Alder Moon
March 18th - April 14th

The Alder is the fourth Moon of the Celtic year, coinciding with the Spring Equinox, it is a time to focus on balance and fertility. The Alder Moon symbolises the reawakening of the Earth Mother's fertility for another cycle. Your emphasis during the month of the Alder Moon should be on harnessing your hidden potential.

The Alder is a native to Ireland and a member of the Birch family, considered a cousin to both Birch (Beith) and Hazel (Coll), having flowers and seeds born in catkins in the same manner. It does not thrive well on dry ground and is found growing mainly in wet areas along canals, rivers, streams, lakes and marshes often growing alongside willow. It can survive on these sites, which in general lack nitrates, because it has nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root nodules that extract nitrogen from the air. It resists water, the timber fending off decay indefinitely underwater. Its beams were used in the underwater construction of the Celtic lake dwellings found in present-day Switzerland. It is useful for preventing soil erosion with its tightly bound root system. The wood lasts well in wet conditions and is an ideal tree for planting in urban areas because it grows well on poor and disturbed soils. It is a poor fuel Tree, as the likes of Willow, Poplar and Che.

The Alder grows up to 20 meters high, but it often appears as a shrub. The young trees grow very fast and can gain up to half a meter each season. They can be said to be mature when about 60 years of age and have a lifespan of about 150 years. Uncoppiced trees have tall trunks, narrow crowns

The male flowers are produced in early spring in long narrow catkins. The female flowers, produced at the same time, are borne in woody, rounded structures resembling tiny pine cones which, persist on the tree for more than one season. Pollination begins by tiny seeds growing in conifer-like cones and then being distributed by wind into water. The dark green round or oval leaves are much loved by a variety of insects. The bark is fissured like the Oak and is home to many invertebrates and species of fungi. Despite this the Alder recovers well from this damage. Alder is inedible to horses and deer and was once believed to be an ‘unlucky’ tree.

The timber of Alder was highly valued due to its durability when exposed to continual wetting and drying. It was used to make sluice gates, canal fittings, clogs, charcoal and tanning. In the furniture trade it was know as 'Irish mahogany'. The living wood of alder is a pale colour but it turns a deep orange when cut, which gave some old woodcutters the eerie feeling the tree was bleeding like a human being, and led to all sorts of negative superstitions about the tree. The deep colour fades with time to a paler, richer brown which was sought after by furniture makers. Some say the Alder's name may have been derived from the old Anglo-Saxon root alor or aler or the old German elo or elawer, meaning reddish brown. The Saani people (formerly known as Laplanders) create their beautiful rich soft leather ware by chewing the bark and then using their saliva for dyeing the leather. According to an English folk custom Alder furniture would have to be especially protected from woodworm, tradition suggested placing an alder branch in cupboards as a lure for wood worm. The beetle apparently preferred Alder over any other wood as the place to lay her eggs

Sadly, Alders are now under serious treat from a blight, which is killing hundreds of thousands of Alder trees along the rivers in Europe. These Alders were affected by a fungus disease caused by two introduced species of the dreaded Phytophthora family. Research has indicated that they are P. cambivora and another fungus, similar (if not identical) to P.fragariae. Both may have been introduced on imported plants and have hybridized to form a very potent and aggressive disease- causing organism. Since this new hybrid was first discovered to be causing the sudden death of Alder trees in Britain in 1993, about 10% of Alders have been killed in southern England and Wales and is estimated to be the cause of 2% of the Alder population each year! The blight which caused the failure of the potato crop in the Irish famine was also a Phytophthora species. The fungus causes root rot and as the root tissues are destroyed, the trees are unable to absorb water and nutrients and causes abnormally small leaves, wilting, collar knot and other signs of distress. . The bark around the soil-line may appear darkened. Cutting away some bark should reveal red-brown discoloration in the wood underneath it. There is presently no known effective cure and the best that can be done is trying to prevent its spread. Phytophthora species can survive in the soil for years, as long as moist conditions persist. The spores can also survive and travel via waterways, run off water, on wet car tyres, shoes, equipment, etc. Wounds are not required for infection. In gardens the occurrence of this fungus disease is usually treated with a combination of measures, including the improvement of drainage, destruction of all infected material, cleanliness, fungicides and so on. However it is difficult to see how this type of treatment can help in the case of Alder trees dotted about the country, especially where they grow along rivers. Flooded and saturated soil conditions for 6-8 hours are known to be especially conducive to the spread of Phytophthora. The new hybrid has also seriously affected Alder populations in Holland, France and Sweden and is spreading in Germany and Austria. North American Alders have not been affected. Importation of Alder species from infected countries is illegal to the USA and Canada. The nightmare is that the Alder could vanish from our landscape just like the English Elm did, due to 'Dutch Elm Disease', which was caused by an imported beetle. We can only hope and pray that continued research and sensible management will help to curb this disaster.
This paragraph was taken from www.the-tree.org.uk

Scandinavian mythology tells us the first woman was fashioned from an Alder trunk, whereas in Irish mythology the first man was made from an Alder. So it may well be that this tree was simply considered as one of our elders or ‘alders’. Another possible origin of the name may be that the root-word Al is derived from the Scandinavian Alf, meaning Elf, for the Alder is known as the ‘King of the Fairies’. All trees and plants have fairy energy. They turn the minerals in the earth and the magic of sun and water unceasingly into the jewels of life. The reputation of fairies as extremely hard workers is not just idle talk. It was said that fairies used the female Alder catkins to dye their clothes, which makes them invisible to human eyes.

Wood that comes from the psychically potent alder tree has been used since ancient times to summon spirits from the Otherworld and to bring about desired weather patterns, particularly storms or rain. Alder represents defence and protection, yet it has a watery intuitive side as well. It is thought to bring spiritual perception and is associated with the Celtic Bran the Blessed and his raven.

European folklore tells us alder trees must never be cut or their power will return to the ground. Also to cut down an Alder, you invoke the anger of the Tree Spirit, which would use fire to burn your home and your village would be cursed. You will need, instead to find a small alder branch that has fallen to the earth. When you have one, empower it to use in weather rituals. To empower your alder wand: on a sunny afternoon during the alder moon go outside to an isolated spot and twirl the branch in the air until it whistles. Mimic the sound to summon the wind or rain. Winds from the four elemental directions can be catalysts for specific magical needs, and rain can be used for water magic or to nourish the land. Keep your alder wand wrapped in cloth and hidden from view when not in use. Recharge it each year on the full Alder Moon.

The Alder is a tonic and astringent. A decoction of the bark is useful to bathe swellings and inflammations, especially of the throat, and has been known to cure ague. Peasants on the Alps are reported to be frequently cured of rheumatism by being covered with bags full of the heated leaves.

Astrologically Alder people (i.e. those who were born in the month of February) are like the Phoenix rebuilding him or herself after each defeat or set back. They have a tremendous courage in the face of obstacles and the power to win in disputes, although they need to watch for tendency to create wars where there are none, and be careful not to dissipate their strength through engaging in meaningless debate. They can be brutal in their frankness yet they are also kind. They might sometimes be in need of protection spiritually because others will envy what they have and try to use it or take it from them. As the Alder takes many years to mature so Alder people can act very immature and make rash decisions for themselves.

Alder Tree Facts

Scientific Name: Alnus Glutinosa
Leaves:The leaves are broad and heart shaped, appear in May or sometimes April. When young, they are a light green and slightly sticky, then turn darker green with a tough glossy texture on top and remaining paler light green underneath.
Fruit: These are small, hard, ovoid, cone-like structures which grow in clusters once the flowers ripen in April and May. They are initially green but turn brown and woody in texture once they have ripened and shed their seed. They are important identifiers almost all year round as they remain on the tree through the winter until January and can regularly be seen still in place beside the following year's flowers.
Flowers: The flowers themselves come in catkins which develop, in the case of male catkins, during winter and ripen around March and April. Both male and female catkins appear on the same tree,
Distribution: It is also a native of Europe, North America and Asia, locally naturalized in South Eastern Canada and North Eastern United States, common to wet places over the northern hemisphere.

Back