April 15-May 12

Pronunciation: Saille (SHAiLuh)

Symbolizes: New journeys, Otherworldly contacts, confidence.

Tarot Key: The Moon

Alternate names: Saile, Sail, Suil, Sahl, helygen

Symbols : The Sea Serpent, Cat or Hare,The Fire Festival Of Beltane, white birds, doves, mist

Zodiac Degrees : 24º 00` Aries - 20º 59` Taurus

Ruling Planet : The Moon -Llun

Ancient Gods Associated With The Moon :Aradia,Artemis, Selene, Isis,Hecate, Sarasvati,Ceridwen, Morrigan, Morgan Le Fay, Dana, Diana, Ceres, Persephone, Hera, Mercury, Belil, Belinus

Polarity: Feminine

Magick: Romantic Love; Healing; Protection; Fertility; Magick for Women;Water;Emotions

Full Moon names: The Witches'Moon, Moon of Balance

The month of Saille begins on April 15th and ends on May 12th. Its symbols are white birds, especially doves, and mist.  It is a time of springtime enchantments and Moon-magic, as well as intuition and wisdom. Symbolized by Arianrhod (literally "Silver Wheel") who conceives Lugh, the Sun god, through magic.

Since the Willow makes its home around swamps, streams and other watery areas she is associated with the moon which governs water. She is also representative of the female and earthly cycles, the rhythms and the ebb and flow of the earth's waters. Because of her lunar connections she brings an ability to see through dreams and give night visions.

The willow, considered a tree of enchantment, symbolizes the subconscious, intuition, and is good for psychic work.In ancient times this tree was associated with death.  In Northern Europe, the words witch and wicked are derived from the name of the Willow. In Celtic mythology it is associated with the creation myth of two scarlet sea serpent eggs which contained the Sun and the Earth.  These eggs were hidden  in the boughs of the Willow tree until they hatched, thus bringing forth earthly life.

Like North America, Europe is home to a large number of willow species. Two common tree willows are the white willow (Salix alba L.) and the crack willow (Salix fragilis L.). The white willow is named for the whitish undersides of its leaves, and the crack willow for the propensity of its branches to "crack" off (probably another adaptation to flooding). Both species grow along with poplars and alders along lowland rivers. They can reach 25 m (80 feet) in height, and they both vigorously sprout from stumps. Other willow species are shrubs, including osiers (Salix purpurea L. and Salix viminalis L.) that grow along streams and eared willows (S. aurita L.) of acidic, boggy soils. The white willow and purple osier are sometimes grown in cultivation in North America. Willows are members of the Willow family (Salicaceae).

The Willow is an imposing tree, with a thick trunk covered by dark gray, heavily ridged barkHer catkins, which appear in early spring before her leaves, attract bees to start the cycle of pollination. The Willow is a deciduous tree planted for the foliage, shade and screens. It is also used extensively in basket making. Its spreading branches create a very full shape, and its leaves are long and slender and covered with silver hairs that give the whole tree a shimmering appearance.

The Willow is thought to offer protection against "damp diseases" and has been used for many medicinal purposes dealing with dampness. The bark of the Willow contains salicylic acid (the main ingredient in aspirin), and can be made into a pain-relieving tea (note: do not give to felines). Native Americans used for diarrhea, to staunch bleeding, & for dandruff. It may also be taken as a bitter tonic in small doses before meals, to hasten convalescence from acute diseases. Experimentally, it has been shown to delay cataract formation & risk of heart disease in males. It is an alterative, anodyne, febrifuge, astringent, anti-periodic, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, tonic, & vermifuge. Used for chronic dysentery, cancerous sores, & dressing wounds, & smallpox ulcers, fevers,  chills, ague, pain, inflammations, ulcers, menstrual cramps, bursitis, tendonitis, back pain, neuralgia, headaches, gout, & rheumatic ailments, arthritic joints, muscular pain, worms, gonorrhea, dyspepsia, dysentery, chronic diarrhea & edema. Wash is used for corns, cuts, poison-ivy rash.

Celtic Astrology

Willow people are beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathic, loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with, demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner. 

Willow tree characters are difficult people to get to know in any depth or detail, for people born under this sign touch upon all the mysterious aspects of nature associated with the moon. Their psychic antennae are switched on, so that they have recall to the remotest regions of memory. The positive aspects of character generally are shown in their passive tenacity and shrewdness. People born during the first two weeks of the lunar month are more inclined to sudden mood changes, which encourage some unreliable traits of character. The positive aspects are shown by their receptiveness to change in being quick to take advantage of the opportunities presented. People born in the last two weeks are inclined to disregard advice and their own reasoning powers can lack credibility. The positive aspects are demonstrated by their resourcefulness and excellent memories.

Celtic Tree Month of Willow