By Lidellia
The old gypsy magics, born in Masalla, are a subtle, gentle way of influencing the world, though their powers are not to be ignored. Sometimes their spells can succeed where even the most powerful of modern magics fails.
Many of their diverse magics are strongly earth-based, and utilize plants, stones, or the elements in their pure forms. One of these forms of magic is gypsy tree magic.
From the time a gypsy child is very young, they learn to listen to the trees. In fact, Wind Whispering is probably the first magic a young gypsy learns. To do it, simply lie beneath a tree with a question in your head. Let yourself drift into a quiet wondering, the question always in your mind, and then focus on the wind moving through the tree’s leaves. After a time, it is said that the stirrings will resolve themselves into softly spoken words, and the answer to your question will be made clear.
Another simple tree spell is to sit with your back against a strong tree when you’re tired out or are feeling ill. You sit until the bark pressing into your back no longer feels like pain, and you feel yourself sinking back into the tree’s flesh. Then feel the power of the earth being drawn up through the tree’s roots, nourishing not only the tree, but filling your body as well. Soon you’ll feel a powerful vitality flooding through you, and when you rise to your feet again, you’ll find that you’re ready to conquer anything!
Finally, you’ll sometimes see gypsy children standing upon the stump of a felled tree. They’re not casting a spell so much as playing a game, but it’s a game that teaches them to feel the movements of the World’s powers. They put their arms out as if they are branches and pretend they are trees, noticing all the animals and plants, the touch of the wind and sun, and the cycles of the forest. In this manner they become attuned to the natural world, and learn to see things from the pure perspective of the tree.
Adult gypsies utilize trees for magic, as well, but they take a more sophisticated approach, and have learned over the centuries which trees are good for which magical purposes. Here is a listing of some common Old World trees and their magical influences.
Apple �?The fruit of this tree is highly prized for its love-inducing magic as well as its healing powers. The latter are made most potent by fermenting the apple’s juice into cider, which holds strong vitality-inducing magics. Apples, one should remember, are the favorite food of unicorns. Apple wood is also a wonderful wand-wood, especially for wands intended to invoke love magics. If a gypsy offers you an apple, beware!
Ash �?/B> A powerful tree for magical purposes, the ash makes a potent healing wand, and staffs of the wood protect against harmful magics. The leaves of the ash are utilized in divinatory magics by gypsy seers, who place them nearby when they sleep and thus induce dreams that hint of the future or past. Like the apple tree, the ash has love magic, as well, and one must only carry the leaves to attract a lover. An arrow made of ash wood is said to never miss its mark.
Aspen �?Called the "storyteller’s tree" by the gypsies, the aspen gives the power of vibrant speech and a lovely voice. Singers or speakers will suck on the leaves before they perform, and thereby gain great eloquence and a lilting voice.
Birch �?The birch tree likes us, though there are some chilling tales of walks through birch groves at midnight where the tree’s limbs seemed to reach out and try to grasp the passer-by. Still, gypsy magic utilizes the birch for protection magic, from cradles made of birch that protect the newborn babe to pieces of wood carried to keep one safe from all harm. The bark is used as ‘promise paper�? and words written upon it with burnt birch-twig are said to come true.
Cedar �?Walk into a gypsy wagon and you’re bound to smell cedar. Valued not only for its ability to keep insects away, it also has strong magic �?it’s burned during scrying to enhance the seer’s powers, and is kept in the pocket to bring gold in its place.
Cherry �?The premier lust-inducing tree, the fruit is often abused. A few drops of the juice are added to food or drink to ‘spike�?it with lust-inducing capabilities, and a whole cherry, if specially enchanted, is said to be enough to make anyone forget their thoughts of chastity.
Chestnut �?These nuts are roasted and given to be eaten by lovers who are having troubles in their love. Its soothing, warming influence mends quarrels and keeps families together.
Cottonwood �?This tree’s magic lies in its wisps of cotton that are dropped during the early summer moons. Collected into a handful, they are burned to bring rain during dry times, and there is said by the gypsies to be no surer way of bringing water from the sky.
Dogwood �?Much-used by the gypsies for basket making, the lovely red twigs are burned and the ash boiled into a thick mixture which is combined with the gypsy’s blood. This is then smeared onto ‘promise paper�?(birch bark) which has been written with a wish. Such a wish is sure to come true.
Elder �?The juice of the elder berry is made into a lipstain by gypsies, and they claim that it makes the wearer irresistible. Its powers work especially well for older women against younger men. The wood is used to fashion small flutes which can be played to invoke nature spirits, and twigs are carried to turn away natural dangers. And a small, fan-shaped ornament is made out of elder twigs and is worn when invoking powerful elemental magics �?the charm aids in the gathering and concentration of the elemental powers, since it is shaped like a tree’s roots.
Elm �?The towering elm tree has long been known to ward away lightning, and many a cottage has been built beneath one to take advantage of that power.
Hawthorn �?If found growing near oak and ash, it is a sure sign that faeries live nearby. The wood is also fashioned into charms to promote fertility, and the thorns are said by the gypsies to be used as weapons by pixies and sprites.
Hazel �?An old gypsy spell uses freshly-cut twigs tied together with red ribbon into a crown that is said to make the wearer invisible. Hazel is a prime magical tree of the gypsies, and its wood was used for wands by old, ceremonial magicians. The nuts of the tree are eaten for long life, wisdom, and serenity, and the wood raises magical energies.
Juniper �?It’s one of the most well-known of gypsy sayings that "if you carry three juniper berries in your pocket you can travel the forest without fear, drink from the springs without harm, and ride the wind." And indeed, most gypsies carry a trio of the potent little berries, which protect the bearer from natural dangers, guard against disease, and bring such good fortune to one’s life that it seems your dreams are always coming true.
Keywood �?Keywood trees have their name from the gypsy practice of carving small keys from the wood which, when carried, ‘open�?opportunities for conversation, allowing discourse with even the most resistant of folks who would never deign to speak to a gypsy.
Lilac �?These beautiful trees sport fragrant, lovely flowers which are brought into the home to bring bounty to the dwellers within. They are also a favorite of nymphs.
Maple �?It is a common gypsy tradition to pass a baby through the branches of a maple tree in order to grant the babe great longevity. The wood also draws gold, and maple seeds are eaten to bring love into one’s life.
Oak �?Only the rowan tree can compete with the oak for sheer magical potency. Oak groves serve as a growing-place for natural magic, and spells cast within them have incredible potency. These groves also attract the Fae, and on quiet nights one can almost always see faeries nearby. Oak wood is a powerful protective, and in older days it was set into the armor of warriors (curiously enough, most of these suits remain in relatively unscathed condition). The wood not only brings good fortune, but the acorn keeps the flesh young, guards against disease, and will draw gold if you plant one during the waxing moon (and if a squirrel doesn’t get it the next day!) A favorite game of gypsy children is to wait beneath an oak in the autumn time and try to catch leaves �?each one you catch will bring a wonderful surprise during the winter moons.
Pear �?The wood makes wands that the gypsies use for any sort of beneficial magic, and the juice of the fruit not only induces lust, but raises fertility.
Plum �?The scent of the blossoms brings peace, beauty, and grants eternal youth if often smelled. The fruits are eaten to keep a romance from faltering.
Poplar �?/B> The leaves of the poplar are simmered into a brew that allows one to ‘awaken in their dreams�? and travel the dream realm freely.
Rowan �?The rowan and the oak are the gypsy’s most powerful tree-friends. Any magic done with rowan wood or berries is sure to manifest in the most potent of manners. Gypsies, when they made boats, would always include some rowan wood in the making, and if you hear a gypsy tell, never has such a boat been lost to the sea. And a rowan staff will protect a traveler during nighttime wanders, and scatter malicious spirits. Powerful healing magic can be found in the wood and berries, which are carried (or eaten, in the case of berries) to ward off disease or cure it if it’s taken hold. And the wood is kept nearby to make magic thrive and increase one’s psychic potency. Incenses of the wood serve the same purpose. The wood was also used by old ceremonial magicians to forge powerful wands capable of wielding unlimited magical energies.
Shalenwood �?Used more by magicians than gypsies, it still has its use among the wagon-folk. The beautiful wood is fashioned into charms which attract sea-spirits, like mermaids or selkies, to the shore.
White Pine �?The needles are burned to keep indoor places fresh and imbued with natural magics. Great bundles of them are burned and a person who has been attacked by a curse is placed in the smoke. This gathers up the magic of the spell and sends it back upon its caster (the smoke is said to seek them out no matter how distant they are.)
Willow �?The great, spreading willow creates a magical environment beneath its draping branches, and spells, especially moon-based spells or ‘passion magic�?are performed beneath them. If one sits for a time under a willow on a windy night when the moon is full, and then walks out, he or she might find themselves in an unfamiliar locale, for on such nights the willow serves as a gateway between our world and the world of Fae. Gypsy tradition says that trolls, nymphs, tyver, and dryads all utilize willow-branches to bind human prisoners, and that such bonds cannot be broken by even the most powerful of magics. Thus, when a person is hopelessly in love with someone, they are often termed ‘willowbound�?by the gypsies.
Any wood, if a burl can be found, is much prized, for this is polished into charms that contain the magic of the tree in concentrated form. And lastly, any natural hole that goes entirely through a tree is a potent magical force, for passing a person through one is said to heal any ailment, make wishes come true, grant youthful longevity, and increase one’s magical powers.
Of course, the gypsies use more herbs than trees in their magics, but trees will always remain as a source of powerful, untainted magic for them. So don’t be too surprised if you ever see a gypsy talking to a tree as if it were a person �?they know well the power which trees will always hold.
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