Druids, who were very connected to trees, had their own calendar. They considered trees to carry old knowledge and wisdom. They considered the Universe as a great tree. The roots were the past. The trunk was the present. The branches (reaching to heaven) were the future and afterlife. Each month was represented by a type of tree, aligned to the 13 moons. As well, the old Ogham alphabet was used with each tree having its own alphabet symbol.
This month, Oct 28 – November 23 is represented by the Reed. It symbols the great winds of Fall. And when the wind rushes through the reeds, it creates music. The reed is actually a grass and it grows in wet land near water sources. They could eat parts of the reed and there is medicine in the reed plant.
Boiling the leaves was used for coughs. The ash of burned reeds was used on infected sores. The flowers were mixed with melted fats and was given for food poisoning. The root was ground and used as sedatives, for stomach illnesses. It was mixed with gypsum and packed on aching teeth.
The reed was food. The roots cooked and were like potatoes. They could be dried and ground and made into cereal. The leaves can be dried and ground and made into a type of flour, as could the seeds. The stems could be dried and ground and were used as sweetener. It could be eaten raw.
This month, then, is known as the month of the Inquisitor: Compassion, truth, and curiosity. This is the month for us to seek truth beneath all things. We are to work on being truthful because our truth is our honor. Look behind the veil people use to mask their truths. You will find that others come to you for counsel. There will be secrets shared. You will have wisdom to share about what lies behind the WHY of things. Your compassion and loyalty will draw others to you. You are the Cailleach, the goddess of grain that helped the Druids survive the winter.
Cailleach was a goddess strongly tied to family. She gained her reign at Samhain. She also partnered with a trickster and was said to have many children. It is interesting to note that she could regain her virginity and cold be married several times so she had many partners and many children, some adopted. She outlived all her husbands and became the mother of all the Irish and Scottish people. She became, in later history, known as Ceridwen, a Welsh white witch able to make potions, to change form, and made beautiful others who came to her for knowledge. She taught women to make useful thigs of the reeds. Mats being one and mats were very useful and made the women’s’ lives easier.
I have a reed center table placemat for this month. The cat tail was used by the Splatsin (Spla-cheen) Band of the Okanagan Tribe. The used reeds for many important purposes: Woven mats, baskets, used to serve food, to dry food. Emergency huts were made by making reed walls that was put up like a tipi. I was taught how to make the mats, baskets etc. by the Splatsin former (and currently running again) Chief, Gloria Morgan during August’s Art month. You collect green reeds by cutting bunches above the water line. The reeds are then cut to desired length depending on what you are making. (Shelter Walls would be the largest and smaller mats would be the smallest lengths). I used the mat as a table mat to put Fall bowls of treats on. Get the reeds before they all turn brown if you can.
Here is a YouTube presentation on how to make mats. Honor the Reed and the goddess this month represents by using reeds in some way. (I also have what we call snake crass (segments reeds that grow on the edges of ponds and lakes, on my altar)).
©Carol Desjarlais 10.30.23
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