White willow

The willow tree is a wonderful plant with a lot of uses. The wood is used in magic for protection, love and healing. It is very pliant, making it easy to work with.

The bark of the willow contains Salicylic acid, which is what asprin is made of. Eating a small piece of the bark or a switch can produce the same effects as taking one pill. Grinding up the bark and adding it to soap (similar to an almond scrub) can help to exfoliate the skin and relieve aches, pains and swelling.

If you soak the switches in water and strip off the bark, they work well for weaving baskets and dream catchers. Willows love water and will often be found growing near standing water. If an area of your property is always wet, you can dry up the ground somewhat by planting a willow.

To the Irish/Celtic, Willows were considered sacred. They are believed to induce visions and open the third eye. Some even believed that they were our guardians/guides.

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