The yew trees growing in Ireland have long been considered the trees of life and death. Yew is one of the three magical trees of Ireland, and it is also known as the "Tree of Ross".
Yew - legends and myths
Most of the other trees the Irish Ollavs revered was the yew. The legend of the godlike race of Irish wizards, the Tuatha de Danaan, says that the great warrior queen, the last of all, was Banba, sister of Fodl and Eire. After she was killed, her image was deified and associated with the hypostasis of death, one of the faces of the White Goddess. The tree dedicated to this goddess and called "Banba's Glory" was a yew tree.
The yew has other names in Celtic folklore: "The Enchantment of Knowledge" and "Royal Ring", which refers to a brooch that symbolized the change in the cycles of existence. This brooch was inherited by the rulers of the Celts to remind them of the subsequent rebirth and imminent death. The yew tree was a symbol of these cycles, as the druids believed in its ability to transcend time boundaries.
The yew in Druidic rituals symbolized a high degree of priesthood and was called "Ovate". In order to enter Ovat, the applicant had to endure a symbolic death, being reborn as the owner of new knowledge that has no boundaries and is beyond time. The yew was a direct means of communication with ancestors, the kingdom of the spirit, where intercessors and angels live, providing assistance to everyone who turns to them.
Magicians predicted the future with the help of yew wands and for long-term preservation they carved memorial records on yew bars. After processing and polishing, yew wood is stored for thousands of years, and the magic contained in the written down was also considered almost eternal.
The healing properties of yew
The life span of a yew tree is much higher than other trees, and therefore it deservedly bears the title of a symbol of wisdom. In ancient times, yew was used in the treatment of snakebites and against rabies. Currently, it is not recommended to use this tree or any of its parts for treatment on their own, since the yew wood is very poisonous.
Scientists recently discovered an alkaloid called taxol in needles of a yew tree, on the basis of which they are developing a treatment for ovarian cancer. The yew tincture is widely used in homeopathy, where it is used to treat neuralgia, headaches, cystitis and blurred vision in various dosages. It is used for infectious diseases of the heart, urinary tract and kidneys, for arthritis, rheumatism, gout.
It is believed that the use of yew tree restores healthy thinking, stimulates memory, awakens immunity and strengthens energy. This happens because the yew tree brings to life the highest manifestations of fortitude, which are focused on protection and survival.
