Quercus alba (White Oak)
Medicinal Usages:
Oak is well known for its astringent and antiseptic properties and has been used as a tonic for a long time. Bark can be made into a tea to heal hemorrhoids.
When given with chamomile flowers, it helps eases intermittent fevers.
Very useful when there are chronic diarrhea and dysentery problems, a decoction of 1 oz of Oak bark in 1 quart water, boiled down to a pint and drank in wine glass size portions will aid the bowels.
This decoction is also used externally as a gargle to help sore throats, and as a fomentation (warm or hot liquids that are applied to the body to ease pain; like a poultice). Can also be injected for leukorrhea, and applied to bleeding gums, or hemorrhoids.
Acorns can also be peeled and be used to make potions to treat alcoholism, bad breath and constipation.
Associations:
The word "Duir" comes from the Sanskrit "Dwr" which means "Door". It is the door to the three worlds of the Shaman.
Fire; Sun; wren, black, white carnelian, moonstone, Yulefires, Yule Log, Brighid, The Dagda, Janus, Dianus, Cybele, Rhea, Pan, Erato, Hekate, Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, lightning, thunder, The Wild Hunt, King Arthur's round table.
Magical Uses
As the month of Duir has the summer solstice in it, the Oak is a powerful symbol of Midsummer.
Money, success, strength, fertility, stability, health, healing, potency and good luck.
It is said that the voice of Jupiter can be heard in the rustling of the leaves. At midsummer, the future can be divined by listening to the wind in the leaves.
Different types of Oak will lend slightly different properties to magical workings. Red Oak is fiery, White Oak is for solidity and strength, Brown Oak is earthy and is used for grounding (Brown oak is English white oak that has been stained by a fungal infection.)
Oak is known as the "King of the Grove"; a holy tree; the lord of truth and is one of the three sacred trees "Oak, Ash & Thorn". Worship of the Oak may stem from the early nomadic Europeans using acorns for food.
The acorn is seen as the representation of the supreme form of fertility and creativity of the mind; as such, they are used to increase fertility of both projects and ideas and human reproduction, and also ease pain.
Acorns can be used to attract someone of the opposite sex, used for divinatory powers, and to attract prosperity and wealth.
Acorns should be planted during the Dark moon to attract prosperity.
The Waning moon is the right time to harvest Oak, during the day for Acorns, and at night for the leaves and wood. Offer wine to the Oak's roots as thanks for allowing you to take a part of him.
Because of its ties to immortality symbolism, acorns are sacred to the Samhain season and are often used in fall decorating.
It is a very powerful herb for protection; England is said to be protected by the Oak when using its timbers to build their ships. It is also used as a boundary for its protective qualities. Acorns placed in windows will ward off lightning and beings that would scare us at night; they will also attract luck. Acorns can be born in pockets to ward off storms, to prevent the bearer from getting lost, and protect from evil intent.
They are also carried as charms for immortality, longevity, fertility, to ward off illness and preserve youthfulness. Three acorns can be made into a charm to attract youthfulness, attainment, and beauty in life. This charm should be bound with the maker's hair, and blessed at every Full and Dark moon of a year, and then worn.
A leaf worn on the neck and next to the heart will allow the wearer to not be deceived by the world at large.
A few leaves in bath water will cleanse body and spirit. If you catch a falling leaf, it is said you will not be sick for the winter. If a sick person is in your house, light a fire of Oak wood to draw out the illness.
Because the Oak is a male tree, athames, and certain male-aspect wands and staves should be made of its wood. The wood is also used to make religious idols.
See Also
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Is oakwood good to use as an alter
yes