Reed
Imbalances:
- Pessimism, despair, unable to adapt to change, disheartened
Imbalancing Influences from the Tree:
- optimism, harmony, unfolding of one's own greatness, communication and help cleaning up self.
Message:
- To restore Harmony in your Life, a cleansing or clearing of your physical, mental or emotional level is needed.
Qualities & Traits of the Reed Essence: ‘ The Inquisitor’
- the secret keepers.
- dig deep inside to the real meaning of things and discover the truth hidden beneath layers of distraction.
- When there is a need to get to the heart of the matter, most certainly the Reed sign will find the core.
- love a good story, and can be easily drawn in by gossip, scandals, legend and lore.
- These tendencies also make an excellent historian, journalist, detective or archaeologist.
- love people because they represent a diversity of meanings for you to interpret.
- adept at coaxing people to talking to you, and sometimes can be a bit manipulative.
- However, strong sense of truth and honour so most of the scheming is harmless.
- Reed people join well with other Reeds, Ash or Oak signs.
Earth Months – Tree – Moon Cycle connection:
- 12th moon of the year in Oct-Nov
- a birth tree for those born between October 28 - November 24
Symbolic Celtic Meaning of the Reed:
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Purpose
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Protection
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Purification
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Clarification
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Communication
Insight from Ian Claxton, founder of the Ogham Tree Essences www.oghamtrees.com, the Elm Tree Clinic, Oranmore:
'All things of the natural world were honored by the Celts, and all things represented the connection with life. In this way, the reed was highly revered for its usefulness in the day-to-day practices of the Celts.
The reed was used for many purposes by the Celts. Specifically, they would weave reeds together to make thatched roofs on their homes - some of which (when properly constructed) last up to a decade or more. This is where the reed obtains its symbolism of protection. It is also a natural insulator, and the Celts honored it highly during cold, wet months.
Reed gives off a faint sweet smell when macerated, and so the Celts were known to lay out pressed reeds as flooring in their homes to deodorize. This was also a practice for cleansing and purifying homes.
Reeds also made good candles, and were viewed as beacons of light during the dark nights. This is another facet of the reed's purposefulness in the life of the Celts.
The reed gets its symbolism of communication from several sources. In the hands of a good craftsman (and there were many among the ancient Celts), a reed would make a fine whistle, flute or recorder. These were highly prized amongst the people, particularly bards. Through these flutes and music the spiritually-minded Celts would communicate fantastic worlds of vision, heroism, and beauty.
Secondly, if you are still enough, you can hear them sing a song when the wind blows through a field of reeds. If you've ever had the pleasure of hearing it, you know it is an eerie experience. The Celts viewed this as an otherworld voice, and considered it a message of powerful importance.
Take the time to incorporate these symbolic meanings of the reed in your life. Gather some up and bring them into the house to open up the energy and clear the air. Or, try fashioning a flute from a reed and take it to your next drum circle to play! Your Celtic ancestors will get such a kick out of that!'
