Vine
Ogham name: Muin
Full moon: 10th September
Planetary ruler: Venus
Deities: Tuatha De Danaan
Druidic animal: Swan
The Grape Vine required care to bear fruit in the cool Celtic climate and became
a symbol of sacred knowledge and spiritual intuition.
One of the oldest cultivated plants in the world, the Grapevine is more of a shrub
than a tree. Nonetheless it was sacred to Anglo-Saxons, Celts, Druids, and anyone
else who managed to grow it. A long living plant the vine was revered by our ancestors
not least because the wine that could be produced from its fruit has long been a
universal drink, but also for its connection to longevity and health. Even in Christian
teachings Noah is said to have planted a vineyard after he survived the great flood.
Grapes and raisins are often used in spells to enhance mental ability, as well as
in all forms of abundance spell from financial to fertility. It may be used for death
and rebirth, garden magic and freedom of spirit rites. During many rites in many
cultures wine is blessed, although we do share ours with our elementals by leaving
an offering after the rite. Although unsuitable internally for inflammatory conditions
the sugar in grapes acts rapidly to increase strength and repair waste in fevers.
The seeds and leaves are astringent and may be used to stop haemorrhages and bleeding
when boiled and made into a poultice with barley they may be used externally to cool
inflammation of wounds. Because it is associated with nature, the underworld and
reincarnation, the deities linked with vines are numerous including the Tuatha De
Danaan.
