This is powerful and atmospheric poetry. The sap rises!
The Oak and The Mistletoe
To the ancient druids the oak tree was sacred. An English oak was more sacred, and if it was an English Oak that had accepted mistletoe, that was the most sacred of oaks.
Ancient druids gathered in the grove of oaks on Winter Solstice when a special ritual was performed. The chief druid climbed the oak and lopped the mistletoe which was caught in a white cloak by the other druids. During the ceremony two white bulls were sacrificed and mistletoe was later presented at the altar to the earth goddess to bring ‘fertility to the spirit of the earth’(Paterson, 1996). The white berries signified the sun god’s semen.
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On this Winter Solstice it seems like the perfect time to share my poem ‘The Sacred Tree’. ‘The Sacred Tree’ forms part of my collection about myth, folklore and legend around trees which I plan…
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Thank you, Lance, and also thank you for re-blogging.
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And to you
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