O is for Oak
Posted by Lanea on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
O is for Oak, but you probably saw that coming. I am a Tree-hugging dirt worshiper, after all, and Oaks figure in many, many myth systems. Druids are “oak-knowers,” etymologically, and Dryads are named for these trees as well. Oaks are symbols of Zeus, the Dagda, Cernunnos, El, Teutates, Belenus, Janus, Rhea, Artemis, Callisto, Brigid, and Mary. Most Gods of thunder, lightning, or any form of liminal space are associated with Oaks.
The oak-tree swiftly moving,
Before him tremble heaven and earth,
Stout doorkeeper against the foe
Is his name in all lands.
Taliesin, Cad Goddeau, translated by Robert Graves
In The Kalevala, a giant Oak, the strongest thing the myth recognizes, threatens to sunder the Earth and must be destroyed. Thor’s Oak is one of the great mythic symbols of Europe. To my mind, Oaks figure so prominently in our mythos because they give so very much–food, shade, tannins for tanning hides and aging wine, galls for ink and dye, lumber, compost, shelter for birds of prey and for birds and small animals we hunt . . . it goes on and on, and they go on and on, and we shelter at their roots.
The photo above is of the Pin Oak Scott and I planted in our garden a few years ago. It is happy and healthy here at the Mean-Skutai Manse, as far as we can tell, and we love it. I make sure to knock the ice from its leaves whenever we get an ice storm, since Pin Oaks hold their leaves until the spring and are thus subject to winter injuries. Apart from that, I don’t feel like I can do an Oak many favors–I doubt I’ll ever be able to do enough to repay the debt I owe the trees around us. I just hope to be a good steward and to help them gain rootholds in safe places.
When the oak is felled the whole forest echoes with its fall, but a hundred acorns are sown in silence by an unnoticed breeze.
Thomas Carlyle
Filed in ABC along | 10 responses so far
kon 14 Aug 2008 at 6:15 pm 1That’s a very good trunk picture. I never seem to get them to work out so well.
And please tell your friend that of all the types of lumber in the world, oak is my least favorite. I’d much rather have the tree.
Serenaon 15 Aug 2008 at 3:54 am 2Wow, I really love your photo for the ABC-along O is for….
I was looking for some oak in my collection too, but could not find it (yet)
Taraon 18 Aug 2008 at 10:48 am 3Another thing oaks are good for: artistic inspiration and interpretation. One of my favorite necklaces is a little silver acorn, and another is tiny oak leaves. You know I too heart all things tree and leaf related.
pamon 25 Aug 2008 at 8:30 am 4“When the oak is felled the whole forest echoes with its fall, but a hundred acorns are sown in silence by an unnoticed breeze.
Thomas Carlyle”
I absolutely love this quote. Love! And you take beautiful pictures.
Teyanion 25 Aug 2008 at 10:25 pm 5beautiful photo – and wonderful sentiments.
we are indeed, the keepers of the trees.
Teyanion 25 Aug 2008 at 10:26 pm 6beautiful photo – and wonderful sentiments.
we are indeed, the keepers of the trees.
Teyanion 25 Aug 2008 at 10:26 pm 7beautiful photo – and wonderful sentiments.
we are indeed, the keepers of the trees.
Teyanion 25 Aug 2008 at 10:26 pm 8beautiful photo – and wonderful sentiments.
we are indeed, the keepers of the trees.
Teyanion 25 Aug 2008 at 10:26 pm 9beautiful photo – and wonderful sentiments.
we are indeed, the keepers of the trees.
Bullwinkleon 27 Aug 2008 at 5:53 am 10I’m going to echo pam on this one: love that last quote!
“When the oak is felled the whole forest echoes with its fall, but a hundred acorns are sown in silence by an unnoticed breeze.
Thomas Carlyle”