Oak

Origin: Northern hemisphere

Family: Fagaceae
Subfamily: Quercoideae
Scientific Name: Quercus spp.

Folk Names: Common oak, dair, dar, duir, Jove’s nuts, juglans, tanner’s bark

Magical

Element: Fire
Day: Thursday
Planet: Jupiter
Zodiac: Sagittarius
Associated Celebrations: Midsummer
Deities: Cybele, Dagda, Diana, Erato, Heme, Hercules, Janus, Jupiter, Pan, Thor, Zeus

Parts used: Acorn, wood/bark, leaves

Magical Properties: Wisdom, fertility, strength, protection, health, prosperity, success, luck, prophecy, endurance, triumph

Lore

• The seven noble sacred trees of the grove particularized in a seventh-century poem appended to the ancient Irish Law Crith Gablach were: Birch, Alder, Willow, Oak, Holly, Hazel, Apple.*
• Eighth-century Irish Law Bretha Comaithchesa lists Oak as one of the eight ‘chieftain’ trees, along with Alder, Hazel, Vine, Ivy, Sloe, Furze, and Heath.

Magical Uses

• Carry any piece of oak to attract good luck.
• Plant an acorn on the dark moon to draw in money.
• Carry a piece of oak wood for protection against all harm.
• If you catch a falling oak leaf, you won’t have any colds all winter.
• Place acorns in the windows of your home to guard against lightning.
• Carry an acorn to protect against illness, pain, for youth, longevity, and immortality.
• To make a potent home protective charm, tie together two twigs of oak with red thread to form an equal-armed cross and hang it in the house.

References:

Whewell, Tim (2019, 18 September); Is Nutella made with nuts picked by children?; BBC News