Magic Properties of Wood

Alder

Gender Association:

Masculine

Date Association:

March 18 - April 14

Planetary Ruler:

Mars

Animal Association:

Fox

Ruling Deity:

Bran

Magical Properties:

Courage, evolving spirituality, self-reliance, adventurism, charm and leadership skills

Ash

Gender Association:

Feminine, Effeminate Male

Date Association:

February 18 - March 17

Planetary Ruler:

Neptune, Mercury

Animal Association:

Adder

Elemental Association:

Ruling Deity:

Gwydion

Magical Properties:

Intelligence, wit, communication, knowledge, curiosity

Aids in communication and learning, removing blockages that prevent the flow of words and knowledge.  It is the wood of the poet and the scholar.

Promotes spiritual love and health.  Protects against unwanted change.

Birch

Gender Association:

Masculine

Date Association:

December 24 - January 20

Planetary Ruler:

Sun

Animal Association:

The White Stag

Elemental Association:

Ruling Deity:

Lugh

Magical Properties:

Rebirth, patience, organization, leadership skills, diligence, loyalty, the calming of emotions

A very fire-oriented wood, the energy is very cleansing and purifying, burning away that which is not desired.  It allows one to create, to exert their willpower and achieve positive results.  For this reason, it is an excellent tool for magic involving wealth, luck, and goals.

An unrestrained, fiery energy, this wood lacks grounding.  Those who get carried away easily and are not grounded themselves may wish to avoid this wood.  But it can help others release their baggage, be more impulsive, and see beyond that which is right in front of them.

Elder

Gender Association:

Masculine

Date Association:

November 25 - December 23

Planetary Ruler:

Saturn

Animal Association:

Raven

Ruling Deity:

Cailleach Beara

Magical Properties:

Faerie Magic, protection from evil, imagination, change

Hawthorn

Gender Association:

Masculine

Date Association:

May 13 - June 9

Planetary Ruler:

Vulcan

Animal Association:

Owl

Ruling Deity:

Olwen

Magical Properties:

Wisdom, psychic protection, patience, creativity, confidence, charm

Hazel

Gender Association:

Feminine

Date Association:

August 5 - September 1

Planetary Ruler:

Mercury, Venus, Jupiter

Animal Association:

Salmon

Elemental Association:

Ruling Deity:

Manannan Mac Lir

Magical Properties:

Artistic ability, magical knowledge, optimism

The energy of hazel wood promoted love and creativity.  It allows a person to shed their baggage, opening themselves up to their full potential.  This wood is the bringer of change.  Sometimes this change can lead to conflict, but sometimes conflict is needed to change a situation.  This wood also promotes creative expression, eloquence, and art of all types.

This was the most common wood used to create wands in the ancient Celtic traditions.

Holly

Gender Association:

Feminine

Date Association:

July 8 - August 4

Planetary Ruler:

Earth

Animal Association:

Unicorn

Ruling Deity:

Govannon

Magical Properties:

Purity, strength, logic, power transfer, protection. 

American Holly (the variety of holly that we use) is the whitest wood in the world.  But all holly woods are known for their creamy to white coloring.  Perhaps this is on of the reasons this wood has always represented purity and goodness.  The energy of holly is very pure, so much so that it is linked to the mythological unicorn, the purest of all animals.  The wood will not tolerate dark forces or energies, and will best be used to channel positive energy for the betterment of the world.  Healing work, blessings, exorcisms, psychic shielding, and astral guidance are all activities that would be excellent for this type of wood.

Ivy

Gender Association:

Masculine

Date Association:

September 30 - October 27

Planetary Ruler:

Persephone

Animal Association:

Butterfly

Ruling Deity:

Guinevere

Magical Properties:

Determination, strength, optimism, spiritual growth

Oak

Gender Association:

Masculine

Date Association:

June 10 - July 7

Planetary Ruler:

Jupiter

Animal Association:

Wren

Elemental Association:

Ruling Deity:

Dagda

Magical Properties:

Truth, steadfast knowledge, protection

To the ancient Celtic people, oak was the protector, provider, benevolent king of the trees.  Oak provided the people shelter in the form of building material, protection by providing material for weapons, and nourishment through its edible acorns.

Oak is an excellent healing wood.  Connected strongly to the Earth, it can easily channel natural life energies, and help sense where healing might be needed.  This wood helps center the mind, allowing it to focus on the task at hand and ignore distractions.  It can also help bring about desirable change in love matters.  Oak help promote both observation and intuition.

Oak provides a very balanced energy, skewed neither toward the light or the darkness.

Reed

Gender Association:

Feminine

Date Association:

October 28 - November 24

Planetary Ruler:

Pluto

Animal Association:

Hound

Ruling Deity:

Pwyll

Magical Properties:

Wisdom, scholarship, fearlessness, destiny

Rowan

Gender Association:

Masculine

Date Association:

January 21 - February 17

Planetary Ruler:

Uranus

Animal Association:

Dragon

Ruling Deity:

Brigid

Magical Properties:

Originality, free-thinking, psychic ability, love and understanding

Vine

Gender Association:

Masculine and feminine

Date Association:

September 2 - September 29

Planetary Ruler:

Venus

Animal Association:

Swan

Ruling Deity:

Tuatha De Danaan

Magical Properties:

Spiritual initiation, sacred knowledge, authority

Willow

Gender Association:

Feminine

Date Association:

April 15 - May 12

Planetary Ruler:

Moon, Mars

Animal Association:

Hare

Ruling Deity:

Ceridwen

Elemental Association:

Magical Properties:

Death and rebirth, cyclical energy, change, emotion, will

Willow is an amazing wood for magickal tools because it is already perfectly aligned to magick (the movement of energy guided by will ).  This wood reacts to the will of the one who is utilizing it, enhancing it accordingly.  The stronger the will, the more effective the wood.

Willow is extremely useful in healing.  It is also good for love spells and rituals involving emotion.  It also increases psychism, and is a great tool for divination as well (especially concerning luck matters).

African Blackwood

Wood Origin:

Africa, Parts of Asia

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Saturn

Elemental Association:

Water, Air, Spirit

Other magical properties:

This wood is strongly aligned with the energy of Saturn.  Saturn is known to block other energies, represents the end of cycles, and the energy of the underworld.  This would be an excellent wood for blocking the energy of other magick, and communication with the dead. And magick related to death would be highly effective with this wood.  It acts as a conduit between the physical and spiritual realms.

African Blackwood is also useful for exacting creative and intellectual changes in life, and removing communication barriers.

Apricot

Wood Origin:

Many, a fruit wood

Gender Association:

Feminine

Planetary Association:

Moon, and Mars to a minor degree

Elemental Association:

Spirit

Other magical properties:

This wood is also good for strengthening psychic love and non-romantic relationships, especially those within blood relatives.  The wood carries with it a very strong, positive spiritual energy.

Black Palm

Wood Origin:

Southeast Asia

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Jupiter, Sun

Elemental Association:

Water

Other magical properties:

This wood is strongly aligned to water energy.  It rejects all fire-related energies, and it would also not be useful for healing.  It brings about positive changes, creates opportunities, and opens spiritual pathways.  Good words to associate with this wood are:  feeling, changing, growing, love, and art.  This wood is excellent for gaining power and knowledge from nature (which is what magic is).

Black Walnut

Wood Origin:

North America and Europe

Gender Association:

Feminine and Masculine

Planetary Association:

Moon, Saturn

Elemental Association:

Earth, Spirit

Other magical properties:

The best word to describe the energy of this wood is "introspective."  It is not for those with flights of fancy, but rather for those who seek to explore their own personal energy and the "here and now."  It is good for blocking out emotional energy so that one may focus upon the task at hand.

This wood couples reason with intuition to help a person grow spiritually and to heal themselves from within.  A quiet, unassuming wood, black walnut can help us to get in touch with ourselves and the Earth.

Bloodwood

Wood Origin:

Bolivia (South America)

Gender Association:

Masculine and Feminine

Planetary Association:

Mars and Venus

Elemental Association:

All 4 physical elements, fire, earth, air, and water

Other magical properties:

Bloodwood is a remarkable wood mainly for its ability to utilize elemental energies.  The wood itself can channel and enhance the affect of all elemental energies, but the degree to which it can do so seems to depend upon the person utilizing the wood.  This can be determined by your astrological sign.

Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.

Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.

Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.

Bloodwood would enhance your ability to utilize water energy if you are a Pisces far more greatly than if you were an Aries, for instance.  Likewise, a Pisces may find bloodwood nearly useless when working with the element of fire, because that element is the opposite of the primary element of the Pisces. 

Bocote

Wood Origin:

Mexico

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Sun, Jupiter, Mars

Elemental Association:

All but air

Other magical properties:

Bocote represents the end of an old cycle and the beginning of a new one.  The extremely peaceful and positive energy of this wood can be utilized in a number of ways.  It is excellent when used as tool to diagnose illness, chakras, or other health-related issues.  It has a very powerful spiritual energy, which may bring with it either peace or inner turmoil.  However, if it does bring turmoil, it is only to bring about the correct way of thinking or balance of energy in the end.

Bocote has strong fire energy, related mostly to passionate love.  It is also an inspiration for the artistic and creative mind, focusing on beauty and the Earth.

Bubinga

Wood Origin:

Equatorial Africa

Gender Association:

Feminine

Planetary Association:

(in order of importance) Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter

Elemental Association:

Earth, Fire

Other magical properties:

This is a wood with not one single negative attribute, which is extremely rare.  It would be useful for any type of magick.  But, the energies within the wood would be especially powerful if utilized for love magick, divination, and emotional healing.  The power of this wood will be strongest at the full moon, weakest at the new moon.

Butternut

Wood Origin:

North America

Gender Association:

Masculine and Feminine

Planetary Association:

Jupiter, Venus

Elemental Association:

Earth, Fire

Other magical properties:

Butternut will help make one's home and self image perfect, matching one's drive and passion.  It will allow a person to shape their life as an artist shapes clay.

Canarywood

Wood Origin:

Africa

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Mars, Jupiter, and Venus

Elemental Association:

Spirit and Air

Other magical properties:

Canarywood is a wonderful wood for healing the body and the soul.  It offers strength, both spiritual and physical.  Vigor, health, rejuvenation of the mind and body.  It is a wood of spiritual inspiration, and would be excellent for spurring creativity and artistic expression.

Being a spiritual wood, canarywood is an excellent tool for exploring the non-physical world.  It would aid in astral projection and scrying.  It also strengthens emotional bonds within the home.

Cedar, Aromatic Red

Wood Origin:

North America, mostly Virginia, USA

Gender Association:

Feminine

Planetary Association:

Venus, Mercury

Elemental Association:

Earth, Spirit

Other magical properties:

Named Aromatic Red Cedar due to its intoxicating scent, this wood is often used for its pest controlling properties.  The scent of the wood acts in much the same manner as moth balls, repelling insects.  This wood can be found used in everything from bird houses to decorative mulch for this reason.  Once finished, however, the scent is no longer detectable and the pest repellant properties likewise vanish.

The energetic properties of this wood are mostly focused upon communication and information.  It is an excellent wood for use in any divination, and will help a person obtain information from afar (either spiritual or physical in nature).  It grants the ability to see what is happening, to know the truth behind any given situation.  For knowledge-gaining endeavors, such as schooling of the start of a new enterprise, Aromatic Red Cedar in an invaluable tool.  It will bring luck in any pursuit that requires the acquisition of new knowledge.

In addition, this wood will aid a person in feeling at home with their spirituality, to love oneself.  Often people struggle with feelings of inadequacy or guilt over their spiritual choices, and this wood can help a person to work those feelings out and know which decisions are right for their life.  It can help us bring about an overall balance to our lives, a harmony between our spiritual beliefs and our outward expressions.

Finally, this wood will help a person with healthy communication in all forms.

Chechen

Wood Origin:

Central America, Mexico

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Mars, Mercury

Elemental Association:

Spirit

Other magical properties:

This wood is all about bringing beauty into life.  It can help create a better outlook, improving both physical and mental health in the process.  It is an amazing tool for those who have a difficult time breaking free from outmoded beliefs or ways of thinking, or who dwell upon negativity too much.

Cherry

Wood Origin:

Many, a fruit wood

Gender Association:

Feminine and Masculine

Planetary Association:

Moon, Mars

Elemental Association:

Earth

Other magical properties:

Aligned with the Moon and Mars, cherry is highly useful for intuitive magic and conquering conflict.  This would be an excellent wood for divination or medium work, as well as healing and love magic.  As a magical tool, it is highly recommended for those who identify well with earth energy.

Cocobolo

Wood Origin:

South America

Gender Association:

Very strongly Masculine

Planetary Association:

Mercury, Jupiter

Elemental Association:

Fire

Other magical properties:

This wood's energy would be a good tool for goal-oriented people.  It will encourage ambition and achievement, and a thirst for knowledge and understanding in whatever the matter is at hand.

Cocobolo boosts intuitive luck, but can lead to rash or hasty decisions.  It's energy is adventurous, and may lead a person into danger or travel far from their level of usual comfort.  This is not always a bad thing.

Desert Ironwood

Wood Origin:

North America

Gender Association:

Feminine

Planetary Association:

Venus, Mercury, Moon

Elemental Association:

Spirit, Water, Some Earth

Other magical properties:

The energy of this wood is simply amazing.  The image that comes to mind is that of an elderly tribal wise woman.  She is never afraid, because she knows that life is a cycle ending in death.  The mysteries and wonders of life are at her fingertips, because she is experienced enough to know a great deal, and wise enough to accept that which cannot be known.

This wood has a very dark, feminine energy.  It brings a feeling of protection, steadfast knowledge that the darkness is no more threatening than the light.  It brings the ability to explore the mysteries of life unafraid and to gain the knowledge there-in.  Only then can one truly know all of the beauty of life.

This wood will enhance artistic expression, bringing a fresh look to life.  It will change one's mode of thinking, and allow one to accept life changes gracefully and with a calm wisdom.

Ebony (Gabon)

Wood Origin:

Africa, the Gabon region

Gender Association:

Masculine and Feminine, equality

Planetary Association:

Venus

Elemental Association:

All 5 (fire, water, earth, air, spirit)

Other magical properties:

Positive luck, balance of energy

Ebony is well-known as the most powerful magical wood.  Scott Cunningham, trusted writer of over 30 books about magic and the occult, writes about ebony, "Ebony wood is protective and so is used in making amulets.  Ebony wands give the magician pure, unadulterated power."

The power of ebony is non-discriminating.  It is useful for any magical practice and with any element.  It is especially useful in spells dealing with the home, love, and Venus.

Ebony (Macassar)

Wood Origin:

Celebes Islands, Maluku and Borneo (Asia)

Gender Association:

Masculine and Feminine, equality

Planetary Association:

Venus, Jupiter

Elemental Association:

All 5 (fire, water, earth, air, spirit), emphasis on Water

Other magical properties:

Power to change, positive luck, balance of energy, breaks down social barriers.

Ebony is well-known as the most powerful magical wood.  Scott Cunningham, trusted writer of over 30 books about magic and the occult, writes about ebony, "Ebony wood is protective and so is used in making amulets.  Ebony wands give the magician pure, unadulterated power."

The power of ebony is non-discriminating.  It is useful for any magical practice and with any element.  Macassar ebony differs slightly from the energy of Gaboon ebony, in that it is more centered around emotions and intuition.  This wood would be especially useful in the seeking of spiritual knowledge and exploring intuition and emotion.  It would not be especially useful for healing.

Historically, this wood was used in the handles of Samurai swords.

Eucalyptus

Wood Origin:

Australia, Various

Gender Association:

Feminine

Planetary Association:

Mars

Elemental Association:

Earth

Other magical properties:

One of the strongest healing woods known, eucalyptus trees have been used for medicines for centuries as well as for ritual items pertaining to healing.  The energy of this wood is good and pure, clean like the earth from which it is born.  This wood is highly recommended for any purpose combating illness or promoting good health.

Eucalyptus is also primarily associated with positive luck, especially if related to knowledge.  For instance, using eucalyptus in a ritual seeking a positive result to pending news (tests, interviews) would prove beneficial.  Worn as a charm, this wood would promote positive luck for the wearer.  It is also an excellent tool in divination.

Katalox

Wood Origin:

Central America

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Saturn, Jupiter

Elemental Association:

Earth, Water

Other magical properties:

For those who have anger issues, Katalox is an excellent tool for overcoming them.  The wood is introspective and grounding, slowing anger and allowing one to think clearly and see situations in a more logical and understanding manner.

This wood is a wonderful tool for change.  Those who have a difficult time coping with change will find that they are able to accept and learn from change better.  Those who have a difficult time bringing about change in their life will find it easier to do so. 

This is also an excellent tool for exploring divination, mysteries, and other forms of "dark" spirituality.

Kingwood

Wood Origin:

Brazil

Gender Association:

Masculine and Feminine

Planetary Association:

Saturn, Moon, Jupiter

Elemental Association:

Spirit, Water

Other magical properties:

The power of this wood blasts away all ambiguity.  It will allow one to discover their true spiritual path, locking in only the most sincere beliefs, allowing the rest to fall away.  It clarifies confusion.

This wood is an excellent healing wood, closely tied with willpower.  It would also be excellent for luck magic or divination.  Also excellent for curses or other offensive magic, this is not a wood for novices or the untrustworthy.

Koa

Wood Origin:

The Hawaiian Islands

Gender Association:

Split between masculine and feminine, different associations for each

Planetary Association:

Masculine:  Jupiter, Saturn, Sun, Mercury

Feminine:  Moon, Venus, Sun, Mercury

Elemental Association:

Masculine:  Water

Feminine:  Fire

Other magical properties:

Koa is one of the most curious of woods we have had the pleasure of working with.  It has both a masculine and a feminine side, almost completely separate.

Masculine properties:  The energy associated with the masculine aspects of this wood are duality and balance, like the tides.  This energy is deeply connected with the ocean, which is alternately giving and destructive.  To truly utilize the masculine properties of this wood, one must be able to recognize and become comfortable with the ebb and flow of its energy.  Deity: Kanaloa, Hawaiian God of the Sea

Feminine properties:  Centered around the element of fire, Koa in its feminine aspect brings creativity, beauty, and wisdom, and strength.  It also brings a fiery energy, capable of destructive power or the power to overcome strife.  Deity: Pele, Hawaiian Fire Goddess

Leopardwood (Lacewood)

Wood Origin:

Australia

Gender Association:

Both masculine and feminine

Planetary Association:

Mars and Venus

Elemental Association:

Water

Other magical properties:

Leopardwood is very useful in divination, especially obtaining news from afar.  It is also associated with positive luck, a gambler's wood.  The energy of this wood is overall very positive, and it would be an excellent wood for use in almost any ritual or spell, but especially those dealing with luck or divination. 

Lignum Vitae

Wood Origin:

South America and parts of Europe

Gender Association:

Masculine and Feminine

Planetary Association:

Sun, Jupiter, Venus

Elemental Association:

Earth, Water

Other magical properties:

The hardest, densest wood in the word, Lignum Vitae means "long life" in Latin.  This tree is also called the "Tree of Life" as well as "Iron Wood."  The wood is so dense and heavy that it will not even float in water. It comes with a long history and legend.  This naturally green wood has been used for time untold in construction due to the fact that it is so hard and dense.  Because it has a large amount of resin within it as well as its density, it is naturally lubricated and was thus used as ball bearings on ships.

The greatest legend about this wood is that Merlin the Wizard carried a staff and/or wand made from Lignum Vitae.  This legend appears in both literature and ancient writings about the legend of Camelot.  If true, it is hardly surprising.  The energy within the wood is perfectly suited to a great man such as Merlin.

This wood has a profoundly positive energy.  The overall energy of the wood can be summed up as "the power and strength of goodness."  Its strong connections with the sun, Jupiter, and luck energy make the wood an ideal tool for any worker of positive magick.  The energy about the wood is very healing, in both physical and spiritual matters.  The energies within the wood would also be excellent for divining information from far away as well as close to home.

This wood represents the end of strife and the beginning of a new, positive, cycle.

Mahogany (Genuine)

Wood Origin:

Honduras

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Earth, Mars, Mercury, Moon

Elemental Association:

Primary:  Earth,  Secondary:  Fire

Other magical properties:

Mahogany is an interesting wood mainly because, while most woods have a variety of differing uses, this one is very specialized.  This wood is very focused on fertility, growing.  It has a very powerful bond with the Earth, and will channel Earth energy better than any other.

Secondary to fertility, this wood has other uses as well.  Enhancing intuition, strengthening bonds with blood relatives (especially the mother/son relationship), and exploring and clarifying goals are all possible uses for Mahogany.  This wood would not be good for divination.

Mahogany (African)

Wood Origin:

Africa

Gender Association:

Feminine

Planetary Association:

Moon

Elemental Association:

Primary:  Spirit,  Secondary:  Fire

Other magical properties:

This is one of the most spiritually focused of all woods, and would be best used in magic dealing with anything non-physical.  Divination and spiritual growth and guidance are its primary properties.  It is also an excellent wood for healing spells, though mostly for emotional and spiritual healing.

Maple

Wood Origin:

Various

Gender Association:

Feminine

Planetary Association:

Moon, Jupiter

Elemental Association:

Spirit, Water

Other magical properties:

Maple is one of the most spiritual woods in existence.  Because of this, the primary use of the wood is that of spiritual healing.  It is also amazing when working with moon magick.

Maple is a traveler's wood.  Those who are always on the move and changing will feel right at home with this type of energy.  It allows a person to focus in on the choices in any situation, eliminating luck and chance.  It enhances intellectual pursuits and learning.

Mopane

Wood Origin:

Zimbabwe

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Mars, Saturn

Elemental Association:

Air

Other magical properties:

This wood helps one let go of past pains and move forward in life.  It brings a general positive energy, making past hurts seem not as important.  It will aid in planning out and attaining future goals.

Myrtlewood

Wood Origin:

North America

Gender Association:

Balanced masculinity and femininity

Planetary Association:

Venus, Jupiter, Mars

Elemental Association:

Primary:  Earth,  Secondary:  Fire

Other magical properties:

This wood is all about balanced energy.  Oftentimes, people will focus only on one or two details of their lives, neglecting the rest.  This wood's energy helps us to step back and see the big picture, not getting overwhelmed by the details.  It helps to balance the energies within us or a situation.  Myrtlewood will aid in decision making, but not luck.

This wood is very versatile.  It is good for healing, creating abundance, and for nurturing passionate love.  However, it has a very honest energy and will not tolerate deception or "creative truth" in any of your workings with it.  

Olivewood, Italian

Wood Origin:

Italy

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Saturn, Sun

Elemental Association:

Earth, Spirit

Other magical properties:

The spiritual journeys brought on by this wood can bring about self-love and a balance of energies, as well as a greater understanding of life and death.

Rebirth.

Osage Orange

Wood Origin:

USA, Great Plains

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Sun, Jupiter

Elemental Association:

Spirit, Earth, Fire

Other magical properties:

Named after the Osage tribe of the Great Plains region, this wood was used by those people to make bows and other items.  An extremely strong and straight-grained wood, it is still the preferred wood to use for a recurve hunting bow or crossbow.  This wood is famous for its ability to repel household pests and resist rot.

This wood is extremely spiritual in nature, especially related to matters that also coincide with earth energy.  It would be ideal for communicating with spirit animals or guides.  It is perfect for spiritual healing, such as astral healing.  This wood aides in the pursuit of goals and passions.

Padauk

Wood Origin:

Africa, Gabon region

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Mars

Elemental Association:

Fire

Other magical properties:

A powerful yet chaotic wood, Padauk is not at all recommended for those new to The Craft.  The energy of this wood is constantly changing, randomly fluctuating.  It would, however, be an amazing wood for healing magic if one could learn to harness the chaotic energy within.  In the hands of the inexperienced, it would likely do more harm than good. 

Pear

Wood Origin:

Various, fruit wood

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Mercury, Sun

Elemental Association:

Earth, Fire

Other magical properties:

Extremely earth-centric energy, very grounded.  This type of wood is best used for healing, and will appeal mostly to those who have a passion to heal.  This wood would not be useful for spiritual exploration, such as astral projection, divination, etc, but is extremely useful in earth-centric matters.  It brings a creative, inspiring energy to the home.  This wood is excellent for use with money and prosperity spells.

Pink Ivory

Wood Origin:

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Sun, Mars

Elemental Association:

Spirit, Water

Other magical properties:

Pink Ivory was the royal wood of the Zulu people of Africa.  Legend states that the Zulu king would carry a staff crafted from this wood, as well as ornamental jewelry, and any others caught possessing the wood of the Pink Ivory tree were to be punished by beheading.  This included foreigners in their own country and abroad.  Many have said that this legend was simply invented by the Africans to drive up the price of the wood as an export item, but that is unclear.  It is a protected tree in South Africa, and only cut down by limited permit, making it one of the most rare and expensive crafting woods in the world.  The tree itself is a fruit-bearing tree, and the fruit is traded in marketplaces across southern Africa.

Energetically, this wood is strongly associated with the sun, spiritual healing, and strength.  "Change" and "growth" are the key words for this wood.  It gives the power to bring about needed change in one's own life, to learn and grow toward healthy goals.  It grants the ability to leave the past behind, and look to the future, a brighter future not marred by the baggage of our past.  This is especially true in home situations, where home life is a burden.  It allows one to see and feel their home anew, leaving behind past hurts, or to seek a new home if that is desired.

Spiritually, this wood is not a good tool for communication with otherworldly spirits, but an excellent tool for healing one's own spirit or the spirits of other living people or animals.  It will aid in magic that seeks to heal emotional hurts, or cure inhibitions that cripple social behavior.  It will aid in opening channels of communication between people (or between people and animals).

This wood is also an excellent tool for love magic, or magic having to do with luck or wealth.

Poplar

Wood Origin:

Europe and North America

Gender Association:

Masculine

Planetary Association:

Sun, Mercury, Saturn, Venus

Elemental Association:

Spirit, Water, Fire

Other magical properties:

This wood has incredibly diverse energy, allowing it to be an all-purpose wood for magickal workings.  While containing almost entirely masculine energy, it is also influenced by the power of Venus, bringing a softer, intuitive, feminine energy as well.

Spiritual energy is strongest within this wood, followed by the power of water.  Water and spirit combined make this wood excellent for any working dealing with change, acts of will, or evocation (this is the wood we use to create our athames).  This is also an excellent healing wood.

The diversity of the energy in this wood makes it useful for evocation as well as banishment rituals.  

Purpleheart