I couldnt aquire any Oak for the "Become more Sturdy" spell, and you said any wood would do but Oak was best. I dont want to patronize you but, would Maple work well? What would you suggest as a Oak substitute?(though you already said any COULD work).
If this helps, here's a list of tree correspondences:
ALDER (Alnus spp.)
This tree is a water lover. The oily water resistant wood has been used extensively for underwater
foundations and pilings in Venice and elsewhere. It is used in dairy vessels and the branches in making
whistles. It is associated with Bran, as He used His body as a bridge to span dangerous waters. It is used
in the construction of bridges. Bran's Head was oracular. Alder indicates protection and oracular powers.
APPLE* (Malus spp.)
A dense, fine-grained, rosy-colored wood with a slightly sweet smell. The Apple is the earliest cultivated
tree. It is associated with choice. At Somerset, an auction was held for single acre plots on two pieces of
common land. Plots were marked and matching marks made on the fruit. The apples were then placed in
a bag and commoners were allocated land by the distribution of the fruit. All the acres of land were
similar, as many times today choices must be made between similar and equally attractive things.
Regardless, the choice must be made. In Norse myth, Idunna was the keeper of the 'apples of
immortality' which kept the Gods young. The 'fruit-bearing tree' referred to by Tacitus in his description of
Norse runic divination may have been the apple. Apple indicates choice, and is useful for love and healing
magic.
ASH* (Fraxinus spp.)
A strong, straight-grained wood; sometimes has 'olive' streaks or stripes in the grain. The European
variety (fraxinus excelcior) was referred to in the Eddas as the species of Yggdrasil - the 'World-Tree".
The first man, named Ask, was created from an ash log. Ash was commonly used to make spears
because of its 'springiness' and straight grain. In North America, strips of black ash were split along the
grain to make splints for baskets and hoops. It is used in weaver's beams. Women would weave cloth
and intermingling threads together in a tight pattern as the microcosm and the macrocosm are united. Ash
can be used in spells requiring focus and strength of purpose, and indicates the linking of the inner and
outer worlds.
BEECH (Fagus spp.)
Beech wood is closely grained, very easy to work giving a smooth even surface. At one time Beech
tablets were used as writing surfaces because of the above mentioned qualities. Beech and book have the
same word origins. Beech is concerned with ancient knowledge as revealed in old objects, places and
writings. Beech indicates guidance from the past to gain insight, which protects and provides a solid base
upon which all relies.
BIRCH* (Betula spp.)
A lovely pale, fine-grained wood. Long associated with fertility and healing magic, birch twigs were used
to bestow fertility on cattle and newlyweds, and children's cradles were made from its wood. Birch is one
of the first trees to grow on bare soil and thus it births the entire forest. Criminals were at one time
birched to drive out evil influences on them, to renew them for the new year. Birch was associated with
Thor, probably in recognition of his role as an agricultural and fertility deity. Birch is an incredibly useful
tree - nearly every part of it is edible, and it's sap was an important source of sugar to Native Americans
and early settlers. The inner bark provides a pain reliever and the leaves are used to treat arthritis. It's
bark was used for everything from paper to canoe hulls, and axe handles were also made from Birch.
Birch is most useful for fertility and healing spells.
BLACKTHORN (Prunus spinosa)
Blackthorn is a winter tree. The sloe, its fruits ripen and sweeten only after the nip of the frost. White
flowers are seen even before the leaves in the spring. It is black barked with vicious thorns and grows in
dense thickets. The wood is used in the cudgel shillelagh and Blasting Stick. Its thorns are used to pierce
waxen images. Blackthorn indicates strong action of fate or outside influences that must be obeyed.
ELDER (Sambucus spp.)
The Latin name sambucus is derived from a Greek word for a wind instrument made from elder. The pith
can easily be removed from the small branches to make a flute. Elder regrows damaged branches with
ease and can root rapidly from any part. A tea for purifying the blood can be made from the flowers and
wine from the fruit, but in general the tree is poisonous. In Norse mythology, the Goddess Freya chose
the black elder as her home. In medieval times it was the abode of witches and it was considered
dangerous to sleep under its branches or to cut it down. Sticks of Elder were used as magical horses by
Witches. Elder indicates the end in the beginning and the beginning in the end. Life in Death and Death in
Life.
ELM* (Ulmus spp.)
A slightly fibrous, tan-colored wood with a slight sheen. Elm is often associated with Mother and Earth
Goddesses, and was said to be the abode of faeries, explaining Kipling's injunction; "Ailim be the lady's
tree; burn it not or cursed ye'll be". Elm wood is valued for it's resistance to splitting, and the inner bark
was used for cordage and chair caning. Elm adds stability and grounding to a spell.
FIR (Abies spp.)
Fir is a very tall slender tree that grows in mountainous regions on the upper slopes. Fir cones respond to
rain by closing and the sun by opening. Fir can see over great distance to the far horizon beyond and
below. Fir indicates high views and long sights with clear vision of what is beyond and yet to come.
HAWTHORN (Crataegus oxyacantha)
A light, hard, apple-like wood. Hawthorn usually doesn't grow much bigger than a shrub, and is popular
in England as a hedge plant. The wood from the Hawthorn provides the hottest fire known. Its leaves and
blossoms are used to create a tea to aid with anxiety, appetite loss and poor circulation. The Greeks and
Romans saw the hawthorn as symbolic of hope and marriage, but in medieval Europe it was associated
with witchcraft and considered to be unlucky. This seeming contradiction is to be expected from a tree
with such beautiful blossoms and such deadly-looking thorns. Hawthorn can be used for protection, love
and marriage spells.
HAZEL (Corylus avallania)
Hazel is another food tree. In Celtic tradition, the Salmon of Knowledge is said to eat the 9 nuts of poetic
wisdom dropped into its sacred pool from the hazel tree growing beside it. Each nut eaten by the salmon
becomes a spot on its skin. The Hazel tree provided shade, protection and baskets. In Europe and North
America, hazel is commonly used for 'water-witching' - the art of finding water with a forked stick.
Magically, hazel wood is used to gain knowledge, wisdom and poetic inspiration.
HOLLY* (Ilex aquifolium)
A beautiful white wood with an almost invisible grain; looks very much like ivory. Holly is associated with
the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and Christian lore. In Arthurian legend, Gawain
(representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a holly club to
represent winter. It is one of the three timbers used in the construction of chariot wheel shafts. It was used
in spear shafts also. The qualities of a spear shaft are balance and directness, as the spear must be hefted
to be thrown the holly indicates directed balance and vigor to fight if the cause is just. Holly may be used
in spells having to do with sleep or rest, and to ease the passage of death.
LARCH (Larix europaea)
A light softwood, very similar to spruce. Larch is one of the few conifers which sheds its needles in the
winter. It is closely related to the North American tamarack (larix laricina). The larch plays an important
role in Sami (Lapp) and Siberian mythology where it takes the place of the ash as the World-tree. Their
shamans use larch wood to rim their ceremonial drums. The smoke from burning larch is said to ward off
evil spirits. Larch may be used for protection and to induce visions.
MAPLE (Acer spp.)
A very hard, pale, fine-grained wood. Although the sugar maple has the highest sugar content in its sap,
all maple species can be tapped to make syrup and sugar, making them a vital resource to early North
American settlers. In north-eastern North America, the annual 'sugaring-off' usually coincides with the
vernal equinox, making it one of the first signs of spring. Maple can bring success and abundance.
OAK (Quercus spp.)
Red Oak* (Quercus rubra)
A strong, straight-grained, slightly porous wood with a slight reddish hue. Its energy is a bit lighter and
more 'firey' than the other oaks.
White Oak* (Quercus alba)
Darker and denser than red oak. It's strength and density have led to its being used in barrel-making and
shipbuilding. Useful for spells requiring strength and solidity.
Brown (English) Oak* (Quercus robur)
A richly-colored dark brown wood. 'Bog oak' is brown oak which has fallen into a peat bog and been
preserved there for hundreds of years until it begins to have the consistency of coal. Brown oak has a
very earthy feel, and is useful for grounding.
Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has encountered the tree, but it was held
in particular esteem by the Norse and Celts because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak
is frequently associated with Gods of thunder and lightening such as Zeus, Thor, and the Lithuanian God
Perkunas. This association may be due to the oak's habit of being hit by lightening during storms. Specific
oak trees have also been associated with the 'Wild Hunt', which is led by Herne in England and by Wodin
in Germany. In general, oak can be used in spells for protection, strength, success and stability; the
different varieties will lend their own special 'flavor' to the magic.
PINE (Pinus spp.)
The Pine tree is an evergreen, its old title was "the sweetest of woods". Its needles are a valuable source
of vitamin C and can loosen a tight chest. The scent of Pine is useful in the alleviation of guilt. The Bach's
flower remedies lists it for dealing with feelings of guilt. Pine indicates issues of guilt within you.
POPLAR (Populus spp.)
The White Poplar flourishes beside rivers, in marshes and in other watery areas. The pith is star shaped.
The upper leaves are green, the underside is silver. The wood was used in the making of shields. Leaves
move with every puff of wind. It is commonly referred to as the talking, whispering and quivering tree.
The Anglo-Saxon rune poem seems to refer to the poplar as being associated with the rune berkano.
Heracles wore a crown of poplar leaves when he retrieved Cerberus from Hades, and the upper surface
of the leaves was thus darkened from Hades' smoky fumes. In Christian lore, the quaking poplar (aspen)
was used to construct Christ's cross, and the leaves of the tree quiver when they remember this fact. The
Poplar's ability to resist and to shield, its association with speech, language and the Winds indicates an
ability to endure and conquer.
ROWAN (Sorbus aucuparia)
The Rowan tree (also called Mountain Ash) is long known for aid and protection against enchantment.
Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes on. It was also used in the art of metal divining. Rowan
spays and crosses were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection. Its lovely red berries
feed the birds in winter. The berries have a tiny pentagram on them. The pentagram is the ancient symbol
of protection. The Rowan tree indicates protection and control of the senses from enchantment and
beguiling.
WILLOW (Salix babylonica)
The willow is another water loving tree. Willow bark contains Salicin which is used in the treatment of
rheumatic fever and various damp diseases. Her catkins, which appear in early spring before her leaves,
attract bees to start the cycle of pollination. In western tradition it is a symbol of mourning and unlucky
love. The Latin name for the weeping willow refers to the psalm in which the Hebrews mourn their
captivity in Babylon by the willows. Willow indicates cycles, rhythms and the ebb and flux.
YEW* (Taxus baccata)
A beautifully smooth, gold-colored wood with a wavy grain. All parts of the tree are poisonous except
the fleshy covering of the berry, and its medicinal uses include a recently discovered treatment for cancer.
Long associated with magic, death, rebirth and the runes, the yew may be the oldest-lived tree in the
world. Ancient yews can be found in churchyards all over Britain, where they often pre-date even the
oldest churches. There are some convincing arguments for it being the original 'World-tree' of
Scandinavian mythology. In Europe, yew wood was used for making bows, while on the northwest coast
of North America, the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) is used by the Haida and other tribes for making
masks and boxes. Yew may be used to enhance magical and psychic abilities, and to induce visions.
