowers to bath water. Plant a lilac near the home or carry the wood or leaves to ward off evil and negativity. The wood makes a very powerful wand. This strong wood has been used for making musical instruments and engravings. Lilacs are often planted for ornamental purposes and their wonderfully fragrant flowers. These flowers are sometimes used in salads or for seasoning food. Used to reduce fevers and to treat malaria.
Lime (see Lemon)
Magnolia
Family: Magnoliaceae
Number of Species: about 200–210
Magickal Properties and Lore: Love, healing, fertility, renewal, faithfulness and fidelity, discovering what has been lost, and sexuality. Keep leaves, flowers, or bark near your bed to help maintain a faithful relationship (on your part). The flower essence opens psychic abilities and deepens intuition. Use this essence to open your abilities to retrieve lost items, memories, and ideas. There are both deciduous and evergreen varieties of magnolia trees. The seeds provide food for birds and mammals, and deer love to eat the leaves and twigs. Magnolias are often used as ornamental trees for their beautiful flowers, leaves, and shade. The wood is very strong and quite valuable. Magnolia flowers can be used to help treat respiratory infections, congestion, and sinus headaches.
Mahogany
Family: Meliaceae
Number of Species: 3
Properties: Use for protection, healing, and inspiration. Mahogany wood is very valuable for making furniture, boats, musical instruments, and can be used to craft a wonderful magickal wand.
Mango
Family: Anacardiaceae
Number of Species: about 69
Properties: Love, longevity, health, and beauty. In Hinduism, mango blooms are considered sacred to the goddess Saraswati, and the fruits are sacred to the god Ganesh and seen as a symbol of enlightenment and purification. Mangoes are one of the most well-known tropical fruits around the world and have been cultivated in India for at least 4,000 years. They were brought to Brazil and Mexico and thrive in Central America.
Monkey Puzzle
Family: Araucariaceae
Number of Species: 15
Properties: Caring for others, devotion, love, longevity, healing, otherworld communication, resolution of conflicts, and banishing. This tree is close to extinction and has been seen as a symbolic representation of the bridge between the physical and spirit worlds. The monkey puzzle tree, also called the Chile pine, native to South America, is a conifer covered with so many spiny scales that it is impossible to climb, even for a monkey. This tree is actually home to many parrots that feed on the nuts. It grows in a pyramidal shape.
Myrrh
Family: Bureraceae
Properties: Intuition, dreams, meditation, empathy, emotion, love, healing, protection, exorcism, healing, purification, cleansing, and general spiritual concerns. Myrrh is an all-purpose magickal tree. Burn myrrh incense to purify and cleanse a place or the body of unwanted energies and to bring peace and comfort. Myrrh has been valued as sacred throughout much of antiquity. Myrrh is sacred to Yahweh, Adonis, Aphrodite, Isis, Ishtar, Astarte, and the Great Mother Goddess in general. Myrrh is one of the ingredients mentioned in the Bible to create anointing oil (Exodus 30:22).
Myrtle
Family: Myrtaceae
Number of Species: At least 3,000 species of trees and shrubs
Properties: Love, youth, weddings and handfastings, fertility, healing, money, peace, and joy. Carry the dried leaves or flowers in a sachet to attract love or money. Place the leaves, flowers, or wood on the altar as an additional magickal correspondence. Carry myrtle wood or place the wood near the bed to extend youth and beauty. Plant a myrtle tree or plant near the home to invite peace and love. A myrtle branch makes for a very great wand. The myrtle tree has long been considered sacred in many ancient cultures. In the ancient Sumerian text called the Epic of Gilgamesh, myrtle was named as one of the sacred trees that grow in the grove of the gods. Myrtle is considered sacred to Artemis, Aphrodite, Venus, and Zeus.
Norfolk Island Pine
Family: Araucariaceae
Number of Species: 40
Properties: Protection, exorcisms, longevity. Keep and care for a Norfolk pine to ward off harmful energies and spirits. The Norfolk pine is commonly sold as a houseplant during the Yule/Christmas season, but is actually a tree that can grow up to 200 feet in height. The tree is native to the Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, east of Australia. This is a very ancient tree that once thrived in the days of the dinosaurs. It is a tropical evergreen and cannot survive cold temperatures. It needs a lot of sunlight and constant moisture. If you want to keep and grow one, make sure the soil stays moist, but don’t over water it, and make sure it has ample sunlight. If you want it to grow taller, it must be replanted into a larger pot each year or the pot will stunt its growth.
Nutmeg
Family: Myristicaceae
Properties: Money, luck, relationships, health and healing. Carry a nutmeg to attract good luck and to ward off colds and sickness. Use in magickal workings that deal with money and finance; for instance, grind a nutmeg and blend with base oil such as canola oil or olive oil, and rub the mixture on a green candle to charge it and give an extra boost to the work.
Olive
Family: Oleaceae
Properties: Healing, peace, fertility, protection from evil, to bring luck. Olive is a very sacred tree within many religions.
Orange
Family: Rutaceae
Number of Species: At least 15
Properties: Love, divination, luck, money, healing, beauty, youth, and vitality. Add dried orange peels to a bath regularly to appear more attractive and to preserve youth and beauty. It has been said that if you eat an orange while concentrating on a yes or no question, you can then count the seeds to determine the answer. If there are an odd number of seeds, the answer is yes, and an even number of seeds means no. The problem with this type of simple divination is that when people get an answer they don’t want to hear, it is common to dismiss it as nothing but superstition and untrue. Don’t ask a question if you are not willing to accept an answer that you don’t like. Share an orange with a loved one or friend to strengthen the bond or simply to promote health, as oranges are rich in vitamin C. A Christian legend from Spain tells a story of when Mary, Joseph, and young Jesus were traveling and they encountered an orange tree that was guarded by an eagle. Mary asked the tree to give them a fruit and the eagle fell asleep. Mary was then granted three oranges, one to represent the father, one to represent the mother, and one to represent the son.
Pagoda Tree
Family: Leguminoseae or Fabaceae
Number of Species: Almost 20,000 species in the family Fabaceae and 670 genera
Magickal Properties and Lore: Also called Japanese pagoda, Chinese scholar tree, and scholar tree, a Chinese myth states that using this wood attracts evil spirits, demons, and death. Best that you do not take the wood from this tree carelessly. Leaves, flowers, and fruit have antibacterial, diuretic, and antispasmodic properties.
Palm
Family: Arecaceae or Palmaceae
Number of Species: Over 2,500
Properties: Also called tree of peace, palm is associated with protection, peace, victory, strength, learning, and fertility, and it calms the soul. Leaves prevent negative energies and evil spirits from entering the area where the leaves or wood are placed. Palm wood makes a very powerful wand or staff and is sacred to both Christians and ancient pagan cultures such as the Romans. It has been said to represent the “Tree of Life.” Palms are valuable for oils, coconuts, dates, syrup, and wood. Palm sap is sometimes used to make wine. The coconut palm produces very edible and delicious fruit.
Pepper Tree
Family: Anacardiaceae
Properties: Purification, protection, and healing. Also called California pepper tree, false pepper, American pepper, Peruvian mastic, Peruvian peppertree, pirul, escobilla, molle de Peru, and peppercorn tree. This tree has been used for centuries by Latin-American natural healers (curanderos) in healing rituals. Gently brush the branches over the body of the person in need of healing to absorb the ailment into the wood and then burn to release the ailment. Burn the dried leaves to purify and cleanse an area of unwanted or harmful energies. This wood can be made for a great healing wand.
Pipal (see Bodhi)
Pomegranate
Family: Lythraceae
Number of Species: 2
Properties: Luck, wishes, wealth, fertility, divination, protection, healing of blood-related issues, love, new beginnings, otherworld journeys, the afterlife, and connecting with our ancient past. The pomegranate has also been called Carthage apple, grenadier, malicorio, pound garnet, and the “fruit of life.” Pomegranate is sacred to Persephone, Ceres, Dionysus, Aphrodite, Venus, Hera, and Astarte. Eat the seeds to promote fertility and to promote healthy blood. Make sure to make a wish before eating. Carry a branch, twig, or a piece of wood to attract money. Hang a branch or twig of pomegranate over or near a door to ward off harmful energies and spirits. The pomegranate was used by the ancient Israelites in the creation of the robes for the priests (Exodus 28:33). This tree has also been written about in many other ancient sacred texts.
Quince
Family: Rosaceae
Properties: Love, joy, protection, marriage, happiness, and fertility. The ancient Greeks called the fruits of this tree “golden apples.” This tree is sacred to Venus, Aphrodite, Freya, Zeus, Hera, and Marian. Carry the seeds, leaves, or wood to protect against energetic, spiritual, and bodily harm. Use the leaves, flowers, wood, or fruit in love workings or handfastings. This tree has a rich ancient mythical history.
Sandalwood
Family: Santalaceae
Properties: Sandalwood is also called sandal and santal; it is an all-purpose magickal tree.
Terebinth
Family: Anacardiaceae
Number of Species: 10
Properties: Healing, burial rites, and the sacred feminine mysteries. The terebinth is also called turpentine tree and is the tree that produces the pistachio nut. The terebinth is considered sacred to Jehovah and Allah. The ancient Hebraic name for this tree, Elah (which conveys a feminine meaning), has been confused or mistranslated as Elon (oak) to give it a masculine association. In Genesis 18:1 and Genesis 35:4, the oak tree is mentioned but was likely a mistranslation for terebinth. A possible reason for the mistranslation was to remove the Sacred Feminine from divinity.
Totara
Family: Podocarpaceae
Number of Species: 75
Properties: Healing, divination aid, longevity, ancestors, wisdom, and respect for elderhood. This tree is very ancient and said to have remained unchanged for at least 70 million years. It is considered sacred to the Maori, Tane Mahuta, the sun god, the Green Man, and the lord of the forest.
Ylang-Ylang
Family: Annonaceae
Number of Species: About 2,500
Properties: Fertility, truth, perseverance, hope, and intuition. Ylang-Ylang is sacred to the Goddess, and as a sign of this, its scent is strongest at night. Many perfumes are made from this tree. Meditate near this tree or use the scent of the oil or incense during meditation in your home to assist with cleansing and repairing the aura and chakras, to discover the truth or clarify a situation, or to increase or develop empathy, intuition, psychic, and magickal abilities.