Yew - Caution: Baneful

BOTANICALNAME:         Taxus Baccata

                                                                                                                   SATURN/FEMININE/WATER

LORE:    Taxus means "bow"; toxicon is Ancient Greek meaning poison used for arrows,

The Yew is one of the 5 sacred trees of Ireland knowns as "the renown of Banbba" Crone of Death. Irish tradition was to poison their bows before battle with yew, hellebore and devil's bit. Bows and dagger hilts were made from the sacred wood. 

Yew is associated with death and traditionally yew trees grew in cemeteries. In Greece and Rome the yew is sacred to Hekate, Crone Goddess of the Underworld.

It is also the tree of regeneration arising from death. In Brittany roots of a churchyard tree were placed in the mouths of corpses,. 

Yew is Idho in the Ogham language, linked to rebirth and reincarnation. 

WARNING!! THE YEW IS DEADLY POISONOUS AND SHOULD NEVER BE INGESTED. IF BURNING YEW IN AN INCENSE DO SO OUTDOORS AS THE ACRID SMOKE IS ALSO POISONOUS. USE WITH EXTREME CARE. 

MAGICKAL USES:     Use at Samhain on an ancestors' altar or one dedicated to Hekate and Banbha, keepers of the spirits in Her Underworld Womb.  Symbolises regeneration from death as part of the cycle of life.  Yew incense (add frankincense or sandalwood) honours the Death Goddess and calls forth the ancestors from the Underworld. ALWAYS BURN OUTDOORS. 

The Yew is also associated with the Nameless Day, before the rebirth of the Sun God at Yule. Celts believed the sun rose on the day before the Solstice as "the shadow sun", the real sun being imprisoned by Arawn, King of the Underworld,.  In a year of 13 lunar months of 28 days there is a day left over, a Nameless Day, a time of chaos.

Mix heartwood chipes of yew with alum to make an orange-brown dye used to dye robes and cords at Samhain. 

Sold in 10gm parcels.