The Celtic Tree Calendar
Enhanced with
The Council of Trees
In the northern hemisphere the tree cycles of the lunar Celtic Tree Calendar run through the year aligned with the seasons. For instance the calendar begins at the end of Autumn, transitioning into winter on November 1st with the Birch tree, birch represents new beginnings, this is also the Witches or Celtic New Year. The northern hemisphere seasons are polled by the southern hemispheres which are at opposite times with a six month difference. While the north experiences the Birch in the autumn winter transition, the south experiences Oak and Holly during their spring summer transition. We meet the Council of Trees when we view our own hemispherical yearly cycle in a similar way to the northern and southern opposition. We can applying this same method through viewing our own hemispherical yearly cycle as a polled sphere. We can journey through the Celtic Tree Calendar during our present day tree cycle while also being aware of tree cycles directly opposite at a 6 monthly point. We journey through Birch November 1st through to the 28th, the southern hemisphere experience Birch during May 1st through to 28th exactly six month difference. When we flip the May dates back to our own hemisphere we see that within these dates that the Oak and Holly cycles are present. These are our Council.
Here I will offer you The Celtic Tree Calendar enhanced by The Council of Trees for the northern hemisphere and the southern respectively.
Northern Hemisphere
Present Tree Cycle Hidden Tree Cycle
Birch: Nov1- Nov 28 Oak & Holly: May1 - May 28
Rowen: Nov 29 - Dec 26 Holly & *Hazel/Apple: May 29 - June 26
Alder: Dec 27 - Jan 23 *Hazel/Apple & Vine: June 27- July 23
Willow: Jan 24 - Feb 20 Vine & Ivy: July 24 - Aug 20
Ash: Feb 21 - March 20 Ivy & *Reed/Blackthorn: Aug 21- Sep 20
Hawthorn: March 21 - April 17 *Reed/Blackthorn & Elder: Sep 21 - Oct 17
Oak: April 18 - May 15 Elder, The Grove (Yew) & Birch: Oct 18 – Nov 15
Holly: May 16 - June 12 Birch & Rowen: Nov 16 - Dec 12
*Hazel/Apple: June 13 - July 10 Rowen & Alder: Dec 13 - Jan 10
Vine: July 11 - Aug 7 Alder & Willow: Jan 11 - Feb 7
Ivy: Aug 8 - Sep 4 Willow & Ash: Feb 8 - March 4
*Reed/Blackthorn: Sep 5 - Oct 2 Ash & Hawthorn: March 5 - April 2
Elder: Oct 3 - Oct 30 Hawthorn & Oak: April 3 - April 29
The Grove (Yew): Oct 31 Oak: April 30
I have included the Yew tree at the point of Samhain where The Grove traditionally is as the Yew tree is deeply associated with the ancestors, stillness and peace, everlasting life and the afterlife and with witches in the druidic tradition of the ovate. Samhain is known as the eve of the witches new year.
Southern Hemisphere
Present Tree Cycle Council of Trees
Birch: May 1 - May 28 Oak & Holly: Nov 1 - Nov 28
Rowen: May 29 - June 26 Holly & *Hazel/Apple: Nov 29 - Dec 26
Alder: June 27 - July 23 *Hazel/Apple & Vine: Dec 27- Jan 23
Willow: July 24 - Aug 20 Vine & Ivy: Jan 24 - Feb 20
Ash: Aug 21 - Sep 20 Ivy & *Reed/Blackthorn: Feb 21- March 20
Hawthorn: Sep 21 - Oct 17 *Reed/Blackthorn & Elder: March 21 - April 17
Oak: Oct 18 - Nov 15 Elder, The Grove (Yew) & Birch: April 18 – May 15
Holly: Nov 16 – Dec 12 Birch & Rowen: May 16 - June 12
*Hazel/Apple: Dec 13 - Jan 10 Rowen & Alder: June 13 - July 10
Vine: Jan 11 - Feb 7 Alder & Willow: July 11 - Aug 7
Ivy: Feb 8 - March 4 Willow & Ash: Aug 8 – Sep 4
*Reed/Blackthorn: March 5 – April 2 Ash & Hawthorn: Sep 5 - Oct 2
Elder: April 3 - April 29 Hawthorn & Oak: Oct 3 - Oct 29
The Grove (Yew): April 30 Oak: Oct 30
Your Birth Tree
We can find our birth tree by looking at the calendar dates. Our birth tree will share with us familiar personality traits that we recognise in our ways of being. When we look to the Council of Trees associated with our birth tree we can unlock deeper soul journey experiences and powerful spiritual themes, influences and inspirations that engage us in our everyday lives. These will be especially more powerful during the weeks surrounding our birthday or approaching age milestones. For instance, I was born of 22nd of April during the season of transformation and my birth tree cycle is the Oak. Oak is traversed by the hidden tree cycles of Elder, The Grove (Yew) and Birch, trees also belonging to a season of transformation. At a glance I can see that Oak reflects my core being my grounded nature and my strong will, I am steadfast (stubborn) and I will endure and survive much in my life. I am also loyal, trustworthy and I love the sensuous experiences of nature. My Council includes Elder and the mysteries of death and the afterlife. Elder tells me that I experience continual death birth and rebirth cycles and that I am often integrating past life traumas and living within the souls journeys of reoccurring themes. I have often thought 'I should have been born at Samhain'. I love the Autumn with her deeper moody skies and the cooler air rustling through the waning embers of the crisp auburn leaves, like little bells announcing the visitations of October 31. I also see that The Grove and the Yew tree are also on my Council of Trees. The Grove tells me that I find my deepest healing within my inner realms, my inner grove and from the woodlands and the trees around me. I was born in the light of the spring but my soul is one that also walks comfortably through the night and the deep dark forest. The Yew tree supports my continual evolution and anchors my spirit through cycles of birth and death. Birch offers me the amplified rebirthing vibrations of Elder, the awakening into the dawn of a new day with a strength and courage to begin again. So you see how beautifully and intricately woven into us our Tree Council are.